Politics & Government
Clark To Limit What Flags Can Fly On Municipal Property
Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso said only the American, state, county, POW, MIA and military flags will be allowed to fly at municipal properties
CLARK, NJ — With more and more special interest groups wanting to raise up their flags, Clark is looking to limit what flags are allowed to fly at its municipal properties to avoid offending anyone, according to Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso.
"This is an all-inclusive ordinance that supports our country and our state, our county, our town, our military, our POW/MIA. If you are not down with that - don't come to Clark," said Bonaccorso in an interview with News 12.
The Mayor and Council unanimously introduced the ordinance at its Monday night meeting limiting flags to only the American, state, county, POW, MIA and military. These flags will be the only flags allowed to fly at municipal properties.
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"The Township's flagpoles, flagstaffs and public buildings are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public. Rather, the Township's flagpoles, flagstaffs and public buildings are to be used exclusively by the Township, where the Council may display a commemorative flag as a form of government expression. The Township will not display a commemorative flag based on a request from a third party, nor will the Township use its flagpoles to sponsor the expression of a third party," according to the ordinance.
Bonaccorso said this new ordinance would apply to all special interest groups, even as an Italian American, a group he is a part of UNICO.
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"I am sure as well-intentioned of those special interest groups may be, there are groups out there that may offend some people. In a world we live in today, it seems everyone gets offended very easily and we don't want that to happen here in Clark," said Bonaccorso to News 12.
A public hearing and a second reading of the ordinance is slated for Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers.
Read the full ordinance below:
Clark Flag Ordinance by Alexis Tarrazi on Scribd
Watch the full interview below:
Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.
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