Dover Download

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Breaking Down Dover's Budget: Police, Fire, Recreation and Planning Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with several department heads about their proposed FY26 budgets.

Police Chief William Breault discusses how his department builds the budget from the ground up, with input from first-line supervisors. He highlights that the biggest change in the FY26 budget is personnel cost increases due to new union contracts with wage adjustments. Breault emphasizes the importance of competitive compensation to retain and recruit officers.

Fire Chief Perry Plummer explains his approach to reorganizing the department's budget by reallocating resources from administrative functions to frontline emergency response. He's eliminating administrative positions and pushing division chiefs back to line duty to better handle the department's 8,000 annual calls, noting that over 2,300 times they're responding to multiple calls simultaneously.

Recreation Director Kevin Hebert discusses his department's three funding sources: general fund, McConnell fund, and special revenues from programming fees. He mentions fee increases, particularly for non-residents, while trying to minimize increases for residents. Hebert notes that recreation costs taxpayers about $80 annually per citizen, representing just 1% of the overall budget.

Planning and Community Development Director Donna Benton highlights that her department will be focusing on updating the transportation chapter of the master plan, which requires substantial technical analysis. She also notes that inspection services will be in their own facility for the first time, requiring budget adjustments.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Strafford Savings Bank introducing fingerprint identification in 1912 for depositors who couldn't sign their names or had difficult-to-read handwriting. This innovation, one of the first of its kind in New Hampshire, was overseen by fingerprint expert P.A. Flack from New York and was inspired by similar practices at Williamsburg Savings Bank in Brooklyn.

The Perfect Storm: Anatomy of an Elusive Water Main Break Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Perry Plummer and Community Services Director John Storer about a recent major water main break in Dover.

The conversation begins with Storer explaining how the break was first detected late on the night of Feb. 7 when operators noticed more water leaving the system than normal. Despite immediate efforts to locate the break, it remained elusive even after daylight, prompting activation of the city's Emergency Operations Center under Chief Plummer's direction. The break was releasing approximately 2,000 gallons per minute (about 3 million gallons per day), but unusually, no water was visibly surfacing anywhere in the city.

Plummer explains how they implemented an incident command structure to coordinate resources efficiently, including fire and police personnel searching the streets, drones with thermal imaging, helicopter support, and engineers. The team systematically isolated different sections of the water system while simultaneously planning for potential water conservation measures if the situation worsened. They also activated an emergency water interconnection with neighboring Somersworth.

After extensive searching, they finally discovered the break at 432 Central Avenue, a vacant building overhanging the Cochecho River. The broken pipe inside the building was sending water directly into the river—a "perfect storm" scenario that made detection especially difficult. Both officials praise the collaborative efforts of city staff and the patience of residents during the incident.

Parker then speaks with Erin Bassegio from Planning and Community Development and Brian Early from Media Services for their monthly update on city activities. They discuss recent Planning Board meetings, City Council budget workshops, Energy Commission initiatives, Zoning Board approvals, and updates on the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee and the city's two TIF boards.

Breaking Down Dover's Budget: Schools, Executive, Finance and Welfare Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover School District's Dr. William Harbron and CFO Michael Limanni about the FY26 school budget. They discuss the nearly $100 million budget (including $6-8 million in grants), with 70% allocated to wages. They explain how the budget aligns with goals like maintaining current services, enhancing academic programming, prioritizing mental health, and strengthening support services. Limanni clarifies common misconceptions about the tax cap and explains how state funding impacts the local budget.

Parker reviews the executive department budget, and then digs in to the Finance Department budget with Finance Director Dan Lynch, who outlines changes including a transition from contracted commercial appraisal services to in-house staff and plans for new voting machines. Lynch emphasizes how state statutes guide many of their operations, particularly in the City Clerk's and Assessing offices.

Finally, Parker speaks with Welfare Director David Balian about the public welfare budget. Balian explains how they analyze past spending, current trends, cost of living changes, political climate, and job market conditions to project future needs. He notes an increase in security deposit assistance requests and emphasizes their focus on housing loss prevention as a cost-effective strategy.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the 1984 revival of hydroelectric power at Cochecho Falls, when Southern New Hampshire Hydroelectric developed a facility capable of generating 3 million kW annually. The facility continues to operate today, having received a new 40-year permit in 2023.

Breaking Down Dover's Budget: A Conversation with the City Manager about the FY2026 Plan Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. about Dover's FY2026 budget process and presentation. They discuss how the city's fiscal year runs from July to June, with taxes collected in December and June. Joyal explains that budget development is a year-round process, beginning with the Capital Improvements Program planning in the summer, which influences the operating budget developed in fall and winter. The proposed FY2026 budget totals $207,557,289, representing a 4.4% increase over the previous year, with a 5.2% increase for school appropriations and a 3.6% increase for non-school expenses. The budget, as presented, is $2,389,687 above the tax cap, requiring a two-thirds council vote for approval.

The conversation then shifts to Joyal's formal presentation to the City Council on Feb. 12, where he outlined the budget's strategic priorities: public safety, education, infrastructure maintenance, economic development, and fiscal stewardship. He explains that the average residential tax bill, based on a $524,000 home value, would increase by $578 (6%) to just over $10,000. The budget includes various adjustments, such as reallocating fire command staff to 24/7 duty coverage, increasing stormwater management funding, and absorbing the Solid Waste Special Revenue Fund into the general fund. Joyal concludes by detailing the upcoming budget review schedule, with workshops and public hearings running from February through early April, leading to the required adoption deadline of April 15.

From Vision to Action: Understanding Dover's City Council Goals Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Director of Media Services Mike Gillis about Dover City Council's goal-setting process and the current council goals. Parker explains how newly elected council members participate in orientation sessions before engaging in a facilitated full-day workshop to establish their two-year goals. He details the seven main goals adopted in February 2024: promoting diverse housing, ensuring civic engagement, building city resilience, maintaining safety and appeal, fostering inclusivity, implementing sustainable financial policies, and making opportunities accessible to all. Parker and Gillis discuss how these goals are monitored through monthly city manager reports, budget presentations, and the work of various boards and committees. They emphasize the evolution of the goal-setting process over the years, noting the increased collaboration between council and staff, and how certain goals, like waterfront development, have been achieved while new priorities emerge.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Marilla Ricker, who announced her candidacy for Governor of New Hampshire on Feb. 14, 1910. A wealthy Dover widow and women's rights activist, Ricker was the first woman to attempt voting in New Hampshire (1870), the first woman admitted to the NH bar (1890), and gained admission to the U.S. Supreme Court bar in 1891. She died in 1920, and in 2016, her portrait was hung in the New Hampshire Statehouse.

January 2025: Major Infrastructure Decisions and Planning Updates Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with the Planning Department's Erin Bassegio and Brian Early from Media Services about January 2025's municipal updates. Bassegio discusses the master plan steering committee's first meeting to update the land use chapter, the annual Land Use Board meet and greet, and Planning Board activities. She details the board's approval of a scaled-back TDR proposal at 103 Court Street and a residential project at 114 Silver Street. Parker and Early then discuss several significant City Council decisions, including the extension of the Waste Management contract for seven years with a transition to an automated system, authorization of renovations for both the Dover Public Library and Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool, and approval of improvements to the Garrison Hill water storage tank. Early also notes the School Board's adoption of their fiscal year 2026 budget and mentions an upcoming special session regarding an Ethics Commission report.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Elbridge Gage, a prominent Dover citizen who passed away on Feb. 1, 1925. Gage was a successful brick manufacturer who operated three yards at Dover Point, specializing in water-struck bricks. During World War I, he adapted to labor shortages by transitioning to agriculture on his 90-acre farm. He was an active community member whose funeral at Pine Hill Cemetery drew large crowds.

No Silver Bullet: Addressing NH's Housing Crisis Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Ryan Pope and George Regan from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority about the state's housing challenges. Pope, formerly Dover's housing navigator, now works in multifamily development, while Regan serves as director of community engagement. They discuss the state's significant housing deficit - needing 60,000 new units by 2030 and 90,000 by 2040. The conversation explores how communities often support housing in principle but resist specific developments, the challenge of balancing property rights with community growth, and the importance of incremental progress through policies like accessory dwelling units (ADUs). They emphasize that solving the housing crisis requires multiple approaches, from state-level policy changes to local zoning updates, and that success comes from both data-driven decisions and understanding personal impacts on communities.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a 1927 controversy over proposed increases in motor vehicle costs. Local auto dealers opposed the measures, urging car owners to voice their objections at legislative hearings.

A New Chapter: Dover Library's 2025 Transformation Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Public Library Director Denise LaFrance and City Facilities Project Manager Eric Sanderson about the library's renovation and temporary relocation project. The discussion covers the library's move to the McConnell Center for approximately one year while the more than 100-year-old building undergoes significant renovations and expansion. LaFrance describes key improvements, including a new entrance, expanded children's area, additional meeting spaces, and modernized facilities while preserving the building's historic character. Sanderson details the construction timeline, logistics of the temporary closure, and impacts on parking. The library's adult services will operate from the McConnell Center's cafeteria, while children's services will be located in Room 305. LaFrance explains how they've partnered with various community organizations to continue programming during the renovation and describes their plan for maintaining access to the collection through storage rounds and curbside pickup service. More about the renovation project can be found here: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/library/about-us/renovation/

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the development of winter sports facilities in Dover, beginning with a 1923 Dover Chamber of Commerce meeting to discuss expanding winter recreation options. The segment traces the evolution of winter sports facilities from an early ski jump at Garrison Hill and an outdoor skating rink behind the library to the development of the Dover Ice Arena in the 1970s and its subsequent expansion with the Holt rink in 2001.

The Future of Waste Collection in Dover Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dave Dinzeo of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Bill Stafford about Dover's transition from a bag-and-tag waste collection system to an automated collection system using wheeled containers ("toters"). The conversation explores how Dover's solid waste management has evolved over 35 years, from primarily using landfills to implementing successful recycling programs. They discuss the upcoming changes to the city's waste collection contract with Waste Management, which includes a two-year extension of the current bag-and-tag system and a transition to automated collection using 64-gallon toters for trash and recycling. The speakers explain that industry-wide shifts toward automation, safety concerns, labor shortages, and rising disposal costs drive this change. They detail how the new system will work, including the transition from per-bag fees to quarterly utility billing, eligibility requirements (limited to single-family homes and buildings with up to three units), and the continued operation of Dover's recycling center. The discussion also addresses concerns about the loss of pay-as-you-throw incentives and the need for extensive community education during the transition. The City Council held a workshop on the topic on Jan. 8, 2025, which can be viewed at https://dovernh.viebit.com/watch?hash=fbHZ3Uz8eo9L4HU2. The City Council is expected to vote on the contract extension and recommended transitioning to an automated system at its next meeting on Jan. 15.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a solitary pine tree that in 1908 stood as the last reminder of a magnificent forest that once surrounded Dover's first high school on Chestnut Street. The segment discusses the historic grove's significance, including its connection to the tragic "sham battle" of 1676, and traces the area's transformation through urban development.

Building Trust: A Conversation on Local Government and Transparency, Part II Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the second of two parts, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Nate Bernitz from UNH Cooperative Extension about building and maintaining public trust in local government. Parker discusses Dover's approach to strategic planning, transparency, and accountability, explaining how the city tracks roughly 700 metrics monthly and regularly reports progress to the public. He emphasizes the importance of admitting mistakes and learning from failed initiatives. The conversation explores how Dover balances tradition with development, with Parker describing the city's approach to zoning and community evolution. They discuss regional collaboration, highlighting successful partnerships with neighboring communities on issues like homelessness and emergency services. Parker shares personal insights about maintaining work-life boundaries as a public servant and stresses that building public trust requires continuous, daily effort from all city employees.

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