Avon to consider best strategies for letters of support
Town Council seeks streamlined approach to decision making process
Vail Daily archive
At this week’s Avon Town Council meeting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 13, the council will address a prevalent question: How should the town deal with a request for a letter or signature of support?
According to the Town Council packet, the council struggled to agree at its March 14, 2023, meeting over a request to support a Bureau of Land Management letter initiated by the Mountain Pact. Signing for the town of Avon would have required unanimous consensus, and for all council members to be present at the meeting. Instead, the council decided that those members who wished to could sign the letter as individuals. Following the discussion, Mayor pro tem Tamra Underwood suggested putting on a future council agenda a discussion to streamline the letter of support decision process in the future.
According to the packet, much of the time, the requests for letters of support Avon receives are time-sensitive, and the topics generally align with Avon’s existing plans and policies. Examples of recent support that Avon has provided include signing a letter to Gov. Jared Polis requesting “a collaborative decision-making approach” for future changes to Mountain Express Lanes operations, and a letter written by Avon town manager Eric Heil to U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse in support of the Bolts Ditch Act.
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For most letters, simplifying the process of deciding whether to sign on in support, rather than having each request go before the council in an official meeting, should be both possible and beneficial to Avon and the requesting party.
The packet suggests requests for support go before the town manager and the town mayor, who would be able to sign on behalf of the town if they agree that the contents of the letter are “consistent with policies already adopted by the town,” the packet says. Requests that are not consistent with town policies would go before the whole council for a decision.
