No electronic participation in city council meetings by Decorah City Council members

You might call it "The anti-Skype Ordinance."

The Decorah City Council has voted 4-2 to ban participation by council members by using telephone, video or other means of electronic communication.

City council member Gary Rustad, who voted in favor of the council rule, said the public has a "reasonable expectation" that city council members will be present at city council meetings when members of the public come to talk to them.

City council members Dan Bellrichard and Andy Carlson voted against the council rule, however, saying they believed the city council ought to be able to take advantage of electronics in order to participate in meetings they would otherwise miss.