american flag

KateS2 (Connecticut)
Posts: 41

Posted:

Our new President took down our flag pole outside the office, with no discussion with the park residents. The veterans in the park are upset and feel that we should display the flag outside our office building. Her response was that no one will notice it is gone, therefore she feels it is a mute issue. Obviously, the vets did notice.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

There are certain "Rules" of displaying a flag. One of which if the flag is flown 24/7 a light must show on it at night. If it's tattered, it should be replaced. It flies on top of every flag on the pole. It is lowered by President declaration etc..

What was the reason for it to be removed? It may be time to make sure it's properly displayed and in good condition for the replacement.

Former HOA President

AllisonD (Florida)
Posts: 449

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:28 AM
The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Maybe no one had authority to put it up in the first place.

KateS2 (Connecticut)
Posts: 41

Posted:

She took it down because the rope was broken, so IMO the board should have discussed this on whether to repair the rope or replace the entire pole. The flag pole has been there for 15 years or more from what the older residents told me, whether the park bought it or someone donated it they are not sure.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 8:18 AM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:28 AM
The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Maybe no one had authority to put it up in the first place.

May not be any records from back then. But authority should be implied from the fact that it was up for so long. If subsequent boards left it there, then it was with their implied approval.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

PitA
Posts: 1,416

Posted:

Who, within the HOA, will climb the pole and replace the rope ?

Does the HOA have funds to hire a vendor for task ?

Is there a preventive maintenance procedure in place to replace the rope BEFORE it breaks when it frays ?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+change+a+halyard+rope&view=detail&mid=500958105E43F7F74B1D500958105E43F7F74B1D&FORM=VIRE

http://flagguys.com/rerope.html

Simple - follow the instructions

AllisonD (Florida)
Posts: 449

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 9:55 AM

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 8:18 AM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:28 AM
The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Maybe no one had authority to put it up in the first place.

May not be any records from back then. But authority should be implied from the fact that it was up for so long. If subsequent boards left it there, then it was with their implied approval.

If there are no records of a vote to install the flagpole and no one can remember anything about the flagpole, then I would say the person who took it down was not acting against any authority.

NpS (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,216

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 5:22 PM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 9:55 AM

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 8:18 AM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:28 AM
The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Maybe no one had authority to put it up in the first place.

May not be any records from back then. But authority should be implied from the fact that it was up for so long. If subsequent boards left it there, then it was with their implied approval.

If there are no records of a vote to install the flagpole and no one can remember anything about the flagpole, then I would say the person who took it down was not acting against any authority.

Disagree. The decision belonged to the board and not to one member of the board acting on her own.

The status quo should not have been changed without a board vote IMO.

Sikubali jukumu. Read all posts at your own risk.

JosephG6 (Florida)
Posts: 11

Posted:

We added a 30' flag pole at our community park about three years ago under approval from the BOD and money was allocated for replacement flags as well as halyards (rope). The maintenance of the flag including lowering to half-staff, etc. was assigned to our Ground & Maintenance committee. A dedicated photocell control LED spot light was installed as the flag was to fly 24x7.

As part of the SOPs of our G&M committee, the halyard is to be inspected at each event (flag lowering, half-staff, replacement, etc.) for wear and tear to prevent loss of the halyard and we made it mandatory to replace the halyard once every year.

Short of finding a flagpole climber to replace the halyard, depending on the height and accessibility of the pole, it might be worth seeing if you can talk one of the utilities (electric or telephone) to see if they could sent over a bucket truck to help getting the rope threaded through the pulley as a matter of public service.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Could this have been a situation of repair/maintenance? I found that if you do not fly the flag correctly it is more upsetting. When we first installed our pole, we didn't follow some of the "rules" of flying the flag. The Vets got very offended. So I can see if you have a broken part that could cause damage or the flag NOT to be flown right, then removing it.

Simply ask for bids for the pole to be repaired and new flag put in. There are flag pole companies out there that do this. Find out the costs and have it repaired.

Former HOA President

AllisonD (Florida)
Posts: 449

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:36 PM

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 5:22 PM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 9:55 AM

Posted By AllisonD on 05/21/2016 8:18 AM

Posted By NpS on 05/21/2016 6:28 AM
The right to display the American flag is a personal decision that is protected by statute.

Your board can decide to display the flag or not.

Your prez has no authority IMO to take action without board approval. There is no such thing as an individual right to remove an American flag.

Maybe no one had authority to put it up in the first place.

May not be any records from back then. But authority should be implied from the fact that it was up for so long. If subsequent boards left it there, then it was with their implied approval.

If there are no records of a vote to install the flagpole and no one can remember anything about the flagpole, then I would say the person who took it down was not acting against any authority.

Disagree. The decision belonged to the board and not to one member of the board acting on her own.

The status quo should not have been changed without a board vote IMO.

Respectfully, I am going to have to go ahead and disagree with you. Kate said the pole was taken down because the rope was broken. I think this repair falls under the daily operations of the association and as such, a board member can try to take care of the problem without a board vote. Either the rope will be able to get repaired or they will have to face purchasing another pole or perhaps not replacing it at all. At that time the board may chose to vote.