Dover Board of Selectmen Adopts Financial Policies, Appoints Two to Open Committee Seats

DOVER -- January 5, 2026, Dover Board of Selectmen kicks off 2026 by reviving a six-year-old financial policy manual and filling two committee vacancies. The three-member board, Robin Hunter, Dave Havlin, and Cam Hudson, voted unanimously Monday to begin formally adopting a financial policy manual originally drafted by the Collins Center at UMass Boston in 2020 but never approved, starting with a provision requiring policy reviews at least every five years. The board also voted unanimously to increase the town's ambulance base rate by 1.8 percent and mileage rate by 2 percent for 2026 in line with Medicare adjustments. Janet Bowser was appointed to the Sustainability Committee to fill an unexpired term through June 30, 2027, and Charles Deavore was appointed to the Board of Selectmen Membership Size Study Committee, bringing it to a quorum of five. Town Administrator Michael Blanchard noted a challenging budget year ahead driven by health insurance costs, and Board of Selectmen member Havlin flagged that a proposed $75,000 climate action plan, with up to $57,500 in pending grant funding, is now in the warrant as a placeholder, pending a closer look at matching requirements before the warrant closes January 8.