Dover picks alderman to fill vacancy but also replaces longtime town attorney

Dover has a new Third Ward representative after the Board of Alderman picked a former school board member and planning board chairman to fill an open seat. The board also selected a new municipal attorney at last week's meeting.

The board chose Michael Scarneo to fill its vacancy after former Adrian Ballesteros moved to California and resigned his seat on Jan. 8. It also voted to replace its longtime town attorney, choosing a Morristown firm to succeed Dover native Timothy Downs.

Scarneo was one of three names presented to the board by the Dover Democratic Committee to replace Ballesteros. The board considered two other nominees, Hope Summerset and Edward Correa, but deadlocked in 4-4 votes. It then voted 6-2 to appoint Scarneo to finish Ballesteros' term, which expires at the end of the year.

Scarneo, a 42-year resident, is a retired global services manager for Verizon and former 15-year member of the Dover Board of Education. He also chaired the town zoning board for 15 years. His appointment last week required him to resign as chairman of the Dover Planning Board.

"I've been involved in the town for years and years," said Scarneo. "This is the ultimate opportunity to give back, so I'm honored and thrilled."

Correa, who chairs the Dover Democratic Committee, praised Scarneo, who serves as the party's treasurer.

"With his experience and desire to serve the community, he will be an outstanding representative for the people of Dover," Correa said.

Downs replaced

At the same meeting, Mayor Carolyn Blackman and a board majority voted to replace longtime municipal attorney Timothy Downs. With the newly seated Scarneo abstaining, the panel instead voted by a 6-2-1 margin to select the Morristown firm of Vogel, Chait, Collins and Schneider as the town's municipal attorney, with Thomas Collins and Thomas Molica as the lead attorneys.

"It's been my pleasure to serve my hometown as municipal attorney," Downs said. "I am disappointed in Mayor Blackman's decision, but I will fully cooperate with the new law firm and work diligently to ensure a smooth transition."

Downs was first appointed by former Mayor James Dodd in 2012.

"We just looked at the attorneys [bidding for the job] and the board decided it wanted a change," Blackman said.

Correa, a former alderman, criticized the decision to remove Downs, saying the new attorneys lack the "experience and institutional memory" Downs has as a lifelong resident with a practice in town.

The Dover Democratic Committee plans to meet in the coming weeks to consider endorsements in an election year that includes the mayor's office and alderman seats in all four wards. No candidates have officially declared as of yet, including Blackman.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Dover NJ board of alderman fills vacancy, replaces town attorney