The Salina City Commission voted 5-0 Monday to prohibit commissioners from using electronic devices, such as cellphones or computer tablets, for real-time interactive conversations during meetings.
Rules govern how commissioners speak to each other and people in the audience, Commissioner Trent Davis said. He and his fellow commissioners should not be communicating privately with each other, with people in the audience or with people watching on television, he said.
The use of electronic devices is prohibited in many situations, such as in doctors’ offices, church, airlines, classes, he said.
Commissioner Melissa Rose Hodges said she could get behind the idea of prohibiting interactive communication, “but we’re adults.”
She said she wanted access to her devices to do research, check on facts, bring up on old email or attachment, or in case of a family emergency.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)