Darien Selectmen Split On Revising Town's Flag Policy

DARIEN, CT — Darien's flag policy is once again at the forefront following several requests from the community to revise it.

With Pride Month beginning in June, the Darien Board of Selectmen discussed revisiting the policy during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, but the board is split on what to do.

The meeting was held at Darien Town Hall and broadcast via Darien TV79.

Currently, the flag policy, which was implemented by a vote of 3-2 in November 2022, allows for flying the United States flag, the Connecticut flag and the town of Darien flag at government buildings in town.

When the policy was first unveiled in August 2022, some residents felt it targeted the LGBTQ community and specifically the displaying of the Pride flag.

On one side, Selectmen Michael Burke and Sarah Neumann want to broaden the policy and perhaps mirror language adopted by Greenwich, with some tweaks.

On the other side, First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky and Selectmen Monica McNally and Marcy Minnick signaled a hesitation at revision and a desire to keep the current policy in place for now.

Last September, the Greenwich Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to enact a hybrid policy.

Each January, the Greenwich selectmen will review the calendar and propose a slate of "legacy flags" to be displayed throughout the year "which will be consistent with past practices and custom of commemorating certain holidays, nations, civic organizations or groups."

Residents can also submit a request to the Office of the First Selectman for a particular flag display with supporting rationale at a minimum of 30 days in advance of the proposed date of the requested flag display.

The country, state and town flags are allowed under the policy, and the flags of foreign national governments that maintain formal diplomatic relations with the U.S. may be displayed in conjunction with official town events or ceremonies by resolution of the Board of Selectmen.

Burke, who brought the idea to revise the policy forward, said the genesis for potential revision came after he heard feedback from "a fairly wide base of town leaders," and after other towns implemented broader flag policies.

"In my view, to keep the policy as it is now is unworthy of us," Burke said. "It tells people whose values these flags represent that they're not worthy of our time or consideration. To our fellow taxpayers who are all Americans, Nutmeggers and Darienites, we are saying that town hall is closed to you. It's one thing to consider and decline, it's another to preclude and refuse."

Burke said he'd be in favor of something similar to the Greenwich policy, but perhaps without the language that states residents could bring forward individual requests for flags to be considered.

"I think that there are ways to create a policy that allows for the consideration of these voices. I think we have the intellectual and emotional capacity to do it, and I think we should at least try," Burke said.

Neumann agreed.

"I understand there are concerns about flying other countries' flags, and we could make a policy where we don't do that. I understand the concerns about people submitting superfluous flag requests… I feel this board is very intelligent and we can absolutely review them and look at them on an annual basis," Neumann said.

"I find supporting the LGBTQ community is incredibly important, particularly for mental health, but also it's an inclusive environment, and I think it's so crucial to our kids. It's crucial for adults in town, and I can't endorse it enough. I feel it would be an incredibly important thing for us to do," she added.

Echoing comments from when the policy was originally passed, McNally said she felt the country, state and town flags represent everyone.

"That's all of us," she said, "so I support the policy we currently have."

Advocates for a broadened flag policy, such as resident and Darien Pride Committee Chair Dan Guller, have said that by raising the Pride flag on government buildings, it shows support and provides a sense of belonging to the LGBTQ youth in town.

"If we're going to talk about mental health... We've got to look at the most vulnerable populations in our town. Right now, one of those is our queer kids," Guller said.

Minnick said she's a proponent of only having government flags fly on government buildings, but she acknowledged the mental health aspects of inclusion.

"At this point, I'm not comfortable changing it, because I really think it opens the door for some liability, but I am open to having a conversation of how we could try to represent a more inclusive environment in our town, particularly in Pride," she said

Zagrodzky said he spoke to Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo about their policy and noted flag requests from residents have "consumed" part of the Greenwich Board of Selectmen agenda, and it's now "something they have to spend time on."

Zagrodzky said he stood by Darien's current policy, and a way to show support for various groups and causes is to participate in celebrations.

"Stand up with them, be part of that celebration, part of the discussion, dialogue, history, joy. I intend to be front and center on all of those and will take an invitation from anybody to help join in the joy they'd like to project in celebrating their beliefs, their history, their legacy," he said.

"I know many of you are disappointed the flags are not flying on government property, but they
fly at lots of other places; private homes, businesses, inside our schools, and that's a lot to celebrate and we should be part of that."

Burke volunteered to bring a revised policy to the board in the future for a vote, and Zagrodzky said he'd be happy to accommodate the request.

Neumann offered to work with Burke on a draft.

"I'm unwilling to close the door and to never have this conversation again," Neumann said.

View Monday's entire Board of Selectmen meeting on demand on Darien TV79.