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Select Board approves black‑bunting policy for Town Hall; designates Amy as board representative
Summary
The board unanimously approved a town policy to display black bunting and a mourning ribbon at Town Hall according to specified criteria; the policy requires requests to be submitted to the town manager with final approval by the town manager, the veterans services agent, and a designated Select Board member (Amy was named).
The Select Board on Nov. 4 approved a black‑bunting and mourning‑ribbon policy for Town Hall proposed by Michelle Hamilton, Director of Veterans Services. The policy establishes display specifications and a request process intended to standardize mourning displays and to align local practice with statutory limits on flag lowering.
Michelle Hamilton explained the policy’s purpose and placement (around the town hall entrance) and cited historical examples of memorial bunting. Under the policy, all requests meeting the criteria must be submitted to the town manager; final approval will be made jointly by the town manager, the veteran services agent, and a designated Select Board member, with decisions allowed by the remaining two if one party is unavailable.
After approving the policy by voice vote, the board nominated and unanimously approved Amy as the Select Board’s designated member for bunting approvals. The motion to approve the policy and the subsequent nomination were carried without recorded opposition.
The policy is intended to ensure consistent application and to avoid unauthorized flag lowering, which is governed at the state and federal level. The board also discussed appointing alternates for decision continuity if a designated approver is unavailable.
