Dover Board of Selectmen approves dispatch grant, fills Park Commission vacancy

DOVER -- March 4, 2025, Dover moves toward regional emergency dispatch with unanimous grant vote. The Board of Selectmen, chaired by Robin Hunter and joined by member Dave Havland, unanimously approved a Mass. State 911 grant application Tuesday to explore joining the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communication Center, which already serves 13 communities including neighboring Sherborn. Fire Chief Wright, who oversaw Sharon's transition to Holbrook roughly 15 years ago, called it "an outstanding experience" and said Norwood's more recent switch has also gone well. In a joint session with the Park and Recreation Commission, the board unanimously appointed Sarah Jardine to fill the vacancy created by the death of longtime member Kathy Weld, with the seat running through the May 19 town election. The board also approved community center change orders and a consent agenda that included a release of $37,500 in state public safety funds for fire department safety gear, while Town Administrator Mike Blanchard reported the operating budget increase holds at 3.3 percent and the school committee has asked to keep its budget flat rather than add $630,000 for new out-of-district special education placements it expects to offset through circuit breaker reimbursements.