Farmington city councilor refuses to use email
Posted at: 02/19/2013 7:27 PM
| Updated at: 02/19/2013 7:29 PM
By: Ashley McElroy, KOB Eyewitness News 4
In the year 2013, it's hard to find someone who doesn't have an email, but KOB Eyewitness News 4 has found a Farmington city councilor who refuses to get an email address, even though the city says she needs it.
Mary Fischer has been a city councilor in Farmington on and off for about 30 years and likes to interact with her constituents, in person or over the phone.
"They always feel free to come up to me to tell me their complaints or often sometimes compliments," said Fischer.
But communicating with her colleagues is sometimes rocky.
Fischer and mayor Tommy Roberts got into a heated argument at last week's city council meeting. Fischer was upset about other city councilors not informing her about important issues.
So the mayor decided that a city issued email and computer should be installed in Fischer's office.
"It forecloses on the assertions that she's not receiving the same information that other councilors are receiving," said Roberts.
The mayor says it's also a good way to reach people who do like to communicate online.
"It's a means by which elected officials can better communicate with their constituents," said Roberts.
But Fischer has a different perspective.
"People like to talk to people and we've seemed to depersonalize so many things that it’s nice to talk to an elected official who'd actually respond," said Fischer.
So far a computer has not been installed in Fischer's office, and if it is, Fischer says she will not use it and ask for it to be taken out.
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