The Little Compton Town Council is expected Thursday evening to review and vote on a proposed flag policy that would govern their placement on all municipally-owned flag poles, including those of the Little Compton School Department.

The town has never had a policy before, council president Robert Mushen said. But he introduced the proposed policy after seeing the issues some other local towns had over the past year, and after the school department forwarded to the council its own policy. In the end, he said he believes the town council should have the authority to govern flags' placement at all town properties, including at the school.

"I'm trying to avoid jumping to the outcome and simply saying, 'This is how you should go about doing it,'" he said of the policy. "It ought to be the elected officials responsible to the townspeople (who should) make that decision."

Under the proposed policy, the flying of flags at Town Hall, Pike's Peak, the Wilbur & McMahon School, Veterans' Field and the public safety complex would all come under the council's purview. Little Compton Town Hall would display only the United States flag, while the others would be authorized to display the US flag, "and may also display" the state flag, town flag, and the POW/MIA flag.

The proposal also aims to give the town a means to vote on whether to allow other flags to be flown, on a case by case basis.

Residents who want to display any flag other than the US, town, state and POW/MIA flag must present to the council a petition signed by at least 25 electors. Qualifying petitions will then be reviewed by the council and, if approved, flags will be authorized to fly for a single 24-hour period per year. Pike's Peak is the only pole authorized for requested flags.

The proposal also seeks to define what is welcome with a petition, and what is not:

"At no time will the town display flags (A) deemed to be inappropriate or offensive in nature; or (B) those supporting discrimination or prejudice; or (C) flags in support of a politician or political party."

Little Compton Town Administrator Antonio Teixeira said officials looked at Bristol's recently adopted ordinance, as well as others from nearby communities, as the proposal was drafted.

"He did a great job" on the draft policy, Mr. Teixeira said of Mr. Mushen. "He really made it fit here in the community."

The council's meeting Thursday will constitute a second reading of the proposal, as well as a public hearing. The policy's first reading was held Tuesday, Oct. 12.