City Attorney Resigns

By Jason Massad
Dunwoody Patch

City Attorney Brian Anderson agreed to resign Tuesday instead of being fired for leaking privileged information from city executive sessions.
City Attorney Brian Anderson agreed to resign his post Tuesday in lieu of being fired by a council that was lined up against him.

Anderson became embattled May 12, when Mayor Mike Davis drew up a resolution to fire Anderson based on leaks from two city executive sessions regarding a redevelopment project in Georgetown.
Click Dunwoody Patch to read full story.

By Dan Whisenhunt
Dunwoody Reporter

The Dunwoody City Council on Tuesday night, May 29, voted to fire City Attorney Brian Anderson for allegedly leaking confidential information from an executive session to the media.

The council voted 6-1 in favor of a separation agreement with Anderson. Councilman Denis Shortal voted against because he did not support giving Anderson additional salary. The council agreed that Anderson would resign and the city would pay him two months salary and benefits, about $29,000. Also in the agreement, Anderson will not seek any further damages from the city.
Click Dunwoody Reporter to read full story.

For mroe on Monday night's council meeting go to Councilman John Heneghan's blog.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day Event

Date: May 28, 2012

Time: 10:00am

Location: Brook Run Park

The city of Dunwoody is hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10am on Monday in honor of those who died in service to our country.  “We will gather as citizens to honor those who died in service to our country,” city of Dunwoody spokesman Bob Mullen said. “In doing so, we join the 3rd Infantry soldiers who place American flags on 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, scouts across the nation who place flags at many other cemeteries and cities and towns who hold parades, ceremonies and vigils on this special day.”

For more information, go to Memorial Day.

Update from Councilman Nall

If you find this email to be of interest, please forward it to your friends and neighbors. To subscribe, please send me a note at terry.nall@dunwoodyga.gov.

Upcoming City Council Meetings

• Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00pm
• Monday, June 11 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday, June 26 at 7:00pm

Memorial Day Commemoration
Dunwoody's Memorial Day Commemoration is Monday, May 28, 10:00am at Brook Run Park. Join us in helping to honor those that have served our country.

Ashford-Dunwoody Road at I-285: Traffic Alert
The Ashford-Dunwoody Road bridge at I-285 will close (weather permitting) from 9:00pm on Friday, June 1 until 5:00am on Monday, June 4. Detours around the bridge will utilize the Perimeter Center Parkway "flyover" bridge between Hammond Drive and Lake Hearn Drive. Access ramps to and from I-285 will remain open.
When the Ashford-Dunwoody Road bridge reopens on Monday, June 4, the Diverging Diamond Interchange will be in effect with a dramatic new traffic pattern, signals, and signs. This innovative design is the first in Georgia. The design shifts the flow of traffic to the opposite side of the road to reduce points of traffic conflict and improve traffic flow and safety. Please be alert to the new signs and new signals. The expectation is a reduction in traffic delays during rush times by up to 20 percent. For more information, go to http://www.canyouddi.org/.

Georgetown Renaissance Project
Dunwoody officials recently hosted a packed-room community presentation to review the redevelopment proposal from John Wieland Homes. Covering the 35 acres of both the former "PVC" pipe farm and the former Shallowford hospital site, the redevelopment includes approximately 110 single family homes (including many with "master bedroom on the main floor'), several acres of open parks and greenspace, and a trail across the two parcels that could connect to Brook Run Park.
As a later phase of the redevelopment, the plans also include 3 acres of commercial space for neighborhood shops and restaurants, plus additional acreage for a possible future city hall site.
At our May 29 meeting, Council will consider a development agreement, appoint the Urban Redevelopment Agency, and consider a resolution to permit the rezoning.

Summer Roadwork Season is Here
With the end of the school year comes the summer roadwork season. Two dozen streets are scheduled for repaving, sidewalks, drainage repair, and/or other infrastructure improvements. Though road and sidewalk construction will occur across all sectors of the city, I especially highlight these two heavily traveled streets:
Mt. Vernon Road (between Lisa Lane and Ashford-Dunwoody Road)

• Chamblee-Dunwoody Road (between Valley View Road and Cambridge Drive).
• Please be alert to construction crews, delays, and possible detours.

Intersection Improvements Update
At our May 29 meeting, Council will consider funding the final design work of intersection improvements at Tilly Mill Road and N. Peachtree Road. Once the final design is completed, Council will seek funding for implementation.
The next intersection up for improvements is Vermack Road at Womack Road. Council will consider initial design funding also at our May 29 meeting. The initial design work will explore possible solutions. Traffic count studies have already begun.
If you have input or suggestions on these or any other City Council issues, please let me know. Should any of your organizations, church groups, neighborhood associations, etc. desire a City Council member to attend and provide in-person updates, please let me know.
Thank you for your confidence. I'm very honored to serve you.
Terry Nall
Dunwoody City Council (At Large)
Email: terry.nall@dunwoodyga.gov

Bonser Denies Allegations

By Dan Whisenhunt
Dunwoody Reporter

Councilwoman Adrian Bonser on Thursday, May 24, blasted a report that alleges she leaked information from a closed meeting of the Dunwoody City Council.

She said the report unfairly targeted her, relying on misinformation. She called the report a waste of taxpayer money.
“All of us on the Council are grown ups, each with different life experiences and skills. We should have been able to talk to one another and work this out without drama and $50,000 expense,” Bonser said. “The investigation was needless and, used as a tool to try to discredit and defame my character. This investigation was no more than a nicely typed, biased regurgitation of essentially he said/she said ad hominem attacks.”
Click Dunwoody Reporter to read full story and full statement from Bonser.

The Quiet Before the Storm

This is the quiet before the storm that will be Tuesday night's city council meeting, in which the Mayor promises to resubmit the agenda item asking that the city attorney be removed.  If you want more discussion on that subject, I suggest you read the comments on Heneghan's Dunwoody Blog that follow Monday's post.  At last check, there were 20 comments, with "Chip" in the lead as to persuasive annotation.

Of course, all of this started with the leak that John Wieland would be the contractor to "build out" the PVC Farm and the old Emory Hospital site.  I've seen some of Wieland's sketches and plans, and while they're not bad, they're not exactly what I had in mind. 
With that said, Wieland sent out an email this morning (like many Realtors, I am on quite a few builder's distribution lists) about one of its projects in Canton, and frankly, it would be a great fit for Dunwoody (sans the gates)!  Click Weiland to see more.  The home below would look awfully nice at the PVC Farm.

City Releases Investigative Report

The much anticipated report into the leak of executive session matters at Dunwoody City Council meetings was released by the city on Monday.  To read the full report, click Investigative Report.
The report by former DeKalb District Attorney Bob Wilson is 40-pages long.  It does not paint a pretty picture for city attorney Brian Anderson or Councilwoman Adrian Bonser, both of whom worked long and hard for the city over the last four years.
The findings help explain why Mayor Mike Davis put forward a resolution to remove Anderson from his job.  Should he be fired?  And what about the councilwoman?   Can either be trusted again?
Read the report.  Read Dunwoody Farmer Bob's latest blog.  Draw your own conclusions.  Regardless, it is a sad day for the city.

DeKalb Animal Fundraiser; Sneidermann Slapped with Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Click to enlarge

Sneidermann Slapped with Wrongful Death Lawsuit

By Christian Boone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The brother of Rusty Sneiderman on Friday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his sister-in-law, alleging that she conspired to kill her husband in front of a Dunwoody day care facility in November 2010.
Hemy Neuman, convicted of Sneiderman's murder two months ago, is also named in the civil action, filed Friday in Fulton County Superior Court on behalf of Steve Sneiderman. According to the suit, Andrea Sneiderman "utilized her illicit relationship with her co-conspirator [Neuman] to manipulate and influence him to murder Rusty Sneiderman."

In a statement, Andrea Sneiderman's attorneys blasted her brother-in-law for "attempting to try [their client] in the media."
Click Atlanta Journal-Constitution to read full story.

Latest on City Attorney; Arby's Closes?; Dunwoody Principal Reassigned

Okay, I jumped the gun in my last blog post when I wrote in the headline "Dunwoody Fires City Attorney."  As former councilman Robert Wittenstein pointed out in his comment to the post, the mayor cannot fire the city attorney, it must be done by majority vote of the city council.  I was under the erroneous assumption that the mayor had the necessary votes.
Monday night the council met, and voted 5-2 to defer a decision on Brian Anderson's future.  For the full story read The Crier.
It is not clear when council will take up the matter again.  However it is quite clear that at least two members of council (and perhaps even more) are not pleased with the job performance of the city attorney, which might include leaking of executive session material.  Expect the agenda item to resurface within the next 30 days after special investigator Bob Wilson's report is released (it will be the mostly widely read report in this city's young history).  Wilson did brief the council at an executive session Monday night prior to the public council meeting.  Anderson has denied leaking anything from an executive session.

Arby's Closes?

Recognize the building above?  It is the Williamsburg Arby's (next to McDonald's) - sans the signage.  Apparently the Arby's, which has been at this location for, at least, the 18 years that I've lived in Dunwoody, has closed up shop.  Frankly, I'm not too surprised, since I really didn't understand how Arby's could stay in business.  The store never seemed to have many or any customers!
Could this be the future site of a Chick-fil-A?  I wouldn't be surprised.  After all, Chick-fil-A wanted to open a store just around the corner in the Blockbuster building across the street from the old Ace Hardware, before running into zoning issues.  Obviously, zoning wouldn't be a problem at this location.  Stay tuned.

Dunwoody Principal Reassigned

By Dan Whisenhunt
Dunwoody Reporter

The outgoing chairwoman of the Dunwoody High School Council says a DeKalb County Schools official has informed parents that Principal Rodney Swanson will be reassigned at the end of this year.

Caren Morrison, chairwoman of the high school council, said area Assistant Superintendent Terry Segovis met with council members on Tuesday, May 15, and told them Swanson would leave at the end of June. Morrison said Segovis did not tell the council where Swanson will go or who will replace him. She said Segovis told them the school system is reassigning principals at various levels throughout the county.
Click Dunwoody Reporter to read full story.

Dunwoody Fires City Attorney, Arts Festival

An eye-popping agenda item has been added to Monday night's city council meeting.  Mayor Mike Davis has fired City Attorney Brian Anderson. 

STATE OF GEORGIA

CITY OF DUNWOODY

 RESOLUTION 2012-05-17

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE

CITY ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, the Mayor has the authority to appoint a City Attorney with the consent of the

City Council; and

WHEREAS, Brian Anderson currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of

Dunwoody; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council no longer have confidence in the abilities and

judgment of the City Attorney; and

WHEREAS, the City Attorney serves at the will of the City Council; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor has advised the City Attorney of the City’s desire that he either

resign his position or be terminated; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Mayor and Council of the City of Dunwoody that:

1. The employment of the City Attorney shall be terminated.

2. The termination of employment is effective May 14, 2012.

SO RESOLVED AND EFFECTIVE this 14th day of May, 2012

So the obvious question - why was the city attorney fired?  Anderson has been in the position from day one, appointed by Mayor Ken Wright.  He was the acting president of Citizens for Dunwoody, and served on the Executive Committee from its inception to the official start of the City.

Councilman John Heneghan posted a blog Saturday morning that reads, "I am posting this item as well, but it brings me no joy in order to do so. Do me a favor, please don't jump to conclusions on this."

I'll respect John's request, but will say that Mayor Davis is running a tight ship and demanding accountability.

Dunwoody Arts Festival

The 3rd Annual Dunwoody Arts Festival is underway in the village (which means the section of Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. between Mt. Vernon and Dunwoody Village Parkway is closed).  If you haven't been to the festival - check it out.  My family has had fun the past two years, for no other reason than bumping into neighbors and friends, and catching up with them.  Click on Dunwoody Arts Festival for more information.

City Open House - Thursday Night

Project Renaissance Open House

Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 100)

Attendees will be treated to a brief overview presentation and then have an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods as well as City staff.

The event above is being hosted by the City of Dunwoody.  This is your chance to ask direct questions of city staff as well as John Wieland executives on their plans for development of the 35 acres of property off Shallowford Rd.  Just how much will this project cost the city?  Some questions have been raised.  For more, go to John Heneghan's blog post on Tuesday.  Click here for more information on Project Renaissance.

Dunwoody School Council

Parent Election 5/11

School Council Election

May 11th

Please come to the school to cast your vote for three open positions for parent representatives on our School Council. Each parent of a current child at DES may vote. Ballots are cast in the front office between the hours of 7 am – 7 pm.
The nominees are: Celena Apple, Patty Gumbrill, Kimberly Kirkland (Trego), Dori Miller, Jovan Moses, Cassie Odom, Mellie O’Keefe, Jennifer Seitz, Rosemary Watts.
I'm sure all the candidates are exceptional, but here's a shoutout for my neighbors Kimberly Kirkland and Dori Miller - you've got my vote!

Wieland Choosen, DHA Agenda

Dunwoody, GA – May 3, 2012 – The City of Dunwoody is pleased to announce John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods as its recommended partner for its redevelopment initiative: “Project Renaissance – A New Georgetown.”

In an effort to implement the Georgetown Master Plan adopted last spring, the City released an invitation for proposals in March to encourage interested developers to submit ideas and concepts that align with the Master Plan for the redevelopment of a 16 acre parcel owned by the City and a 19 acre property the City has under contract.
After evaluating all responses, the selection committee, comprised of City Council and staff members, unanimously recommended the City partner with John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods. In their proposal, John Wieland suggested a low-density, owner-occupied residential development interwoven with City parks and a multi-use trail running across and connecting both properties. The plan reserves space for the City to market and sell a 3-acre future neighborhood commercial node on the North Shallowford edge of the 16-acre parcel. The full proposal has been posted to the City’s website at http://www.dunwoodyga.gov/ and is available by clicking on the “Project Renaissance” button on the homepage under “Projects” in the lower right corner.
“We were very pleased that the proposal from John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods clearly aligns with the community’s vision for the future as outlined in our adopted Georgetown Master Plan,” said Dunwoody Mayor Michael G. Davis. “I’m confident all residents and nearby business owners will find the proposed concept extremely beneficial for the entire City as well as a catalyst for the exciting rebirth of the Georgetown area.”
In addition to making the proposal publically available, the City and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods are hosting an open house regarding the proposed Project Renaissance redevelopment next Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall (41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 100). Attendees will hear a brief overview presentation and then have an opportunity to ask questions and interact with representatives from John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods as well as the City of Dunwoody.
John Wieland, CEO of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, commented: “John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods is very pleased to have been recommended as the partner for the residential portion of Dunwoody’s Georgetown redevelopment initiative. We look forward to the opportunity to bring our award winning design and quality, along with our 40 years of homebuilding experience, to this very special project. We are committed to creating an exciting urban living environment in this outstanding location.”
The City hopes to answer any questions and gather public input throughout the month of May as it works to finalize a formal development agreement. The Dunwoody City Council will formally consider a development agreement with John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods at its City Council meeting on May 29, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Several additional public meetings will be held over the course of the summer as the plans for this catalytic develop head towards implementation in early 2013.

DHA Agenda

Dunwoody Homeowners Association

Board of Directors Meeting Sunday, May 6, 2012 @ 7:30 P.M.

AGENDA

Announcements and introduction of distinguished visitors

1. Approval of minutes for April 2012

2. Dunwoody Village Post Office and Green market site changes

3. Project Renaissance - A New Georgetown

4. Berman Commons assisted living facility on Womack road

5. Board only discussion

Votes as needed on any motions

Adjourn

Next board meeting: Sunday, June 3, 2012

Dunwoody Beats Metro Atlanta Real Estate Market

I read a recent newspaper article that stated home prices in the metro Atlanta area are down 17 percent from a year ago.  While that may be fact, it's only partially true.  Let me explain.
Higher priced homes in more exclusive areas are not selling nearly as often as in years past, this while the average price of the homes that are selling is lower than in years past.  Thus, the raw numbers distort the truth (see chart below).

Click on chart to enlarge

How has Dunwoody fared the first quarter of 2012 compared with the first quarter a year ago?  A lot better than many would have thought.  In the first quarter of 2011, 54 single-family homes sold, with a median average of $324,900.  In the first quarter of 2012, 66 single-family homes sold, with a median average of $323,489.  That's a drop in price of $1,411, or less than .5 percent - easily beating the metro average!  The 66 sold homes also represents a 22 percent increase in the number of sales, which is better than the metro average of 17 percent increase. 
There are currently 128 active listings in Dunwoody in the 30338 and 30360 zip code, ranging in price from $55,00 (yes, that is not a typo) to $749,900.   To view any of the active listings, in descending order by price, click on the link below.   To view any in person, please give me a call!

Dunwoody Listings

Oh by the way, the 2012 first quarter stats show that Keller Williams Realty continues to increase it's lead in market share (see chart below).  And these numbers don't lie! 

Click on chart to enlarge