NORWICH - In a tie vote Wednesday, Chenango County’s Safety and Rules Committee shot down a draft resolution which encourages residents to be respectful of differing political opinions, denying a chance that the motion will go before the County Board.

For months, committee members have pondered a resolution calling for civility in the face of a movement of individuals displaying vulgar politically-charged flags and signage on their property. Officials discussed the issue at length last month, some arguing that the county should take a symbolic gesture of favoring civil discourse while still skirting action that infringes first amendment rights.

The resolution stalled in a three-three vote Wednesday, with opposing votes from Sherburne Supervisor Charles Mastro, Lincklaen Supervisor Wayne Outwater, and Plymouth Supervisor Grace Nucero-Alger. New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr, Bainbridge Supervisor Dolores Nabinger, and Pharsalia Supervisor Jeremiah Micklas voted in favor.

The committee had refrained from the hot-button debate when it was first brought to the table in June. Officials argued at the time that obscene flags which primarily target Democratic politicians, namely President Joe Biden and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, fall under the First Amendment’s scope of freedom of speech and that any action taken to discourage such obscenities would overstep their authority.