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Dover council approves funding for county warming center after hours of public comment and conditions debate
Summary
After nearly three hours of public testimony and lengthy deliberation over safeguards for neighbors and taxpayers, the Dover City Council voted 8-1 to approve a FY2026 budget amendment to contribute the city's share of a county-run warming center.
The Dover City Council voted to approve a FY2026 budget amendment on Dec. 9 to contribute the city's portion of financing for a county-operated warming center, after public testimony that at times became emotional and a prolonged debate about protections for nearby residents and limits on municipal costs.
Dozens of residents spoke during public hearing 7b, offering sharply divided views. Robert Saulnier of Glen Hill Road said current emergency shelter conditions have produced chronic problems in neighborhoods and opposed the city's participation in the county project; Carol Godomski and others cited police-memo statistics they said predict increased calls for trespass, narcotics and disorderly conduct. By contrast, Jackson Brown urged the council to "choose humanity," calling the new facility a necessary replacement for an overused emergency space, and volunteers at the existing warming center described residents who are elderly or otherwise vulnerable and said the current site is unsustainable.
During council debate Councillor Cullen…
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