Prayer In Debate

Montpelier Mayor Steve Yagelski said village council meetings will continue to open with a prayer for as long as he’s mayor. Last month, Elijah Utley spoke against opening the meetings with a prayer, calling it exclusionary, especially if the prayer is exclusively Christian in nature. Utley returned for Monday’s meeting, intending to speak about a different issue, but again addressing the prayer. Yagelski spoke up, telling Utley that the public comment section of the meeting had to do with village business and responsibility. He also said federal law allows the village to pray before the meeting