Dover Board of Selectmen approves online permitting deal, cutting cost to $48,000 with state grant

DOVER -- April 29, 2025, Dover Board of Selectmen approves online permitting software contract, saving taxpayers $100,000 via state grant. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to contract with Zones LLC for OpenGov permitting software, operational in more than 190 Massachusetts municipalities, at a net cost to the town of $48,000 after a grant reduced the price from $148,000. Chair Robin Hunter and member Dave Havlin also unanimously authorized up to $24,065 for outdoor patio furniture at the nearly complete community center, approving seven tables and 21 chairs off the state bid list. The board held action on a disputed $11,515 foundation painting change order, with Havlin calling the contractor's price excessive: "Absent knowing what a fair price is outside of the contract, it's just very hard to approve another $11,500 and change." The board separately advanced a construction change directive for a gravity retaining wall block upgrade while deferring full phase-two wall costs, estimated between $60,000 and $70,000, pending further vetting of Mo Connor's pricing.