Mayor Barbara Volk reads a proclamation for Hendersonville Pride Day to Laura Bannister, president of LGBTQ Democrats of Henderson County, at the City Operations Center Thursday. [PATRICK SULLIVAN/TIMES-NEWS] ▲

All four Hendersonville City Council members say they were opposed to Mayor Barbara Volk's proclamation last Thursday for a day recognizing LGBTQ community members.



During last Thursday's council meeting, Volk read a proclamation in recognition of the inaugural Hendersonville Pride Day, a series of events this Saturday celebrating LGBTQ pride. News of the proclamation drew a full house of supporters and opponents to the 150-person meeting room at the City Operations Center.



But Volk stood on her own, her fellow council members say. Council members said while they support LGBTQ rights, they did not support the city's endorsement of such a hot-button issue through a mayoral proclamation.



Proclamations are historically read for non-controversial issues such as Parkinson's Awareness Month or even during the same meeting Thursday, when Volk issued a proclamation in remembrance for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.



Volk could not be reached for comment Monday.



Unlike resolutions where the council gets to vote, proclamations are only made by the mayor, according to city spokesperson Allison Nock, but council members can request the mayor to issue a proclamation as well. The proclamations are neither vetted beforehand nor can the council override and remove them from the agenda with a majority vote.



But that may change following Volk's action Thursday. Mayor Pro Tem Ron Stephens said council members are looking to change the rules so that a mayor cannot make a proclamation without majority approval of the council.



Stephens, who announced Monday he will not seek re-election this year after 12 years on council, said when he found out about the proclamation he called and emailed Volk, begging her not to go forward with it.



"She was determined to do it and she has the right do it, currently," said Stephens. "We are investigating getting the rules changed so that, in the future, neither she nor any future mayor can make a proclamation without the approval of City Council."



In his 12 years on council, Stephens said he has never received more emails or phone calls on an issue. About 80 percent of the feedback he has received were against the proclamation.



Stephens said he does not discriminate against LGBTQ people. He has worked with, hired and has family members who are LGBTQ.



"I just don't think it reflects Hendersonville for us to declare gay pride day," said Stephens. "It's a private thing. What they want to do in their private lives is fine with me. I'm not making judgement on that. I'm just saying it's not a public issue."



Councilman Steve Caraker said local government's purpose is to provide services and keep the rule of law enforced. Endorsing special interest groups is not what they are charged to do by taxpayers.



"The other four of us didn't really think the proclamation was necessary," Caraker said. "It's a divisive issue. I would have rather seen a proclamation that addressed general discrimination. This kind of stuff is a hot-button issue. She didn't consult any of us before she did it."



Councilman Jeff Miller said he didn't see it as a proper use of a proclamation or resolution, adding he wouldn't support a "straight pride day" proclamation either.



Miller said the LGBTQ community has been treated inappropriately for years and there's no denying that. Miller said he's 100 percent in them having all the same rights and responsibilities, but he didn't feel it was something the city should be doing.



Miller said he knew about the proclamation a couple weeks before the meeting, but by then it was a done deal. He asked Volk if she could at least explain what a proclamation is to the audience Thursday evening.



"It would have been nice if the mayor talked to us about it," said Miller. "There may have been a different solution that didn't create such a controversy."



Councilman Jerry Smith echoed Miller's sentiments, saying he supported the text of the proclamation and supporting people's sexual preferences. But he didn't feel it was necessary for the city to designate a day for it.



Smith said he didn't approach Volk beforehand or speak during the meeting in opposition. He said it's the mayor's prerogative to issue proclamations as she would like.

