City Council Regular Meeting, Feb 11, 2026
AI Assisted: Summary created with the help of artificial intelligence.
Disclaimer: These are unofficial notes. Refer to the City of Dover for the formal record.
Summary
The City Council is moving to secure grant funding for Willand Pond remediation while navigating a divide over herbicide use versus manual removal of molfoil. The City Manager 2027 proposed budget that exceeds the tax cap by $877,000, marked by the first-ever inclusion of TIF district revenues to offset tax pressure.
Citizen’s Forum
Residents and representatives expressed strong opposition to using chemical herbicides like ProcellaCOR, citing concerns that the substance may contain PFAS and could leach into city wells. Proponents of DASH (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting) argued it is a proven, non-toxic alternative. Conversely, supporters of the NHDES plan argued that herbicides are the only efficient way to manage a 27-acre infestation that has reached a “tipping point.”
Agenda Items
- Willand Pond Remediation: Extensive debate on the efficacy and safety of ProcellaCOR versus DASH.
- Grant Funding Deadlines: The City faces a February 13 deadline to apply for NHDES grant funds.
- Conservation Commission Recommendation: The Commission voted 5-0 in favor of the NHDES herbicide plan prior to the Council meeting.
- Risk Mitigation: Council members discussed the “cost of doing nothing” versus the risk of introducing chemicals into the water supply.
2027 Proposed Budget
- Budget Increase: The City Manager presented the FY2027 proposed budget.
- Tax Cap Status: The current proposal is an 8.9% over the prior year and $877,000 over the tax cap.
- TIF District Revenue: For the first time, the budget recognizes revenues from the downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, which assisted in lowering overall tax pressure.
The City’s Budget Revealed webpage for the FY2027 budget outline the schedule of budget discussions to occur in the upcoming weeks.
Legislative Actions
A supermajority was required to accept NHDES funds. The City Council removed language binding Dover to a specifically remediation technology — ProcellaCOR or DASH — from the resolution, so that grant funds could be accepted and more information obtained about available remediation options.
- Amendment to Strike Methodology Paragraph: Passed. The Council voted to remove language that would have bound the city to the Conservation Commission’s herbicide recommendation.
- Substitution of Resolution 12C1: Passed. A substitute resolution was adopted to secure grant funding while deferring the specific treatment methodology to a later decision.
Multiple items were referred to public hearings for citizen input.
Action Items
- Grant Submission: The City must finalize and submit the NHDES 2026 Exotic Aquatic Plant Control grant application by February 13, 2026.
- Alternative Quotes: Staff are tasked with seeking additional quotes and vendor availability for DASH or other non-herbicide methods to provide a comparative analysis for the Council.