Reporter-Herald (Loveland):  For Loveland City Council members, a “new direction” for the city means new leadership and a new communication style — including among City Council and the public.

City Manager Steve Adams presented a communications plan to council members that can be accessed at cityofloveland.org about dealing with residents and staff.

Council emails have been accessible by the public online for less than a month and already, council members are trying to find alternate methods of communication because they say, some members of the public prefer that their emails remain private.

City Councilman Don Overcash asked that if he receives an email from a resident, if it is appropriate for him to automatically mark the email private or confidential — effectively removing it from public view.

City Manager Steve Adams told him it was.

However, City Clerk Terry Andrews warned council members that they could do that, but if someone were to file a Colorado Open Records Act request for a particular email, the city attorney would have to review the request and could reverse the designation.

Councilwoman Joan Shaffer said she has had members of the public tell her they are not comfortable with emailing councilors on their public accounts for that reason.

And sometimes, Councilman Troy Krenning said, a resident will make a request of a council member via phone, but then city staff responds to the person’s request and carbon copies a City Council member, effectively airing the issue in public.

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