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Proposal to remove invocation from Bay City commission rules fails after divided vote
Summary
An ordinance to remove the invocation from the commission's order of business and move public input failed after debate. The city commission split 4‑2 with one abstention; several commissioners argued for inclusion while others favored removal or a moment of silence.
The Bay City City Commission voted on June 16 on a proposed ordinance to remove the invocation from the start of meetings and to move the public‑input period. After extended debate, the proposal failed for lack of support.
Commissioner DeWitt moved to approve an amendment to the code of ordinances to remove the invocation and to reposition public input; Commissioner Thornburg seconded. Commissioner Rhunberg argued removal would be more inclusive and proposed replacing the invocation with a moment of silence, saying the change would “avoid this particular debate” about denominational preference. Commissioner Coakley and Commissioner Bernie Obershaw argued for keeping the invocation; Obershaw said, “I am going to honor my Lord Jesus and savior” and later stated she would abstain from the vote.
When the commission called the question, the roll call was: Runberg (yes), Charlebois (yes), Morris (no), Coakley (no), Bernie Obershaw (abstain), Tenney (yes), DeWitt (yes). That produced four yes votes, two no votes and one abstention; the motion did not pass.
Why it matters: The procedural change would have altered the formal start of commission meetings and moved public input earlier in the agenda. Commissioners debating the measure tied it to broader questions of representativeness and inclusion; some asked instead for a moment of silence. No ordinance was adopted at this meeting.
