PORTAGE, Wisc. -- You hear them ringing all the time. These days personal cell phones are everywhere, but should they be in the workplace? Some in Portage say no -- and they're moving toward banning such phone calls, and maybe even the phones themselves. One proposal would permanently sever city employees' personal cell phone use.

The mayor of Portage says he's heard enough. "Four, five personal cell phone calls or somebody trading stock during the day is just not an Allowable situation," Portage Mayor Jeff Grothman said.

The mayor and city council president back a human resources proposal, banning 80 employees from making or accepting any personal cell phone callsat work. [ Both say that would be hard to enforce, though, and believe the city will ban workers from bringing their cell phones to work altogether.

"We may be out in front, but I think many other businesses and communities are going to perceive the same problem and possibly react the same way," said city council president, Jim Bryan.

A few employees and all department heads get city cell phones. That won't change.

Just what would change is hard to tell. No worker wanted to talk to go on the record about the policy proposal. Officials say it's necessary to protect taxpayers.

"Every one of those folks have a set of eyes and they're paying the bill, and they watch," said the Mayor.

Officials say they're also worried about safety. They say in the case of emergencies, there are city phones or city radios in every vehicle.

We were unable to talk to either city union representative.

If a cell phone measure passes Thursday, it could take effect right away the next day.