Flags and banners adorn half of the town’s new light fixtures along College Highway thanks to the efforts of two volunteers. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
SOUTHWICK – The flags – and banners – are flying in town, thanks to years of hard work by Arthur Boissonnault and Patti Dunn-O’Connell.
The pair officially turned over the fundraising program to the Board of Selectmen this week after getting the pilot program off the ground, literally.
Through donations from residents and local businesses, 30 of the town’s 59 new light posts have been outfitted with banner poles, banners, and all fly American flags.
“We have populated all our flagpoles with a flag and we have a few extra,” said Dunn-O’Connell. “We were able to purchase 30 sets of banner poles at $500 each and we were able to put up all the business banners, as well as town seal banners.”
Boissonnault said there are three more banners to go up and five sets of banner poles left over.
“So there’s room for two more sets (of banners),” he said.
Area businesses donated $250 each to have their logo on a banner. Dunn-O’Connell said the program is set-up so that the donation gives the business one year of “Southwick air space” for advertising and each year, they would give an additional amount to continue flying their banner.
Dunn-O’Connell said it would be up to the board to name its price for advertising through the banner program.
Boissonnault said the board should at least continue to keep the price the same.
“I didn’t get any resistance from anyone,” he said.
The pair said there is about $7,500 left in the flag and banner account, which would help defray future program costs. Boissonnault said he spoke with a group of seniors at the Senior Center who offered to lend a hand in making small repairs to flags, and Dunn-O’Connell said that the town’s cleaners offered to do the same.
“The banners are heavy-duty, but you may want to consider taking them down for the winter,” said Dunn-O’Connell, noting that when some were up during an ice storm they sustained damage.
Selectwoman Tracy Cesan said she was concerned about the cost of putting up and taking down the banners. She said the truck used for the flags does not work for the banners and the town had to rent equipment to place the banners.
“It is about $1,000 a day each time we do this,” she noted.
The board discussed that the purchase of an appropriate piece of equipment may be under consideration for other uses already.
Chairman Russell Fox suggested the board bring ideas to its next meeting on how to proceed with the program after thanking Boissonnault and Dunn-O’Connell.
“Thanks to Patti and Art for doing an outstanding job and keeping this on the front burner,” said Fox.
