Council seeks public comment on many topics including ordinance changes and updated fees/fines

posted on 10/7/2024

The Council will hold seven public hearings on pending resolutions at its Wednesday, Oct. 9 meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. ay City Hall. The public hearings include:

The recodification and adoption of zoning codes as outlined in Chapter 170 of the city’s codes. The adoption of Chapter 170, Zoning, would modernize the city’s code, including adding an online interface and search tools as all other city codes. The updated version of Chapter 170 includes renumbering of sections, alignment of font, text, capitalization, paragraphs and subparagraphs, tables, clarifying text, and other conventions, styles, and formatting to be consistent with other chapters of the code.

Updating the FY2025 fee schedule: This ordinance resolution would update two sections of fees: One would increase parking permit fees by $5 per month in most places and increase the hourly on-street parking rate by 25 cents. It would also establish a $1 fee for large electronic information requests for RSA 91-A/Right-to-Know law, following a recent state law change that authorizes the fee.

Updates to the Chapter 141 Vehicles and Traffic code, adding sections of streets to the no parking list during winter months, and housekeeping updates that have been reviewed and endorsed by the Parking Commission.

Updates to the FY2025 fine schedule, which would increase parking fines and impose new fines for chronic offenders.

A resolution to reprogram $514,657 of unused bonds from the completed Spur Road Reconstruction Project to the Court and Union Street Reconstruction Project. 

Repealing the Dover Arena Commission and merging it into the Recreation Advisory Board.

The City Council will also be asked to authorize the employment contract of Perry Plummer as the full-time fire chief following his appointment by City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. Plummer has served as the interim fire chief since summer, standing in for Fire Chief Michael McShane who was on extended family and medical leave. Chief McShane recently announced his retirement from the city on Oct. 4, 2024 following a more than 30-year career, including nearly 20 years in Dover.

Plummer was a Dover firefighter for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011, serving as chief from 2002 to 2011. He was then appointed as the director of the N.H. Department of Safety’s Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services, followed by the state’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management director and the Department of Safety’s assistant commissioner.

The Council will also consider renaming the cemetery on Dover Point Road. Often referred to as the “First Settlers Cemetery” or the “Roberts Cemetery,” this resolution would officially name it the “Thomas Roberts Cemetery.” 

The complete agenda can be viewed here.