In this episode of the Dover Download podcast, Deputy City Manager Christopher Parker chats with former Dover City Manager Bob Steele about his time working for the city in the late 1970s and 1980s. Steele recounts growing up in Maine and falling into a career in city management after graduating from the University of Maine. He shares what drew him to take the Dover city manager position, including the challenges the growing community was facing at the time such as issues with the city-managed hospital, the Tolend landfill, and securing an adequate water supply. Steele describes working to educate a fractious City Council on their role in a council-manager form of government. After over a decade as city manager, Steele made a surprise career change by taking a management job with Waste Management. He shares his unexpected journey into the private sector and how he helped Waste Management innovate on landfill gas capture and making Turnkey Landfill into a showplace.

In This Week in Dover History, we learn about a remarkable Christmas Eve gathering in 1923 at the former Dover City Hall and Opera House. More than 700 underprivileged children were treated to a festive party and gifts courtesy of the generosity of Mayor Fred Beckwith and other community members. Dressed as Santa Claus, the mayor made a dramatic entrance to cheers from the children and presided over a joyous event focused on community spirit and giving.