Dover Download is a weekly look at what's happening in the City of Dover, New Hampshire, hosted by Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker. Tune in for a closer ...
January 2025: Major Infrastructure Decisions and Planning Updates
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with the Planning Department's Erin Bassegio and Brian Early from Media Services about January 2025's municipal updates. Bassegio discusses the master plan steering committee's first meeting to update the land use chapter, the annual Land Use Board meet and greet, and Planning Board activities. She details the board's approval of a scaled-back TDR proposal at 103 Court Street and a residential project at 114 Silver Street. Parker and Early then discuss several significant City Council decisions, including the extension of the Waste Management contract for seven years with a transition to an automated system, authorization of renovations for both the Dover Public Library and Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool, and approval of improvements to the Garrison Hill water storage tank. Early also notes the School Board's adoption of their fiscal year 2026 budget and mentions an upcoming special session regarding an Ethics Commission report.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Elbridge Gage, a prominent Dover citizen who passed away on Feb. 1, 1925. Gage was a successful brick manufacturer who operated three yards at Dover Point, specializing in water-struck bricks. During World War I, he adapted to labor shortages by transitioning to agriculture on his 90-acre farm. He was an active community member whose funeral at Pine Hill Cemetery drew large crowds.
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18:27
No Silver Bullet: Addressing NH's Housing Crisis
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Ryan Pope and George Regan from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority about the state's housing challenges. Pope, formerly Dover's housing navigator, now works in multifamily development, while Regan serves as director of community engagement. They discuss the state's significant housing deficit - needing 60,000 new units by 2030 and 90,000 by 2040. The conversation explores how communities often support housing in principle but resist specific developments, the challenge of balancing property rights with community growth, and the importance of incremental progress through policies like accessory dwelling units (ADUs). They emphasize that solving the housing crisis requires multiple approaches, from state-level policy changes to local zoning updates, and that success comes from both data-driven decisions and understanding personal impacts on communities.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a 1927 controversy over proposed increases in motor vehicle costs. Local auto dealers opposed the measures, urging car owners to voice their objections at legislative hearings.
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25:26
A New Chapter: Dover Library's 2025 Transformation
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover Public Library Director Denise LaFrance and City Facilities Project Manager Eric Sanderson about the library's renovation and temporary relocation project. The discussion covers the library's move to the McConnell Center for approximately one year while the more than 100-year-old building undergoes significant renovations and expansion. LaFrance describes key improvements, including a new entrance, expanded children's area, additional meeting spaces, and modernized facilities while preserving the building's historic character. Sanderson details the construction timeline, logistics of the temporary closure, and impacts on parking. The library's adult services will operate from the McConnell Center's cafeteria, while children's services will be located in Room 305. LaFrance explains how they've partnered with various community organizations to continue programming during the renovation and describes their plan for maintaining access to the collection through storage rounds and curbside pickup service. More about the renovation project can be found here: https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/city-operations/library/about-us/renovation/
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the development of winter sports facilities in Dover, beginning with a 1923 Dover Chamber of Commerce meeting to discuss expanding winter recreation options. The segment traces the evolution of winter sports facilities from an early ski jump at Garrison Hill and an outdoor skating rink behind the library to the development of the Dover Ice Arena in the 1970s and its subsequent expansion with the Holt rink in 2001.
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26:20
The Future of Waste Collection in Dover
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dave Dinzeo of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and Bill Stafford about Dover's transition from a bag-and-tag waste collection system to an automated collection system using wheeled containers ("toters"). The conversation explores how Dover's solid waste management has evolved over 35 years, from primarily using landfills to implementing successful recycling programs. They discuss the upcoming changes to the city's waste collection contract with Waste Management, which includes a two-year extension of the current bag-and-tag system and a transition to automated collection using 64-gallon toters for trash and recycling. The speakers explain that industry-wide shifts toward automation, safety concerns, labor shortages, and rising disposal costs drive this change. They detail how the new system will work, including the transition from per-bag fees to quarterly utility billing, eligibility requirements (limited to single-family homes and buildings with up to three units), and the continued operation of Dover's recycling center. The discussion also addresses concerns about the loss of pay-as-you-throw incentives and the need for extensive community education during the transition. The City Council held a workshop on the topic on Jan. 8, 2025, which can be viewed at https://dovernh.viebit.com/watch?hash=fbHZ3Uz8eo9L4HU2. The City Council is expected to vote on the contract extension and recommended transitioning to an automated system at its next meeting on Jan. 15.
In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a solitary pine tree that in 1908 stood as the last reminder of a magnificent forest that once surrounded Dover's first high school on Chestnut Street. The segment discusses the historic grove's significance, including its connection to the tragic "sham battle" of 1676, and traces the area's transformation through urban development.
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28:12
Building Trust: A Conversation on Local Government and Transparency, Part II
In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the second of two parts, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Nate Bernitz from UNH Cooperative Extension about building and maintaining public trust in local government. Parker discusses Dover's approach to strategic planning, transparency, and accountability, explaining how the city tracks roughly 700 metrics monthly and regularly reports progress to the public. He emphasizes the importance of admitting mistakes and learning from failed initiatives. The conversation explores how Dover balances tradition with development, with Parker describing the city's approach to zoning and community evolution. They discuss regional collaboration, highlighting successful partnerships with neighboring communities on issues like homelessness and emergency services. Parker shares personal insights about maintaining work-life boundaries as a public servant and stresses that building public trust requires continuous, daily effort from all city employees.
Dover Download is a weekly look at what's happening in the City of Dover, New Hampshire, hosted by Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker. Tune in for a closer look at the city's programs, services, public bodies and projects, as well as a look back each week at Dover's history.
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