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Putney board agrees to fly Neurodiversity Pride flag after EIAC statements and public criticism
Summary
EIAC Chair Conn Kennedy-Spielman read Women's History Month and Neurodiversity Week statements and asked to fly a Neurodivergent Pride flag; the Selectboard approved flying the flag March 18'31, 2026, and a resident criticized the committee as "performative and procedurally deficient."
Conn "Swift Everdy" Kennedy-Spielman, chair of Putney's Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, read a Women's History Month statement and an International Neurodiversity Week statement and requested the Selectboard permit the committee to fly a Neurodivergent Pride flag.
"Requested to fly Neurodivergent Pride flag March 18 through March 22, 2026," Kennedy-Spielman said. Selectboard member Aileen Tulloch moved to fly the flag through March 31 and Rebecca "Bex" Slattery seconded; the motion passed.
During the same item, Heather Small read a statement criticizing the committee's work and urged the Selectboard to demand substantive policy work. "What we are seeing from this committee is not meaningful; it is performative and procedurally deficient," Small said, asking the board to hold the committee to the same standards as town departments. EIAC Chair Kennedy-Spielman acknowledged earlier communications from Small and said the committee is seeking members and aiming to move toward "more action, less talk."
The board approved the short-term flag display and asked staff and the committee to pursue membership and policy work going forward.
