Dewey Beach hires new town attorney

The search is over for a new town attorney in Dewey Beach.  Fred Townsend, of Dover law firm Schmittinger and Rodriguez, will serve as the municipal solicitor for Dewey Beach.

Townsend is also the attorney for Cheswold and Townsend and the former attorney for Kent County.  He said his other areas of expertise include real estate and land-use law.

Townsend said Dewey Beach might be slightly more demanding than the other municipalities he serves, but he said he is happy to work with Dewey Beach Town Council.  “I’m impressed with their level of professionalism and their capabilities, and I look forward to working with them in the future,” Townsend said.

Townsend said aside from some paperwork, he expects to begin his position in Dewey Beach immediately.  “I think it’s just a matter of crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s,” he said.

Townsend is a graduate of University of Delaware and Widener School of Law.  He served as deputy insurance commissioner from 1994–2000.

“The firm is noted for its expertise in municipal legal services and currently handles a number of towns as well as Kent County,” said Mayor Diane Hanson.

Hanson announced council’s decision to hire Townsend Dec. 21.  She said he has a broad range of experience and excellent references.  He also recently moved to Rehoboth Beach.

Hanson said council plans to hire a second attorney to focus on employment and lawsuits.

Former town attorney Glenn Mandalas resigned from the position in a Nov. 10 letter to commissioners.  Mandalas said in an email he was having difficulty serving Dewey Beach along with his other municipal clients. Mandalas, who is a partner of Dover law firm Baird Mandalas LLC, is also city solicitor for Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.