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Commission tables prayer-policy discussion, adds Pledge of Allegiance to agendas
Summary
Commissioners debated opening meetings with prayer and whether the Pledge of Allegiance counts as an invocation; they voted to postpone a formal policy on prayer and later moved to add the Pledge of Allegiance as a standing agenda item at the start of future meetings.
The Whitman County Planning Commission discussed whether meetings should open with a prayer or invocation and whether reciting the Pledge of Allegiance constitutes prayer.
Legal counsel advised that invocations or prayers at public meetings are discretionary and recommended the commission adopt a formal policy consistent with U.S. Supreme Court guidance; he offered to draft a memo if five commissioners requested it. Following discussion, a motion was made to postpone consideration of a prayer policy indefinitely; the chair called the motion carried and the topic was tabled. The transcript records that some members abstained during the vote.
Later in the meeting commissioners moved to add the Pledge of Allegiance as a standing agenda item at the start of future meetings; the motion passed and the chair said the pledge will appear at the start of agendas going forward.
