NORTH PORT — The convenience provided by the electronic age clashes Monday with state statutes, when city commissioners address board members’ participation in official meetings by telephone.

The issue was placed on the agenda by Commissioner Linda Yates, who said Friday in an email, “This agenda item is addressing the matter of participation by phone in accordance with the practice accepted by (the) commission in a manner as advised by city attorney (Rob Robinson) at the (March 14, 2011) meeting, which was different than past practices of (the) commission.”