Should Waltham Hire A Social Media Manager?

With some Waltham residents and councilors calling for more and improved use of social media to disseminate crucial city updates, could it be time for the city to hire a full-time social media manager?

While Waltham Police are active on social media and distribute such updates, they currently do not have enough trained officers to manage it around the clock. The city government currently lacks a dedicatedsocial media manager who could manage all of the city's communications on social media.

Waltham resident Dave Cutler has suggested, on his Twitter feed, the city hire a new person into a similar position. Cutler is a social media manager for a private firm in Somerville.

The idea is already alive in Belmont. Belmont recently hired a social media manager who plans to answer constituent questions on various social media platforms and update the city's website, according to the Boston Globe.  Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has expressed a willingness to improve the city government’s use of social media to update residents on school closings, trash service but said she needs to "look into it."