what Commissioner Davis stated on the radio. She stated that Commissioner Rountree informed her of his intention and she informed him that she has a type II diabetic child and could not be without her phone.

She did not say where the conversation happened. However, there has been NO public meeting where this proposal has been discussed.

If you would like you can visit (link...) and listen to archived shows and listen for yourself.

BTW, Steve a Reno. It was noticed that you did not attend the fourth district forum. That would have been a great opportunity to hear what your potential constituents think and believe on reforming county governemnt. Ed Shouse, your Republican opponent was there. Finbarr Saunders and Ruthie Kulhman were there. Obviously, they care what the citizens of district 4 think and believe. But not so much for Steve of Reform4.

As to Rountree's proposal to ban cell phones during commission meetings, I support it.

What's more, I would suggest expanding the proposal to ban elected officials' use of any electronic devices (including Blackberries and laptops) for communication purposes during public meetings, and I would expand it to become part of the county's Ethics Policy, so that it applies to all public bodies. This approach would not require banning constituents' or media's use of same during public meetings.

I am aware of allegations that a commissioner received cell phone calls from a constituent in the audience during the evening commission discussed forming a Charter Review Committee.

I am also aware of allegations that two school board members routinely discuss public business privately, from the dais, using their Blackberries during their public meetings.

It seems to me that these actions are the equivalent of commissioners stepping into that back room to discuss public business privately during meetings.

On this question of live blogging during meetings, I've certainly appreciated Commissioner Harmon's live reports (I didn't know Lambert had been offering the same), but I suppose that really is the task of media, not the elected officials themselves.

There's an argument to be made that two-way conversation with constituents sometimes takes place in the course of their live blogging, and also that their full attention should be on discussion among members of the elected body, not discussion with constituents...

Concerns like Davis's, that her family needs to be able to contact her during an emergency, might be answered by allowing the elected body's recording secretary to receive calls during meetings. Jolie on commission or Janice Meyers on the school board could serve as intermediaries.

Given CTV, video streaming, and live blogging from media (and independent bloggers), we interested onlookers might still get up-to-the-minute information, and feel better assured that we're not missing out on private discussions going on publicly, too.

I like Elaine also.

I may not always agree with Elaine.

For example I supported a Charter Review Committee.
Elaine did not.

But I had no problem with her vote..after all she's got
one & I dont.

I believe Elaine Davis is doing a great job.

BH I'm going to fight like hell to keep her
because Democrats need folks like Elaine Davis!!

Let's also ban paper and pencil to prevent those sneaky politicians from passing notes among themselves or the audience...

(please note sarcasm)

In all seriousness, a government will reflect the integrity of the people you elect. If you don't trust your Commissioner with a cell phone (which for many would be a device that includes a calendar, email, etc), you should probably get a new Commissioner.

It's just plain rude for people to be in any kind of meeting and talking on the phone instead of paying attention to the people around them. They've been called together for a purpose. In the case of county commission, they are being paid by our tax dollars. If they have something so important that it requires them to talk on the phone to someone else, perhaps they shouldn't attend the meeting. Or, perhaps they shouldn't be a commissioner.

Yes, there should be some kind of emergency exception to this general rule. But if you take a call, step away from the area where other people are talking. And, frankly, I would say it's more appropriate for a diabetic child and her caretakers to only be required to remember one number for mom. She shouldn't have to call the clerk in that situation.

But by keeping the phone on vibrate, the meeting should be able to proceed w/out interruption.

My cell phone is my only phone, but that doesn't mean that I must be compelled to answer it every time it rings. If I'm in church, a business meeting, in class, out to dinner, in a government hearing or any number of other situations, I can always let it go to voice mail. Then I can return the call at a more appropriate time. And, frankly, I think the world would be a much more civilized place, if other people did the same.

"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." ~Kurt Vonnegut

I proposed changes to commission rules in this earlier thread after the very well-run and professional appointments meeting. My proposal would not only prohibit cell phone calls by commissioners during meetings but also stop back room recesses and lobbying by constituents and commissioners alike after the meeting gets started.

(link...)