By Becky Holland
The private Facebook group referenced by Mayor Carla Coley as a source for livestreams of Cochran City Council meetings is not officially affiliated with the City of Cochran, according to responses provided by the mayor in an email to The Ledger late Tuesday night.
The exchange followed questions regarding public access to city council meetings after Coley stated earlier that the city is no longer livestreaming meetings and directed residents to the Cochran Bleckley FYI Facebook group to watch proceedings.
When asked whether the group is officially affiliated with the City of Cochran, Coley responded with a one-word answer: “No.”
In response to questions about how residents are informed that meetings are being livestreamed, Coley said the group is privately operated and is not required to notify the public.
“It is a privately run page that has no obligation to communicate to the public although it is often communicated,” Coley wrote. “It has been streaming for so long and was at one time the only source streaming the meetings, it is widely known by most anyone with an active interest in following Council.”
Coley said the livestreaming began approximately four years ago after a former mayor stopped allowing live streams of council meetings.
The Ledger previously confirmed that Chris Coley, husband of Mayor Carla Coley, is listed as an administrator of the Cochran Bleckley FYI Facebook group. The group also contains videos showing Chris Coley livestreaming city council meetings.
Questions were also raised about why meetings are not simultaneously streamed on the city’s official Facebook page.
“That is not as easy as it sounds,” Coley responded. “Turnover at City Hall has complicated access to the City Page. Currently, only the Public Works Director can post to the page.”
According to Coley, livestream recordings are not permanently available.
“Facebook deletes all livestreams after 30 days,” she said.
When asked how citizens and members of the media can obtain meeting agendas, Coley directed readers to the City of Cochran website.
The City of Cochran does not currently provide an official livestream of council meetings. Questions remain regarding whether the city plans to resume livestreaming meetings through an official city-operated platform in the future.
The Ledger will continue to follow the issue and provide updates as they become available.
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