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Concord board narrows but defers final action on ceremonial flag policy after legal review requested
Summary
The Select Board advanced a draft municipal flag policy that would formalize ceremonial flags, but left unresolved whether ceremonial flags may fly on temporary light-pole holders and whether flags should be allowed for more than a single day; the board asked staff to revise language and seek town counsel review before returning with a final draft.
The Select Board spent extended discussion on a draft flag policy intended to codify how the town flies U.S., military, state, U.N./sister-city and ceremonial flags, and the process for Select Board-sponsored ceremonial flag requests.
Subcommittee members and staff explained the draft, which describes a Select Board member bringing ceremonial-flag requests to the town manager for approval and includes suggested process language that staff reviewed with town counsel. Key disagreements among members centered on three questions: whether ceremonial flags should be flown on the town center flagpole only or also on temporary holders attached to light poles; how long a ceremonial flag may remain raised (the draft suggested a single day but allowed board discretion); and the use of wording implying the flagpole display is a "non-public forum," which several members found confusing and asked counsel to reword.
Members favored memorializing current practice for the town-center pole but asked staff to remove or reword the contested language about temporary light-pole flags and to consult town counsel about the "non-public forum" phrasing. The board directed staff to return with a revised draft and legal review; it did not vote to adopt the policy at this meeting.
Select Board members emphasized consistency, clarity about costs (deployment/removal and overtime for Public Works or Fire Department support), and an expectation of public input for decisions that expand or change long-standing practice.
