Sparks fly as Dover mayor has aldermen and resident removed from meeting

DOVER —  Name-calling and allegations flew at the packed town hall meeting Tuesday night, culminating in the removal of an alderman and a resident at the request of Mayor James Dodd.

Following a heated public back and forth, Alderman Carlos Valencia and resident and critic of Dodd, Dominic Timpani, were removed from the meeting by police officers. 

The argument began with former aldermen Timpani holding up a poster with a portrait photo of Alderwoman Carolyn Blackman attached to a sketch of a tree. Timpani claimed he took the likeness of the tree from a website set up by the mayor, and called it a "lynching tree."

The exchange sparked a fight between the mayor and Valencia. 

The website created by Dodd does have an illustration of a tree often used to show family ancestry, which he calls the "crooked family tree" for "crooked liars." The tree on the website does include photos of Blackman as well as Timpani, Valencia and Fernando "Fercho" Barrios, a supporter of the alderwoman. The tree on Timpani's poster and the one on the mayor's website are not the same. Timpani's tree only shows the alderwoman and some grayed-out squares.

Dodd is running for reelection to the mayor's seat on Nov. 5 as an Independent, and Blackman is his only challenger, running as a Democrat.

The mayor and Valencia exchanged words and the mayor called the alderman a "criminal," referring to his 2005 arrest records citing an alleged theft.

"Mr. Valencia is a criminal, and he is on that website. And I am not afraid to say that in public. If you're crooked and you're a criminal, you're going on that website," Dodd said. 

Dodd, in response to questions, said he created the website to "explore these criminals" and admits to requesting arrest records to back up claims on his site. He said Timpani was a former "disgruntled employee" who is upset about being on the website

Residents groaned and murmured before Timpani interjected and shouted at an individual attending the meeting. 

Right before Timpani was removed he shouted obscenities and accusations at the mayor. At that point, Valencia, who represents the 4th Ward, pointed at Dodd and said: "liar, liar, liar."

Dodd said he was out of order and asked police officers to remove Valencia.

"I'm not scared of you. Sure I go, you are very nasty person, very dirty," said Valencia to Dodd as officers approached the dais. 

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Valencia said he was arrested in 2005 and the community is aware of it. He said Dodd continues to bully aldermen by yelling at them or having them removed from meetings when they raise concerns or issues against him.

"He has the government closed for the three Hispanics that are working on the board. He doesn't let our resolutions pass," Valencia added. 

Disputes between the two date to last year's primaries when Valencia ran for an Aldermen seat. He claims Dodd almost hit him with his car and after addressing the issue with him, the mayor is stalling his resolutions. 

"We are asking that the government open up for everyone, not just for the mayor or those that are working for him. We are all working for the community," Valencia said.

Tuesday night's meeting was the last before the Nov. 5 election. There are four aldermen seats up for reelection, including the mayor's. Blackman and Dodd are candidates for the mayor post.

Valencia's term expires in 2020.

The website was just one of the concerns raised by residents during public comments . Residents also asked about body-cameras, storm preparedness, taxicab stands, mayor and aldermen salaries and numerous campaign allegations before the exchange took place.

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

Email: jgomez@gannettnj.com Twitter: @jessiereport