Elected officials operate under constraints that are frequently misunderstood by newly elected members.

No individual authority. A council member acting alone has no authority to direct staff, to commit the body, or to make promises. Authority is exercised collectively at a meeting.

Open meetings. A quorum deliberating outside a noticed meeting violates the statute, including through serial communications — a chain of individual conversations or a reply-all email thread reaching a quorum.

Conflicts. Disclosure and abstention on matters in which the official has a financial interest, directly or through family or business.

Confidentiality. Information received in closed session, and personal information about employees and applicants.

Speech. Officials retain First Amendment rights and may criticize the body’s decisions. They may not retaliate against citizens for criticism, and social media accounts used for official purposes may be public forums where blocking constituents is unconstitutional.

Records. Communications about public business are public records regardless of the device or account used, which makes the use of personal email for public business a recurring problem.

Training. Orientation covering these points at the start of each term is the most effective preventive measure available.