[Res. No. 2019-R-85, passed 10-22-2019]
The Town Council shall have sole authority for the naming of
squares or intersections in the public right-of-way under the control
of the Town of Watertown.
[Res. No. 2019-R-85, passed 10-22-2019]
The Town Council believes that the naming of squares or intersections
is a matter of substantial or significant public interest and deserves
careful consideration.
(A)
The Town Council, therefore, creates this policy to establish a systematic,
consistent and transparent approach for naming squares or intersections
in Watertown.
(B)
This policy is for non-veterans only, as there is a separate policy
for naming of squares or intersections for veterans processed through
the Veterans Service Officer.
[Res. No. 2019-R-85, passed 10-22-2019]
Any Watertown resident may propose in writing that a square
or intersection be named for a notable non-veteran with specific ties
to Watertown.
(A)
The proposal shall be submitted to the Town Council President, and
must include documentation to support the rationale for the naming,
including a broad level of community backing.
(B)
The Town Council President, upon determining the proposal is complete,
shall place it on a Town Council agenda for a vote of referral to
the Public Works Committee for review and recommendation.
(C)
The Department of Public Works shall review the proposal and provide
the Public Works Committee an analysis as to the appropriateness of
signage at the location, taking into account matters such as traffic
conditions, sightlines, and planned road construction projects.
(D)
The Public Works Committee shall review the proposal and the Department
of Public Works analysis, and develop a recommendation for the Town
Council.
(E)
The Town Council will vote on a resolution to name a square or intersection
per the Public Works Committee recommendation.
[Res. No. 2019-R-85, passed 10-22-2019]
In deciding the appropriateness of any naming proposal, the
Town Council shall consider the following:
[Res. No. 2019-R-85, passed 10-22-2019]
The Town Council shall have sole authority to remove the naming
of any square or intersection if, with the passage of time, it determines
the public interest is no longer being served.
[Manager, March 2023]
This policy regulates:
(A)
The exhibition of the flag of the United States of America, the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts flag, the City of Watertown flag, and the National
League of Families POW/MIA flag from all City of Watertown properties
and assets, as those specific properties and flagpoles are defined
below;
(B)
The display of street flags for parades and holidays;
(C)
The display of ceremonial flags; and
(D)
The display of City lighting at the Delta in Watertown Square.
[Manager, March 2023]
The following policy shall be followed with respect to the locations
and days on which the United States of America, Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
and City of Watertown flags should be displayed, as well as any approved
ceremonial flags or street flags, or ceremonial City light displays
at the Delta in Watertown Square:
(A)
The City Manager of Watertown, with review and comment from the Superintendent
of the Department of Public Works, shall be responsible for approving
all flags erected on flagpoles owned or operated by the City of Watertown
and its departments (the "municipal flagpoles"), or on buildings owned
or operated by the City of Watertown and its departments (the "municipal
buildings"). Specifically, the municipal flagpoles include the flagpoles
at City Hall (Watertown Administration Building), Parker Annex Building,
Watertown Public Library, the Police Station, all three Fire Stations,
the Public Works Department and the John A. Ryan Arena, as well as
streetlights owned and operated by the City, and signage, poles, fences,
and other structures located at 552 Main Street Playground, Arsenal
Park, Bemis Park, Casey Park, Filippello Park, How Park, Moxley Park,
O'Connell Park, Saltonstall Park, Sullivan Playground, Victory
Field and Walker Pond, and on the sites of municipal buildings, as
listed above, to which flags may be affixed. Municipal buildings include
City Hall (Watertown Administration Building), Parker Annex Building,
Watertown Public Library, the Police Station, all three Fire Stations,
the Public Works Department and the John A. Ryan Arena. In addition,
the City Manager, with review and comment from the Superintendent
of Public Works, shall be responsible for approving all public light
displays at the Delta in Watertown Square. The aforementioned municipal
flagpoles, the municipal buildings, and Delta in Watertown Square
shall not be considered public fora, but rather serve only a vehicle
for the City of Watertown's governmental speech and expression
of official policy sentiments of the City.
(B)
The adoption and implementation of this policy is not intended to
create or authorize a forum for free expression by the public, and
any ceremonial or street parade flags or lighting displays at the
Delta in Watertown Square must first be approved by the City Manager
as an expression of the City's official sentiments and policies,
subject to nonbinding review and comment by the Superintendent of
Public Works for a determination of compliance with relevant traffic
and signage standards.
(C)
Flags exhibited from the municipal flagpoles and municipal buildings
shall be displayed in conformance with applicable federal, state,
and local laws, regulations, and policies, as stated in the Federal
"Our Flag" publication of the Congress, House Document No. 96-144,
and the Massachusetts statutes and regulations for flags, including
without limitation MGL c. 2, §§ 6 and 6A, MGL c. 264,
§ 5, 950 CMR 34.00 et seq., and this policy.
(D)
The City Manager is responsible for ensuring the proper execution
of this policy at all City properties and assets.
[Manager, March 2023]
(A)
Federal, state, and City flags.
(1)
Outdoor flags will be flown at municipal flagpoles and municipal
buildings in the following order of precedence: first, the United
States Flag; second, the Massachusetts State flag; third, the Watertown
City flag; and fourth, ceremonial flags that have been approved by
the City Manager, in accordance with Subsection (B) of these standards.
(2)
Weather permitting, flags should be displayed daily in front
of or at a location near the Watertown Administration Building and
all Fire and Police facilities during business hours.
(3)
Flags should not be displayed in inclement weather; provided,
however, that an all-weather flag may be flown on a 24-hour basis
if illuminated during the night.
(4)
The Watertown City flag may be flown wherever there are sufficient
poles to do so in accordance with Subsection (A)(2) above. The City
flag may be displayed on the same pole with, and underneath, the State
flag, whenever the pole is of sufficient height. The Federal, State,
and City flags shall not be flown on a single pole.
(5)
No other flag or pennant shall be placed or flown above or,
if on the same level, to the right of the United States Flag.
(6)
In accordance with 36 U.S.C. § 902, The National League
of Families POW/MIA flag may be displayed below the United States
Flag.
(7)
An indoor U.S. Flag, State flag, and City flag shall be displayed
in the City Council Chambers. These flags may be displayed in other
municipal buildings with approval of the City Manager.
(8)
On recognized Federal and/or State holidays, and on other special
occasions as determined by the City Manager, the U.S. Flag, State
flag, and City flag should be flown from all locations available.
Per the U.S. Flag Code, these holidays include: New Year's Day,
January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s
birthday, the third Monday in January; Lincoln's Birthday, February
12; Washington's Birthday, third Monday in February; National
Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, Easter Sunday (variable); Mother's
Day, second Sunday in May; Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May;
Memorial Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag
Day, June 14; Juneteeth, June 19; Father's Day, third Sunday
in June; Independence Day, July 4; National Korean War Veterans Armistice
Day, July 27; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day,
September 17; Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day, second Monday
in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving
Day, fourth Thursday in November; Christmas Day, December 25; and
such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United
States; the birthdays of states (for Massachusetts, February 6); and
on State holidays (including Patriots' Day, third Monday in April).
(9)
If the President of the United States, Governor of the Commonwealth,
or other authority of competent jurisdiction orders that the United
States or Commonwealth flag be flown at half-staff, no other flag
shall be flown higher.
(10)
Flags shall be constructed of an appropriate material and size
per location and will generally be restricted to three feet by five
feet or four feet by six feet.
(B)
Parades; holidays; ceremonial flags and lighting displays at the
Delta at Watertown Square.
(1)
The City's flagpoles or lighting displays at the Delta
at Watertown Square are not intended to serve as a forum for free
expression by the public and flags on the municipal flagpoles and
lighting displays at the Delta are subject to review and approval
by the City Manager. In addition to the flags identified in Subsection
(A), above, ceremonial flags or ceremonial lighting displays at the
Delta at Watertown Square may only be displayed by the City as an
expression of the City's official sentiments as outlined in this
section.
(2)
Ceremonial flags will be restricted to the flagpoles located
at the Library and City Hall, unless specific events are authorized
and permitted, as appropriate.
(3)
Ceremonial flags must be flown and ceremonial lighting displays
at the Delta may be placed only with a formal declaration or official
action from the City Manager or, consistent with the Charter, after
a proclamation or resolution is issued by the City Council, thereby
indicating such approval as a formal policy statement of the City.
(4)
Ceremonial lighting at the Delta will only be displayed with
the review and approval by the City Manager to reflect matters of
City-wide significance and relevancy to Watertown, including the following:
(a)
Memorializing special or exemplary events or days, including
certain times of celebration, recognition, or mourning.
(b)
Supporting local arts and cultural celebrations.
(c)
Recognizing unique or especially successful local activities,
including, without limitation, those for academics, athletics, or
music.
(d)
Supporting public awareness campaigns that have the potential
to enhance public health, safety, or wellness.
(e)
Recognizing other exceptional events, activities, and/or people.
(5)
Ceremonial flags are limited to:
(a)
Flags of governments recognized by the United States: Flags
of the governments recognized by the United States may be displayed
by the City Manager, provided that no other governmental flag may
be displayed higher than the United States Flag.
(b)
Flags displayed in conjunction with City official ceremonial
Items: Other flags may be displayed by the City Manager, in conjunction
with official actions, ceremonial items, or proclamations of the City
Council.
(c)
Flags of professional sports teams: The City Manager may display
the flag of a local professional sports team in commemoration of a
significant achievement.
(d)
Pride flag, being inclusive of all members of the community
by symbolizing acceptance, understanding, and support.
(6)
If a particular flag is approved to be raised by the City Manager
that is not owned by the City of Watertown, a donated flag or funding
for such may be provided by an outside agency or non-governmental
party, or at the City's expense and its discretion, provided
that the flag complies with these standards and provided that the
City shall not be liable for any damage whatsoever to a donated flag.
(7)
Ceremonial flags shall be constructed of an appropriate material
and be of a size appropriate for the location, generally restricted
to three feet by five feet or four feet by six feet. Flags of other
countries, when approved for display by the City Manager, should be
displayed in accordance with best practices of their jurisdictions,
where approved.
