ORDINANCE PROPOSAL FLAG POLICY
TOWN OF LITTLE COMPTON RHODE ISLAND
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER XI
OF THE LITTLE COMPTON TOWN CODE
The Town Council is proposing to establish a Flag Policy for all municipal flagpoles. Said policy will be established in Chapter 11 – Policies. A public hearing will be held on November 4, 2021 beginning at 7:15 PM. Residents are encouraged to attend to offer comment on the proposal.
The full text of the proposal is as follows:
Chapter 11 - POLICIES
11-1. FLAG POLICY.
11-1.1. Purpose.
The following regulations are provided to establish policy for display of flags on municipally owned flagpoles in the Town. Such displays are forms of speech which are subject to government speech doctrine. Accordingly, the Town, through the Town Council, has absolute and sole discretion to approve the display of any flag that is raised on a Town flagpole.
11-1.2. Applicability.
Display of flags on the following flagpoles is governed by this policy:
a. Town Hall
b. Pike’s Peak
c. Wilbur & McMahon School
d. Veterans’ Field
e. Public Safety Complex
11-1.3. Routine Display.
The flagstaff on the Town Hall will be reserved for display of the Flag of the United States, and no other flags.
The other four town flagpoles will display the Flag of the United States, and may also display the Flag of the State and the Flag of the Town, as well as the POW/MIA Flag, per 36 USC 10 Section 189a.
Display of the Flag of the United States, including conditions for displaying it at half-staff, shall conform to US Flag Code as set forth in 4 USC 1.
11-1.4. Special Display.
Upon the receipt of a petition signed by 25 qualified electors of the Town, as verified by the Board of Canvassers, the Town Council shall entertain a petition to fly another flag on a Town flagpole. The petition must include a description of the flag to be flown, a picture of the flag, and the date requested for the flying of the flag.
Once approved by the Town Council, the flag shall be flown only for a single 24-hour period, and such display will not be repeated more than once within any 12-month period. It will be flown from the Pike’s Peak flagpole, either by itself or beneath the other flags on the flagpole.
At no time will the Town display flags (a) deemed to be inappropriate or offensive in nature; or (b) those supporting discrimination or prejudice; or (c) flags in support of a politician or a political party.
The proposal may also be found in the Office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, 40 Commons, Little Compton during normal business hours or viewed on the Town website at www.littlecomptonri.org
Individuals requesting interpreter services for the hearing impaired must notify the Town Clerk’s Office at (401) 635-4400, 72 hours in advance of the hearing date.
HEARING DATE: November 4, 2021
TIME: 7:15 PM
PLACE: Town Hall, Town Council Chambers, 40 Commons, Little Compton, RI