In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Media Services Director Mike Gillis about key actions taken by Dover's boards, committees, and commissions during March. The two discuss the City Council's decision to pursue diver-assisted mechanical removal of milfoil in Willand Pond, a state-owned waterbody shared with Somersworth, opting against herbicide treatment despite the state's recommendation. They review the FY27 budget process, noting that public hearings have been held and final deliberations are expected in early April. Parker and Gillis also cover the reprogramming of surplus Capital Improvements Project funds toward the Horne Street reconstruction design and First and Second Street crosswalk enhancements, updated property tax exemptions, and the SchoolCare health insurance assessment issue, for which a joint Council-School Board meeting with the Secretary of State is planned. On the planning front, they highlight conditional approval of a Marriott hotel at the former Burger King site on Central Avenue and ongoing Transfer of Development Rights discussions. They also pay tribute to the late Cliff Blake, a dedicated community volunteer.

Parker then speaks with Deb Clough of Don't Trash Dover about the annual "Power of an Hour" cleanup event on April 25. Clough explains that volunteers check in at their ward locations by 9:15 a.m. and spend an hour picking up litter citywide. The event features a friendly ward-versus-ward competition with handmade "trash trophies," and last year volunteers collected a ton and a half of litter.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Services Director John Storer and Recreation Director Kevin Hebert to wrap up the podcast's look at the FY27 municipal operating budget.

Storer opens by walking Parker through the complexity of building Community Services' proposed $38 million budget, the largest departmental budget outside the School Board. He explains that more than half of that figure covers water and sewer enterprise funds, with the general fund portion including streets, snow plowing, facilities, and grounds. Because so many costs are driven by outside forces — electricity, chemicals, road salt, and fuel — Storer describes budgeting as a 365-day process of tracking trends and responding to market conditions. He highlights two notable swings in the wastewater budget: a $140,000 savings from improved biosolids disposal options as the industry adapts to PFAS concerns, offset by a $120,000 increase in curbside recycling tipping fees due to weak demand for recyclable materials. Storer also previews the city's transition from the bag-and-tag pay-as-you-throw program to automated curbside collection, set for July 1, 2027, which is expected to generate roughly $80,000 in first-year savings.

Hebert then discusses Recreation's FY27 priorities, including the expansion of Nebi Park, a new pilot volleyball program that nearly sold out immediately, and upgrades to the Jenny Thompson and Indoor pools. He notes that a proposed pool maintenance specialist position did not make the final budget but remains a priority for future years.

In This Week in Dover History, we look back at Dover's transition from a town to a city in 1856, when Andrew Pierce, a 70-year-old businessman and longtime civic leader, became Dover's first mayor, accepting the city's official seal and records from the outgoing Board of Selectmen. The segment covers how the new city charter enabled Dover to establish a municipal fire department, improve its waterworks and public schools, and replace a fragmented system of 12 separate school districts with unified city governance.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Police Chief David Terlemezian, Fire Chief Brendan Driscoll, Public Library Director Denise LaFrance, and Information Technology Director Annie Dove as part of an ongoing look at the City of Dover's FY 27 municipal operating budget.

Chief Terlemezian, in his first budget as chief, explains that despite the department's $13 million budget, very little is discretionary — the bulk is driven by personnel and operational needs. He highlights two notable increases: a shift to annual payments for body cameras at roughly $90,000 per year, and a growing city match requirement as federal grants for the prevention and social work units become less reliable.

Chief Driscoll describes a collaborative process built around input from officers who oversee specific areas of responsibility. He notes a modest increase in vehicle maintenance costs but credits recent Capital Improvement Program investments in new apparatus for keeping those costs lower than expected.

Library Director LaFrance discusses the department's anticipated move back into its newly renovated building, which required educated guesses on utilities and drove a modest increase in part-time staff hours to prepare for anticipated higher foot traffic. She also notes rising demand for programming and confirms the library will not resume passport services.

DoverNet Director Annie Dove outlines a largely flat budget focused on keeping hardware current and applications supported. She highlights two new cybersecurity investments stemming from Homeland Security assessments and notes that the city has added a paid subscription to the MS-ISAC threat intelligence service after federal funding for the program was discontinued.