Windham council adopts flag policy
Jun. 21—WINDHAM — Windham Town Council members have approved a policy regulating flags raised at town hall and other town- owned or town- maintained facilities.
The policy was proposed by council member Dawn Niles and was approved 10-0 June 15.
" I think it's a good document," Windham Mayor T h o m a s DeVivo said. " It's easy to follow." Council members have received several recent requests by local activists to raise flags at town hall and the issue has been controversial.
On Friday, town officials flew Pan- Africa and Juneteenth flags outside town hall.
The town has also flown POW/ MIA, Ireland and Mexico flags, as well as the official flag for fallen police officers.
The newly approved policy states the town council " declares that flagpoles owned or maintained by the Town of Windham are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public but rather, as a non-public forum for the brief display of commemorative or organization flags authorized by the town council."
DeVivo said the flag flown for fallen police officers last month was just a black background with a blue line in the middle and was not an altered American flag.
He said he plans to establish a list of flag- flying dates with Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers that the council will review.
For example, in recognition of Pride Month, a Pride flag will be flown outside town hall during an event that begins at 10 a. m. Friday.
In May, council member Ernest Eldridge said he was opposed to flying special flags, with the national, state and POW/MIA flags being
WINDHAM, Page 4
I think it's a good document. It's easy to follow.
Mayor Thomas DeVivo
------
Windham Town Council adopts flag policy
Continued from Page 1
exceptions.
However, he voted in favor of the flag- flying policy during the June 15 council meeting.
" If we're going to have a policy, we ought to stick to it," Eldridge said.
Recently, the town put up two new flag poles by the American flag pole to hang special flags.
DeVivo said there was some debate about whether the Mexico flag should be flown on Cinco de Mayo, May 5, or Mexican Independence Day, which is actually Sept. 16.
In April, council members voted 8- 2 to fly that flag on Cinco de Mayo, with Eldridge and Tony Fantoli opposed. DeVivo said a petition was submitted to change the date.
Requests must be made at least 60 days in advance of the event at which a group wants to fly a flag.
The policy stipulates any request to fly an organizational or commemorative flag must be placed on the agenda by three or more council members for consideration.
The council needs to have seven of its 11 members present to have a quorum and there would need to be at least five " yes" votes for such requests to be approved.
All flags need to be flown according to the U. S. flag code.
If any other flag is being flown at half- staff, the organizational or commemorative flag will also be flown at half- staff, the proposal states.
Under the new policy, the only flag that could be flown more than once a year is the POW flag.
All other flags would be flown for a " period of time that is reasonable or customary for the duration of the event or a maximum of seven continuous days," the policy states.
The approved policy also states that flags that mark up or alter the American flag will not be flown.
Under the approved policy, the following flags will not be allowed: flags of a particular religious movement or creed; flags of a political party; flags advocating a certain outcome in an election; flags of a commercial organization; and flags that enable, show support for or suggest violence, discrimination, prejudice or racism.
Follow Michelle Warren on Twitter-@ mwarrentc.
