Can you hear me now?
Essex Mayor Ron McDermott wants his councillors to stop using cell phones and social media during meetings unless it's for an emergency. McDermott says it distracts from the business at hand and wants councillors to follow the municipality's code of conduct.
"Very distracting. Especially when the meeting is going on and we have council members texting out there and it isn't good town business. It's other stuff," says McDermott.
The issue will be discussed in full at the next council meeting August 21.
McDermott says some councillors are posting on facebook when they should be listening and dealing with town business.
"When the meeting is over. You don't have to do it as we're speaking. Can't you wait an hour to put that, what I call, crap out there?" the mayor says.
McDermott says it's terrible what's going on at council meetings and is accusing one councillor of posting disrespectful remarks about him while the meeting is underway.
"During the meeting you shouldn't be sending stuff out there. Listen to what's going on. You're playing with your phone for five minutes, you think that's not distracting me sitting next to you," McDermott says.
