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Community Development Board to revisit reinstating prayer before meetings after legal review requested
Summary
Board members debated reinstating prayer at the start of meetings, with supporters citing tradition and opponents urging caution about liability and inclusivity. Members asked the board attorney for a legal memorandum and agreed to put the issue on a future agenda.
The Community Development Board at its July 15 meeting discussed whether to reinstate a practice of offering a prayer before meetings, but did not adopt any policy. Board members voiced both support for returning to an opening prayer and concern about legal exposure and inclusivity; the board agreed to request a formal legal memorandum from the board attorney and to place the matter on a future agenda for formal consideration.
The discussion matters because it would alter the board's rules of procedure and the publicly posted meeting agenda and could expose the city or the board to legal challenges or challenge-related costs. Board members said they wanted guidance on legal risks, procedural mechanics and selection criteria before taking action.
Board members speaking during the discussion emphasized different priorities: some framed an opening prayer as part of the nation's historical practices and the board's traditions; others said a moment of silence would be less likely to raise constitutional or public-appearance concerns. Multiple members recommended waiting for written legal guidance before voting and requested the item be placed on a future meeting agenda so the public can comment.
Board counsel was identified in discussion as the person who would prepare a memorandum describing applicable law and recommended procedures. Members said the memo should outline both the legal permissibility and the operational safeguards they would need (for example, selection criteria for speakers and written rules to ensure nondiscrimination and consistency). One member noted the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld certain legislative prayer practices and referenced the Town of Greece decision as part of the legal context; board members also raised the separate question of whether defending any lawsuit would impose city costs.
There was no formal motion to change the board's rules at the meeting. Instead, the board directed that the board attorney's memorandum be obtained, that the topic be listed as an agenda item at the next meeting if the memo is ready, and that any subsequent rule amendments be drafted and vetted before a vote. A board member volunteered to remind the attorney to prepare the memorandum.
Background and next steps: board members said that if the board votes to proceed, the change would likely require amendments to the board's rules of procedure and placement of a defined slot on the posted agenda. Members suggested the rule changes could require two meetings'first to review the attorney's guidance and give direction, and a subsequent meeting to approve specific amendments to the rules and agenda format.
