Dunwoody narrows focus on 2025 spending plan ► PAGE 4
September 12, 2024 | AppenMedia.com | An Appen Media Group Publication | Ser ving the community since 1976
Record shows Dunwoody paid $20,000 to ex-officer DUNWOODY, Ga. — The Dunwoody City Council is yet to comment on its approval of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s conciliation agreement between the Police Department and a former officer. The commission required the city to pay $20,000 in damages because of retaliation against a former officer, who blew a whistle on former Lt. Fidel
Espinoza’s repeated sexual harassment. Appen Media received the full conciliation agreement Sept. 4 after submitting an open records request to the city. The terms of the agreement require confidentiality on the part of the charging party, former Officer Bryan Castellanos and the respondent, the Dunwoody Police Department.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that there was retaliation against Castellanos and his decision to leave his position may not have been voluntary because the employer created a hostile work environment. Mediation from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is free for both parties and seeks to
eliminate unlawful practices through an informal conciliatory process. The conciliation agreement, signed by Mayor Lynn Deutsch Aug. 27, requires Dunwoody to pay Castellanos $20,000 through its insurance carrier. It also requires the city to start training its leaders with “special emphasis on Title VII [of the 1964 Civil Rights Act],” which deals with sexual harassment.
Cities tie transportation to economic prosperity By ZOE SEILER zseiler@decaturish.com DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch outlined her city’s initiatives to invigorate economic and cultural growth Aug. 29 at the annual DeKalb Chamber of Commerce City Summit in Stone Mountain. The City Summit fielded representatives from municipalities throughout DeKalb County. During a panel discussion, Deutsch said transportation and transit have been a challenge. She noted the heavy traffic she faced heading west toward Atlanta that morning. “Commuting is a big deal for people, and I think to the
point that people have choices, you have to create a space for employers where employees will want to be,” Deutsch said. Dunwoody is working to improve Perimeter Center with trails, art, programming and placemaking to make it a more of a destination spot. Deutsch added that officials must make it easy for people to get to places. Dunwoody also hopes to create opportunities for office building redevelopment. Deutsch said the city has completed a new plan for Dunwoody Village. “It keeps the commercial density low, which I think enables small businesses to potentially have an opportunity
See SUMMIT, Page 17
ZOE SEILER/DECATURISH
Stonecrest Director of Economic Development Christian Green (behind podium), Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, Doraville Mayor Pro Tem Gerald Evans and Brookhaven Mayor Pro Tem John Funny discuss economic development during the City Summit on Aug. 29, 2024.
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