KENILWORTH – A comprehensive community flag and signage policy is being developed in Wellington North to guide the use of banners, signage and township flag poles.
Council here directed staff to go ahead with the review during a regular meeting of council on May 5.
During the same meeting, council approved proposed banner installation plans from the Arthur and Mount Forest BIAs.
There are about 20 poles within the two downtown cores that will be reserved for BIA use, and about 16 more that will be used for broader community messaging.
The BIA banners are set to be changed four times a year:
- at the end of March, when winter decorations are removed and the first set of banners for the year are installed;
- the weekend before Victoria Day in May, when the first set of banners are removed and a second set is installed;
- at the end of October, when the second set of banners is removed and Remembrance Day banners are installed; and
- during the third week of November, when Remembrance Day banners are removed and winter decorations are installed.
Township banners will also be installed on this schedule to minimize staff time and equipment use.
According to a staff report, “based on preliminary estimates of staff time and equipment costs, changing the banners four times a year in both core areas results in an expense of approximately $9,696.
The township provides this installation as an “in-kind” contribution to the BIAs.
Councillor Sherry Burke noted, “A lot of time has gone into generating this policy to provide a consistent structure the banners, signage and flags that are predominantly installed for the BIAs’ downtown cores in Mount Forest and Arthur.”
She added, “I think it’s a really great idea to have some consistency with regards to the installation for particularly the banners for the BIAs.
“They put a lot of work and effort into selecting banners that dress our communities for the seasons and make the downtown cores welcoming.”
The in-kind contribution for the banner installation was also important to address, Burke said, because, “I know we all hear, ‘Oh, well, the township can take care of it, it’s okay.’”
Burke expressed appreciation to township staff “and everyone that is involved in putting up the banners and making sure flags are in good repair.”
She asked if the BIAs had reviewed the draft policy.
“Yes, these drafts incorporate feedback and recommendations from BIAs,” said CAO Brooke Lambert.
Mayor Andy Lennox said he’d like the township to be stricter about following flag protocol, including by no longer flying other flags on the same pole as the Canadian flag.
“I realize that it’s important to fly township flags and that sort of things and I know we don’t have a big budget line for increasing the number of flag poles …
“But in the shorter time I’d like to see us add some – possibly two flag poles here and at the municipal office where we could fly a township flag and also a pole where we could fly special event flags.
“And I’d like to see a bit more clarity on what we’re going to do for special events flags,” Lennox added.
