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Monroe County commissioner urges policy on flag/banner displays after dispute over Pride flag on administration building
Summary
Commissioner David C. Parker read a prepared statement explaining his opposition to hanging external banners or flags on the County Administration Building during events, saying such displays can be perceived as county endorsement and may conflict with flag code and employee concerns.
Commissioner David C. Parker used a June 18 meeting comment period to clarify his opposition to hanging event flags or banners on the side of the County Administration Building, saying the display amounts to an endorsement and that the county lacked a policy to govern such displays.
Parker said he supported allowing use of Courthouse Square for events, but he does not support mounting banners or flags on the administration building because the county does not control event activities. He said he voted against the flag display motion after efforts to separate the property-use vote from the flag-display vote.
“To me, hanging the banner or flag is tantamount to a county endorsement of the event and its activities, and the county has no control over the event nor the activities,” Parker said, reading his prepared remarks. He also raised concerns that inconsistent approvals could expose the county to legal challenge if some groups’ flags were approved and others’ denied.
Another commissioner said post-installation damage and safety issues had been observed when flags were hung on the building; the commissioner said the American flag briefly contacted the ground during windy conditions and the installation method posed safety concerns.
Parker closed by inviting constituents to discuss his votes and to contact him directly for clarification.
