Politics & Government

Cellphone Scandal Hits Council Chambers

City Councilors are not supposed to use cellphones during meetings. Jeremy Denlea says councilors are using them, and he wants repercussions.

Last month's hot topic during an Attleboro City Council meeting was when councilors take their bathroom breaks. This week it was whether councilors were using their cellphones during meetings, violating an unofficial rule set by council President Frank Cook banning the use of cellphones by councilors and audience members during meetings. 

Councilor Jeremy Denlea alleged Monday night that some of his colleagues were "texting, emailing and playing games during every meeting." He at first did not specify names, but later pointed at the two men who sit to his immediate right at the horseshoe table—Richard Conti and Jonathan Weydt.

Weydt said he was "very upset and disgusted" by the allegation. Denlea immediately responded that he sees Weydt checking the scores of Boston Bruins hockey games at every meeting (watch the attached video to see the exchange). Weydt said there was no proof this was true.

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"I just don't appreciation accusations you cannot prove," said Weydt, addressing Denlea. "If you can prove it, I'd like to see you prove it. But obviously you can’t, and I think you should spend more time worrying about your business in Ward 5 than people using cellphones around here."

Cook said there were two reasons for not allowing cellphone use. The device supposedly interferes with the audio in television broadcasts of meetings. Also, it raises possible Massachusetts open meeting law violations if councilors are communicating with each other in silence via text message.

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In response to a question from Denlea, Cook said he has "never come up with any repercussions," for councilors caught using cellphones. He added, “But if I have to, I will."

Denlea said there should be repercussions. He told Cook, "I would like something in place because I feel if some of my colleagues have the opportunity to text and use their phones during council meetings, why shouldn't I and everyone else have the same opportunity?"


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