City Council Regular Meeting, Aug 26, 2026

Proclamations and Awards

• The Mayor proclaimed September as National Service Dog Month to honor the contributions of service dogs and the individuals who train them.
• The Mayor proclaimed September 7th through 23rd as Constitution Week to commemorate the document’s ratification and encourage civic understanding.

Public Forum

• A resident representing a local charitable lodge addressed the Council regarding the recent denial of their property’s tax exemption.
• The resident highlighted the organization’s history of charitable contributions and requested that the city reconsider the financial impact of the denial.
• The City Manager later clarified that state law and the Assessing Standards Board strictly dictate exemption criteria, which requires a specific provision in the local charter mandating charitable contributions.

City Manager’s Report

• A written report was provided outlining departmental activities and financial performance through July.
• The City Manager noted concerns regarding higher-than-budgeted supply and fuel costs, which will be monitored for potential budget adjustments.
• Residents on both public and private water supplies were asked to voluntarily conserve water, halt outdoor irrigation, and check for leaks due to the ongoing regional drought.
• The state environmental department will conduct a post-Labor Day survey of a local pond to assess the success of recent diver-assisted milfoil removal, which will inform future mitigation efforts and grant applications.
• A workshop is scheduled for next week to review the city’s water system and explore new water sources.

Mayor’s Report

• Community support and preparations for an upcoming holiday installation are ongoing, with delivery and setup expected by September 8th.
• The City Council is actively recruiting a new City Manager ahead of the current manager’s retirement.
• The Council approved illuminating the City Hall clock tower blue throughout September in honor of National Service Dog Month.

Committee Reports

• Arts Commission: Acknowledged the passing of a dedicated member, celebrated successful recent arts festivals, announced new art installations at bus stops, and encouraged attendance at the upcoming 25th anniversary September 11th memorial dedication.
• Appointments Committee: Recommended several individuals for regular and alternate positions on the Cemetery Board, Planning Board, and another committee.
• Planning Board: Issued notices for upcoming public hearings regarding proposed zoning changes, specifically focusing on transfer of development rights (TDRs) and regulations for data centers.
• School Board: Approved annual policies, handbooks, a student engagement survey, and upcoming school meal prices, while managing teaching personnel transitions.
• Energy Commission: Announced the operational status of a new solar facility, discussed the pros and cons of selling Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and reviewed community power rates.
• Parking Commission: Noted a plateau in parking ticket revenue, highlighted the temporary loss of 58 parking spaces due to a local avenue project, and discussed the rejection of a proposal to lease public spaces for a new development with zero dedicated parking.

Consent Calendar

• APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION (TAC) OPERATING RULES: Passed. The Council approved updates to the operating rules for the transportation committee.
• APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO ENERGY COMMISSION OPERATING RULES: Passed. The Council approved updates to the operating rules for the energy committee.
• B14074 DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR LITTLEWORTH ROAD AND OLD LITTLEWORTH ROAD – UNDERWOOD ENGINEERING: Passed. The Council authorized engineering services for local road projects.
• B26013 DOWNTOWN PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICLE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT CDBG-ADDITIONAL SCOPE OF WORK FOR HANDICAP PARKING: Passed. The Council approved additional funding scope for downtown handicap parking improvements.
• AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE EXACOM HINDSIGHT VIA 2-WAY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, INC. FOR DISPATCH AUDIO RECORDING – SOLE SOURCE: Passed. Pulled from the Consent Calendar for questions, the Council approved the purchase of an on-premises system to upgrade the existing dispatch audio recording technology.

Legislative Actions & Business Items

• AUTHORIZATION OF ANNUAL APPRAISAL OF REAL ESTATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 (TAX YEAR 2026): Passed. The Council authorized the routine annual property appraisal process.
• ACCEPTING DEDICATION OF DOVER HOUSING AUTHORITY ROADS KNOWN AS MINERAL PARK DRIVE, PLEASANT VIEW CIRCLE, AND HAMPSHIRE CIRCLE: Passed. The Council formally accepted historical streets located within the local housing authority property as public roads.
• AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD B27010 HOT BITUMINOUS PAVING (ASPHALT) LAID IN PLACE TO CONTINENTAL PAVING, INC.: Passed. The Council awarded a contract for full-depth reclamation and ongoing street maintenance.
• CHAPTER 141 ORDINANCE, SECTIONS 14, 23, 20, 48, 51: Passed. The Council deferred the ordinance to an upcoming public hearing.
• CHAPTER 85 ORDINANCE, SECTIONS 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10: Passed. The Council deferred the ordinance to an upcoming public hearing.
• FINE SCHEDULE: Passed. The Council deferred the fine schedule update to an upcoming public hearing.

Council Matters of Interest

• A Councilor reminded the public about upcoming election deadlines, noting the final days for voter registration, absentee ballot availability, and polling hours for Election Day.
• A Councilor discussed property valuation trends in other municipalities regarding manufactured homes, prompting the City Manager to emphasize the city’s commitment to maintaining fair market value assessments annually to prevent sudden tax spikes.

Action Items

• Follow up with the state environmental department after Labor Day to review the pond milfoil survey and plan future mitigation efforts.
• Conduct a City Council workshop next Wednesday regarding the public water system and potential new water sources.
• Draft an update to the city’s parking ordinance to formally close a loophole regarding double parking.