City of Dover, NH3d ago
Dignity, Choice, and a Bus Named Gus: How Gather Feeds the Seacoast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Dignity--Choice--and-a-Bus-Named-Gus-How-Gather-Feeds-the-Seacoast-e3jdh3m #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Dignity, Choice, and a Bus Named Gus: How Gather Feeds the Seacoast by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Anne Hayes, executive director of Gather, a Seacoast-area food access and hunger relief organization.Hayes explains that Gather was founded in 1816 by women from Strawbery Banke to support fishermen's families and has evolved significantly since rebranding from Seacoast Family Food Pantry in 2016. Operating from a new community food center at 124 Heritage Ave. in Portsmouth, Gather runs a low-barrier pantry market designed like a small grocery store where members shop by choice and receive food for free. Eligibility requires only that visitors live or work in New Hampshire or Maine. Produce is unlimited, and the pantry stocks proteins, dairy, breads, pet food, personal care items, and accommodates dietary restrictions.Hayes describes Gather's two-pronged approach: "serving the line" through the pantry and roughly 40 to 45 monthly mobile markets (including three Dover locations and the refurbished "Gus the Bus" fresh food vehicle), and "shortening the line" through wraparound services, Cooking Matters classes, a teaching garden at the Seacoast YMCA, and the eight-week Fresh Start culinary workforce training program. A new production kitchen turns out about 3,000 prepared meals weekly, with a goal of 250,000 annually.Roughly 35 to 40 percent of food comes from grocery rescue, with additional supply from the food bank, USDA programs, and 70-plus restaurant and manufacturer partners. Funding is largely from individual donations. Gather has 37 staff and 350 to 400 active monthly volunteers.In This Week in Dover History, we learn that in May 1923, Foster's Daily Democrat announced plans for a special edition marking both Dover's 300th anniversary and the newspaper's own 50th.

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City of Dover, NHMay 12
Inside Dover's Housing Strategy: Creative Solutions for a Built-Out City https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Inside-Dovers-Housing-Strategy-Creative-Solutions-for-a-Built-Out-City-e3ivm8m #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Inside Dover's Housing Strategy: Creative Solutions for a Built-Out City by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Planning and Community Development Director Donna Benton and Housing Planner Abby Muirhead about Dover's ongoing housing efforts following their recent City Council presentation. Muirhead reports that Dover permitted over 500 housing units in 2024 and 159 in 2025, highlighting the city's Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) ordinance, which has produced 109 HUD-restricted units. Benton notes that without TDR, Dover would likely see only a handful of new units annually given how built out the city already is. The conversation acknowledges that while the city can encourage density and waive certain fees, market forces drive most costs, with construction running at least $300 per square foot and quarter-acre residential parcels averaging $234,000.Benton and Muirhead discuss the recent accessory dwelling unit workshop, which drew a standing-room-only crowd and covered ADU basics, permitting, construction considerations, and financing. Dover currently has about 80 permitted ADUs, with 13 already filed in 2026. They also touch on Dover's role as a statewide leader on innovative land use policies, partnerships with the Workforce Housing Coalition and Home for All, and the Dover Housing Authority's role as the largest provider of affordable housing locally. Muirhead previews a forthcoming public housing dashboard and a new pilot program using CDBG funds to rehabilitate existing low-income rental units, preserving affordability while supporting local landlords.In This Week in Dover History, we revisit May 1887, when Dover High School's student newspaper, The Enterprise, accused the School Board of corruption, religious discrimination, and bribery.

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City of Dover, NHMay 5
April in Review: Budgets, Boards, and Big Decisions https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/April-in-Review-Budgets--Boards--and-Big-Decisions-e3io853 #DoverNH #DoverDownload
April in Review: Budgets, Boards, and Big Decisions by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Mike Gillis about the major actions taken by Dover's boards, committees, and commissions during April. The City Council kicked off the month on April 1 by adopting a $227.3 million budget following weeks of workshops and public hearings, with Parker praising the balance between veteran councilors and new members learning the process in public view. A week later, the Council awarded an energy savings performance contract for the McConnell Center and is exploring solar and efficiency projects at other city facilities. The Council also continued reprogramming surplus debt-financed funds toward projects like the Henry Law reconstruction, the McConnell Center roof, and Horne Street design, helping mitigate future borrowing costs.Parker and Gillis then turned to the Planning Board, which approved the Jefferson Drive transfer of development rights project 8-1, scaled back the Stark Avenue TDR, and reviewed proposed updates to site plan and subdivision regulations. The Waterfront Committee reelected its leadership and reviewed plans for a canoe and kayak vendor at the new Nebi Park pavilion. The School Board held two meetings focused largely on switching from SchoolCare to a new insurance provider, with the district filing suit for emergency relief ahead of a potential May 1 claims hold. Finally, the Parking Commission endorsed a swap of Orchard Street parking spaces with a private property owner to expand public parking downtown.

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City of Dover, NHApr 28
Transparency and Tradition: Meet Dover's City Attorney and Fire Chief https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Transparency-and-Tradition-Meet-Dovers-City-Attorney-and-Fire-Chief-e3ih9n0 #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Transparency and Tradition: Meet Dover's City Attorney and Fire Chief by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with returning City Attorney Joshua Wyatt and new Fire Chief Brendan Driscoll.Wyatt, who previously served as city attorney from June 2019 to February 2025 before joining the Pease Development Authority as deputy general counsel, returned to the city role on Jan. 26, 2026. He walks through the broad scope of the city attorney's office, which serves as a centrally located legal service provider for all city departments and the school district, handling compliance, employment matters, and internal corporate issues, but not criminal prosecution, which is handled by a licensed attorney within the police department. Wyatt offers a primer on the Right-to-Know law (RSA 91-A), rooted in the state constitution, explaining that it governs both public meetings and records and is foundational to public trust in government. He describes how his office coordinates right-to-know requests, often working with requesters by phone to narrow broad inquiries into specific documents. Wyatt and Parker discuss the explosion of documentation in modern government, the challenges and benefits of email-era recordkeeping, and the value of keyword searching. Wyatt also introduces his team, including extern Catherine Carr, Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Perez, and legal assistant/paralegal Patty Moniello, and reflects on why in-house municipal work appeals to him more than private practice: one client, deeper relationships, and the ability to focus on public service rather than revenue generation.Driscoll, who joined the Dover Fire Department in December 2009 and rose through the ranks from firefighter/EMT to paramedic, lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief before becoming fire chief on Feb. 1, 2026, discusses his family's deep Dover roots, including his father's tenure as chief. He emphasizes building his own reputation within the department while honoring that legacy. Driscoll describes a dedicated crew that requires no major cultural overhaul, with his focus instead on training a relatively young workforce across all levels, from ice water rescue to command training for officers. He reports that the battalion chief model, adopted just over a year ago, is working well, providing immediate on-scene command at large incidents while giving chiefs dedicated administrative areas of responsibility. Driscoll updates listeners on the training center, which has hosted a cooking-fire demonstration with the state fire marshal and will see live-fire training by late spring. He also covers space reallocation at the North End Station following Inspection Services' move to Mast Road, and the department's dramatic call volume growth, from about 5,000 calls annually in 2009 to 7,344 in 2025. Looking ahead, Driscoll plans to develop a five- and 10-year strategic plan involving firefighters, community members, and the City Council.

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City of Dover, NHApr 21
From Fractions to Finish Lines: Inside Dover Adult Learning Center https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/From-Fractions-to-Finish-Lines-Inside-Dover-Adult-Learning-Center-e3i3h8l #DoverNH #DoverDownload
From Fractions to Finish Lines: Inside Dover Adult Learning Center by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Deanna Strand, Director of the Dover Adult Learning Center, about the organization's mission, programs, and recent developments.Strand shared how she came to DALC in 2009, stepping up from a coordinator role in Exeter to lead a much larger organization based at the McConnell Center. As the adult literacy agency for Strafford County, DALC serves learners age 16 and up across 13 cities and towns, with additional sites in Rochester, at Somersworth High School, and at the Strafford County Department of Corrections. Students come for a wide range of reasons — to earn a high school credential, master skills they missed earlier in life, improve English language proficiency, build digital literacy, or prepare for a career. Strand described the center as the "duct tape in the educational pipeline," emphasizing that students can return as often as needed with no expiration date.A major highlight was DALC's new transportation program, launched after years of effort. Supported by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and operated through Enterprise's van pool program, volunteer drivers now shuttle students to morning classes in Dover, boosting attendance and instructional hours. Strand put out a call for more volunteer drivers to expand service to Rochester and evening classes. She also addressed staffing challenges, the center's hybrid relationship with the Dover School Department, and the school department's recent commitment to fund an additional position. She closed by inviting listeners to visit doveradultlearning.org.In This Week in Dover History, we revisit a 1906 competitive checkers tournament held at Ham's Hall on Washington Street, where the Bellamy Club claimed top honors, Charles Leighton captured the Barker Prize against a field of 40, and Dover's champion William P. Hartnett upheld his reputation in an era when checkers drew crowds and captured a city's attention.

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City of Dover, NHApr 14
Building Bridges: Dover's Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Building-Bridges-Dovers-Committee-for-Racial-Equity-and-Inclusion-e3hn2j3 #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Building Bridges: Dover's Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with José Feliciano and Terry Ellen Carter from the Committee for Racial Equity and Inclusion (CREI). Carter opens with a land acknowledgment honoring the Abenaki, Penacook, and Wabanaki peoples, a practice the committee observes at every meeting. Feliciano, a mechanical engineer originally from Puerto Rico and current CREI chair, explains the committee was formed in response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020, serving in an advisory role to identify opportunities for Dover's government to address racial bias and promote inclusion. He highlights the committee's role in recommending the renaming of the First Settlers Cemetery to the Thomas Roberts Cemetery as an example of meaningful, representative action. Carter encourages broader membership, particularly business owners, noting gaps in Dover's offerings such as the lack of a salon serving Black women and the absence of an international grocery store. Feliciano discusses the committee's community outreach strategy, including attending a diversity celebration at Woodman Park Elementary School where they gathered feedback revealing a need for translation services in city offices. Looking ahead, the committee plans a chalk art event at Immigrants Park in partnership with the Arts Commission to represent the flags of immigrant communities not currently displayed there. In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a 1923 incident involving the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument. Residents discovered the bronze sword held by the sailor statue had been bent, with shoe prints along the base suggesting someone had climbed it. Police suspected youthful vandalism, given the monument's proximity to the high school. The local newspaper, Foster's Daily Democrat, called for repairs before Memorial Day and for the culprits to face the municipal court judge. The monument still served as the centerpiece of Dover's Memorial Day tribute that year, draped in an American flag and surrounded by flowers as 18 Civil War veterans marched in the parade.

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City of Dover, NHApr 7
Moving Day: The Dover Public Library Prepares to Head Home https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Moving-Day-The-Dover-Public-Library-Prepares-to-Head-Home-e3hicvf #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Moving Day: The Dover Public Library Prepares to Head Home by Dover Download

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Public Library Director Denise LaFrance about the library's upcoming move back to its renovated building after operating out of temporary space in the McConnell Center for most of 2025 and into 2026. LaFrance announces that the move begins April 20 and will take approximately six weeks, with a grand reopening set for June 5. During the transition, library services will be significantly scaled back, with a small browse collection of newer books, Chromebooks, printing, and museum passes available in Room 306 of the McConnell Center. Hours will be limited to Mondays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Holds on newer books will continue, but the broader collection will be in transit and unavailable. The three-week checkout period remains unchanged, book drops stay open, and the digital library through Libby and OverDrive has been expanded with additional purchases to help bridge the gap. LaFrance notes that story time and some book groups will continue during the move, and staff are both excited and anxious about the transition. The first two days — June 5 and 6 — will serve as open houses, giving the public a chance to tour the entire building, including staff spaces. Room bookings for the new community room will be available online roughly two weeks before reopening. Regular operations resume Monday, June 8. LaFrance encourages patrons to check out items sooner rather than later and to visit the library's website for updates.In This Week in Dover History, we learn the story of Lucy Lambert Hale, a Dover native and daughter of abolitionist Senator John Parker Hale. Lucy was a sought-after Washington socialite whose admirers included Robert Todd Lincoln, but she secretly became romantically involved with, and possibly engaged to, John Wilkes Booth. When Booth was killed after assassinating President Lincoln on April 14, 1865, a photograph of Lucy was found on his body. Her family subsequently moved to Spain, and Lucy later returned to New Hampshire, married future U.S. Senator William Chandler, and lived quietly until her death in 1915.

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City of Dover, NHMar 31
Pond Plans, Budget Talks, and the Power of an Hour https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Pond-Plans--Budget-Talks--and-the-Power-of-an-Hour-e3h2hq7 #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Pond Plans, Budget Talks, and the Power of an Hour by Dover Download

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.

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City of Dover, NHMar 24
Building the Budget: Community Services and Recreation in FY2027 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Building-the-Budget-Community-Services-and-Recreation-in-FY2027-e3gntua #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Building the Budget: Community Services and Recreation in FY2027 by Dover Download

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.

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City of Dover, NHMar 17
Building the Budget: Police, Fire, Library and DoverNet in FY2027 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cityofdovernh/episodes/Building-the-Budget-Police--Fire--Library-and-DoverNet-in-FY2027-e3gcs4t #DoverNH #DoverDownload
Building the Budget: Police, Fire, Library and DoverNet in FY2027 by Dover Download

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.

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