Coventry council discusses creation of flag policy

Matthew Verrilli, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·2 min read

Sep. 7—COVENTRY — The Coventry Town Council discussed the possible adoption of a town flag-flying policy during its meeting on Tuesday.

The discussion comes at the recommendation of the town's attorney following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shurtleff v. City of Boston. In this case, the court ruled that the city of Boston violated a private organization's First Amendment right of free religious exercise by not allowing the group to fly a Christian flag outside Boston City Hall.

The proposed policy for Coventry would allow the U.S., state and town flags, as well as the flag of Coventry, England — its sister city — to be flown on property owned and maintained by the town, along with a few exceptions.

These exceptions include specific flags such as POW/MIA, which can be flown on the Veterans Memorial Green at the discretion of the Coventry Veterans Memorial and Events Commission.

Additionally, any town-owned property serving as an office, such as the fire or police department, can fly its designated department flag.

The policy also states that the departments can fly a flag honoring or recognizing first responders, subject to council approval. But council members want this clause to be more defined.

Town Council Chairwoman Lisa Thomas said she would like a clearer definition of which flags can be flown by a specific department. Having something open for approval or denial by the Town Council politicizes the flagpole and raises First Amendment issues, which is what they are trying to avoid.

Some flags that show support for first responders, such as the thin blue line flag, have recently become politicized and may cause controversy if flown on town property.

Thomas said having this policy will allow the town to stay out of First Amendment conflicts and gives a clear indication of what is or is not allowed to fly on municipal properties.

"The purpose of having a policy is so that people have something they can rely on," Thomas said.

"Once the town flies flags from other groups, we have created a public forum that requires us to consider all flag requests," Thomas said. "As a government entity, we should not be in the business of deciding which non-governmental group is more worthy than another to have its symbolic flag hoisted on public property."

Matthew covers Coventry and Tolland for the Journal Inquirer.