The husband of a School Committee member spoke at the BOS Public Forum this evening encouraging the Board to pass a policy preventing members from using electronic devices during meetings to communicate with "unknown people". It's particularly humorous since his wife voted to eliminate the Superintendent of Schools based on the comments of "unknown people".
While I am sure Emily Post may disagree, a quick read of the Open Meeting Law doesn't show any prohibition against communication with constituents -- only a quorum of fellow board members. In fact, I think communication with taxpayers (or anybody else) is already protected by a "policy" -- The First Amendment!.
And, yes, I did text this message to several Board members!!
15 comments:
Is that Richard Augustine's picture?
Speaking of electronic messages, just got a text that they voted unanimously for Canfield.
Lets hope he is tough enough to go against the Comm School employees, union and poolie groupies.
Yes lets move on, now we need to wait and remember all the b.s. the last year and vote out Marshall for good in May.
This is not the first time that particular spouse has insinuated himself into the political arena. Perhaps someone should let him know that his "wife" was elected by the voters and this isn't the "Stepford Wives" generation. Someone needs to find a new hobby, I hear the community school has some great offerings next session!
Sorry, maybe I am missing something not having SACAT in HD TV.
Can someone/anyone tell me how you know when someone is communicating on their device versus when someone may be simply checking their calender, to do list or passing time playing a game?
Its nice to see that out-of-touch with current practice and new ideas is a family affliction.
Like wife like husband I guess.
The majority on the current school committee pass hand written notes to one another often (check the tapes).
So, is it just using technology that's the issue?
Or, is this another case of do as I say not as I do?
The Truth Maker would add, It must be ok for his wife to read from previous prepared notes from others, but it is not ok for a selectman to do the same?
What happened to my post that was the 2nd post on this topic last night?
Just out of plan courtesy laptops should not be allowed. I sit on boards in Boston and never does one pull out a laptop in the middle of a meeting to check on emails! Please!
Also the selectmen had a deal a few years back if one's cell phone went off they needed to put $ into a jar! There was a reason for that, maybe we need to go back to that! It interrupts!! One is at work when the are attending a meeting, period! Just plain Jane courtesy!
This could become fun, Bob! Let's play pin the tail on the "DONKEY OF THE WEEK"! Each week we could sift through reader suggestions for this week's "ass" in search of a tail. It could become a Friday feature -- let's face it, the material would be endless. Just a suggestion from your dedicated NPTA editorial staff! :)
Cell phones are one thing but laptops are another..... just out of plain curiosity!
Was it your message that made the selectwomen's phone go off never mind light up??
7:54, your comment was restored. No, that particular phone call was not my doing.
Laptops are (or at least SHOULD BE) used for a lot more than checking emails ---- it's no different than shuffling through a pile pf papers and looseleaf notebooks to check notes, calendars & backup information. I wouldn't want to do anything to discourage folks from having some facts in front of them when they talk.
But, I do agree with you about the noise of ringing cellphones during meetings -- both at the table AND in the audience.
Perhaps we should communicate with our elected officials via Owls ? It seemed to work great for Harry Potter!
Its 2011. We are a wireless, internet-based, electronic dependent society. We pay bills, communicate, research and entertain ourselves electronically. Virtually every organization in America has or plans to Go Paperless; its good for business, good for the environment and its cost effective. Most colleges, universities and many high schools now require laptops. There is simply no better, more efficient way to store, access and manage information. Even libraries are now designed and constructed without space for books!
Here in our little Town every department is on the web, providing instant access to policy, procedures and even select town archives. The Town of Sandwich is automated and accessible. Answers to virtually any town policy or procedure can be found on-line 24/7/365. Town Committee meeting agendas and meeting materials are now routed electronically and also available on line. Freedom of Information has never been so easy.
And yet, somebody thinks PCs and electronic devices in a meeting are problematic? Someone actually thinks paper and pens is a preferred practice? How so? To aid organization? To speed access to data? To facilitate organization and file management? What backward thinking nonsense! There’s a million very good reasons why laptops, blackberries and I Pads are the must have tools of business (and society) today. To propose doing away with access to these powerful information management devices during town-business meetings is beyond silly.
The lap top last week, was explained. A printer didn't work so the lap top brought the email to the meeting. The BOS often have emails from citizens or materials to pass on to the board. A year of more ago I remember the discussion of the BOS about getting their agenda's electronically to cut down on paper. Dana used his lap top at meetings for some time. I'm sure it was who had the lap top last week that was the issue.
The phones can be silenced now. At gatherings sometimes people are asked to silence their phones. The BOS changed the policy in May of 2008 because they didn't want to continue to publicly humiliate people. The price was step too, another we are giving it to charity diversion. They were forcing people to spend 10 hard earned bucks. I was surprised the COA went along with it, forcing people to give to them.
I would assume Nancy's husband has been before the School Committee on this issue and not just the Selectman. While there may be merit, I think this is clearly a personal agenda issue for the most part.
He needs to back off and stop harassing everybody who disagrees with his wife. She was elected -- he wasn't.
Bobby you obviously had no idea that Dr.Johnson's Great Great Great Great Uncle was Thomas Jefferson. How could you reference Johnson's Family and Crossman together?
Johnson's Family stands for freedom justice and equality for all. Crossman stands for censorship and dictatorship when not out witch hunting.
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