MONTVALE, N.J.—You’ve probably heard the expression “Let’s run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.”
Borough officials are doing just that with a newly proposed flag-flying policy discussed briefly July 30 and likely to be the topic at an August town hall-style meeting, according to Mayor Michael Ghassali.
A brief discussion of a draft flag-flying policy drew differing views from residents July 30 and the mayor said a special town hall-style meeting will be announced soon to hear more opinions from borough residents.
The conversation follows that held in recent years in Westwood, where Mayor John Birkner Jr. has championed the flying of the Pride flag at Borough Hall in June as a statement of Westwood’s values on inclusiveness.
Flagpoles ‘not a public forum’
“In adopting this policy, the [Borough Council] declares that the borough’s flagpoles are not intended to serve as a public forum for free expression of the public, but rather for the display of federal, state, and municipal flags and the POW-MIA flag, and any commemorative flags as may be authorized by resolution of the Borough Council as an expression of the Borough’s official sentiments,” states the draft policy.
The three-page policy was prepared by Borough Attorney Joseph Voytus after a resident previously requested that the borough consider flying the Pride flag or rainbow flag, representing pride in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, during Gay Pride Month in June next year.
Pride Flag controversy
Flying of the multi-colored gay pride flag has drawn controversy in at least a dozen Bergen County communities—before and during June, which is Gay Pride Month.
The proposed flag-flying policy should be up on the borough’s website for review, Ghassali said.
A draft copy obtained by Pascack Press says “Commemorative flags shall only be displayed at a flagpole at the municipal complex dedicated for that purpose” for no more than 45 days.
“The Borough will not display a commemorative flag based upon a request from a third party, nor will the Borough use or offer its flagpoles for use to sponsor the expression of any third party, including members of the public,” states the draft policy.
‘Fifth position of honor’
The draft states that if flags are displayed on a flagpole, any commemorative flag shall employ the “fifth position of honor” behind the U.S. flag, state flag, POW-MIA flag, and Borough of Montvale flag.
“If a new flag is added, it shall be added below the existing flags, unless otherwise ordered by the governing body,” the policy reads.
Ghassali said the council should hear from the public before moving forward and consider the input prior to a council discussion and possible vote at the Sept. 24 meeting.
‘Draft is one way to do it’
Voytus told members that the draft policy presented was “one way to do it” and that he modeled the flag policy after a similar California policy. Currently, the borough has three flag poles outside town hall and flies the U.S. flag, state flag and POW-MIA flag.
Voytus said the draft policy on flag flying, if adopted, would still require the council to vote on a resolution to fly specific flags such as the Pride Flag, outside of borough hall.
The policy addresses the township’s overall policy on flag flying, Voytus said.
Resident Matt Solomon asked whether an upcoming council vote might be to allow another flag pole or what flags could be flown.
‘Got to start somewhere’
“This is a starter policy…with feedback from the council, feedback from the public and feedback from other towns around us, we’re going to fine-tune this policy between now and September,” said Ghassali.
Resident Jarrett Schumacher requested that the discussion on a flag policy be televised and not discussed at a non-broadcast meeting. Ghassali said residents sometimes broadcast meetings on Facebook Live, in addition to Pascack Press coverage.
He said he was not opposed to broadcasting any future meeting on flag-flying policy.
Carolee Adams pointed out there were many honorary days and concerns that can be highlighted during the year, and said in June alone, there were numerous organizations and issues that could be recognized.
She suggested using the borough’s electronic sign in front of town hall to honor such groups and issues.
Adams said she observed a disabled woman on her way to the meeting and wondered whether the disabled had a flag to be flown.
She said because not all organizations have flags, “using (the) electronic bulletin board we can have 365 days of remembrance.”
Two students from the Gay-Straight Alliance at Pascack Hills High School, Izzy Frangiosa, a junior and Riley Solomon, a sophomore, spoke in favor of flying a rainbow flag. Another two GSA students were in attendance.
When Frangiosa started speaking about how the gay pride flag represented “something important” and “not something just fun we can fly,” she was interrupted by Adams who blurted out “Tourette’s syndrome is not fun, dear” to Frangiosa, who became upset at her comment.
After a brief back and forth between Ghassali, Adams, and Solomon, Ghassali then apologized for the interruption but Frangiosa was too upset by Adams’ comment to continue.
‘Represented and supported’
“What she was trying to say and what we’re trying to say is that it’s important to show all the people and especially the LGBT community that they’re represented and supported by their town and the people that they’re around every day, “ said Solomon, finishing Frangiosa’s remarks.
Frangiosa later said Adams was the first one to say it was “fun” to fly a variety of groups’ flags and she never believed Tourette’s was something “fun” to have, as Adams implied.
It was unclear why Adams made her ‘Tourette’s’ comment, though she had spoken previously about whether disabled individuals could also be represented by a flag.
“I’ve almost been attacked and I’ve been called things because of who I am and the LGBT community has suffered through so much that we should be able to show [the Pride flag],” said Frangiosa after the meeting.
Frangiosa said LGBT youth are four times more likely to suffer from mental health issues, including suicide, which was a flag topic Adams mentioned earlier.
Frangiosa said other communities to have flown Pride flags in June included Tenafly, Englewood, Westwood, Waldwick, Rutherford, Glen Rock, Manasquan, Lyndhurst, Rochelle Park, Hackensack, Haledon and Clifton.
“We have to stand together instead of just trying to beat each other down and saying, like, ‘Our flag deserves to fly and not yours,” Frangiosa added.