Following contention, Avon has a new flag policy
The town of Avon will only fly the flags of the United States, Colorado, and Avon on its three flagpoles
Lindsay Hardy/Vail Daily archive
In November, the Avon Town Council caused controversy when it decided not to consider voting on whether to fly the Israeli flag to show support for Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Last week, during its March 12 meeting, the council changed its position, which was formerly to allow the use of Avon’s flagpoles for the display of government speech. Going forward, Avon will exclusively fly the flags of the United States, the state of Colorado and the town of Avon.
Over the past three years, Avon has displayed two flags outside of the three government flags.
Beginning in June 2021, Avon has flown the rainbow Pride flag during the month of June, which is Pride Month, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. Avon has also flown the Ukrainian flag twice, once in March 2022 and again in April 2023, to show support for Ukraine after it was invaded by Russia.
The decision not to vote on flying the Israeli flag — the topic first came up during council comments, and therefore could not be put to a vote — frustrated many members of the Eagle County community, who attended the Dec. 12 Town Council meeting to share their thoughts.
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During the initial discussion on Nov. 14, members of the council were split on the appropriate use of Avon’s flagpoles. In the following months, town staff, particularly town lawyer Nina Williams and her associates, researched the First Amendment, the 2022 Supreme Court case about government speech on flagpoles and various municipalities’ policies across the state to provide options for the council to make an informed decision.
Two options for use of Avon’s flagpoles were proposed at the meeting. Option one was to use Avon’s flagpoles only to fly the U.S. flag, Colorado flag and Avon flag. Option two was for the council to have the ability to use the town’s flagpoles as government speech, not a public forum, where by voting on a resolution, the council could choose to fly a flag to make a statement representing the town.
Town Manager Eric Heil recommended the council choose option one. “As much as I find regional, national, international issues interesting, we’ve got enough to keep us busy, plenty busy, right here in Avon and right around Avon,” Heil said.
The seven members of the Avon Town Council quickly agreed with Heil.
Council member R.J. Andrade said he had been advocating for the limited display of the three government flags since the initial decision to fly the Pride flag to avoid “awkward situations” such as what occurred over the Israeli flag.
Of the controversy surrounding the council’s decision not to vote on flying the Israeli flag, council member Ruth Stanley said, “it wreaked havoc in our community.”
Members of the community attended the meeting to express their opinions on the flag policy the council should select.
“I understand the good intentions behind the current flag policy, but I think this will keep unnecessary and irrelevant debate out of the Town Council chambers and allow for the town to focus on serving its constituents more effectively,” said Seth Levy, Gypsum resident and board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
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“We are 100% behind number one,” said Rabbi Joel Newman of the B’nai Vail Congregation.
Council member Lindsay Hardy explained that she was the one who originally proposed flying the Pride flag during the month of June to support Avon’s LGBTQ+ community. Hardy said she felt “extreme guilt” at the impact of the council’s decision not to vote on flying the Israeli flag on Avon’s Jewish and Israeli communities, and supported the decision to keep the flags flown in Avon limited to the three government flags going forward.
“I will always support my LGBTQ community. I will always support my Jewish friends and family. My heartfelt condolences to the situation that we — I — inadvertently created four years ago when I first asked for that first flag,” Hardy said.
The resolution to only fly the U.S. flag, the Colorado flag and the Avon flag on Avon’s flagpoles was passed quickly and unanimously.
