Town to set flag policy
GREENWICH — The Board of Selectmen is set to vote on a new flag policy this week, according to an agenda posted on the town’s website.
The policy addresses which flags Greenwich displays at town buildings and the board has been discussing different variations of the policy for the past month. Though the policy is townwide, discussion has primarily centered around displays at Town Hall.
Local nonprofits and community groups — like the Red Cross, the Greenwich Hibernian Association, Greenwich Pride and LGBTQ allies and many others — have raised flags in the past. The new policy aims to preserve those traditions while protecting the town from legal liability.The new policy will require the Board of Selectmen to approve a calendar of flag-raisings each year, one which “shall be consistent with past practices and custom of commemorating certain holidays, nations, civic organizations or groups,” according to the policy presented at the Sept. 14 meeting.
First Selectman Fred Camillo said the policy aims to formalize the flag-raising process.
“The idea behind this policy ... is to preserve the traditions that we really like ... to get something on the books,” he said on Sept. 14.
New requests not already on this calendar can still be submitted 30 days in advance of the proposed display.
This language is designed to protect flags that have already flown at Town Hall in the past. The local LGBTQ community and allies voiced concerns at past board meetings that the Pride flag might be targeted for
The new policy will require the Board of Selectmen to approve a calendar of flag raisings each year.
removal in the future.
Flag requests not included in the calendar set each January will be presented at two board of selectmen meetings for consideration, according to the most recent draft of the policy.
The board did not express interest in adopting a more restrictionist
option, like the one adopted in Darien last year, which only allows the town, state and national flags to fly.
Flag policies came to the town’s attention following a 2017 lawsuit against the city of Boston by a conservative activist who claimed his free speech rights were violated when the town denied his request to fly a Christian flag.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the activist last year and Boston paid $2.1 million to settle the case.
The Board of Selectmen generally does two “reads” of an item before voting on it, but it decided to do three reads of the flag policy to ensure the public has sufficient tim e to share their thoughts on the proposal.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is on Thursday at 10 a.m .at Greenwich Town Hall in the meeting room, 101 Field Point Road. The meeting will also be broadcast on Greenwich Community Television.