New planning commissioner named

An experienced planner now working for the Virginia Department of Transportation was tapped Monday night to fill a vacancy on the Waynesboro Planning Commission.

Terry Short, an assistant planner for the VDOT Staunton District, was appointed to take over the seat formerly held by Greg Bruno, who left last month after deciding not to seek another term.

In his application letter, Short, who has a master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois-Chicago, wrote, "I feel that serving as a member of the Waynesboro Planning Commission will enable me to contribute, in a small way, to the general direction of the City of Waynesboro. … I am very much interested in participating in the planning process of my home town [sic]."

He further indicated he had a conflict-of-interest inquiry pending with the attorney general's office regarding his ability to serve on the commission while working for VDOT. Although no reply had yet arrived, he wrote that he felt confident there was no conflict and promised to withdraw should the attorney general disagree.

Short was the only applicant for the commission opening, according to city administrators. His appointment was unanimously approved by the City Council during Monday's meeting.

"His credentials here are very commendable," said Vice Mayor Nancy Dowdy.

Short's resume includes work on comprehensive plans, transportation plans and bicycle/pedestrian plans for both local and state governments throughout the Midwest and East Coast. He also co-authored a guide for the planning, design and operation of pedestrian facilities for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

His appointment to the commission is immediate.

Also during Monday's meeting, the City Council discussed a proposal to require helmets for moped riders, ultimately tabling it for further research. City Attorney Bob Lunger had presented a corresponding ordinance, but felt there were some questions still unanswered.

"I think what we have to figure out is what exactly are some of the vehicles already covered by state law, so we wouldn't need to cover them here," he said after the meeting.

The state code provides copious definitions of moving vehicles, breaking them down by factors like motor power, speed capability, wheel size and even seat height.

Police Chief Doug Davis had also wondered what type of helmets were being referred to, noting that motorcycle helmets, for example, can be costly purchases.

"We don't want to make this cost-prohibitive," Davis explained. "We want to make sure it's fair, to make sure it's not overly burdening."

Mayor Tom Reynolds worried the change might wind up affecting those not actually targeted by the law, such as elderly or disabled residents who use motorized wheelchairs.

"At top speed, those people are going three miles an hour," he said. "I want to make sure these are not the types of things that wind up in the ordinance."

The possibility of a stricter helmet law - current law only applies to children riding bicycles - was first raised earlier this month after Chief Davis spoke to the City Council regarding speed enforcement strategies.

Vice Mayor Dowdy first raised the concern for moped riders.

"For me, it's just a no-brainer," she said. "You see a lot of head trauma resulting from people not wearing helmets, and head trauma is not something you get over. That's the reason we have motorcycle laws and why we should have moped laws, too."

No date was set for re-presenting an ordinance, although Lunger said he was hopeful it would be done this year.