Shorewood Officials Delay Vote On Holiday Decorations Ban

SHOREWOOD, WI — Officials in Shorewood are going back to the drawing board after the Village Board delayed voting on a winter holiday decorations ban for public spaces in the village.

Under a proposal from the Shorewood Human Relations Commission, any religious symbol of the holidays would not be permitted in public buildings and spaces, and would be subject to removal. Christmas trees and wreaths would be considered "secular decorations."

The policy would apply to all village-owned buildings, such as Shorewood Village Hall, Village Center, Public Works and Police Department and their associated parking lots, the open space in between Village Hall and Village Center, Wood Square and other public spaces and public right-of-ways.

On Aug. 8, Shorewood Human Relations Commission members unanimously voted to forward their recommendation to the Village Board and Business Improvement District board for review. At the time, officials in the commission said the reasoning behind the recommendation was to implement a policy that was clear and inclusive for all people.

According to a WISN report, the village board was scheduled to vote on the policy recommendation on Tuesday night, but delayed voting on it over apparent concerns about the language used in the policy.

The proposed decorations ban now goes back to the commission for changes.