Rocky Mountain House town council has reviewed an amendment to its draft flag flying policy that, if passed, would limit the time special flags are flown, and would see the Town of Rocky Mountain House flag flown at all times, except during extenuating circumstances.
The motion, which was originally introduced by Councillor Ken Moesker during the Sept. 10 Governance & Priority Committee (GPC) meeting, saw members of council express dismay that the Town of Rocky Mountain House flag was often the first to be taken down when a special flag was raised.
An amendment would require that requests for ‘flags of organizations’ be approved or denied at council’s sole discretion. As well, council would decide the duration of the flag being flown.
Another amendment would require the Town of Rocky Mountain House flag to be flown at all properties and facilities owned and operated by the Town of Rocky Mountain House, not to be removed from display except to make room for the flag of a higher order of government.
Councillor Dale Shippelt suggested a one week maximum duration for flags of organizations.
“I think if a group comes in here and they say we want our flag up there for a month and we say well no you can only have it for a week, that’s a negative,” says Shippelt. “If we have a policy in place that’s got a duration of time being a week or maximum two weeks, then we’ll make more for a positive contact.”
Councillor Len Phillips suggested the conversation around duration could be part of a future discussion around ‘courtesy flag’ placement.
The idea of courtesy flags was brought up during the Sept. 10 GPC, which would see the town have an additional place or pole for flags of organizations to fly – something that would be a future budget consideration.
Coun. Tina Hutchinson questioned whether it was even necessary for the town to fly flags of organizations, as it doesn’t get many requests.
Councillors Phillips and Moesker agreed that it’s a conversation worth having.
The flag flying protocol policy is set to be revisited during the Nov. 5 council meeting.
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