There will be changes to both the structure and the procedure of the Highlands Board of Commissioners when the board meets on Jan. 21.
During the board’s December meeting, the group decided to do away with the rotating position of Mayor Pro Tempore and revert to a voting system. The change was made to cut off conflicts among board members who may be in line for the position but do not wish to serve in the pro-tem role, according to mayor Patrick Taylor.
“Many years ago this board did elect and then vote for the mayor pro-tem, but shortly after I was elected mayor the board decided to simply rotate that position among members,” Taylor said. “After speaking with our current mayor pro-tem Donnie Calloway and commissioner Amy Patterson, who will be the pro-tem in 2021, they both agreed that we should go back to voting for that position.”
The primary role of the mayor pro tempore is to handle mayoral business should the elected mayor not be able to serve for any reason. The mayor pro tem also conducts any meetings where the mayor in unable to attend.
Taylor added that he reached out to the North Carolina League of Municipalities to see how other similar towns handled the mayor pro tempore position and learned that nearly all boards vote on the matter, either annually or every two years.
A motion to begin voting for the mayor pro-tem in 2022 passed unanimously.
In a separate motion, the board voted 3-2 to add the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence to the beginning of each meeting. Commissioner Marc Hehn proposed the measure in November.
“I don’t think that I need to show what I believe or the kind of person I am to start a public meeting when I’ve taken an oath to serve the town and its people,” Patterson said. “Frankly, I think it’s eye candy to do these kinds of things. If you know who you are, the citizens know who you are, and you act in the best interest of the town that is what matters.”
Commissioner John ‘Buz’ Dotson asked if the board would be willing to bring in members of local churches to lead a prayer prior to the meeting. The board decided that a non-denominational moment of silence was more appropriate.
A motion to say the Pledge of Allegiance and observe a moment of silence passed 3-2, with the caveat that the additions to the agenda begin when the board resumes in-person meetings.
Patterson and commissioner Brian Stiehler provided the dissenting votes.