Dover Download

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On the Move: COAST Bus Connects the Seacoast May 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with COAST Bus Executive Director Rad Nichols and Operations Director Michael Williams.

COAST operates both fixed-route bus services, connecting 10 communities, and demand-response services for older adults and people with disabilities across 13 communities in the greater Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine. The organization is primarily funded by federal government support and municipal contributions. Their fixed routes run from Farmington to Portsmouth, with branches to Somersworth and Berwick, operating Monday through Saturday from as early as 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Nichols and Williams discuss their technology offerings, including an app that shows real-time bus locations and a texting service at (603) 743-5777 for immediate assistance. They provide updates on their facility expansion project, which is in the final design stage and will include indoor storage for their fleet.

Recent initiatives include "Fare Free Saturdays" sponsored by local businesses ($2,500 per day), which has increased ridership by 20-28%. Overall ridership has grown significantly, up 28% last fiscal year and an additional 15% so far this year, attributed to new residents, returning riders, and changing commuting patterns, particularly between Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about an 1885 scandal involving Peter Gagne, who abandoned his wife and children and eloped with Delia Thebeault to Dover. The couple sought work at Isaac Lucas's brickyard, presenting themselves as husband and wife, but were soon apprehended by an officer from Biddeford, Maine.

Dover's Past, Present and Future: A Conversation with Former Planning Director Steve Stancel May 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Planning Director Steve Stancel about his career with the city from 1986 to 2007, followed by a conversation with City Engineer Ken Mavrogeorge about Public Works Week activities.

Parker and Stancel discuss Stancel's journey from growing up in Dover to becoming its planning director. Stancel reflects on major accomplishments during his tenure, including rezoning initiatives that transformed Dover from a primarily residential community to a more balanced economic center. He highlights successful projects like the Liberty Mutual development, the Children's Museum of New Hampshire relocation, the McConnell Center renovation, and the waterfront development. Stancel emphasizes how his knowledge of Dover's history helped shape thoughtful planning initiatives. The conversation touches on challenges they overcame, including environmental protection efforts and infrastructure development that positioned Dover for future growth.

In the second segment, Mavrogeorge previews the upcoming Community Services Open House on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 271 Mast Road. The free event features a touch-a-truck exhibit, vendor booths, complimentary ice cream, and activities for children. Mavrogeorge explains how Community Services encompasses everything from roads and utilities to park maintenance, highlighting employment opportunities within the department. He notes the event offers visitors a chance to learn about public works operations, tour facilities, and discover career options.

The Planning Board through the Decades: A Conversation with Kirt Schuman about the 2010s May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Kirt Schuman about his 15-year tenure on the Dover Planning Board. Schuman shares his journey from joining the Main Street Design Committee in 2004 to eventually becoming Planning Board Chair. He discusses his involvement in developing the 2007 Land Use Master Plan and the 2012 Community Visioning Chapter, which prioritized downtown revitalization while balancing the preservation of Dover's diverse housing stock.

Schuman reflects on the board's evolution in the early 2000s, praising predecessors like Ron Cole for their efficient meeting management and mentorship. He highlights significant achievements including the adoption of form-based code in 2010, downtown rezoning, and the revolutionary shift from parking minimums to maximums. Throughout the conversation, Schuman emphasizes the importance of thoughtful, community-engaged planning processes and the value of balancing development and community vision.

The interview concludes with Schuman encouraging community involvement, noting that local engagement is the most effective way to make an impact, build relationships, and contribute to tangible community improvements like the Dover waterfront development.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's first responders in honor of Firefighter Appreciation Day and National Police Week. Mike Gillis traces the evolution of Dover Fire and Rescue from bucket brigades in the 1600s to today's professional service responding to over 7,100 calls annually under Fire Chief Perry Plummer. He also highlights the Dover Police Department's history from night watchmen to becoming New Hampshire's first accredited police department in 1988, now handling 35,000 calls yearly under Police Chief William Breault.

The Planning Board through the Decades: A Conversation with John Swartzendruber about the 2000s Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with John Swartzendruber, a former Planning Board member who served from 2003 until the 2010s. This is the third episode in a series looking back at the Planning Board over the years. Swartzendruber discusses how he joined the board after his father-in-law, who had been a planning director in Portsmouth, suggested he get involved in the community. He reflects on the positive experience of working with a diverse group of board members and city staff, highlighting the camaraderie and teamwork. Swartzendruber mentions notable projects during his tenure, including Liberty Mutual's campus expansion in 2007 (from which he recused himself as a Liberty employee) and the Point Place development. He describes how planning board members received physical packets of materials delivered to their homes before meetings, a practice that has since shifted to digital delivery. Swartzendruber explains that he eventually left the board when his growing family commitments made it difficult to attend meetings consistently. He encourages listeners to consider volunteering for the Planning Board, emphasizing that no specific experience is required to make a valuable contribution.

In This Week in Dover History, we hear from Brian Early of Media Services and Erin Bassegio from the planning department about recent city activities. They discuss April City Council actions including approval of new ballot counting machines, a water main replacement project, and a contract for natural turf maintenance on city fields. The Planning Board reviewed Community Development Block Grant funding, approved a project for five single-family homes, and conducted training for members on their roles and responsibilities. Various subcommittees are working on updates to the Transfer of Development Rights ordinance and addressing community housing needs. Other boards and commissions that met include the Conservation Commission, Zoning Board, Parking Commission, and Waterfront Committee.

The Planning Board through the Decades: A Conversation with Ron Cole about the 1990s Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Ron Cole, former Planning Board chair who served from the 1990s through 2011. Cole, who passed away shortly after recording this interview, shares his journey from Gloucester, Mass. to Dover, noting both cities were founded in 1623. He discusses how he unexpectedly joined the Planning Board after initially applying to be a library trustee, and how his people skills and experience with gavels made him well-suited for the role.

Cole emphasizes the importance of respect in the planning process and respecting board members and community members who appear before the board. He recounts stories of significant community developments, including a notable interaction with a pharmacy developer and the acquisition of the Children's Museum of New Hampshire. Cole also highlights the vital importance of master planning, stating, "If you don't know where you're going, you're not going to get there."

Cole reflects on his pride in having helped shape Dover's development, noting that nearly 75% of the streets and projects in Dover during his drive around town were ones he had been involved with. He recommends Planning Board service as a way for citizens to learn about and contribute to their community.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn more about Ron Cole's life and contributions to Dover.

The Planning Board through the Decades: George Maglaras on Dover's Transformation in the 1980s Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras, a long-time Dover public servant who served on the Planning Board in the 1980s, the first in a series of episodes looking back at the Planning Board over the decades. Maglaras discusses his transition from the state legislature and chairing the Community Development program to joining the Planning Board during what he calls a "transitional decade" for Dover. He explains how Dover was facing economic challenges with the decline of manufacturing jobs and vacant mills downtown.

Maglaras shares how the Planning Board under his leadership worked to change zoning ordinances to encourage adaptive reuse of historic buildings, particularly for residential use on upper floors. He discusses controversial decisions like rezoning residential neighborhoods to allow more housing units and revitalizing the Miracle Mile shopping area. Throughout the conversation, Maglaras emphasizes his vision of leveraging private investment to revitalize Dover, create housing opportunities, and keep residents spending their money locally. He notes that in the 1980s, 79% of Dover residents' disposable income was being spent outside the community.

The interview reveals Maglaras's perspective as someone with deep family roots in Dover who nonetheless pushed for progressive changes against resistance from the "old guard." After leaving the Planning Board in 1987, Maglaras was elected to the Board of County Commissioners and later served as Mayor of Dover, continuing his public service career.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Arthur D. Maglaras, George's uncle, who passed away in April 1987. Arthur was a city councilor and state representative known for his dedication to his constituents and held court over what some considered Dover’s “second City Hall.”

The Power of an Hour: Dover's Earth Day Cleanup and City Updates Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Deb Clough about the upcoming "Power of an Hour" litter collection event scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Clough explains that this will be the second annual citywide cleanup, organized by ward, with volunteers meeting at their respective voting locations 15 minutes before the event starts. Last year's event saw 283 volunteers collect over a ton (2,000 pounds) of litter in just one hour. Clough encourages participants to wear bright colors and comfortable shoes, bring gloves, and notes that bags will be provided. After collection, volunteers will consolidate trash into blue "New Hampshire the Beautiful" bags, take group photos, and the three wards with the most participants will win "trash trophies." Deb also mentions her "Don't Trash Dover" walks, which have been running monthly for seven years, with the March event attracting a record 55 participants who collected 28 bags of litter.

In the second segment, Parker speaks with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department and Brian Early from Media Services about recent city developments. Bassegio discusses Planning Board activities, including the approval of a second extension for a 173-unit residential project at 47 Chestnut Street, various conditional use permits, and updates to site review and land subdivision regulations. She also mentions the formation of a TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) subcommittee and conservation efforts. Early details the City Council's focus on the fiscal year 2026 budget, including workshops, departmental presentations, and the School Board's $2.4 million budget reduction. He notes that the final budget adoption occurred on April 2. He covers other council actions, including approval of seasonal paving contracts and updates on the Dover High School Athletics Complex project.

State of the City 2025: The Waterfront District Development Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, we hear the State of the City address focused on Dover's Waterfront Development project, held March 27 at 121 Broadway in Dover, and hosted by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce. The event features multiple speakers including Chris Parker (Deputy City Manager), Jackie Huber and Rob Simmons from Cathartes (the development partner), Norm Fracassa (chair of the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Commission), and acclaimed local chef Evan Hennessey. The speakers discuss the transformation of a 29-acre waterfront site from its industrial past and former use as a wastewater treatment plant into a mixed-use development featuring residential buildings, commercial spaces, and a significant public park named Nabi Park. The project, which has been decades in the making, is structured as a public-private partnership between the city and Catharsis. Phase one of the development (named "The Truette") will include 197 apartments, 23 townhouses, co-working space, and commercial areas including a new Mediterranean restaurant by Chef Hennessey called "Topolino." The project is expected to be completed in phases, with the first residential units available by late 2025 and the public park opening in May 2026.

Breaking Down Dover's Budget: Community Services, Public Library, and Information Technology Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Community Services Director John Storer, Library Director Denise LaFrance, and Information Technology Director Annie Dove about the proposed FY26 budget.

John Storer discusses Community Services' fifteen budget areas totaling about $35 million (3.6% increase from last year). He explains how they track historical data on expenses like electricity and fuel to make projections. A major change involves transitioning from the current pay-as-you-throw trash bag system to an automated cart collection system. While the city will continue using bags for the next two years under a contract extension with Waste Management, they'll eventually move to automated pickup with costs rolled into the general fund rather than direct resident fees. Storer also highlights increases in street maintenance funding for paving, traffic signals, bridge repairs, and sidewalk improvements.

Denise LaFrance explains the library's focus on balancing physical and digital offerings. Despite library renovations, they'll continue purchasing physical books while increasing digital resources by 23% to meet growing demand. She describes how she offset these increases by cutting underutilized databases, saving almost $7,000. The library is maintaining staffing levels and increasing programming funds, supported in part by Friends of the Library.

Annie Dove details IT's approach to budgeting, which involves tracking hardware replacement cycles and software costs. FY26 includes enhanced network services for water and sewer facilities, replacing aging network equipment at communication towers, and accounting changes that reorganize subscription costs into a dedicated line item.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the devastating 1889 fire that destroyed Dover's second City Hall. The site of the fire, known as "the Hot Corner," saw multiple structures burn over the years.

From Homes to Classrooms: How Housing Really Affects School Enrollment Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Sarah Wrightsman and Ryan Pope from New Hampshire Housing Finance about the relationship between housing development and school enrollment. They discuss common misconceptions about housing's impact on school enrollment and property taxes. The guests explain that new housing developments typically produce far fewer students than people assume - approximately one student per six units in multifamily housing and 0.44 students per single-family home.

They highlight three key misunderstandings: people overestimate how many children live in new housing, don't understand the difference between average and marginal costs for educating students, and forget that new housing generates tax revenue. Sarah notes that school districts across New Hampshire generally have capacity for more students, and that enrollment has been declining statewide. Dover's enrollment has remained relatively flat compared to more significant declines elsewhere.

The conversation references a study conducted by New Hampshire Housing called "From Homes to Classrooms," which provides data disproving the myth that new housing significantly increases school enrollment and property taxes. The guests emphasize that different housing types generate different numbers of students, with manufactured housing producing almost no school-aged children. They express hope that communities will shift from using potential school enrollment increases as a reason to oppose housing development to recognizing the need for more children and younger families in New Hampshire.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Judson Dunaway, a philanthropist who died in March 1976. Dunaway established the Expello Corporation (later the Judson Dunaway Corporation) in Dover in 1928, which produced household products including mothballs and Vanish Toilet Bowl Cleaner. After retiring in 1958, Dunaway created the Judson Dunaway Foundation, donating over $2 million to Dover for hospital expansions, recreational facilities, and the Dover High School athletic fields.

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