In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Police Chief David Terlemezian and Fire Chief Perry Plummer about plans for a Sept. 11 memorial, and with Brian Early of Media Services and City Planner Erin Bassegio about October Planning Board and City Council activities.

Terlemezian and Plummer discuss the community initiative to create a permanent memorial for the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The chiefs explain how the Dover Police Charities and firefighters' organizations have committed to helping fund the project, which will honor four victims with Dover connections and serve as a "field trip-worthy" educational site downtown. Mayor Robert Carrier launched the initiative during this year's Sept. 11 recognition ceremony. The memorial committee, comprising municipal employees and residents, is working with a private property owner to secure a visible, accessible downtown location for annual remembrances.

Early and Bassegio provide updates on the October Planning Board and City Council meetings.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with City Clerk/Tax Collector Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier about Dover's upcoming municipal election on Nov. 4, 2025. Voters will elect a new mayor, six city councilors (one per ward), two at-large councilors, six school board members, and various election officials. While the school board races are uncontested, several city council races are contested.

Vansylyvong-Bizier explains that existing registered voters need only bring photo ID to their unchanged polling locations, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. New residents must provide photo ID plus proof of Dover address, and can register at City Hall through October 27th or at polling places on Election Day. Recent law changes now require photo ID for absentee ballot requests, and new voters must prove citizenship through documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers.

The city's election webpage -- https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/open-government/election-information/2025-municipal-election/ -- maintains updated candidate information and financial disclosure forms. While this municipal election typically sees lower turnout than state or federal races, Vansylyvong-Bizier emphasizes that local elections directly impact residents' daily lives and encourages maximum participation.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Franklin Academy, Dover's first brick public building, incorporated in 1818 on Central Avenue. The private college prep school operated for 75 years, closing in 1896 after educating generations of local youth.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Planning Director Donna Benton about Dover's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Benton explains that the CIP is a long-range planning document for purchasing or constructing capital assets. The process begins in early summer when departments submit project requests, which are then reviewed by a committee including the finance director, planning director, and city manager.

The CIP encompasses diverse projects ranging from water and sewer line work to facilities improvements, recreation projects, and technology upgrades like network improvements. Each project must align with Dover's master plan and meet the city's financial policies. Benton notes that while there's no shortage of desired projects, capacity constraints in both staffing and funding require careful prioritization.

Notable projects in the current CIP include the Broadway neighborhood improvements, which have been long-awaited since 2017, recreation court reconstruction, street tree and lighting improvements, and the Pointe Place roundabout. The fire department has also freed up approximately $1 million through strategic equipment purchases, allowing for reallocation to other projects.

The CIP undergoes public review through the Planning Board and City Council, with public hearings scheduled in October and November. The Planning Board ensures alignment with the master plan while the City Council handles the financial approval. Projects with debt financing can begin before July 1st, though actual construction timing depends on whether design work has been completed.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the devastating 1956 fire that destroyed Meyer Siegel's Central Avenue store, occurring just as he returned from court defending his right to open on Sundays.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, the fourth episode in a series on the history of the Cochecho River, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras and Dana Lynch about the decades-long journey to redevelop Dover's waterfront. The conversation traces the project's origins back to the early 1990s when Maglaras, then mayor, formed the city's first waterfront task force. Lynch, a civil engineer who chaired the task force, discusses how the initial vision centered on mixed-use development with public access to the river.

The guests describe numerous challenges and setbacks, including community concerns that waterfront development would compete with downtown businesses, the 1990 recession, and the difficulty of securing financial commitments without proper due diligence, such as soil surveys and environmental studies. A pivotal 1996 charrette helped generate momentum, leading to requests for proposals from developers. However, the project experienced significant delays, including a nearly decade-long pause during the Great Recession.

Both guests emphasize that the lengthy timeline, while frustrating, allowed for crucial community consensus-building through thousands of public meetings. They credit the 2010 Cochecho River bridge with symbolizing the connection between downtown and the waterfront. Lynch, who said he became emotional at the 2023 groundbreaking, reflects on the countless volunteer hours invested over three decades. Both men express pride in seeing the project finally come to fruition, noting it will expand rather than eclipse downtown Dover. They acknowledge the contributions of former city planner Steve Bird and numerous other volunteers who maintained momentum throughout the challenging development process.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with David Terlemezian, Dover's newly appointed Chief of Police. Terlemezian, who has served the Dover Police Department for nearly 30 years, discusses his journey from patrol officer to chief, sharing how his career path evolved after starting as an economics major at UNH and discovering his passion for law enforcement through an internship with the New Hampshire State Police.

Chief Terlemezian addresses the challenges of modern policing, including national narratives about law enforcement and maintaining officer morale. He emphasizes that Dover's police department benefits from strong community support due to professionalism, quality training, and effective hiring practices. With nearly 100 employees, including about 50 sworn officers, the department has hired 19 officers between 2020 and 2023, creating a need for enhanced training programs to address experience gaps.

The new chief outlines his priorities, including conducting individual meetings with every department employee and implementing brief "primer trainings" on essential skills. He explains the rigorous hiring process for new officers, which typically takes about a year from initial testing through academy graduation and field training. Terlemezian also discusses the importance of specialized assignments within the department as both recruitment and retention tools, allowing officers to develop varied careers within the organization. He stresses that policing is fundamentally about human service, noting that in a community of 34,000 residents, officers frequently interact with the same individuals in different capacities over time.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the launch of Dover's innovative "Bag and Tag" program on Oct. 7, 1991, which dramatically reduced residential waste by more than half while increasing recycling rates above 50%. The program, pioneered by citizens like Earl Goodwin and Councilor Gary Gilmore, became a model for other New England communities and will transition to automated carts in 2027.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce President Margaret Joyce and Event Coordinator Jed Allen about the upcoming Apple Harvest Day festival, followed by a monthly recap of city government activities with Media Services' Brian Early and Planning Department's Erin Bassegio.

Joyce and Allen detail preparations for Dover's 41st annual Apple Harvest Day on Oct. 4, which expects 50,000-60,000 attendees and features more than 300 vendors. This year's major change involves consolidating all parking and shuttle service at Liberty Mutual's campus. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with road closures on Central Avenue, Third Street and portions of Henry Law Avenue. The event includes a 5K road race at 8:30 a.m., two entertainment stages, food vendors and craft booths. Vendor applications sold out by early April, the earliest ever, with 50 people currently on a waiting list.

Early and Bassegio review September's City Council and Planning Board activities. The City Council approved fire department equipment purchases and set November municipal election hours. The Planning Board approved major residential projects, including 250 units at the former Liberty Mutual site and amendments to the former McIntosh College development. The board also endorsed the high school athletic complex reconstruction project, which has now received final approvals and is going to bid.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with retiring Chief of Police William Breault, who is concluding nearly 27 years with the Dover Police Department. Breault reflects on his law enforcement journey, which began in Massachusetts before he moved to New Hampshire in 1998 after responding to a regional hiring advertisement. He discusses his career progression from patrol officer through various roles including detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain before becoming chief in 2018.

Breault emphasizes his philosophy of mastering each position rather than constantly seeking promotion, crediting this approach with his career longevity and success. He highlights his pride in Dover's innovative social work program, which addresses non-criminal issues and connects community members with support services rather than defaulting to law enforcement responses. This approach, he explains, frees up officers for other duties while improving overall community quality of life through three dedicated social workers.

The conversation touches on Breault's role in overseeing construction of the new police station and parking garage, describing the challenges of managing architects and construction teams while addressing community concerns about downtown disruption. Breault concludes by expressing gratitude for Dover's collaborative culture and announces his upcoming move to become police chief in South Burlington, Vermont.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about the Cocheco Printworks' brief reprieve in September 1911, when workers received encouraging news about the facility's future, though the printworks would ultimately close in 1913, ending Dover's textile manufacturing legacy and making way for what is now Henry Law Park.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Tim Dargan and Scott Johnson, former chair and vice chair of the Dover Business Industrial Development Authority. Dargan served on the board for nearly 30 years (1997-2024) as a commercial banker, while Johnson joined around 2010 as an entrepreneur who had previously been helped by the authority when relocating his business to Dover in 2005. Both discuss their roles in advancing Dover's economic development goals, particularly focusing on attracting quality manufacturing businesses that create good jobs and generate tax revenue rather than low-impact warehouses or storage facilities. They explain how the board evaluated potential businesses, considering factors like job quality, traffic impact, and tax base contribution while maintaining high building standards in Enterprise Park. The conversation covers the evolution of the authority's mission, including a shift toward addressing affordable housing needs in recent years as economic growth created housing shortages for workers.

Both Dargan and Johnson reflect on significant changes during their tenure, including the transition from city-led land acquisition and development to more private-sector involvement, rising construction costs, and Dover's improved reputation, making it easier to attract businesses. They emphasize the importance of diverse board membership, bringing different expertise, and describe their experience as fulfilling civic engagement that contributed meaningfully to the community's economic success.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about an 1883 advertisement featuring Dover's Wingate store that appeared in newspapers nationwide, promoting Hunt's Remedy, a popular patent medicine of the era that claimed to cure kidney disease and other ailments but was largely ineffective despite clever marketing tactics.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras in the third installment of their series on the history of the Cochecho River. This episode focuses on the beginnings of waterfront redevelopment in Dover during the 1980s.

Maglaras discusses how the mills were struggling by the 1980s, with many upper floors abandoned, and how the city had repeatedly owned and sold various mill properties through bankruptcy cycles. As a planning board member, he worked with Tim Sheldon to create the Urban Mixed Use (UMU) district, transforming the waterfront from restrictive industrial zoning to encourage mixed-use development and private investment.

The conversation reveals how outdated zoning requirements made development nearly impossible, with tiny lots requiring massive minimum square footage for industrial buildings. Maglaras describes the vision of converting mill buildings into mixed-use spaces with residential units on upper floors, similar to successful projects in other former mill towns.

The episode also covers some dramatic alternatives that were considered, including a shocking plan to fill in the Cochecho River with a culvert system and create a sewage lagoon at the Upper Narrows. Maglaras explains how his father and other thoughtful citizens fought against these environmentally destructive proposals.

The discussion touches on the area's rich commercial history, including shipyards, beaches, and general stores that relied on river commerce, as well as the federal dredging projects that supported Dover's economy from the 1830s through 1906.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Dover School District Superintendent Dr. Christine Boston about the 2025-26 school year, then reviews recent city government activities with Erin Bassegio from the Planning Department and Brian Early from Media Services.

Parker and Boston discuss the major changes facing students and families, particularly the new state-mandated cell phone ban that prohibits devices from "bell to bell." Boston, who has 17 years of experience in Dover's school system in various roles, explains how the district will implement the policy while balancing safety concerns and the needs of parents. She also highlights positive developments, including a 93% staff return rate, the restoration of middle school teaming structures, new playground equipment plans, and upcoming celebrations for the middle school's 25th anniversary. Boston discusses the district's new strategic plan, which runs through 2030, focusing on student well-being and equity, as well as the exciting athletic complex project at the high school.

Bassegio reviews Planning Board actions from August, including approvals related to the waterfront development project, a McDonald's proposal on Grapevine Drive, and various residential developments. The board addressed zoning amendments, conditional use permits, and site plans while managing significant community input on several projects.

Early covers City Council's budget-focused agenda, including rescinding debt authorizations for the High School Athletic Complex project, funds for Broadway paving, and a Dover Housing Authority grant sponsorship.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Aaron Williams about the Strong Towns movement and its local group in Dover. Williams explains that Strong Towns was founded by civil engineer Chuck Marohn, who identified that North American communities were building more infrastructure than their tax base could sustainably maintain. The movement focuses on practical, data-driven solutions to urban challenges like street safety and housing crises.

A key concept discussed is the distinction between "roads" and "streets," - roads are designed for efficient movement between destinations, while streets serve as platforms for community collaboration and wealth creation. Williams argues that mixing these functions creates dangerous "stroads" that are neither efficient for travel nor conducive to local business activity. The conversation explores how Dover can orient its infrastructure toward constituents rather than just traffic flow.

Williams describes his group, Strong Towns Seacoast, which meets monthly at Juniper Kitchen and advocates for incremental improvements to Dover's transportation infrastructure. Their recent successes include supporting curb bump-outs on Central Avenue and advocating for expanded bike lanes throughout the city. Parker discusses ongoing projects, including pedestrian crossing improvements that should be completed by year's end.

The discussion also touches on housing policy, with Williams explaining how Strong Towns advocates for zoning changes that allow neighborhoods to adapt and grow while preserving character. Both speakers emphasize the importance of small, incremental changes that can be implemented quickly rather than waiting for large, comprehensive projects.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover residents' concerns in 1925 regarding a potential national coal shortage and the rising cost of living.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with George Maglaras for the second installment of their series about the Cochecho River and Dover's waterfront history. Building on their previous discussion about river pollution and cleanup efforts, Maglaras shares his extensive knowledge of the diverse industries that once thrived along the river from the late 1600s through the early 1900s.

Maglaras details how the landing area served as Dover's commercial and industrial center for 200 years, describing the six brick yards that operated along the river and supplied materials for major cities including Boston, Portland and New York. He explains the evolution from whale oil to coal gasification for lighting Dover's streets, and how the byproducts of coal tar and creosote were initially dumped in the river before finding commercial uses.

The conversation explores the shipping industry's prominence before the railroad's arrival in 1850, including stories of massive schooners like the 150-foot City of Green Bay that delivered cotton to Dover's mills. Maglaras recounts colorful local history, including Captain Flagg, a privateer-turned-pirate who became Dover's wealthiest resident and built Flagg Road (now Gulf Road).

He also describes Dover's ethnic neighborhoods, and shares memories of industrial pollution from his childhood, when mills dumped resins directly out windows onto massive piles below. The discussion illustrates how the waterfront area has been developed, demolished, and redeveloped multiple times throughout Dover's history.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Makayla Edgecomb, Assistant City Planner for the City of Dover, and Lindsay Watkins, Strafford County Forester with the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension, about the critical issue facing Dover's downtown ash trees.

The conversation centers on the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle from Asia that has devastated ash tree populations across the Midwest since the early 2000s and has now reached Dover. The beautiful, shiny green beetle lays eggs in ash tree bark, and its larvae burrow into the tree's growth tissue, eventually cutting off the flow of nutrients and water. This process kills the tree from the top down, creating visible signs like branch dieback and woodpecker damage.

Dover's Central Avenue is lined with approximately 54 ash trees, all of which are infected and in decline. While some treatments exist for high-value trees, they are expensive and must be repeated regularly. For Dover's street trees, replacement is the only viable option. The city plans to phase the removal and replanting to avoid clearing the entire avenue at once, and will diversify tree species to prevent future monoculture vulnerabilities.

The guests organized public ash tree walks to educate residents about the problem and gather input on replacement planning. A second walk is scheduled for Aug. 21 at 6 p.m., starting at City Hall and ending at Garrison City Beer Works for community feedback on the downtown's future canopy.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1982 downtown renovation when the city planted over 150 ash trees along Main Street as part of a broader beautification effort, planting the very trees now threatened by the emerald ash borer.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Abby Galloway-Burke, Dover's new housing planner, about the recently released Ad-Hoc Committee to Address Community Housing Needs report and her personal experience purchasing a home in the city.

Galloway-Burke discusses her background working on housing programs at Community Action Partnership of Strafford County and Granite United Way before joining Dover's team. She shares her firsthand experience buying an 1880s duplex in Dover after being initially outbid, highlighting the competitive housing market that even housing professionals face.

The conversation focuses on the 45-page housing report, which includes a five-page executive summary showing how Dover's housing market has shifted over the past decade. Key findings reveal that construction costs have risen from $120 per square foot in 2019 to approximately $250 today, with multifamily units costing over $400,000 to build. The report shows how housing costs affect essential workers, with the living wage now at $29 per hour just for rental housing.

Parker also speaks with City Clerk Jerrica Vansylyvong-Bizier about the upcoming municipal election. The filing period runs Sept. 8-19 for candidates seeking City Council, School Board and election officer positions. All council seats are up for election, including six ward Councilors, two at-large Councilors and the Mayor. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with newly appointed Dover Rotary Club President Cathy Beaudoin about the organization's century-long commitment to community service. Beaudoin discusses how the club, now in its 101st year, raises approximately $100,000 annually through weekly bingo operations to support local charities and community projects. She highlights the club's diverse initiatives, including providing milk and egg coupons for food pantry users, supplying shoes and boots to students in need, creating mittens for the unhoused, and sponsoring scholarships. The club meets twice monthly at 121 Broadway and seeks new members from all backgrounds, dispelling outdated perceptions about membership requirements.

Parker then speaks with Brian Early and Erin Bassegio about July's City Council and Planning Board activities. Early reports on council approvals for groundwater monitoring contracts, additional funding for the Fifth and Grove reconstruction project, and budget adjustments, including rescinding authorization for the sports complex design and Fire Rescue South station projects. He also mentions the council receiving a housing needs report and a donation from Mr. Handyman of Dover for trail improvements.

Bassegio covers Planning Board approvals for lot line adjustments, conditional use permits, and a 16-unit housing development at Dover Point Road. She also updates listeners on Energy Commission discussions about solar projects and Arts Commission achievements, including a new mural at Park Street Park and sculpture installation at Central Avenue.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Mayor George Maglaras, owner of George's Marina, about the dramatic transformation of the Cochecho River from one of the most polluted waterways in America to the recreational resource Dover residents enjoy today.

Maglaras shares the history of river pollution that began after Dover's Black Day flood in 1896 and intensified through the mid-20th century. Before the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Cochecho River served as an open sewer for all domestic waste, industrial chemicals from tanneries and chrome plating plants, and medical waste from hospitals. The pollution was so severe that Cornell University ranked it among the top 10 most polluted rivers in the United States in the early 1960s. The river would literally foam with detergent suds, boil from chemical reactions, and kill thousands of migrating fish annually.

Maglaras credits his father and Uncle John, also a former Dover mayor, with leading the decades-long fight to clean up the river, despite significant community resistance. Their efforts culminated in Dover's first wastewater treatment plant in 1960, though only half the city was initially connected. The complete cleanup required separating storm drains from sewer systems throughout the city, a process that took over 20 years.

Through vivid personal anecdotes, including falling into toxic mudflats as a child, Maglaras illustrates just how contaminated the river once was. He emphasizes that without the environmental vision and persistence of earlier generations, none of today's waterfront development would have been possible.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Eric Chinburg and Chad Kageleiry about Dover's use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an economic development tool. Both developers have extensive experience working with the city on various projects over the past decade.

Eric Chinburg, who owns and operates several historic mill properties, including the Washington Street Mills and Cocheco Mills, discusses the former Strafford County Courthouse redevelopment project. Using New Hampshire's RSA 79E statute, the city provided tax relief incentives to make the historic preservation economically viable, while Chinburg contributed 20% affordable housing units and helped establish a Community Trail easement.

Chad Kageleiry, a Dover native who operates Summit Land Development, explains his work on the Stonewall Drive Industrial Park project. Rather than the city taking on upfront costs and risks to develop industrial land, Kageleiry built the necessary infrastructure and was reimbursed by the city. The project also included recreational components, creating multi-use athletic fields.

Both developers emphasize that Dover's collaborative approach makes these partnerships successful. The city's "open for business" mentality, combined with trusted relationships and creative problem-solving, allows projects to move forward that might otherwise be economically unfeasible. Parker notes that successful PPPs require mutual trust and shared goals, with the city, developer, and public all benefiting from the arrangement.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover firefighters' 1911 response to a wildfire threatening York Beach, Maine, when they loaded their steamer and hose wagon onto a special train to help battle the blaze alongside sailors from USS Montana and Tennessee.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Eric Sanderson, the city's project manager, and Library Director Denise LaFrance about the ongoing renovation of Dover's historic library. The project, which began six months ago, is nearing the completion of demolition work and has started putting new elements back in place. Key structural work includes steel installation in the basement and relocating the fire stairway to improve access between the children's room and the new "Book Maze."

The renovation is a comprehensive "down to the bones" project aimed at creating a safer, more ADA-accessible building. Major changes include expanding the children's room into the basement of the historic 1905 building section, relocating the main circulation desk, adding more meeting rooms, and creating a new central entrance with an elevator and bathrooms on each floor. The project has faced some delays due to lead time issues with electrical equipment and window restoration challenges, pushing the anticipated reopening from January to February 2026.

While operating temporarily at the McConnell Center since December 2024, the library has discovered new community partnership opportunities, including expanded outreach programs, homebound delivery services, and collaboration with local organizations and schools. These innovative approaches will continue after the library returns to its renovated space. The library is currently in its busy summer reading season, offering programs for all ages both at the temporary location and through increased off-site programming.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about former Mayor Jack Buckley's 1979 decision to resign from office to become executive director of the Dover Housing Authority, where he served for 34 years and transformed affordable housing in the city, including overseeing the Cocheco Park development and converting the historic Saint John's Methodist Episcopal Church into elderly housing.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Margaret Joyce and Jed Allen from the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce about the upcoming 39th annual Cochecho Arts Festival. The festival features a diverse lineup of Friday night headliners from July 11 through Aug. 15, including The Coastals, Moon Boot Lover, New Norde and Donaher, Harsh, Toby McAllister and the Sierra Sounds, and Wheel of Awesome.

The festival maintains its tradition of free admission to all events, funded through generous sponsors, including the Orpheum Co-Work apartments as the main underwriter and the Rotary Club of Dover sponsoring the Friday night series. New features this year include a redesigned logo, $10 buttons offering free water and restaurant discounts, plus entry into a kayak raffle, built-in rain dates (Aug. 22 and 29), and family activities like lawn games and a t-shirt slingshot during intermissions.

The children's series runs Tuesday mornings starting July 8, featuring performers like BJ Hickman, Wildlife Encounters, and magician Wayne Moulton. Additional programming includes a Saturday afternoon creative arts showcase in Henry Law Park and weekly artist booths at Friday night shows. The festival emphasizes supporting local talent while paying all performers fairly, embodying Dover's commitment to accessible community arts programming.

Parker then speaks with Erin Bassegio and Brian Early for their monthly recap of June activities. Brian covers the City Council's approval of $18 million in bonding for the Dover High School athletic complex project, additional waterfront development funding, and the renaming of the Washington Street Bridge to honor fallen Marine Capt. Jack Casey. Erin reviews Planning Board activities, including approval of a major residential-commercial overlay district off Littleworth Road and various subdivision and site plan approvals.

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with outgoing Dover School Superintendent Dr. William Harbron about his eight-year tenure and upcoming retirement. Harbron reflects on what drew him to Dover from Ohio, particularly the quality and supportiveness of the Board of Education and the community's commitment to education. He discusses his role in "healing the district," as former board member Paula Glen advised him upon arrival, and how he focused on building collaborative relationships and investing in professional development.

Harbron highlights key accomplishments including the development of a streamlined one-page strategic plan, the expansion of the teaching and learning department from one to four staff members, and the implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Professional Learning Communities. He emphasizes the importance of systematic thinking and collaboration, praising colleagues like CFO Michael Limanni and MTSS Director Travis Bickford for their innovative approaches.

Looking toward retirement, Harbron discusses his transition to executive coaching, drawing on his experience conducting monthly one-on-one conversations with principals. He stresses that education is a "calling" rather than just a job, sharing stories about the importance of teachers connecting with students. Harbron also reflects on improving city-school relationships, crediting City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. for fostering collaboration between the municipal and school sides of Dover's government. He emphasizes his philosophy of stewardship, believing leaders should recognize when their skill set has served its purpose and it's time for new leadership.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Dover's 1990s exploration of creating its own municipal electric utility to escape high rates from Public Service of New Hampshire, a controversial effort that ultimately failed, but led to today's Community Power program launched in 2023.