By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

At least three members of Fayetteville City Council made it clear Monday they don't intend to vote for any restrictions on the number of government flags that local businesses can fly.

Opposition from business people continued to mount Monday as the council posted a revised sign ordinance for first reading.

Businesses will be able to fly no more than two flags — one each for up to two government entities — under the new sign ordinance recommended by the city Planning Commission.

Some businesses fly large numbers of American flags to call attention to their locations, and that constitutes advertising, said commission member Segis “Al” Lipscomb during a meeting. It's against federal law to use the American flag in advertising, she said.

“I don't feel like that's what we do at Carolyn Ford,” said Wayne Brummitt, assistant dealer at the downtown dealership. “We put it out there because it's the American flag. I feel like we ought to be able to put up as many flags as we want to.”

City resident James Lugo passionately argued against the restriction. “When the government restricts us from bringing out our feelings in public... what will be next?” he said. “It is our business what we want to show as long as we are not indecent.”

Councilman Larry Dell said he completely agrees. “We have great respect for the flag — they can fly a hundred of them if they want to as far as I'm concerned.”

“I do not believe in legislating the display of the flag,” agreed Councilman Glenn Brewer. Both Brewer and Dell are Vietnam veterans, as are councilmen Walt White and Al Hovey-King, and Mayor Kenneth Steele.

Councilman Bill Talley started to make a motion to have the language concerning flags stricken from the proposed ordinance, but Steele said there will be plenty of time for that when council votes on the law May 1.

The proposed law also would prohibit internally lighted signs, and would incorporate new restrictions on window signs and temporary signs for special events, and would reduce the overall total size of signs allowed on building fronts.

During last week's work session, businessman Paul Oddo challenged not only the flag restriction, but also the law's prohibition of internally lighted signs.

“The only reason to prohibit internally illuminated signs is for public health and safety. Short of the necessity for a wartime blackout, `sky glow' is not a problem,” he said in response to an earlier statement from city planner Todd Miller, who defended the prohibition because of increasing sky glow in the city.

“We're adding more and more to the sky glow, and getting further and further away from the small town community that has made Fayetteville such an attractive community to move to,” said Miller.

“Based on my own research and upon discussion with experts in the public safety area, there are simply no safety or health disadvantages of an internally illuminated sign over an externally illuminated sign,” Oddo said.

Council will take public comment on the proposed ordinance during a work session April 26 before voting on the matter in its business meeting May 1. Both meetings are at 7 p.m. at City Hall.