Surveillance, Outdoor Dining, and Other Community Concerns at Town Council Meeting

Among a wide variety of concerns addressed at the Town Council meeting of September 28, the mayor in her report read a proclamation declaring the 25^th of this month through December 1 a time in which to honor Dolly Parton by giving to the charity of one’s choice through dollarsfordolly.com.

The Town Council met for a regular meeting on September 28. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh

The spirit of generosity that characterized Dolly’s life lives on, not least through her Imagination Library movement, in which children receive free books. But Mayor Lori Cockrell said the community could honor the scope of Dolly’s vision more broadly by giving to organizations that share the iconic lady’s core values. This would please her.

Chief of Police Brian Whited presented to the council, accompanied by Major Zachary King.

Remembrance of September 11 was woven throughout the reports, with Councilman Glenn Wood reflecting on a related event at the downtown Gazebo and Vice-Mayor Amber Veitenthal remarking on the significance of 9-12, the day after the tragedy when people from different sides of the aisle came together in common concern. If only we could get back to that, she reflected.

Town Manager Joseph Petty explained the finer points of an outdoor dining ordinance to the council.

At the beginning of the meeting, the council received a presentation from Chief of Police Brian Whited about the Flock Safety ALPR Camera Program. With six cameras located at key points like the intersection of Leach Run Parkway and Happy Creek Road, the program draws on hot-listed data to match vehicles that may be investigative leads in ongoing cases. Whited emphasized that facial recognition is not a component of this procedure – vehicles are identified, not people. Access to this program is also proprietary to the FRPD, as they do not share it with any other agency. While the information gathered is relevant to inter-agency communication, access to the program itself is highly guarded, and any misuse carries disciplinary action.

Mark Bower of the American Legion addressed the council concerning an MOU between the Town and his organization.

The meeting moved through housekeeping items, including an ordinance amendment to define outdoor dining as an accessory use and establish performance standards. This effort aims to bring existing businesses into compliance and provide a framework for new businesses coming online. The existing ordinance had only provided for restaurants operating in an enclosed space, even though some Front Royal restaurants have featured outdoor dining for as many as fifty years. The council’s discussion centered around the requirement that outdoor dining not exceed 50 percent of the indoor, primary space, as well as the requirement that planters, ropes, or removable railings be used to cleanly demarcate the outdoor dining space from nearby pedestrian or vehicle traffic. The council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance.

After extending the moratorium on data center applications by 60 days and addressing other items, such as the MOU between the Town and the American Legion for the display of banners, the meeting was adjourned.

 Watch the Front Royal Town Council Meeting of September 28, 2026