In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. about the strategic goal-setting process that the Dover City Council recently held. Joyal explains that the city has conducted goal-setting with each new council for over 30 years. The process allows new council members to bring ideas from their constituents, while also reminding returning members of previous goals. Over time, the city has embraced a more robust strategic planning system, with goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bou ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with John Storer, Community Services Director, and Brian Landry, Public Works Supervisor, about winter preparations and challenges in snow removal. The conversation covers the extensive planning and preparation undertaken by the team before snowfall, including equipment readiness and crew briefing. They discuss the types of equipment used, like wing plow trucks, loaders, and sidewalk tractors, emphasizing the all-hands-on-deck approach during plowing events. Storer and Landry detail the difficulties in ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Ryan Pope, the City of Dover's Housing Navigator. They discuss the state's ongoing housing crisis, emphasizing the complexity of housing issues, including infrastructure, transportation, and the need for more housing units, particularly smaller ones. Pope highlights the community's feedback, gathered through surveys, indicating a desire for increased housing availability. They explore the challenges of implementing higher-density housing and balancing development with environmental concerns. The co ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Mike Gillis about the evolution of the podcast over its first two seasons and what listeners can expect going forward. They discuss improvements in the podcast's production quality, as well as shifts toward more authentic, informative conversations that tell the story behind policies and decisions shaping Dover. Looking ahead, they plan to continue highlighting major policies and volunteers, while also diving deeper into city budgets, goals, and issues interconnecting Dover with surrounding communi ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Dover City Manager Bob Steele about his time working for the city in the late 1970s and 1980s. Steele recounts growing up in Maine and falling into a career in city management after graduating from the University of Maine. He shares what drew him to take the Dover city manager position, including the challenges the growing community was facing at the time such as issues with the city-managed hospital, the Tolend landfill, and securing an adequate water supply. Steele describes working to edu ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Dover City Councilor John O'Connor about his time serving on the council from 2014-2017 and 2020-2021. This episode is the fifth and final in a series with Dover policymakers over the decades. O'Connor discusses running for City Council, the steep learning curve in understanding the city budget and Capital Improvements Program, passionate debates over issues like sidewalk construction, what he enjoyed about meeting constituents, and his advice for future Council candidates on connecting with ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Jason Hindle, who served on the Dover City Council from 2000-2008. This episode is the fourth in a series with Dover policymakers over the decades. Hindle reflects on major events and policy decisions during his tenure, including the city's response to 9/11, transportation and infrastructure investments, zoning changes to enable future development, the creation of the McConnell Center, and new fire and schools facilities. Hindle explains why transparency and staff support are critical for good gove ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Parks "Skip" Christenbury, a former Dover City Councilor and lifelong Dover resident. This episode is the third in a series with Dover policymakers over the decades. They discuss the issues facing Dover in the 1990s when Christenbury served on the City Council, including financial struggles and the need for strong leadership. Christenbury reflects on policies and projects from that time, like expanding Enterprise Park, enhancing ambulance services, and laying the groundwork for the current waterfro ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with Donna Benton, Director of Planning and Community Development, about Dover's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). They discuss what the CIP is, the process for creating it each year, how projects are financed, the timeline for approval, and how residents can provide input. The CIP will be presented to a joint session of the City Council and Planning Board on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. In This Week in Dover History, we learn about Thanksgiving celebrations in Dover in 1905, gleaned from old newspaper ..read more

In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Dover Mayor Jesse Andrew Galt about his time as a policymaker in Dover during the 1980s. This episode is the second in a series with Dover policymakers over the decades. Galt served on the Dover City Council beginning in 1983, and then as mayor. Galt explains that he first got involved with local politics to oppose zoning changes on Central Avenue that would have transformed the residential neighborhood into an office and commercial area. After speaking out at public meetings, Galt was aske ..read more