Council set to authorize grant funding, increased parking hours at Dover Transportation Center

posted on 1/8/2024

The new City Council will hold its first regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

The agenda includes a slate of public hearings on whether to accept and expend grant monies for various projects. The resolutions include whether to utilize a federal $553,350 grant for the design and permitting for the replacement of the Bellamy Road bridge, which conveys the Bellamy River, authorizing reprogramming $200,000 of unexpended bond proceeds from the River Street pump station project to the wastewater treatment plant aeration blower retrofit project, authorize expending a $500,000 matching federal grant for the construction of the park pavilion at the waterfront site, and authorize expending a $150,00 grant from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital to assist the Police Department’s community outreach and youth substance prevention efforts.

There is also a public hearing on the pending resolution to require paid parking at the Dover Transportation Center parking lot 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently, paid parking is required Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to the resolution background, the city leases the lot from Cocheco Mills Holdings, which includes a provision to designate parking areas for its exclusive use. The firm has invoked the provision and will utilize 96 parking spaces for the old courthouse project on First Street, which is nearing completion. The Parking Commission unanimously endorsed the parking lot to be metered at all times to allow the Parking Manager to manage the lot properly.

Also on the agenda is a pending resolution to expand the scope of work for the city’s waterfront public improvements contractor, Northeast Earth Mechanics, LLC., to include work on the dredge cell, which was not included in the bid. If approved, the city would pay the contractor up to $80,665 for leveling, clearing erosion, and sediment controls for the dredge cell located adjacent to the waterfront site and Maglaras Park.

The public meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. It will be televised on Channel 22 and online at https://dovernh.viebit.com, where it will also be available for on-demand viewing.