Friday Updates - April 1, 2022

Friday, April 1, 2022

TOWN DECIDES TO STEP AWAY FROM DEVELOPER at 66 MAIN STREET – Site to remain as is for at least the next year while the dust settles (hopefully) on the pandemic.

This week the Town team (Dir. of Planning Michael Behrendt, Assessor Jim Rice, DPW Dir. Rich Reine, Code Office Audrey Cline, Councilors Carden Welsh, Sally Tobias, Jim Lawson, and Joe Friedman, Attorney Laura Spector, and Admin. Selig) met via Zoom with representatives from Elliott Sidewalk Communities (ESC) and UNH to discuss whether there was a productive path forward for the potential redevelopment of 66 Main Street at the present time as envisioned by and with ESC. As you may remember, the UNH RFQ process under which the current program was developed (and ESC selected) dates back to around 2017, with an older iteration dating to 2015 (and several earlier iterations dating to before that as well involving only Durham or Durham & UNH).  

The group had an informative and detailed conversation about envisioned plans for the site, followed by a Town-only team meeting to discuss next steps, if any.

With a recognition that the world has changed a great deal between 2017 and today, that we may not yet have seen the end of the pandemic and associated impacts, that parking dynamics seem to be changing downtown with the pandemic, that office life/patterns may be changing for Americans generally post-pandemic, that there are currently several high profile projects being considered by or in process in Durham which may or may not impact plans at 66 Main St., that there is uncertainty concerning utility stormwater infrastructure capacity (still TBD) in the central core, and several other significant factors, that it made the most sense for Durham to break off and end conversations with ESC, to take the next year+ to let the dust settle on all of these issues, etc., and to begin a year+ from now to think about what our collective vision for the site should be in the years ahead leading to a subsequent future TBD RFQ process to select potential new partners to look at site redevelopment.  

Admin. Selig has reached out to both ESC and UNH to let them know of this decision, and will briefly cover during Roundtable on Monday night as well at the Town Council meeting in case Councilors have any questions or would like to discuss further.  

It’s been a long road, Durham and UNH have learned a great deal, and Admin. Selig believes there is tremendous opportunity for 66 Main Street in the future. In the meantime, though, the entire Durham community has a beautiful, centrally located site along Main Street with enhanced parking to support downtown business activity and a new lovely public pocket park along Main Street overlooking the beautiful UNH campus..  

So let’s make the most of it in the near term as we consider its wonderful potential for the future.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS TRAFFIC/CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY - ROADWAY PAVING

Please be advised that the Durham Public Works Department’s contractor for its Road Program, Continental Paving, will be performing reclamation operations on the following roadways sequentially from Monday, April 4th through Friday, April 8th:

• Wednesday Hill Road
• Timberbrook Lane
• Pendexter Road
• Mast Road

The roadways will be restricted to one lane in the work area with alternating traffic between 7:00am and 5:00pm. Access to adjacent residences, businesses and institutions within the work areas will be maintained at all times. Disruptions to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are expected to be minimal however we ask that the commuting public seek alternative routes if possible and allow additional time to reach their destinations. We thank you for your patience.  

This schedule is subject to change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues, and other conditions.

For additional information please contact  Durham Public Works at (603) 868-5578.

DEMOLITION OF OLD MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS BEGUN...

The demolition of the old Oyster River Middle School has begun, and we understand the middle school students are VERY interested in this process! It is expected that demo will take four weeks with all debris removed by May 2. All demolition activity will be inside the construction fencing, and traffic flows in the area will remain unchanged. Reusable furniture and building components have already been removed and repurposed by school districts in NH. In addition, all known hazardous material has been removed. The demolition team will use water hoses to minimize dust. During demolition, materials will be sorted and recycled whenever possible.

The exciting part of the demolition will take place each day between 8AM and 4PM. This is a controlled demolition process using large excavators with huge “claws” that will reach out and pinch the building down in chunks (as noted last week, think of a hungry yellow lobster munching its way through the building).  

After demolition is complete, construction will begin on the new athletic fields and installation of landscaping with all work to be completed in August before school starts. Everyone involved with the project would like to thank the neighbors and residents for their patience as the construction team completes the last phase of the project.

WANT A MEMENTO FROM THE OLD ORMS (1935-2022)?

With the demolition and removal of the building, ORMS will be saving a few hundred bricks from the original 1935 structure. If you would like a brick as a memento, ORMS will be accepting donations to benefit our after-school clubs. Bricks will be available in the ORMS front office shortly after the removal of the building in early May. 

If you would like us to reserve you a brick, feel free to contact the ORMS office at 603-868-2820, and you will be added to the list!

ADMIN. SELIG TO FACILITATE ROUNDTABLE PRESENTATION AT ICMA NE REGIONAL CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK IN BOSTON

Admin. Selig has been asked to participate as a roundtable facilitator as part of the upcoming 2022 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Northeast Regional Conference in Boston April 6-8th.  Registration appears to be going well, and ICMA hopes to have a great representative group from its 11 northeast states, extending from Maine to Maryland. He’ll be co-facilitating with a manager from Bowie, MD on: “Braving the Elements: Mitigating and Adapting to the Realities of Climate Change - Is your Community Ready?”

Former Durham Police Chief David Kurz is also a presenter for a session, “Hire and Higher: Building the Pipeline of Future Leaders.”

SWAP SHOP REOPENS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND

The Swap Shop will be opening for the season on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022! 

The Durham Public Works Department and Swap Shop Volunteers would like to remind residents that the Transfer Station’s Swap Shop does not accept certain items. While we would like to keep reusable items out of the waste stream and the landfill, indoor storage space is limited, and other safety concerns must be considered. When entering the Transfer Station, it is mandatory to stop and check-in with one of the Attendants to review the items you wish to donate to the Swap Shop. The Attendant(s) will evaluate each item(s) based on the criteria below to determine if it will be accepted. A bulky waste coupon may be required in situations where the item(s) is not accepted. We encourage residents to discuss other options for donating their goods with the attendants and Swap Shop Volunteers. A reminder that users of the Swap Shop are encouraged to remain at the facility for no longer than thirty minutes during any one visit to allow other residents an opportunity to view and take items.

The following is a list of items that are not accepted at the Swap Shop:

• Dirty, moldy or stained items. Stained fabrics may go into the Ecosmith Textile Recycling bin.
• Broken, non-functioning or items missing pieces (a chair without a leg, desk without a drawer or drawer knobs, etc..)
• Boxes full of unsorted items (unless approved by a Transfer Station Attendant or Swap Shop Volunteer.)
• Upholstered furniture (mattresses, box springs, chairs, couches, headboards, pillows, etc.).
• Electronic items (all of which require an electronic coupon for disposal):

- Refrigerators

- Dehumidifiers

- Air Conditioners

- Other items containing a refrigerant

- Televisions

- Computer Monitors

• Construction materials of any kind (wood, shingles, sheetrock, insulation, etc.)
• Concrete, bricks, stone, solid fill.
• Appliances larger than a microwave (appliances containing refrigerant that have an electronic coupon will be considered for donation).
• Hazardous Materials or Chemicals (oils, gas, diesel, kerosene, propane, oxygen, mercury containing items, etc.)
• Food, beverages, cosmetics
• Textbooks, dated manuals, reference books (can be recycled using the Discover Books bin)
• Skies, ski boots, snow boards
• Child safety equipment (car seats, helmets)
• Weapons
• Broken glass (including glass from picture frames)
• Clothing and shoes (Use the Salvation Army bin for clothing and shoes in good condition. The Ecosmith bins for these and any stained bedding, towels, fabric stuffed animals, etc.

ASSESSOR TO INSPECT PROPERTIES REQUIRING BUILDING PERMITS IN THE COMING WEEKS

It’s that time of year again when assessor, Jim Rice, will be inspecting all properties in Durham during March and April that have recently undergone new construction such as building new homes, additions, made renovations or have recently been demolished.    

If you have any questions, please contact the Assessing Department at (603) 868-8064.  

APRIL 15TH APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS!

April 15th is the last day to submit applications for property tax exemptions and veteran tax credits.  

Applications and information pertaining to property tax exemptions and veteran tax credits may be found on the Town’s website under the Assessing Department.

If you have any questions, please contact the Assessing Department at (603) 868-8064. 

On Thursday, March 31st, Durham Police Officers attended the Plymouth State University (PSU) Job Fair and met with soon to be graduates. As shown in the picture, POP/Detective Emily Festa and Detective Carrington Cazeau were busy answering questions from PSU students. PSU students showed great interest in the policing field as well as our Department. Also in attendance but not pictured were Captain Jack Dalton and Detective Sergeant John Lavoie.  

THE SUN IS SHINING – DURHAM PD REMINDS EVERYONE TO BE AWARE WHO YOU ARE SHARING THE ROAD WITH! 

With an increase in sunshine and warm winds, citizens will also see an increase in pedestrian traffic, motorized and non-motorized scooters, and increased bicycle activity. The Durham Police Department would like to take this time to remind everyone about some of the laws and related facts that help govern motorized devices, bikes, and pedestrians alike.  

Motorized Devices/Scooters: The Town of Durham has a town ordinance that governs the use of motorized devices such as electric scooters. Motorized devices are any device with a gas or electric engine and wheels joined to the bottom of a narrow platform that may or may not have vertical handles fixed to the platform, frame or wheels that is powered without the assistance of human peddling, pushing, or gliding. It does not include items designated for elderly or those with disabilities.  

• Operation of a motorized device is strictly prohibited on any Town sidewalk.  
• Individuals under the age of 16 operating on a public way is strictly prohibited.  
• Drivers must obey all official traffic signals, signs and other devices used to regulate traffic. 
• Motorized devices must be equipped with brakes, lights, and some sort of audible alert such as a bell.  
• During the period of one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise, a motorized device must display a front facing lamp, emitting a white light visible for 300 feet. The motorized device must be equipped with a red reflector on the rear visible from 300 feet.  
• Motorized Devices shall not exceed 15 mph and shall be operated as near the right-hand side of the roadway as practical.  
• Operators emerging from a driveway or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or roadway yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on the said sidewalk area; and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway.  
• Unattended motorized devices may only be parked on streets, sidewalks or other Town properties in areas specifically designated and marked by the Town for the parking of such devices, including but not limited to corrals, pods, and bike racks.  
• If found unattended in violation of the ordinance, efforts will be made to contact the owner and they will be given 2 hours to properly park the motorized device and issued a violation notice.  
• If the owner cannot be located and the 2 hours has gone by, the device will be removed.  
• If a motorized device is left unattended and blocks pedestrian passage on a sidewalk or street or otherwise presents a public safety hazard, it shall be removed immediately.  

Bicycles: RSA 265:143 governs the safe operation of bicycles. It directs that all riders have the rights of and are subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road. Just as important is RSA 265:143-a that directs all drivers of a vehicle to approach bicyclists with due care and ensure the bicyclists safety and protection by leaving a reasonable and prudent distance between the vehicle and the bicycle.  

• Bicyclists less than 16 year of age must wear a helmet when operating a bike on a public way.  
• Persons riding 2 or more abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.  
• A bicyclist shall wear at least one item of reflective outerwear apparel, such as a reflective vest, jacket, or helmet strip, during the period from ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise.  
• A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.  
• Every bicycle operated upon any way during darkness shall be equipped with a lamp emitting a white light visible from 300 feet in front of the bike.  
• A lamp or reflector that is visible from 300 feet to the rear of the bike is required when operating at night on a way.  

Pedestrians: RSA 265:34 to RSA 265:37 govern pedestrian laws in the State of New Hampshire. These laws require pedestrians to obey the instructions of any traffic sign or regulation specifically applicable to him/her, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.  

• When traffic signals are not in place, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping, if need be, to yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.  
• No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.  
• Whenever a vehicle is stopped at a marked or any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.  
• Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.  

As the Durham Police Department focuses their attention on these issue, we wish everyone a safe spring and want remind everyone to remain vigilant no matter what mode of transportation you choose to use. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2022 CRACK SEALING PROGRAM IN DURHAM

Durham Public Works has awarded the contract for the 2022 Crack Sealing Program to Indus, Inc. of Braintree, MA. Indus will apply a polymer crumb-rubber modified (PCRM) crack sealant to Pettee Brook Lane and sections of Main Street and Durham Point Road. PCRM is a high-performance crack sealant that consists of a performance-graded asphalt binder cross-linked with an SBS polymer and a proprietary adhesion promoter to produce an asphalt that has the ability to resist deforming at high temperatures while also being able to stretch and flex at lower temperatures. This high-performance asphalt is then blended with a finely ground crumb-rubber. During this blending process, the rubber particles absorb the polymer-modified asphalt and swell, increasing in volume and further enhancing the same properties afforded by the SBS polymer. The result is a material that has unmatched adhesion, elasticity, and load bearing capacity across a wide range of temperatures. Crack sealing operations are scheduled to occur during the week of May 2nd.

LEE WELL STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS UNDER WAY - The well will be off line for about a month during this period.

The Durham Public Works continues to progress on a major rehabilitation of the Lee Well and the Pump House Facility. Over the last week, Water Division staff working with Weston and Sampson Engineers field crews began work on a full redevelopment of the well. This included the removal and replacement of all pumping equipment as well as chemical treatments to break down and dissolve mineral deposits within the well casing and screen structures to reestablish well pumping and specific capacity. This process included obtaining a Temporary Groundwater Discharge Permit from the NHDES Drinking and Groundwater Bureau. Additionally, DPW’s roofing contractor, Southers Construction completed a full renovation of the roof structure, soffit vents, trim, and gable siding. A portion of this funding for this project was obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Infrastructure Bill.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT!

For the month of April 2022, the Durham Historic Association will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Hannaford store located at 7 Mill Road, Durham NH. 

The Durham Historic Association's mission is:

• To preserve the memory of events connected with the history of the Town of Durham, or of individuals who may have resided there;
• To serve as guardian of the town's history;
• To preserve the artifacts of the town's history;
• To inform and educate the citizens of Durham and others of the history of the town and how contemporary Durham arises out of its past. 

Figure 1. Proposed sampling design and location of sensor nodes.

The class will work with Tom Brightman, Durham’s Land Stewardship Coordinator, to place a sign at the trailhead with general information about the research, explaining that it is a long-term UNH project and what the class is hoping to learn from it. Signage will include contact information for UNH faculty teaching the course, e.g., Jessica Ernakovich and Alix Contosta. Initial signage will be temporary as we collaborate with the Town to develop more permanent options.

The Land Stewardship Subcommittee has reviewed this project and recommended approval. Based on this recommendation, permission was provided by the Town for the effort to proceed.  

This is a very nice example of the collaborative opportunities that exist between Durham and the University of New Hampshire.