Latest news with #IndianTrailTownCouncil
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indian Trail councilmember censured over ties to controversial Facebook page
Indian Trail Town Council voted, 3-1, to censure a fellow council member over his alleged involvement with a Facebook page. PAST COVERAGE: Indian Trail Town Council weighing censure over member's ties to controversial Facebook page In April, Channel 9 reported that the town hired an outside attorney to investigate Councilman Todd Barber's connection to the Facebook page, 'The Weasel Report.' The investigation made several connections to Barber and found he misled the public. Barber denied his involvement with the page and shared his reasons to council on Tuesday night. He provided a signed affidavit by his wife, Lisa Barber, who claims she is the administrator of the page, and the owner of the animal pictured in many of the posts. Barber said the animal is not a weasel. It's a ferret. The council voted to approve a resolution of censure saying that Barber violated the code of ethics. This is Barber's second time being censured. In 2023, councilmembers voted to censure Barber over an alleged false post he made on social media regarding another town employee. VIDEO: Indian Trail Town Council weighing censure over member's ties to controversial Facebook page
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indian Trail Town Council weighing censure over member's ties to controversial Facebook page
A controversial Facebook group and its alleged connection to a town council member in Indian Trail may lead town leaders to silence him for the second time. ALSO READ: Luxury apartments in Indian Trail to feature resort-style amenities The Facebook page, called Indian Trail Weasel Report, has been a contentious issue among council members and for the community for months. The Facebook page has more than 1,400 followers and claims it's not affiliated with the town or elected officials. It features a combination of daily updates, spotlights on local businesses, and rumblings about local government actions. There has been speculation that council member Todd Barber is behind the page. Mayor David Cohn, of Indian Trail, said, 'A lot of the content is one-sided – a lot of things are completely untrue and a lot of things are just twisted … The fact behind it all. Is that it's embarrassing to our town." Cohn says they hired the outside attorney to look into Barber's involvement with the page. The attorney's report, released in April, says the page was previously titled 'Todd Barber Indian Trail Town Council' before it was changed to 'Indian Trail Weasel Report' in August 2024. The report also mentions the weasel mascot. It said councilman Barber has attended public functions with his pet weasel. The report concluded that 'Councilman Barber has a degree of responsibility for content creation on The Weasel.' It said he violated the social media and ethics policies. A post on the Indian Trail Weasel Report responded to the town's report, claiming a 'lack of evidence' or 'proof that a single post was made by council member Barber.' In an email to Channel 9, Barber said, 'The current administrator of the Indian Trail Weasel report removed me as an admin of the page on Sept. 25, 2024. I have no editorial control or administrative privileges of the page. I am not a manager of the page either. No post since the page has become the Indian Trial Weasel Report has been posted by me.' Cohn said a big concern is that the page does not allow anyone to comment on its posts. 'Everybody is titled to their opinion but as a politician, you've got to let someone else tell their side of the story, and you can't and do that on the weasel report,' said Cohn. Cohn says that at the next town council meeting, council members could vote to censure Barber. The action doesn't require Barber to remove the page, however. '… But maybe it draws the attention to say he this is not right,' said Cohn. Councilmember Barber has the opportunity to respond to the report at the council's May 13 meeting. That's also when the council could motion for the attorney to draw up a resolution of censure. If that happens, the town council would likely vote on it at a later meeting. Channel 9 learned this isn't the first time the town council voted to censure Barber. In 2023, councilmembers voted, 3-2, to censure Barber over an alleged false post he made on social media regarding another town employee. (VIDEO: Union commuters hope to keep Indian Trail CATS bus stop running)
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indian Trail leaders to hold hearing for councilman after claims he violated town policy
INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Indian Trail Town Council members will hold a hearing next month to decide whether or not to censure one of their own. The action comes amid claims Councilman Todd Barber is involved in a gossip page on Facebook, The Indian Trail Weasel Report. Other members have claimed Barber may have violated town policy. They hired an outside attorney to conduct an investigation into whether Barber's alleged involvement in the gossip page online violates the town's policy. It states, 'board members shall strive to be truthful and provide information in a factual and objective manner, as to not mislead the public.' At Tuesday night's meeting, leaders read the report, which said Barber has a digital link to the page and is partially responsible for what's on it. 'Quit making an embarrassment, this isn't Jerry Springer Show,' said one man during the public comment period. 'These are people. Everyone in this room works hard every day and that entire page is designed to attack people.' People living in Indian Trail tell Queen City News they are fed up. 'You are an embarrassment to yourself, this council and to the entire town,' said a woman during the public comment period. 'You should resign sooner, better than later.' They're calling for Councilman Barber to resign amid concerns he's behind the Indian Trail Weasel Report, which Barber claims his wife runs. An investigation revealed that before the page had its current name, it was first created under the name 'Todd Barber Indian Trail Town Council.' 'We just need to end this,' said Mayor David Cohn. 'I've been up here for 14 years. I've never seen anything like it. Never seen anybody try to tear a town down to make themselves look better.' While his fellow councilmembers were frustrated, Barber didn't have much to say. 'If y'all want to move forward with my opportunity to have a hearing and present my evidence and present the rebuttal, I would ask that hearing be scheduled in four months,' he said. The council decided to hold that hearing on May 13. Barber will present his side, and council members will vote on whether or not to censure him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
