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COVID-19 UPDATE
Tuesday, March 17, 6 p.m.
City Hall, other public facilities
to close until further notice
Some public meetings to continue with special provisions
City facilities will close beginning Wednesday, March 18, based on new guidelines from state and federal health officials. The closures are in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus and are intended to minimize person-to-person contact. On Monday, Gov. Chris Sununu banned all gatherings of 50 people or more in New Hampshire. Also on Monday, President Donald Trump recommended people avoid gatherings of 10 or more people.
While these new guidelines are in place, City staff will transition to a customer service model that utilizes remote and online public access. City staff will continue to report to work and will be available to respond to the public by phone or email. A directory of city offices and staff can be found on the city's website at
www.dover.nh.gov/contact-us/
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"These restrictions, in keeping with the latest recommendations from our governor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our state and across the country," said City Manager J. Michael Joyal, Jr. "During this challenging time, I and all city staff are committed to providing the same responsive city government our customers expect. As we temporarily transition to remote access for many city services, I ask for the public's understanding and cooperation, while reminding everyone to follow the direction of our health officials by avoiding large crowds and practicing social distancing."
Residents are encouraged to use the city's online resources for access to many municipal services, including motor vehicle registration, dog licenses, parking ticket payments, live and on-demand public meetings, and more. A list of these services, along with direct links to each service, can be found at www.dover.nh.gov/services/covid19services.html.
While city facilities remain closed, residents are also encouraged to pay bills by mail or by phone, wherever possible. To mail payments, residents should use the printed envelopes that accompany a bill or mail bills directly to City of Dover, 288 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820.
All permits and forms already received will still be processed, as will all documents received by mail or electronically in the coming weeks.
Following the new recommendations for large gatherings, a number of public and private events at public facilities have been cancelled or postponed. An updated list of closings and cancellations can be found at the city's COVID-19 page.
Special provisions for upcoming public meetings
A limited number of public meetings for some public bodies, such as the City Council, School Board, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment will continue to be held, as necessary. Provisions will be made to allow board members to attend the meeting by teleconference, if requested, while adhering to state law on open meetings and recent guidelines issued by the Governor and Attorney General's Office.
"Our elected and appointed citizen volunteers are called upon every day to help shape the future of our community," said Mayor Robert Carrier. "Our boards and commissions are a vital link in that process and we are committed to continuing our work, even in light of these new challenges. We also recognize the extra precautions we're asked to follow in these difficult times are necessary to slow or stop the spread of the coronavirus. The safety of our citizens and all public servants is our first priority, and we will make sure we balance that need with our ongoing civic responsibilities."
Residents are encouraged to remain involved and informed by watching meetings live on Channel 22, streamed live online, and on demand. Residents are also encouraged to contact public board members by email or phone. A list of all public boards and commissions, including board member contact information, can be found on the city's website at
https://www.dover.nh.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/
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In addition, beginning later this week, residents are also encouraged to share comments with public boards by calling 516-MEET. Messages left at this number will be shared with the respective public body and included in meeting minutes. When calling, state your name, address and which public body you're addressing. As with in-person meetings, please limit your comments to five minutes.
Public meetings that do occur while the current restrictions are in place will be scheduled in large rooms that can accommodate social distancing. Special audio provisions will be made for larger groups, if necessary, by amplifying meeting audio or video to adjacent space.
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