Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flags And Symbols topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council to send flag policy debate to committee after public criticism of recent flag votes
Summary
A resident criticized the council's recent vote to deny two requested flags and asked the council to reexamine its flag policy; council members agreed to place the issue on an upcoming committee agenda for further public discussion.
A Batavia resident urged the City Council on Aug. 18 to reconsider the council's handling of recent requests to fly non-government flags, and the council agreed to put the city's flag policy back on a committee agenda for more public review.
Resident Bob McQuillan, who said he informally polled marketgoers about the matter, told the council he did not agree with the vote that denied two flags and said the decision sets a problematic precedent. "You have now created a pest precedent where two very worthy causes were denied," McQuillan said.
McQuillan described briefly polling about 22 people at the Batavia Farmers Market, ages 15 to 76, and said none expected the 3-to-9 council vote that denied the suicide-prevention and breast-cancer-awareness flags. He also suggested either limiting flag flying to the four government flags or revoting on the two denied flags.
Council members discussed options and concerns during the public-comments portion and throughout later council discussion. One councilmember who had supported the suicide-prevention flag said not all members anticipated public objections and suggested the city should avoid making visitors or applicants feel unwelcome when they attend to present a request. Another councilmember noted some aldermen prefer a single, broadly representative flag instead of flags tied to specific organizations, citing concerns about appearing to advertise nonprofits.
After discussion, the council agreed to place the issue on an upcoming committee meeting so the policy and its effects can be discussed in public and with more notice to residents. The mayor said the committee meeting will be publicized ahead of time so any resident who wants to speak may attend.
There was no formal rescission of the previous vote during the meeting; the action recorded at the end of the discussion was a directive to schedule the flag policy for further committee consideration. Councilmembers also suggested staff explore whether mayoral or administrative delegation could address routine flag requests.
The council did not take immediate policy action; staff were asked to prepare materials ahead of the committee meeting and to publicize the discussion in advance so residents can offer comment.
