Mrs Morgan delivered a long statement on the Mackenzie District Council’s website yesterday, outlining her concerns about misinformation in the district and abuse of staff.
"Council welcomes constructive criticism and healthy discussion and debate about council activities.
"This is indeed the foundation of good democracy.
"However, while we are all ... free to express our views, what we say, and how we say it, may have consequences."
In recent months there had been a significant increase in misinformation being actively pushed by a minority on some local social media sites, and a corresponding increase in unacceptable behaviour towards staff in meetings and outside of work, she said.
"Of course, I acknowledge that council doesn’t always get things right.
"If you are not happy with the service you have received from council, we encourage you to make a complaint directly to us.
"This enables us to thoroughly investigate the circumstances, put things right if necessary, and make any required changes to our systems and processes to ensure we continue to improve.
"If you are not happy with our response, or do not trust council’s impartiality, you can and should refer matters to the parliamentary Ombudsman who will investigate on your behalf."
Council staff were valuable members of the community, who paid rent or rates, held volunteer positions, supported local businesses, have partners working in the district, and children who attend the district schools, Mrs Morgan said.
"They do not deserve to be subjected to abuse online and in person merely because they work for council.
"Budgets, fees and charges and key projects are ultimately approved by elected members.
"Our councillors have to make challenging decisions on behalf of the communities they serve, trying to balance the provision of services and compliance with regulations, with the need to keep our rates as low as possible.
"Abusing staff who are simply doing their job achieves nothing positive.
"In fact it contributes to staff turnover which in turn interrupts our ability to operate and increases recruitment costs, which negatively impacts on residents and ratepayers."
It was regularly claimed council staff removed comments about the council from the Fairlie Community Facebook group.
"This is untrue. Neither council staff or councillors are administrators or moderators on the page and as such have no ability to remove comments.
"We commend those volunteers who sacrifice their free time to run community Facebook groups and their efforts to keep dialogue appropriate and respectful."
Circulating incorrect or misunderstood information was not helpful, she said.
"There are numerous occasions where council has provided written replies to questions to correct misperceptions, however the incorrect information continues to be actively promoted by a minority.
"It is difficult to see how this is beneficial to the wider community.
"Singling out individual employees is not appropriate.
"Mackenzie District Council is a small organisation serving a small community, and individuals are often identifiable even when not directly named.
"Where individual employees are targeted, and in particular where untrue statements are made that can be linked to individual staff which may question their integrity or damage their reputation, council has a legal duty of care and must take appropriate action."
The council had referred some comments circulating on social media to Netsafe.
They would independently investigate and determine whether further action was required.
"It is my hope that we can draw a line under some of these behaviours, and that the good and decent people in our communities will play their part in working with us to create an improved environment for online and in face-to-face interactions.
"[An environment] where we can engage in honest conversations, respectful of differing points of view, and work together constructively to make our community the best that it can be." — APL
