Recent News and Announcements

posted on 11/8/2024

The City of Dover's Tax Assessment Office has completed its annual review of property valuations and is mailing updated valuations to property owners whose valuations changed in the past tax year, which will be delivered next week.

The city's overall assessed valuation for the 2024 tax year increased by $674,892,040 to $6,647,662,770, an 11.3% increase over the 2023 tax year, comprised of three categories: residential, commercial and industrial, and public utilities.

Overall residential assessed values increased 14.8% to $4,913,795,170. Overall public utility valuations increased 15.9% to $126,242,000, and overall commercial and industrial properties valuations increased by 1.6% to $1,607,625,600. The commercial and industrial category includes apartment complexes, which increased by 5% to $350,953,100. General commercial and industrial properties, excluding apartment complexes, increased by 1% to $1,090,142,070....more

posted on 11/6/2024

The city's voting results from the Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 General Election are posted to the city's online election resource webpage. The voter turnout is also posted on the page.

City Clerk Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier reported that a total of 19,725 Dover residents out of 23,912 registered voters cast ballots in the General Election, with 82.5% turnout, up from 80.1% turnout in the 2020 General Election. Ward 4 had the highest turnout of registered voters with 3,572 ballots cast out of 4,198 registered voters for an 85.1% turnout. That was followed by Ward 3, with an 84.8% turnout, Ward 6 with 84.2%, Ward 5 with 84.0%, Ward 2 with 79.1% and Ward 1 with 77.8%. 

Find all the results and turnout at https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/open-government/election-information/2024-general-election/.

For more information, contact the City Clerk's office at 603-516-6018....more

posted on 11/4/2024

The City Council will take a deep dive into the FY2026-2031 Capital Improvements Program projects at a Wednesday, Nov. 6 workshop. The workshop begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

The CIP prioritizes all capital spending of $25,000 or more for items with a useful life of three years or longer. It includes cost estimates, recommended time schedules to complete projects, and financing methods, which include debt financing, the annual operating budget, capital reserve funds, and grant funding. The CIP is the first step in preparing the annual municipal budget.

The City Council held a first reading of the three CIP resolutions at its Oct. 23 meeting. One resolution is adopting the six-year document as a long-term planning document. The second is approving FY26 capital reserve fund appropriations for non-debt financed projects. The third is authorizing appropriation and bonding for FY26 debt-financed projects. The CIP’s first-year projects and appropriations will become part of the FY26 municipal budget that the City Manager will present to the City Council in February 2025....more

posted on 11/1/2024

As clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m., Dover Fire and Rescue encourages residents to use the end of Daylight Saving Time as a moment to prioritize fire safety. This annual time change is an ideal opportunity to replace and test batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

"One small step can save lives," said Dover Fire Chief Perry Plummer. "Checking and changing batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, especially during the clock change, is a simple habit that can protect you, your loved ones, and your community."

Dover Fire and Rescue reminds residents that nearly 80 percent of fire fatalities involving children occur in homes without functioning smoke alarms. Plummer emphasized, "This tragic statistic could be lowered significantly if everyone made a habit of testing alarms and ensuring batteries are fresh. Even with hardwired alarms, updating the batteries helps prepare for unexpected power outages."...more

posted on 10/29/2024; updated 11/1/2024

Payne Street (formerly River Street), is now open to two-way traffic.

The road that connects Henry Law Avenue and Washington Street has been closed since April of this year to facilitate construction and utility work related to the waterfront development project.

Payne Street may still be closed intermittently as needed for the construction project, but extended closures are not anticipated.

For more information, contact Community Services at 603-516-6450....more

posted on 10/26/2024

The City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. to discuss and vote on a resolution that authorizes funding for the operation of the emergency warming center in Somersworth.

The resolution would authorize the City of Dover to provide up to $75,000 to Strafford County for its share of the emergency warming center operation.

The City Council added the resolution to its Oct. 23 meeting agenda at the start of the meeting. Following a discussion, the Council voted 8-1 to table the resolution to receive more information about the planned warming center operations. ...more

posted on 10/24/2024; updated 10/25/2024

Dover Teen Center alumni Aidan T. Allen released his documentary “3-6” about the Dover Teen Center on Oct. 13 after its premiere at The Strand Theatre last week.

The Dover Arts Commission awarded Allen a $2,000 City Arts Grant to help finance the 23-minute documentary. The film highlights the story of the vibrant teen center, the only municipal program of its kind in New Hampshire, and of the man who helped it come to life, Teen Center Director Steve Pappajohn.

Click here to watch the documentary. Click here for more information and how to apply for a City Arts Grant....more

posted on 10/21/2024

At the City Council’s Oct. 23 meeting, it will consider accepting the final report of the Dover High School and Regional Career Technical Center construction project and officially dissolve its associated Joint Building Committee. The School Board approved a similar resolution at its Oct. 7 meeting.

The City Council created the Joint Building Committee in March 2014 to “steward the district through a feasibility study, design phase and construction phase for the high school and career technical center.” The JBC first met on April 29, 2014, with its last meeting held 10 years, five months, and four days later on Oct. 3, 2024. Mayor Robert Carrier, who was the deputy mayor when the JBC was formed, served as the JBC chair throughout the committee’s tenure.

While the school opened to students in August 2018, work continued on numerous projects related to the overall construction project, including renovations to the driveways and parking lots, and the demolition and removal of the old high school and regional technical center. The project was officially completed on Oct. 2, 2024. At its meeting on Oct. 3, the JBC accepted the final report and voted to transfer the new high school to the School Board. The School Board accepted the final report and the new school at its Oct. 7 meeting....more

posted on 10/17/2024

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2031 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) during a City Council and Planning Board joint workshop on Oct. 16.

The six-year CIP outlines significant capital expenditures over $25,000 with a useful life of three years or more, including the funding source for each project, such as capital reserve funds, bonding, grant funding, and the annual operating budget. The CIP also links the projects to the priorities outlined in the city’s Master Plan.

The detailed CIP document is accessible online and physically at City Hall’s Planning Department and the Dover Public Library. The joint workshop is available for viewing online and on Channel 22....more

posted on 10/14/2024

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. will submit his proposed FY2026-2031 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to the City Council and Planning Board at a joint workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The joint sessions begins at 7 p.m. in the McConnell Center’s Room 305.

After it is presented, the Planning Board and City Council will review the proposed CIP, and each body will hold a public hearing. The Planning Board reviews the CIP to ensure the proposed projects are based upon priorities established in the Master Plan. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing and CIP discussion at its Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting. Click here for the agenda.

Following the Planning Board’s input, the City Council will hold a public hearing, review its financial and policy means, and adopt the CIP. The City Council’s CIP adoption process includes three resolutions: adopting the six-year document, approving FY26 capital reserve fund appropriations for non-debt financed projects, and authorizing appropriation and bonding for FY26 debt-financed projects. The CIP’s first-year projects and appropriations will become part of the FY26 municipal budget that City Manager Joyal will present to the City Council in February....more

posted on 10/11/2024

This month, the city of Dover continues its commitment to recognizing the area's indigenous heritage.

In 2021, following a recommendation by the city's Racial Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Dover City Council adopted a land acknowledgment statement recognizing the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki peoples as the traditional stewards of the land now known as Dover. Bronze plaques featuring this acknowledgment are installed at city facilities and public schools, serving as permanent reminders of the area's indigenous history. The City Council in 2020 voted to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day, but that decision was reversed by a new state law that took effect last month, mandating that New Hampshire communities adhere to official state holidays as identified by state statute.

Dover continues to recognize its indigenous ancestors. In 2022, the city launched the "Indigenous Dover" initiative, supported by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council, which aims to foster a deeper understanding of the indigenous peoples who inhabited the area thousands of years before European settlement. Residents can explore this history through a dedicated web resource at bit.ly/nativedover....more

posted on 10/8/2024

Absentee ballots are now available for the Nov. 5, 2024 General Election. Voters may apply for absentee ballots from the City Clerk’s Office through Monday, Nov. 4 in the following ways: in-person, by mail (288 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820), email (CityClerk@dover.nh.gov), or fax (603-516-6666).

Applications for an absentee ballot are available online here or at the City Clerk's Office. State law allows absentee voting for voters who can’t attend the polls on Election Day due to religious observance, physical disability or employment, among other reasons. The definition of employment includes the care of children or adults, with or without compensation.

The City Clerk's Office is in the Customer Service Center on City Hall’s ground floor. Its regular business hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mailing address is 288 Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820....more

posted on 10/3/2024

The City of Dover seeks election officers to assist at polling places at the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Election workers are needed in all of the city’s six political wards.

Election officers are paid positions working under the direction of the Ward Moderator who oversees the election process. Duties include aiding voters, maintaining order, opening and closing the polls, and processing the vote counts. The Ward Moderator will provide any necessary training for election officers who must be at least 18 years old and live in Dover.

Interested? Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 603-516-6018 or email City Clerk Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier at CityClerk@dover.nh.gov who will forward your information to the moderator in the ward where you reside....more

posted on 10/2/2024

Have questions about elections and voting in the state? The Dover Public Library will host New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan in the Library's Lecture Hall this Thursday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. 

Pizza donated by La Festa, will be available while supplies last. Bring your own non-alcoholic beverage, if needed. 

Among the Secretary of State's duties are overseeing all state elections, including creating official ballots, administering recounts, and certifying results before the Senate and House of Representatives in January, following each biennial state election....more

posted on 9/30/2024

The 40th annual Apple Harvest Day festival takes over downtown Dover on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day-long family-friendly event features 300 different vendors, two different entertainment stages, children’s entertainment, two food courts, and much more.

Organized by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce (GDCC) and sponsored by First Seacoast Bank, Apple Harvest Day draws over 60,000 attendees each year, making it one of the most popular regional festivals. To see which vendors have signed up for Apple Harvest Day, visit appleharvestday.com.

“First Seacoast Bank has been committed to making a positive impact right here in Dover, our hometown, for over 130 years,” said First Seacoast Bank Assistant Vice President and Dover Branch Manager Amanda Gagne. “We are incredibly proud to sponsor the 40th Annual Apple Harvest Day. As a Committee Member and Chamber Board Member, I have witnessed firsthand how this amazing event brings our community together and supports local businesses.”...more

posted on 9/25/2024

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2024 Apple Harvest Day 5k. Now in its 16th year, the Apple Harvest Day 5k will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8:30 a.m., beginning and ending on St. Thomas Street in front of the Dover District Courthouse. This year’s race underwriter is Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

The USATF-certified course winds through historic downtown Dover and is perfect for advanced runners as well as beginners and families. Registration fees are $30 for adults 21 and over and $20 for runners under the age of 21. To register, visit dovernh.org/AHD5k. Online registration closes on Oct. 1, and in-person registration will be available at the Chamber until Oct. 4 or on the day of the race at the start line. Fees after October 1 are $35 for runners 21 and over and $25 for runners under 21. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers.

Before and during the race, runners and spectators can enjoy free coffee courtesy of New Hampshire Coffee Roasters. Following the race, each runner over the age of 21 will receive two complimentary pours of North Country Hard Cider, with non-alcoholic apple cider available for minors. Non-runners can purchase cider tokens at a cost of $5 each....more

posted on 9/23/2024

This week, the City Council will consider authorizing the city to enter into a long-term ground lease with Great Bay Rowing, allowing the construction of their planned boathouse near the Cochecho River at the waterfront development site.

The 40-year lease received an unanimous endorsement from the Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee at its Sept. 17 meeting. The ground lease calls for an annual rent of $12,000, which would increase by $1,000 per month every 10 years, with Great Bay Rowing responsible for operation and maintenance costs. The lease also calls for Great Bay Rowing to develop programs with the Recreation Department to educate the public about paddle sports. CWDAC also gave a preliminary endorsement of the boathouse design and tasked its subcommittee to work with Great Bay Rowing to help finalize the design. The boathouse construction would be privately funded and not use any city funds.

The Council will also consider taking a step towards installing a solar array at the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Middle Road, a topic of a June 5, 2024 council workshop. The resolution would authorize the City Manager to execute a letter of intent with ReVision Energy, allowing the city to partner with ReVision to submit an interconnection application to Eversource, the first step in the process. The Council authorization would also allow the city to expend up to $75,000 for the process, with $10,000 for ReVision and $65,000 for the required Eversource studies....more

posted on 9/19/2024

The Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Dover, will once again offer the Citizens Leadership Academy this October. The free program provides Dover residents a unique opportunity to learn about local government operations and explore ways to contribute to the city’s future.

The 2024 Citizens Leadership Academy will meet on Oct. 10, 17, 24, 26 and 31, and Nov. 7. Each session brings together a diverse group of residents who want to deepen their knowledge of Dover’s municipal structure and actively participate in civic life. Attendees will gain insights into the key issues impacting the city and learn how they can get involved in maintaining and improving Dover’s quality of life.

This year’s program will include presentations from city officials, offering an inside look at how various departments contribute to the community. Topics and dates for the 2024 Citizens Leadership Academy are as follows:...more

posted on 9/17/2024

September 17, 2024, marks the 237th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

The Mayor and City Council declared Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in Dover at the Aug. 28 City Council meeting. Deputy Mayor Dennis Shanahan read a proclamation declaring the week with members of the Margery Sullivan chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution present.

"The Constitution is our nation's guiding document, and it is important to recognize and celebrate its existence while recalling the strength and bravery of those who fought for The Constitution and its amendments throughout history," the deputy mayor said, reading from the proclamation....more

posted on 9/13/2024

In a tribute to the victims and heroes of Sept. 11, 2001, the Dover City Council held a remembrance ceremony during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The event, marking the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks, brought together city officials and first responders to reflect on the tragic day.

Dover Mayor Robert Carrier opened the ceremony by inviting members of Dover Fire and Rescue and the Dover Police Department to the podium. The solemn occasion served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by first responders and the enduring impact of 9/11 on the community.

Interim Fire Chief Perry Plummer, who spent 24 years with the department and previously served as the state's director of Homeland Security, recalled the events of Sept. 11, 2001. ...more

posted on 9/10/2024

The mayors of the Tri-Cities of Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth, in collaboration with the Strafford County Commissioners, are seeking proposals from qualified entities to operate the emergency warming center on Willand Drive in Somersworth.

The City of Rochester issued the request for proposals on Sept. 4, 2024 on behalf of the mayors and county commissioners. Responses are due to Rochester City Hall by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.

The RFP seeks pre-planning and operation of up to 50 beds of the warming center from Nov. 15, 2024 through March 31, 2025. The warming center would operate as needed to provide overnight shelter to unsheltered residents when winter weather poses a significant life safety threat. The emergency management directors of the tri-cities would collaboratively determine the operation of the warming center with the goal of providing at least 24 hours notice for operation activation. The EMDs' decision to activate the warming center will be based on weather conditions pre-determined by the mayors, including temperature, wind chill, precipitation, and other weather-related conditions. RFP respondents are encouraged to suggest opening conditions as part of their submitted proposal....more

posted on 9/6/2024

The state primary election will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Polling hours in Dover will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The election will determine political party nominees for the general election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. There are two ballots for the Sept. 10 primary election: one for registered Republicans and one for registered Democrats. Undeclared voters may declare a party at their polling location on Election Day and receive that party's ballot. Voters may change party status back to undeclared by signing a form at the polls following the vote.

The City of Dover's 2024 State Primary Election webpage has sample ballots for the Republican and Democratic primaries for each of Dover's six wards. The page also has the polling locations for each ward....more

posted on 9/5/2024

City Clerk Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier will test the city's AccuVote electronic ballot counting machines tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. in the City Hall auditorium on the second floor. Testing will continue until its completed. 

The testing of the ballot counting machines is in preparation for the Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 state primary election. The testing is open to public observation in accordance with state law RSA 656:42. 

For more information, contact the City Clerk's office at 603-516-6018....more

posted on 9/3/2024

The future of the city's curbside trash and recycling collection and disposal will be the topic of an upcoming City Council workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

At the workshop, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) will present its findings and recommendations to the City Council on how the city should proceed at the end of its current curbside collection and disposal contract. The city's five-year contract with Waste Management, Inc., expires at the end of the 2025 fiscal year on June 30, 2025.

At its Aug. 7 meeting following months of review, SWAC unanimously endorsed multiple recommendations to present to the City Council: continue the practice of contracting out curbside collection; switch to a toter system and phase out the current pay-as-you-throw bags; and utilize the utility model to fund collection and disposal costs. SWAC also endorsed extending the city's contract with Waste Management for seven years after receiving a proposal at its July meeting....more

posted on: 12/26/2023

The Joe B. Parks Riverwalk Public Gardens offers an Adopt a Tree program, providing the opportunity to help rebuild the garden's tree canopy. The program makes for a meaningful last-minute holiday gift.

The downtown riverside garden aims to address its decaying ash trees, which have fallen victim to the emerald ash borer beetle. By adopting a tree, individuals, families, and organizations can participate in a fundraising effort to plant new species along the garden's winding paths.

Options include crabapples, elms, tupelos, river birches, red maples, and ginkgoes, carefully selected for their beauty and resilience. In all, nine trees remain available for adoption. An art installation is also slated for one garden area, pending sufficient funding.

To adopt a tree or learn more, visit www.joeparksgarden.org and click on the Adopt a Tree link at the top of the page. Questions can also be directed to contact@joeparksgarden.org....more

posted on 12/21/2023

The Seacoast Private Well Initiative invites residential private well users in Dover to a free
workshop and water testing event. Aimed at educating homeowners on the health risks
associated with common well water contaminants, this event is scheduled for Tuesday,
Jan. 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the Dover City Hall Auditorium, 288 Central Ave.

Participants will learn about contaminants that may affect their well water, such as radon,
arsenic, lead, and PFAS, and the importance of regular water testing. The workshop will
cover the types of contaminants to test for, reasons for testing, and the process of
collecting water samples. In addition, attendees will receive guidance on selecting the
appropriate water treatment solutions if contaminants are found.

The event is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the safety and health of the community's
drinking water. Experts will be on hand to explain the testing process, and private well
attendees will leave with a test kit and instructions for returning filled bottles for analysis.
Please register for the workshop by sending an email to confirm attendance to Amy
Hudnor, Private Well Coordinator for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services, at welltest@des.nh.gov....more

posted on 12/18/2023

At its meeting on Dec. 13, the City Council approved three resolutions to adopt the FY2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). The CIP was first presented to the City Council and Planning Board in November. Following a public hearing, the Planning Board adopted the CIP on Dec. 12, recommending the proposal to the City Council. The City Council held a public hearing on the CIP on Dec. 6.

The CIP prioritizes all capital spending of $25,000 or more for items with a useful life of three years or longer. Based on the City Council financial policies, funding for these items includes bonding, the annual operating budget, or other types of financing, such as grant financing. This six-year program links infrastructure spending to the goals and values outlined in the city’s Master Plan. Through this process, the city identifies projects within the six-year timeline based on the priorities established in the city’s Master Plan.

The first year of the adopted CIP will be included in the proposed citywide operating budget, which will be presented to the City Council in February. As part of the CIP, the City Council authorized bonding $20,825,000 for debt-service projects beginning in FY2025. Some of the projects are multi-year projects, and the issuance of bonds will be done based on cash flow requirements per the projects’ proposed segments, as presented in the FY2025-2030 CIP. The City Council also authorized appropriating $3,812,694 for FY2025 non-debt financed projects and authorizing the transfer of capital reserve funds in the same amount to fund these projects....more

posted on 12/15/2023

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, members of the Seacoast Jewish community, led by Rabbi Berel Slavaticki of the Seacoast Chabad Jewish Center, were joined by Mayor Robert Carrier for the ceremonial lighting of a menorah in Council Chambers at City Hall to mark the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Mayor Carrier lent his hand to Rabbi Slavaticki in lighting the shamash ("attendant") candle and reciting the traditional blessings during the lighting at City Hall. He was then presented with the menorah upon which his name is inscribed.

"It was an honor to join Rabbi Slavaticki and members of the Jewish community to light the menorah for this important holiday," said Mayor Carrier. "Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over religious oppression and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The menorah lighting upholds this powerful tradition, which reminds us of the triumph of light over darkness, especially during these difficult times in the world today."...more