The American flags are not flying in downtown Bristol and it’s causing a flap between the current mayor and the former one.
Bristol Mayor Art Ward and former mayor, William Stortz, have been exchanging e-mails about the lack of banners, according to the Bristol Press.
During his last administration, Stortz raised money from businesses and individuals to fund the project and money was left over to give the city funds for maintenance, Stortz told the Press.
In a recent email to Ward, Stortz wrote that it's "a shame" and “Not only would we be displaying our patriotic spirit, but the flags would also delineate the downtown area.”
Ward blames the economy for not keeping up with the initiative to keep the star spangled banners flying in the downtown area and criticized Stortz for raising the issue after officials completed the city’s budget and said Stortz should solicit support from businesses and community and veteran organizations.
But Public Works Director Walter Veselka told the newspaper his department's budget has been eating the cost of replacement flags and poles, "by dipping into the supplies account for the streets division."
Stortz says he hopes the issue can be resolved and that "the American flag would take priority" for patriotic reasons.
