Sparta council to vote on Pride flag request after new policy allows banners at town hall

Sparta residents can now request flags representing specific organizations and causes be flown on township flagpoles following a split vote at last month's council meeting that was sparked by a request to fly an LGBTQ Pride flag.

The first test of the policy could come as soon as Tuesday night, when the council is expected to consider the Pride flag proposal.

The Township Council voted 3-2 in favor of Ordinance 23-03, which allows Sparta to fly commemorative flags "as a form of government expression." Mayor Daniel Chiariello, Deputy Mayor Neill Clark and Councilman Dean Blumetti voted to approve the measure, while Councilman Josh Hertzberg and Councilwoman Christine Quinn opposed it.

How flag policy would work

Under the terms of the ordinance, the council will consider a request to display a flag if a majority of members agree to place the item on a meeting agenda. A majority would then need to vote for the resolution at the meeting to authorize the flying of the flag. Only a Sparta resident or organization based in Sparta can make a request.

The ordinance ensures that the American, New Jersey and POW/MIA flags flown in front of the town hall "are not impacted or disrespected in any way," Blumetti said. Commemorative flags must be smaller than the three permanent flags and will not be flown on the same pole as the American or POW/MIA flags.

Vote scheduled for Tuesday

The ordinance was created after LGBTQ activists asked Sparta to fly the Pride flag this June to recognize Pride Month.

Chiariello listed that flag as one of several for the council to vote on at its next meeting on Tuesday. Banners honoring law enforcement, EMS workers, the U.S. Army and Juneteenth will also be considered. A resolution to place the items on the agenda passed by the same 3-2 vote as the flag ordinance, with Hertzberg and Quinn again voting no.

Zoe Heath, executive director of Sussex County Pride, said the vote shows support for the LGBTQ community and other marginalized groups. She believes residents will eventually see that the ordinance is beneficial for the entire township, not just the group being recognized.

"I think that times are definitely changing for the better in Sparta," Heath told the New Jersey Herald on Friday. She said the vote is an example of the council listening to public opinion rather than a "select few" making decisions for the township.

Why councilman opposed ordinance

Hertzberg voted against the ordinance because he feels the government should not speak for any specific group regardless of what the group represents, the councilman said on Friday. He told Peter Litchfield, the commander of Sparta VFW Post 7248, that he would vote no on all of the roughly 40 military flag proposals Litchfield said he would submit to the township at the last council meeting.

"It's pretty simple: I just don't think that the government flagpoles in front of a township building should be used for any type of speech," Hertzberg said.

More: What do the colors of the Rainbow Pride Flag mean? A history on how the flag came to be

Two dozen speakers debate flag rule

The April 25 vote followed a public comment session in which nearly two dozen speakers gave their opinion on the ordinance. Some appreciated its willingness to highlight specific groups, while others were concerned about further disagreements in the community that could arise from the measure.

Several residents highlighted two incidents last year in which Pride flags were burned at the Sparta United Methodist Church. Those episodes led to the formation of PFLAG Sussex County earlier this year. Pat Schutz, a member of the PFLAG board, advocated for the ordinance "so that we can move towards all families feeling welcome and living free of fear in Sparta."

Patricia Carley, a Sparta resident, said that while the ordinance "comes from a good place," she believes it is "constitutionally infirm" for the Town Council to decide what flags should and should not be flown.

"The flag of the United States of America, I submit, is the most inclusive banner in the world," Carley said. "I don't see criteria in this ordinance as it is currently written that gives you all guidance on how to vote in favor of one flag as opposed to another."

'Government overreach'

Hertzberg said Friday that the American flag "is supposed to represent all of us," but not every speaker felt that way. Sparta resident Elliana Dividu said her wife, a former Marine, could not publicize her sexuality while serving for fear of being kicked out.

"To her, the American flag doesn't necessarily represent inclusivity," Dividu said, "and historically, it doesn't necessarily represent inclusivity either."

Quinn, the other council member to vote against the ordinance, said she was "not comfortable with government overreach" and telling the community what to think. She expressed concern about potential lawsuits from the council's approval or rejection of a flag, which could end up hurting the people the ordinance is supposed to help.

"I will not continue and do this to our town every single time a new flag wants to go up," Quinn said. "I will do everything possible to unify this town and not continue to tear it apart."

Sparta moves ahead

The council members who approved the ordinance noted the residents' passion for the township as evidenced by the number of speakers. They encouraged the community to rise above any potential divisiveness and be inclusive of all viewpoints moving forward.

"I do believe this ordinance is in the collective best interest of Sparta for today and the future," Blumetti said. "It's not perfect, but I think it's where we need to go and in the right direction of where we need to go."

Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.

Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sparta NJ to vote on flying Pride flag at town hall after new policy