Westlund proposes invocation for meetings, but councilors table request

POST FALLS — Council members pumped the brakes Tuesday after Mayor Randy Westlund proposed opening future city meetings with an invocation.  

“I would like to add a simple non-sectarian invocation to our meetings to solemnize the occasion, call our minds to the gravity of our duties and recognize that we operate under a higher power,” Westlund said.  

Westlund said the invocation would be delivered by the mayor at the start of each regular council meeting to “reflect a tone of general goodwill and inclusivity.” Attendance and participation would be voluntary for this portion of the proceedings, and the invocation "would not be intended to advocate or proselytize for any specific religion or belief system.”   

The proposal also offered a caveat that “no council action is influenced by participation or non-participation.”  

City Councilor Joe Malloy made a motion to table Westlund's proposal, which Councilor Samantha Steigleder seconded. 

Malloy indicated after the meeting that the proposal needed further consideration. 

If approved by the council, the invocation would be a fixed agenda item.  

Westlund said that although he hopes to put the measure before the council soon, he is willing to iron out the details first. 

“There are multiple ways to structure invocations, each with its own legal implications," Westlund said. "The discussion in executive session went longer than anticipated, and the decision was pushed to a future meeting.” 

Westlund is the first to propose an invocation to the Post Falls City Council.   

“It's very important to me that we get this right and make sure everything we do is appropriate and serves our residents while minimizing any potential legal liability, Westlund said. “I'm hopeful we can pick this up and have a decision soon.”