ROCKPORT — Selectmen Chairwoman Sarah Wilkinson has removed a link to her blog from the town's official Web site after Selectman Ellen Canavan claimed the blog's presence on the town's home page violated election laws.
The blog, titled "From my Chair," debuted on Rockport's municipal Web site on Oct. 29. The blog includes Wilkinson's comments and ideas on issues involving the Board of Selectmen and Rockport in general, and has been touted by Wilkinson has another means of communication with residents.
However, Wilkinson removed the blog from the town's home page yesterday and sent an e-mail to several Rockporters explaining the change.
"I am pleased with the response to my new blog," Wilkinson said in an e-mailed statement to blog readers yesterday. "To date, there have been almost 400 hits, and the feedback has been extremely positive."
Wilkinson went on to explain a fellow selectman claimed the blog violated election laws and that she and the town took such accusations seriously.
Wilkinson said she spoke with the town's counsel — the Boston-based law firm Kopelman and Paige — which determined the blog was not in violation of any laws, including election laws.
However, through their "due diligence," Wilkinson added, Kopelman and Paige attorneys found there could be another issue with leaving the link to the blog on the town's home page.
"By granting me the opportunity to post a link the town may have to do so for anyone (First Amendment)," Wilkinson wrote. "Since the town does not have the resources to do something like this, it is certainly prudent that I remove the link."
Last night, Canavan said that, regardless of the reason, she was pleased the blog link had been removed.
"She might back out, but she might also be presumed to be a candidate in the upcoming elections and as such, she cannot use town property, personnel, equipment, or money for her personal or campaign purposes," Canavan said.
Wilkinson called Canavan's claim "baseless," adding she was disappointed Canavan took issue with something meant to be positive.
"(The blog) is clearly meant as a way to be more open and communicative with residents," Wilkinson said. "This is something I have always worked on. In my opinion, Selectman Canavan is always saying that we need to be more open with the residents, and her actions on this issue contradict that."
Canavan — who said she could never see herself blogging on a regular basis — brushed off Wilkinson's comments, saying it was "just something to say; I don't think her blog is open; all it is, is what did Sarah do today?"
Wilkinson said she would continue to post entries to the blog as often as possible and looked forward to residents' continued participation and feedback. The blog can be read directly by visiting www.fromthechairwoman.wordpress.com.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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