LUNENBURG, Mass. — The Lunenburg Select Board on Tuesday reached a consensus to pursue a restrictive flag policy that would limit flags on town-owned flagpoles to official government and military flags, with several members saying that allowing other flags could draw the town into controversy and litigation.

The board discussed the draft policy at its Nov. 10 meeting. The flags listed so far are those of the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the town of Lunenburg, the branches of the military, the POW/MIA flag and the Purple Heart flag.

Members weighed whether to also allow "ceremonial" flags at the town's request, an approach used in Dedham that treats such flags as the town's own speech. A draft provision read at the meeting said the flying of flags on town property "is not intended to create or serve as a form for free expression by the public."

'A no-win situation'

One member said the restrictive policy was preferable because "it keeps us out of controversies and potential litigation," and argued that a more nuanced policy would have the board "essentially choosing viewpoints."

"It is a nice community thing, but I just feel like it's a no-win situation for us and it distracts from other important business," the member said.

Another member said the only flag request the board had received in that member's years on it was for the Pride or Progress flag, and that flags meant to show support can instead "become divisive, and the people who are represented by that flag become targets."

"You could say there was, I forget what town recently or fairly recently, had an issue with someone wanting to display the Israel flag," the member said. "You could imagine having a pro-choice, a pro-life. You know, it can just get into areas that I don't feel comfortable."

The same member said residents remain free to fly flags at home and that seeing a Pride flag at a business is something "I like," but that "the way I've come down on it is to be more restrictive when it comes to town speech."

Members also referred to the U.S. Supreme Court case over Boston's refusal to raise a Christian flag at City Hall. One member said Boston "had no policy whatsoever until someone tried to put up the Christian flag and they said no, and it cost them $2.1 million."

Some open to requests

Two members said they were open to considering flag requests. One said the board represents the town's residents and "if people come to us, we can certainly say whether we will or won't fly a flag of any kind."

A member summing up the discussion said, "I'm hearing kind of a consensus about the more restrictive policies that would have the majority."

The board did not take a formal vote. Members agreed to add language on flying flags at half-staff and to send the revised draft to town counsel for review before bringing it back to the board.