posted on 2/9/2026

At its Jan. 28 meeting following a public hearing, the City Council voted 5-3 in favor of accepting the $19,535 grant for controlling milfoil at Willand Pond, which requires a 50% match from the city. The motion failed as a two-thirds majority is required by city charter to make appropriations that were not included in the fiscal year’s adopted budget. While the motion failed, there was consensus among the City Council that action must be taken; the disagreement was on the use of the ProcellaCOR aquatic herbicide recommended by the NHDES. 

At its upcoming meeting on Feb. 11, the City Council is expected to again take up the same resolution that would allow the city to accept and expend a state grant that would be used to combat the invasive milfoil infestation. The City Council may amend resolution to allow the city to pursue an alternative mitigation strategy other than the herbicide recommended by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., in an email to City Council this week, wrote, “NHDES has advised that Dover remains eligible for the matching grant funds and those funds can be applied for alternative remediation efforts, including manual weed removal, should that prove viable.” The deadline for the city to accept the grant is Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

The Conservation Commission will discuss the Willand Pond mitigation strategies at its Monday, Feb. 9 meeting, and potentially make a recommendation to City Council. That meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Conference Room.

The City Council will also hold public hearings on:

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Willand Pond milfoil grant on Council agenda

posted on 2/9/2026

At its Jan. 28 meeting following a public hearing, the City Council voted 5-3 in favor of accepting the $19,535 grant for controlling milfoil at Willand Pond, which requires a 50% match from the city. The motion failed as a two-thirds majority is required by city charter to make appropriations that were not included in the fiscal year’s adopted budget. While the motion failed, there was consensus among the City Council that action must be taken; the disagreement was on the use of the ProcellaCOR aquatic herbicide recommended by the NHDES. 

At its upcoming meeting on Feb. 11, the City Council is expected to again take up the same resolution that would allow the city to accept and expend a state grant that would be used to combat the invasive milfoil infestation. The City Council may amend resolution to allow the city to pursue an alternative mitigation strategy other than the herbicide recommended by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr., in an email to City Council this week, wrote, “NHDES has advised that Dover remains eligible for the matching grant funds and those funds can be applied for alternative remediation efforts, including manual weed removal, should that prove viable.” The deadline for the city to accept the grant is Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

The Conservation Commission will discuss the Willand Pond mitigation strategies at its Monday, Feb. 9 meeting, and potentially make a recommendation to City Council. That meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Conference Room.

The City Council will also hold public hearings on:

  • Reprograming unexpended bonds from the Fifth and Grove Reconstruction Project to the Horne Street Reconstruction Project
  • Reprograming unexpended bonds from the Elm/Summer/Belknap Reconstruction Project to the Lower Central Avenue Reconstruction Project
  • Adoption of the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan related to recovery housing
  • Authorizing to apply for a Dover Housing Authority Grant to establish a recovery house on Avon Avenue

The City Council will also consider adopting its goals for the 2026-2027 term.

The complete meeting agenda is available online. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. will be televised on DoverTV and online.

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