Washington Township Trustees Move to Create Official Emails to Comply with FOIA

Washington Township Board Meeting | Jan. 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Washington Township Board on Monday discussed a new social media and electronic communication policy, leading to a decision to establish official township email addresses for all trustees. Supervisor Mike Stanula warned officials against using personal devices for township business to avoid Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) liabilities.

Township Communication Policy Key Points:

• FOIA Compliance: Supervisor Mike Stanula advised the board to avoid using personal cell phones or text messages for township business to ensure records remain open to FOIA requests.

• Official Emails: Following concerns raised by Trustee Tracy Heldt regarding the use of personal email accounts, the board agreed to create specific “township” email addresses for all trustees immediately.

• Policy Review: The board reviewed a draft social media policy. Stanula recommended adding a section addressing employees posting “controversial and/or offensive” content.

• Legal Check: Clerk Joe Burgess will contact the township attorney to determine if regulating offensive social media behavior can be legally included in the policy.

The Washington Township Board of Trustees on Monday, January 5, 2026, took steps to separate personal and public communications by agreeing to establish official email accounts for all board members.

During a discussion on a proposed Social Media and Electronic Communication Policy, Supervisor Mike Stanula emphasized the legal risks associated with using personal devices for government work. He reminded the board that using personal cell phones for township business creates a paper trail that could be subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. He recommended that members continue to avoid using personal phones for any official communication.

Trustee Tracy Heldt raised a similar concern regarding the use of personal email accounts for township matters. In response, the board agreed that new, official email addresses should be created as soon as possible. Clerk Joe Burgess stated he would contact Chicagoland Cloud to set up the accounts.

The board also discussed the content of the proposed social media policy. Stanula recommended adding a section that would address employees who post “controversial and/or offensive” pictures, videos, or posts.

The board agreed that such behavior needs to be addressed. However, before finalizing the language, Burgess will consult with the township attorney to verify if such regulations can legally be enforced within the policy.