Lincoln board defers Pride flag request, will write town flag policy first

LINCOLN — May 23, 2022 — Lincoln Select Board declines Pride flag request, opts to write a town flag policy first. The 3-0 vote on Monday paused the Lincoln-Sudbury Sexuality and Gender Alliance's request to fly the Progress Pride flag ahead of a June 8 Pierce Park celebration. Member Jim Hutchinson said adhering to a written policy is "more protected" than "issuing a one-off decision," and member Jonathan Dwyer reviewed Westford's three-page, 19-point comparator policy and called it "too much." Town Counsel Joel Bard told the board the recent Supreme Court ruling against Boston turned on Boston's lack of a policy and its 275-of-276 prior approval record. The board separately adopted a Pride Month proclamation 3-0 and appointed Crystal Wood, Allison Taunton-Rigby, Tim Christenfeld and Owen Beenhouwer to four at-large seats on the new Community Center Building Committee from a field of 10 interviewed candidates.