Mayors weigh in on banning BlackBerries

Jan 17 Kelowna Daily Courier:

Kelowna city councillors could be prevented from using their BlackBerry wireless hand-held devices during council meetings. Mayor Sharon Shepherd said she‘s concerned about the practice and intends to raise the topic at Monday‘s meeting. “From my perspective, everyone needs to pay attention during a meeting,” Shepherd said, “and I‘m not sure that happens when people are busy checking their BlackBerries.” Shepherd is also concerned that, occasionally, people in the gallery may be communicating directly with councillors during a meeting where there is no formal provision for public input. “During a debate, certain councillors may be receiving information that isn‘t available to other councillors,” she said, adding she‘s not sure how well the idea of a possible BlackBerry prohibition would be received by her elected colleagues. “I‘m not sure we‘d ever get an agreement around their use,” she said.

Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert said he‘s not concerned about the use of personal BlackBerries or the Internet-equipped terminals installed at each councillor‘s desk during normal council meetings. “During a regular meeting, I think using those things are fair game,” he said. However, during a more formal public hearing – when councillors are typically making decisions on land-use matters and other development applications – Lippert doesn‘t believe councillors should be using BlackBerries or accessing their email. Lippert notes there are laws that govern when councillors can receive information on matters being discussed during public hearings. Using BlackBerries during public hearings could run afoul of those laws, he suggests. “There‘s a different set of rules for public hearings,” he said. “If I saw a councillor using their BlackBerry during a public hearing, I‘d ask them to turn it off. But I‘ve never had to do that.”

In Penticton, Mayor Dan Ashton said he doesn‘t think there‘s a need for a formal ban on the use of BlackBerries during meetings. “There‘s a time and place for their use, and it‘s a matter of common sense,” he said. “I don‘t think councillors should always be texting during meetings, but it‘s not something that has to be addressed by regulation.” The use of BlackBerries by elected officials during council meetings has arisen as an issue in other cities, with different results. In July 2006, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel introduced a ban on BlackBerry use during council meetings. “I look down on the row of councillors and see them playing with their BlackBerries,” he said at the time. “I think councillors spend too much time focusing on those things. We‘re here to do the business we‘re elected to do, to pay attention to questions, answers and debate.” However, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier has permitted the use of BlackBerries during meetings, saying they allow aldermen to multi-task, use their time more efficiently and have staff check facts being debated in council.