DOVER __ The Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Dover approved Ordinance No. 54-2025, a measure that would formally establish a Special Improvement District (SID) aimed at strengthening the town’s downtown and surrounding commercial corridors.

According to the ordinance, the proposed Special Improvement District is intended to promote economic growth, revitalization, and long-term sustainability by coordinating programs that enhance safety, cleanliness, landscaping, marketing, lighting, parking, special events, and business recruitment within the designated area.

Town officials note that the SID is authorized under New Jersey’s Special Improvement District Act and would allow Dover to designate a defined area where supplemental services are funded through a special assessment on certain properties within the district. The ordinance emphasizes that these services would supplement, not replace, the standard municipal services already provided by the town.

District Management and Oversight

Under the ordinance, a nonprofit District Management Corporation (DMC) — the Dover Improvement District — would be designated to manage the Special Improvement District. The DMC would be responsible for planning and overseeing improvements, applying for grants, coordinating marketing and promotional efforts, and providing enhanced services such as supplemental cleaning, security, and maintenance, subject to coordination with town departments.

The DMC would operate under public accountability standards, including compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and Open Public Records Act, and would be required to submit meeting minutes, annual reports, budgets, and audits to the town.

Assessments and Funding

Properties within the Special Improvement District — including commercial properties, other non-residential properties, and residential properties with four or more units — would be subject to a special assessment. The ordinance sets the assessment at 0.70% of the municipal tax levy, to be collected by the town and transferred to the DMC for approved district purposes such as beautification, maintenance, marketing, and district management.

The Town Council would review the proposed annual budget for the district at a public hearing, with notice provided to affected property owners in advance. Properties currently under tax abatements or PILOT agreements would also be included in the SID assessment, based on the amount they would otherwise contribute if not exempt.

Board Structure and Next Steps

The District Management Corporation would be governed by a nine-member board, consisting of one Town Council member and eight representatives of property owners, business owners, residents, or businesses within the district. Board members would serve staggered terms to ensure continuity and regular oversight TOWN OF DOVER SID.

The ordinance also provides that the Town Council may, by future ordinance, amend the district’s boundaries, modify the assessment formula, or terminate the Special Improvement District if warranted.

Ordinance No. 54-2025 will take effect in accordance with state law following a public hearing, filing requirements, and final adoption by the governing body.

DOVER — The Town of Dover will ring in the New Year by welcoming its newest elected officials during a formal Swearing-In Ceremony scheduled for Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at Dover Town Hall.

The ceremony will officially seat three council members-elect, each representing a different ward within the community:

• Daniella Mendez, Council Member-Elect, Ward One
• Judy Rugg, Council Member-Elect, Ward Two
• Chris Almada, Council Member-Elect, Ward Three
• Arturo Santana, Council Member, Ward Four

Family members, friends, and residents are invited to attend as the incoming council members take their oaths of office and begin their service to the residents of Dover.

The event will be held at Dover Town Hall, and is open to the public. Residents are encouraged to attend and show their support as the town’s newly elected leaders formally begin their terms of office.

DOVER — The Town of Dover will officially begin the new year with the swearing-in of its Town Council members during a special meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Municipal Building, located at 37 North Sussex Street.

Family members, friends, and residents are expected to attend as newly elected and returning council members take the oath of office, formally beginning their terms and committing to serve the Dover community in the year ahead.

The meeting is a key milestone in the borough’s municipal calendar, marking the start of the governing body’s work for 2026 and setting the tone for council priorities, collaboration, and leadership moving forward.

DOVER — The Town of Dover Mayor and Town Council are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, December 30, where officials are expected to consider a series of ordinances and resolutions addressing redevelopment, municipal salaries, and historic preservation.

The Town of Dover will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Residents and interested parties may attend virtually using Meeting ID 845 5061 6309 and Passcode 222829.

Click here to download the agenda

Among the major items on the agenda are several redevelopment-related ordinances that will be introduced for second reading, public hearing, and possible adoption. The Council is expected to consider adopting a redevelopment plan covering multiple properties along Blackwell Street, Bassett Highway, and Dewey Street. If approved, the action would formally designate the properties as areas in need of redevelopment and authorize updates to the Town’s official tax map.

The Council is also slated to consider an ordinance approving a long-term tax exemption and financial agreement, commonly known as a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), with JR Asset Urban Renewal, LLC. The agreement is intended to support redevelopment efforts by providing financial certainty while promoting long-term economic investment within the town.

Another ordinance on the agenda would establish updated minimum and maximum salary ranges for officers and employees of the Town of Dover. The ordinance spans a wide range of municipal positions and is designed to maintain competitive compensation structures while preserving fiscal oversight.

In addition, the Council is scheduled to consider an ordinance amending the Land Use and Development Code to establish a Historic Preservation Commission. The proposed ordinance outlines preservation goals, review standards, and procedures aimed at protecting historic districts and properties while encouraging appropriate reuse and redevelopment.

The meeting agenda also includes approval of a consent agenda of resolutions, which encompasses annual renewals of social and athletic club licenses, taxi and limousine licenses, shared services agreements, and multiple professional services contracts for the upcoming year. These contracts include legal, engineering, planning, architectural, and redevelopment services necessary for municipal operations.

A separate resolution proposes designating a property at 45 Leigh Street as a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment and authorizing the preparation of a redevelopment plan for that site.

Public comment will be permitted on agenda items and on any subject during the meeting, with speakers allotted three minutes each. The Council may also enter into closed session following public business before adjourning.

The December 30 meeting is expected to close out the calendar year with significant policy decisions that could shape Dover’s redevelopment and planning efforts heading into 2026.