Dover council awards $149,000 contract for mechanical milfoil removal at Willand Pond after heated debate

The Dover City Council voted to approve a twice‑amended resolution on March 11, awarding a purchase order of $149,000 to C & D Underwater Maintenance to address a 28‑acre milfoil infestation in Willand Pond. The decision followed more than three hours of public comment and technical testimony, and ended with a final 7–2 vote to approve the amended contract and authorize the city manager to find the funds to pay for it.

Residents and conservation‑commission members filled the council chamber and urged mechanical removal rather than herbicide treatments. “We picked up just over a ton of litter,” said Deborah Clough of Don't Trash Dover during the public forum, asking the city to support community conservation efforts. Several speakers warned about the potential for long‑term contamination if herbicides were used; Cynthia Walter told the council an herbicide application could create “60,000 pounds of dead material” that would accelerate low‑oxygen events and feed cyanobacteria blooms.

Staff presented the RFP results and two distinct cost profiles.…