Review: ‘A Nice Family Gathering’ has all the holiday ingredients
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Dunwoody approves policies on road use, holiday displays By CARSON COOK carson@appenmediagroup.com
CARSON COOK/Crier
Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal looks back on his accomplishments as his term comes to an end at a town hall Nov. 19.
Mayor highlights accomplishments at farewell Town Hall gathering By CARSON COOK carson@appenmediagroup.com DUNWOODY, Ga. — About 75 Dunwoody residents were at Dunwoody City Hall Nov. 19 for Mayor Denis Shortal’s final town hall. Shortal announced in April that he would not seek reelection so he could spend more time with his family. The retired airline pilot and Marine has played a role in Dunwoody city government since incorporation in 2008. He served as a member of City Council before being elected mayor in 2015. While town halls are typically op-
portunities for residents to grill elected officials on the issues they care about, this event served as more a touching farewell to Shortal. The night began with a video tribute to Shortal’s 11-year tenure with the City of Dunwoody. Then, for about an hour Shortal talked about his accomplishments as mayor and what he saw in the city’s future. Following the speech, the crowd gave Shortal a standing ovation before the mayor began taking questions from the audience. A handful of residents spoke,
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See MAYOR, Page 4
DUNWOODY, Ga. — It was a crowded City Council chamber Nov. 18 when Dunwoody adopted two policies that received significant public scrutiny: one designed to protect pedestrians and bikers and the other dictating holiday decorations. Earlier this year, Councilman Tom Lambert introduced an ordinance to protect “vulnerable road users,” such as walkers, bikers, scooter users, utility workers and other travelers not protected by the shell of an automobile. The policy was modeled after similar laws in place in Houston and other cities across the U.S., and Monday night Dunwoody became the first city in Georgia to enact such a policy. The ordinance establishes rules for all travelers to safely share the road; prohibits intimidation by drivers against VRUs and protects drivers from liability if bikers or pedestrians act recklessly or unlawfully. The policy requires drivers to leave a 3-foot distance when passing other road users. If the driver must cross into the opposite-direction traffic lane to create the 3-foot distance, they must travel behind the biker or pedestrian until it is safe to move over. Councilman Terry Nall attempted to change the language that instructed drivers to cross into the oppositedirection traffic lane in certain circumstances. “We’d be the only city that codifies this conflict with state law, and we
shouldn’t be an outlier,” Nall said. Lambert said that language was essential to the policy. Without that clarification, drivers would continue to pass too close to bikers when there is opposing traffic, he said. Ultimately, Nall’s amendment did not receive support from other council members, and the VRU ordinance passed 6-1 with Nall opposed. The new policy will not be enforced until May 2020 to allow for an education period, based on a recommendation from Councilwoman Lynn Deutsch at an earlier meeting. Though in the past, some residents have been critical of the VRU ordinance, three people spoke in favor of the policy in advance of its adoption Nov. 18. At the same meeting, the council adopted a policy that governs what decorations could be displayed in City Hall and other public buildings. The policy was drafted by the city attorney after a citizen requested that the city display a nativity scene during the upcoming holiday season. The original policy included a list of items that were considered religious symbols — including nativity scenes, a crucifix or menorah — that would not be allowed. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits governments from endorsing specific religions. The original policy also included a list of decorations that were allowable because they were not deemed religious symbols — such as wreaths, trees,
See COUNCIL, Page 4
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