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Community Development Board adopts monthly rotation for brief opening invocation after heated debate
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Summary
After a months-long discussion and constitutional warnings from the board attorney, the Community Development Board voted to begin meetings with a brief, voluntary invocation or moment of silence on a rotating monthly basis; two members opposed the rule.
The Community Development Board voted on Sept. 16 to begin its meetings with a brief, voluntary opening invocation or moment of silence, with members rotating the responsibility monthly and a suggested 60-second guideline. The motion passed after extended discussion and two votes in which two members opposed the measure.
The issue came to a head when board member Mike Mastrocerio proposed, “I’d like to make a motion that we open each meeting with prayer to Jesus Christ,” and asked the board to act after what he called recent events. Jay Daigneau, the board attorney, cautioned that framing the motion to require prayer to a specific deity would likely violate the Constitution: “The motion as stated ... would suggest a singularly Christian prayer. And, as you can glean from my memorandum, back in July, that's not going to pass constitutional muster.”
Why it matters: the change affects how public meetings begin and raises legal and inclusion questions about religion in government settings. Board members debated whether the invocation should be voluntary, led by board members or guests, limited in duration, or administered by staff.
Board members settled on a two-step approach: first, the board approved adding an opening invocation or moment of silence to meeting agendas; second, it approved procedural guidance that members rotate monthly to lead the opening or invite a guest, may opt for silence, and should generally limit remarks to about 60 seconds. The board recorded that staff would not be tasked with sourcing invocations; invitations were expected to be coordinated by the rotating board member and the chair.
During deliberations, several members urged narrower language to reduce legal risk and preserve inclusiveness. Ted Kozak, of the planning and development staff, urged compromise, saying the board should use “different language that just represents Jesus Christ, but perhaps says it in godly or spiritual form or wording that I would love some feedback on that is constitutional to prevent the city from being sued and lose.” Mastrocerio later withdrew his original wording and restated a motion to “open each meeting with a word of prayer,” which was seconded and carried.
The board also discussed practical details: whether the invocation should be delivered by a board member or a guest, whether staff should manage requests (staff declined that responsibility as a standing duty), and how to respond when a member chooses not to participate. At least one board member volunteered to begin the rotation when scheduling begins.
The action was procedural: the board adopted the invitation and the rotating-month procedure and did not adopt any binding requirement compelling attendance or assent to a particular faith. The transcript does not record the names of the two members who voted against the final procedural motion.
The change will take effect for upcoming meetings; the board did not specify a formal implementation date in the public discussion recorded in the transcript.
