Town Clerk's Message

Headshot of Katie Palmer-House
Katie Palmer-House

Welcome to the Town of Dover Town Clerk’s webpage!  My name is Katie Palmer-House and I have served as Town Clerk since 2012.  Before being elected Town Clerk, I served as a Town Councilwoman from 2001 to 2010 and as Deputy Town Clerk in 2011.  My family and I have been Town residents for the past 37 years and we serve on several local committees and organizations.  I love the Town of Dover for many reasons including my fellow residents who deeply care about our children and the well-being of families in need.

Throughout my tenure, the Town Clerk’s Office has strived to continue implementing electronic records management initiated by former Town Clerk, Caroline Reichenberg.  In 2013, our office received a NYS Archives grant to create a records-focused disaster preparedness plan.  In 2015, we received a Local Government Records Management Improvement Plan grant and implemented a cost-saving intermunicipal shared electronic records management system with the Towns of Amenia, Beekman and North East.  Thanks to NYS Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP) grants in 2017 and 2018, the Town constructed new fire-resistant storage space at Town Hall for added security of all Town records.

In addition to the stewardship of the Town’s official records, the Town Clerk assists the Town Board and residents with obtaining marriage licenses, accessible parking permits, DEC sportsman (hunting, fishing and trapping) and dog licenses.  The Town Clerk is also the records management officer designated by NYS statute in the Local Government Records Law.  Whenever a quorum (majority) of Town Board members is present, the Town Clerk must attend and prepare and publish minutes of decisions made (by resolution) that become a permanent Town record.

Bonnie Franks is Deputy Town Clerk and the Town of Dover Registrar of Vital Statistics.  The Registrar issues, files and maintains birth, death and burial records and assists with providing access (to those with familial or legal authorization) to certified or genealogical copies of vital records.

The Town established a public portal on the Town’s website in 2016 where residents and the public can search for and review numerous own records by date, board type, category or keyword.

As advances in information technology afford more convenient and user-friendly access to public records, I look forward to sharing them with you.

Deputy Town Clerk Bonnie Franks and I are grateful for your confidence and invite you to contact us with questions or for assistance with Town services.  The Town Clerk’s office is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

My email address is townclerk@doverny.us.  We look forward to serving you!

Sincerely,

Katie

Kathryn Palmer-House, Ed.D.
IIMC Certified Municipal Clerk
Town Clerk, Town of Dover