John O’Connor (Ward 1)
For Ward 1: John O’Connor (Incumbent)
Age: 54
Occupation: Human resources
Years living in Dover: 24
Prior public service experience: City council; member, Arts Commission, Ordinance Committee, Pool Committee and Recreation Advisory Board; manager and coach of various sports teams; past president and treasure of Dover Baseball.
As rental housing development increases downtown, what can the city do to keep Dover affordable for middle- and working-class residents?
We need to continue to work towards a healthy balance of residential and commercial/business in the city and continue to support healthy and responsible economic growth and development. The ideal mix would be a 60/40 balance of residential and commercial; this provides stability in the tax base and (takes) some of the tax burden off residents, and homeowners offering exceptional value. Dover continues to grow and be prosperous; it’s a great place to live and has a wonderful diversified community. However, supply and demand will dictate housing and rentals costs.
How can the city address the impact of downshifting costs from state government to municipalities?
This is one of the biggest challenges facing Dover and every other community in the state. Of particular concern is the underfunded retirement system, which is over $100 million for the state. In N.H., we have a limited revenue source compared to some of our neighbors. The burden continues to fall on the residents of the state with increasing property taxes. As a community, we need to continue to be fiscally responsible. There is a concern that if the state continues downshifting costs to communities, it could start impacting services we provide.
Would you be willing to support a tax cap override while developing city budgets? Why or why not?
It would be irresponsible to not consider a tax cap override. When we’re developing and reviewing a budget, every year is different; every budget is … unique. For someone to make a blanket statement and say they would never consider a tax cap override would be foolish. When reviewing a budget, we have to look at the various departments and the line items that make up their budget. We have to evaluate the needs and wants and determine what is critical and prioritize certain items: what is the return on investment, what value does this bring? Over the past two years, the superintendent, department heads, and city manager have done a tremendous job of developing fiscally-responsible budgets and the council has done a good job of being fiscal stewards for the taxpayers while providing a realistic budget that the schools and city services are able to operate (on) efficiently and effectively.
The council recently voted to approve funding for a new high school, and construction of a new police station/parking garage is under way. What should the city’s priorities be for future capital improvement projects?
We need to continue to maintain, and upgrade when necessary, the infrastructure of the city. Preventive maintenance of our existing facilities is also important in order to maximize the useful life and prevent premature failure of a system or component of a facility. We don’t save money in the long run by neglecting and deferring maintenance. In addition to facilities and roads, we need to continue improvements and upgrades to our water lines, sewer, and storm drainage systems.
Education is always a main ingredient in any healthy and prosperous community. We need to ensure that our schools provide an effective learning environment and that the school facilities are maintained and efficient. Our educators and staff need to receive the best training and support to help prepare them to be successful in the classrooms.
The addition of a second fully-manned ambulance this year and the opening of the new police station in February 2016 shows our commitment to public safety. As a council, we need to continue to support public safety, by providing our police, fire, and rescue personnel with the best possible equipment and training.
How can the city best address the increased costs associated with federal EPA regulations regarding storm water and wastewater management?
The city has done a tremendous job of being proactive in its storm water and wastewater management programs. The Berrybrook Watershed project is a perfect example of how Dover is leading the way in storm water management. The ongoing upgrades to the wastewater treatment center will bring Dover into compliance with what is considered a more realistic reduction in the amount of nitrogen that flows into Great Bay — discharge limits that are based on sound science not some arbitrary figure produced by the EPA. As a community and a member of the Great Bay Municipal Coalition, we have an obligation to protect our waterways and Great Bay. The storm and wastewater management program currently in place by Dover will prove to be effective and responsible management of costs associated with filtering the water that goes into our streams and rivers.
What was the most recent cultural event you attended in Dover?
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the Dover Irish Festival this year, due to a family commitment. The Irish Festival is one of my favorite events in Dover; the dancing and the music make for a wonderful atmosphere. It’s a great place to meet family and friends. Last year, I won an Irish Banjo that was handmade by C.B. Gitty in Rochester — and I’m still trying to figure out how to play it!
What is the most important issue facing the city that no one is talking about yet?
The water supply for the city is something that should continue to be monitored and studied. The Griffin Well will need to be closed and a new well opened and the Ireland Well pump system will need to be replaced. We need to make sure that these critical assets are protected so that they continue to provide clean, potable drinking water for the community.