City Manager J. Michael Joyal Jr. announces retirement

posted on: 7/9/2026

City Manager J. Michael Joyal Jr. has informed Mayor Dennis Shanahan and the Dover City Council that he intends to retire, effective Dec. 31, 2026.

The City Council is expected to discuss next steps for selecting and appointing Dover’s next city manager at a future meeting. In the months ahead, Joyal said he will work with the mayor and City Council to help ensure a smooth transition.

“City Manager Joyal has provided steady, thoughtful and deeply committed leadership to the city of Dover for more than three decades,” Shanahan said. “The City Council will take up the process for selecting and appointing the next city manager at a future meeting, and we will approach that work carefully, with a focus on continuity for residents, city employees and the community. On behalf of the City Council, I want to recognize Mr. Joyal's extraordinary tenure in Dover, his stewardship of the city, and the lasting impact of his service.”

Joyal has served the city for more than 33 years, including the last 21 years as city manager. Joyal first joined the city in 1992 as an intern while completing graduate studies. He was hired as assistant to the city manager in 1993 and was appointed assistant city manager in 1995. In that role, he worked extensively on budgeting, labor negotiations, personnel matters and long-range municipal planning before being appointed acting city manager in early 2005. He was later appointed city manager that year.

Joyal has helped guide Dover through significant growth and change, including periods of downtown revitalization, investment in the city's infrastructure, financial planning, and redevelopment. His work has included fostering public-private partnerships that supported residential and commercial development, helping facilitate the relocation of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire to downtown Dover, overseeing the rehabilitation of the former middle school into the self-sustaining McConnell Center, and supporting continued investment in the city's infrastructure. Joyal has also led efforts to strengthen the city’s financial stability and long-term planning, while working with successive City Councils, boards, commissions, department heads and municipal employees to advance major projects and maintain city services.

Earlier in his career, Joyal was involved in technology and communications initiatives that helped modernize city and school operations, including DoverNet, a city and School District technology project completed in 1999. He also played a key role in early cable franchise negotiations, part of the city’s broader efforts to expand communications infrastructure and access to local government information.

“This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make,” Joyal said. “For more than 33 years, Dover has been more than my profession. It has been my home. I have been fortunate to work with dedicated elected officials, talented department heads and employees, and many residents and community partners who care deeply about this city. Serving Dover through so many years of change, challenge and progress has been profoundly rewarding, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me.”

Joyal said the accomplishments of the past three decades reflect the work of many people across city government and the community.

“No one does this work alone,” Joyal said. “The progress Dover has made has been the result of collaboration among the City Council, our volunteer boards and commissions, city staff, residents and community partners. It has truly been an honor to serve the city, and I will always be proud to have been part of Dover’s continued progress.”

Joyal’s retirement will be effective Dec. 31, 2026. The City Council is expected to provide additional information about the selection process for Dover’s next city manager after it discusses the matter at a future meeting.