Easton’s Board of Selectmen has approved a new social media policy allowing the removal from office of appointed public officials who make bigoted comments publicly “in any forum.’’

The policy approved Sept. 12 is in response to a controversy this summer over a Conservation Commission member who posted violent anti-Muslim comments on his personal Facebook page. Selectmen voted in August to reprimand Michael Goodman, but not to remove him from his appointed two-year term.

Goodman has said he didn’t intend to insult the Muslim religion, but was expressing his hatred of radical Islamist terrorism after the terrorist group ISIS took credit for the Bastille Day attack in France.

Town Administrator David Colton said that he worked with the town’s labor counsel and a committee of town employees to draw up a social media policy for appointed committee members. He said the new policy, which was approved unanimously by selectmen, closely mirrors rules already in place for paid town employees.

The new policy states that Easton’s “officials must be mindful that residents, property owners, and others appearing before Town boards or committees come from all walks of life. Public comments, in any forum, that contain racial slurs, express bigotry toward a group based on their race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or any other legally protected classification shall be considered conduct unbecoming a Town Official and shall constitute good cause for removal for any appointed Official.’’

Colton said the policy would not apply retroactively to Goodman’s comments.

The new policy will be part of mandatory training for Easton’s board and committee members scheduled for Sept. 19, Colton said.

Johanna Seltz can be reached at seltzjohanna@gmail.com