Dover Board of Health doubles public comment time, ratifies animal inspectors

DOVER -- April 6, 2026, Dover Board of Health votes to double its public comment period and hears concerns about air quality at the Caryl Community Center. The board voted 3-0 at its April 6 Zoom meeting to expand citizen comment from five to ten minutes, with a three-minute per-speaker limit, on a motion by Member Stephen Kruskall. Health Director Jason Belmonte reported that Dover has received approximately $75,000 in opioid settlement funds, with roughly $250,000 more expected through 2039, but the board flagged uncertainty over whether the Board of Health or the Select Board holds administrative authority over the funds. Dover resident Rick Nagy presented CO2 readings of approximately 1,200 parts per million at the Caryl Community Center, prompting Chair Kay Petersen to reference ASHRAE guidance cautioning against using CO2 as a standalone infection-risk metric, while Belmonte agreed to check whether the building's HVAC system is performing to specification. The board also ratified the nominations of Belmonte and current Animal Inspector Jen Cronin by a 2-0 vote, with Kruskall abstaining, and agreed to begin reviewing a draft update to pool regulations not revised in approximately 30 years.