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Mayor warns council against texts during meetings, cites ordinance limits on debate and conduct
Summary
The mayor reminded aldermen of local ordinance limits on debate (section 2‑1‑28) and conduct (section 2‑1‑31) and warned that text messages exchanged during meetings can be subject to public records rules under the Open Meetings Act.
The mayor warned council members that local ordinances restrict speaking time and prohibit private communications during meetings, and reminded members that text messages exchanged about meeting business can be subject to public disclosure under the Open Meetings Act. During council reports the mayor referenced ordinance sections by number and said: "1 is section 2 dash 1 28, which provides limits on debate. This 1 says no alderman shall speak longer than 5 minutes about any project." He also cited section 2‑1‑31 on conduct while speaking and section 2‑1‑30 on private discourse, and warned members that "Any text message that you send between each other can be foible and will be foible. But it's also a violation of the ordinance to text while the meeting is going on. So please, for those of you that are texting during the meeting, please do not. Any member of the public can get all your private messages…" (transcript phrasing). Council members were instructed to be mindful of time limits and to avoid private messaging on agenda matters during meetings. The mayor said the rules are especially important for new aldermen and underscored that private communications could be subject to public records requests or Open Meetings Act requirements. The council did not take a formal disciplinary action at the meeting; the remarks were issued as a procedural reminder to members.
