The mayor of a Union County town says that he does not want to offend anybody, but his plan to keep everyone happy may be having the opposite effect.

“The American flag, our state flag can go up. County flags, township flags, POW/MIA and military flags,” says Clark Township Mayor Sal Bonaccorso.

These are the flags that are currently flying at the Clark Municipal Building. And if Bonaccorso gets his way, they will be the only flags that will ever fly over the township’s properties.

“No. 1, it’s what belongs up there and No. 2, it also sets a precedent so we don’t have to say yes or no to any special interest groups who may ask, ‘Can we fly this flag or that flag?'” Bonaccorso says.

The mayor created the ordinance limiting the types of flags that can fly on municipal-owned flag poles. There has been a lot of support from residents, but also some controversy from those wondering if this is exclusivity rather than patriotism. Bonaccorso says that it is the opposite.

“This is an all-inclusive American ordinance that supports our country, our state, our county, our town military – POWs, MIA. If you’re not down with that, don’t come to Clark,” he says.

The mayor says that residents can put whatever flags they want on their own property.

As for those who don’t like the town’s display: “If you’re offended by the American flag, my message to you is very simple: Take the next plane or ship out of here and find something better,” Bonaccorso says.

A first council vote passed unanimously this week. A second and final vote is scheduled for early August. If the ordinance passes, the flag rule will go into effect by the end of the summer.