A Concord Select Board meeting about the town's flag policy.
The Select Board reached a long-awaited resolution to its flag policy debate with a 4-1 vote. Photo: Dakota Antelman/The Concord Bridge

Select Board settles lengthy flag debate

January 13, 2025

By Dakota Antelman — [email protected]

The Select Board’s monthslong debate over an updated flag policy ended with a 4-1 vote. 

The board allowed certain “ceremonial flags” on town light poles in addition to the town pole in Monument Square. Cameron McKennitt was the lone “no” voter at last Monday’s meeting. 

The flag fracas started in June 2024 amid concerns that a Concord Pride flag raising could leave the town legally liable if officials were to deny a different future flag request. 

McKennitt and colleague Wendy Rovelli researched ways to protect the town. 

In December, the board backed some new rules but deadlocked on light poles.

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The flying of the Progress Pride banner on the main flagpole in Monument Square drew a crowd last year. Photo by Maia Kennedy Photography

After previously opposing light pole flags, board member Terri Ackerman on Monday said she was voting “yes” after learning that it costs the town only $600 to place and remove those small flags. Though McKennitt said there was no precedent for this, others said many towns simply haven’t codified their practices. 

Concord’s new policy has rules for government flags. It also establishes ceremonial flags as “an expression of the town’s official government speech.” 

A ceremonial flag raising must get Select Board approval and be linked to a town celebration or proclamation. 

In December, Select Board chair Mary Hartman asked, “Why is this so hard?” 

After Monday’s vote, she offered an answer: “It’s so hard because we really care about it. It’s important to the town, and we want to do the right thing.”

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