WM Council passes resolution to say Pledge

WM Council passes resolution to say Pledge

Recitation will kick off council meetings beginning Feb. 1

news@theeveningtimes.com

“I see no controversy here,” said Helen Harris at a West Memphis city council work session on the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The councilwoman’s statement proved prophetic as full city council considered a resolution adding the Pledge to its regular meeting agenda.

The measure went to the floor during the final meeting of January with hardly another word for or against the measure. Seven ward representatives were present and all voted for saluting the flag during regular council meetings.

Three city council members were absent from the meeting. Councilwoman Lorraine Robinson had spoken passionately for the pledge and made clear her high regard of the flag during the work session. Councilwoman Melanie Hutchinson was absent, missed the work session on the Pledge resolution, and only had questions for proponent, Councilman Wayne Croom when he first brought the idea to the full council. Councilman Marco McClendon missed the meeting for the final vote, missed the special meeting to consider adding the pledge but did not miss the opportunity to label the reciting of the Pledge controversial. The first shot fired after the idea came out was from McClendon, “Why do you want to bring controversy where there is none?”

Mayor Johnson anticipated little controversy as he introduced the resolution for the city council vote.

“The resolution on the pledge is very straight forward and I don’t foresee much debate on it,” said Johnson.

The resolution was moved forward by Councilman James Pulliaum and Councilwoman Ramona Taylor. Taylor had insisted that the desire of city council to recite the pledge be written in the form of a resolution despite the assurance from City Attorney Mike Stephenson that the council had the authority to set its own agenda. Taylor served to second the resolution and set it up for the vote.

When the time came for the vote, the council members present acted in solidarity. Willis Mondy, James Holt, Wayne Croom, Tracy Catt, James Pulliaum, and Helen Harris passed the resolution to recite the pledge on a unanimous voice vote without any further discussion.

The newly instated observance

will begin Thursday,

Feb. 1, to begin the first city council meeting of the month, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

By John Rech