SUMMERDALE — The Confederate flag won’t fly over Summerdale municipal property anytime soon.

During Monday’s Summerdale Town Council meeting, resident Ray Harris’ proposal for a flag he would provide and maintain to be flown on the flagpole situated at the “Welcome to Summerdale” sign on Alabama Highway 59 died for a lack of motion.

Harris first brought the proposal to the Council during its March workshop. However, it was not placed on that month’s regular meeting agenda at the request of several Council members. Then at last week’s workshop, Harris returned to the Council to make an impassioned case for his request.

When the request came up for consideration Monday, Harris more calmly reiterated his feeling about the flag he wanted flown.

“It’s kind of gotten a bad name,” he said, pointing out that the flag, which contains the red field, blue cross and white stars housed in the top left corner against a white field with a red bar on the right, had never been flown during the Confederacy. “This is being flown in Mobile in two or three places and is the state flag of Mississippi.”

One audience member said if that flag were flown, the town should fly flags honoring each of the six entites that had occupied the area, which had also included the French, Spanish and Native Americans. In addition, Summerdale Town Building Inspector Paul Vishaway suggested flying the Baldwin County Commission flag, which incorporates those entities. But Summerdale Mayor David Wilson pointed out that the Commission has sole use of that flag.

“We don’t have the authority to fly that one,” he said. “But it was a nice gesture.”

When Harris’ request failed died for lack of a motion, he was much calmer than at last week’s work session in which he had pledged to ensure that whoever opposed the request would not be re-elected. But Monday he thanked the Council and left.

“I appreciate it,” Harris told the Council. “Y’all have a good night.”

Although that motion died, the Council did approve a proclamation naming April as Confederate History Month.

“We are not ashamed of our Confederate heritage,” Wilson said. “The town of Summerdale is just not open to controversy.”