Friday Updates - March 13, 2020

Friday, March 13, 2020

An image for Pi Day on March 14, 2020. Courtesy World Wide Web

LIBRARY PROGRAMING CANCELLED THRU MARCH DUE TO COVID-19

All Durham Public Library sponsored programming will be cancelled until the end of March. See additional information below under the Durham Public Library section.

SATURDAY'S SLUSH CUP ORGANIZED BY DURHAM PARKS AND REC ALSO CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS - See more info. in Recreation section below.

COVID-19 SITUATION AS OF 9 AM ON MARCH 12, 2020  

A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and which continues to expand. Cases have been identified in the United States, as well as many other countries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State and local health departments, including the New Hampshire (NH) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services’ (DPHS), are monitoring this rapidly developing situation. Information about this outbreak will be available here and continuously updated.

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report 

(updated March 12, 2020, 9:00 AM):

Number of Persons Confirmed - 2

Number of Persons Presumptive Positive, awaiting CDC confirmation - 4

Number of Persons with Test Pending in PHL - 21

Number of Persons Tested (closed, tested negative) - 94

Total Number of Persons Provided Specimens - 121

Number of Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) - 275

TOWN OFFICIALS WORK TO STAY ABREAST OF LATEST INFORMATION/RECOMMENDATIONS RELATIVE TO COVID-19 - NH Stands Up Emergency Operations Center 

Town public safety and administrative staff have been closely following/monitoring the COVID-19 planning efforts with the NH Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, UNH, ORCSC, and other entities. 

A noontime state-wide conference call was held on Monday and Friday this week in which Mr. Selig and Fire Chief Emanuel participated to obtain the latest news and recommendations. Health Office Audrey Cline is working to stay informed, as are the Police and Fire Departments. 

We will work to keep the public informed, recognizing that the state and Federal authorities are also working to keep folks informed and we don't want to overload people with redundant information.

Outstanding issues, to name a few, include...

What happens if we have to close the Town Hall? Can statutory deadlines for land use boards reviewing applications be postponed if boards cannot meet due to public health concerns? Could all business from the Town Clerk's Office be undertaken remotely? If not, what happens if someone's automobile registration has lapsed? If a staff member contracts COVID-19 while responding to call while on duty, would that be a Worker's Compensation claim? If a Town staff person is home on voluntary 14-day quarantine due to a potential exposure but is not exhibiting symptoms, is that sick leave? Does the Town have the capability for staff to work from home remotely? What happens if our public safety responders run out of personal protective equipment for COVID-19 response when that equipment may be is sold out by distributers? What happens if an entire duty shift is exposed to the virus -- we have limited staffing so Durham is not deep in terms of staffing reserves? Many questions! Illusive answers...

If you as a resident have questions/concerns in Durham, don't hesitate to call the state 211 line to obtain information or call the Administrator's Office at 868-5571 or email Admin. Asst. Jennie Berry at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. 

It is very busy here fielding calls/issues on myriad topics and we'll do our best to follow up.

STATE OF NH SETS UP 211 SYSTEM TO ANSWER CITIZEN CALLS CONCERNING COVID-19

If you have questions/concerns about the Coronavirus 2019, feel free to dial 211 on your phone to dial the state information service.  

If you have questions about the time high tide reaches Adams Point, check elsewhere!

OYSTER RIVER COOP SCHOOLS NOT CLOSING AT PRESENT TIME

ORCSD - Latest information as of 3/13/2020 at 4:45 PM

Superintendent Jim Morse has been asked if the ORCSD will be closing school. Local school systems do not have the authority to close schools for an extended period-of-time. Superintendents have been in contact with the Governor’s Office and the Commissioner of Education. There are no plans from the state government to close NH schools at this time.

The state did pass an emergency measure allowing local school systems to move to remote learning for an extended period of time.

The ORCSD will use Monday, March 16th, as a teacher workshop day to build out the district's rough plan to accommodate remote learning should the district choose to do so. ORCSD's goal is to be pro-active, not reactive, to ensure the safety of students.

This is a difficult and evolving situation and everyone is doing their very best to be proactive with available information and public health guidance.

UNH STUDENTS WILL NOT RETURN TO CAMPUS UNTIL APRIL 3

The University of New Hampshire has announced it will move classes online for two weeks following spring break due to concerns over the coronavirus.

When UNH spring break ends and classes resume Monday, March 23, UNH will enter into a two-week period during which all academic programs will be 100% online or via other alternative (non-face-to-face) course delivery.

The two-week period would extend to Friday, April 3.

UNH continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation very closely in a rapidly evolving situation.  

UNH and Durham have been in ongoing contact over the course of this situation.

The nearly full moon over Durham around 5:30 PM this past Saturday. (Still learning how to take pictures of the moon!) Courtesy Todd Selig

CHARRETTE ON WORKFORCE HOUSING COMING TO DURHAM

Durham resident, planning board member, EDC member, and Executive Director of the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Seacoast, Sarah Wrightsman, is excited to be back on the University of New Hampshire campus this semester working with Mary Friedman, program coordinator and principle lecturer in the Community and Environmental Planning program.

The Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast is working in Durham this semester with students taking CEP 777: Advanced Topics in Planning. Students studying Community and Environmental Planning, Environmental and Resource Economics, and Environmental Conservation and Sustainability will use the Coalition's charrette process to consider how the Town of Durham can expand housing supply, diversity, and affordability. 

This project is already underway with students tackling the basics of workforce housing; collecting quantitative data; building a foundation of knowledge of Durham's current housing stock; and looking at case studies and various examples in New Hampshire and beyond. Next, the students will focus on the qualitative data, collecting feedback and insights from Durham residents and local leaders. The students will analyze the results of a survey conducted by the Workforce Housing Coalition last year, and conduct key informant interviews. Later in the spring, the students will use this information to inform their recommendations for regulatory change and create a library of design ideas. 

At the end of the semester, the students will have finished a report with a summary of qualitative and quantitative data (including feedback from stakeholders); a library of design ideas and a story map, outlining possible locations for future development/infill; and a set of recommendations for actionable next steps. All of this work will inform the new Housing Committee, the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Town Council, and Economic Development Committee moving forward. The students will present their findings at the May 13th Planning Board meeting at 7 PM. 

Stay tuned for more information.



WHOSE TOWN WILL BE THE 2020 CENSUS SELF-RESPONSE RATE CHALLENGE WINNER? Which two town managers will be washing the winning town's dirtiest firetruck?

The Challenge and History ... Durham, Dover, and Newmarket are in a "re-match" as this challenge started during the 2010 Census. At that time, Newmarket won.

This morning at 10AM, Durham Administrator Todd Selig, Dover City Manager Mike Joyal, and Newmarket Town Manager Steve Fournier met in the lobby of the Whittemore Center to start the challenge.



Each town will work hard to promote self-response of the 2020 Census which is so important to each community as it drives allocation of federal funding to support needed services and programs. On May 15, 2020, after tabulation of which town has the highest percentage of community members who have completed their 2020 Census self-response will be deemed the winner, and will sit back and enjoy the site of the losers scrubbing their dirtiest truck!!

Ken Gallager, State US Census Bureau CCC Chair, comments on the importance of the Census during this morning's Census Challenge at the Whittemore Center. He is joined by other Census representatives and respresentatives/staff for Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas. Courtesy DCAT Studios

CHIEF KURZ VISITS RIVERWOODS - Need we say more? ;-)

Chief Kurz was invited to meet and provide insight to the Durham Police Department to a number of Durham’s newest residents who have just moved into RiverWoods. He thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet and interact with a number of very engaged and active retired folks who have chosen to make Durham their home. 

Discussions ranged from Durham Police Department’s guardian policing strategy, parking in the downtown as well as how to obtain a parking pass for the Downeaster train. 

Several questions pertaining to the Covid-19 were discussed and Chief Kurz explained the coordination between the Town, University, and the various entities that may become involved were the challenge to reach Durham. 

"LEAD ME HOME" PROJECT - A program on Alzheimer's and dementia.

Please join Brookdale Clare Bridge Program Manager, Meghan Wentworth and Officer Holly Malasky of the Durham Police Department, on Saturday April 4th, 2020 from 12 - 4pm to kick off The “Lead Me Home” Project.

This is an opportunity to provide important information about your loved one who resides alone, with you or in a community living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or any other memory loss condition. Local Police, EMS and Fire Departments can use this information in the event of an emergency. 

WHAT TO BRING: List of medications for person joining the program, most recent photograph, name and address of primary caregiver, preferred hospital, license plate of vehicle if they still have access to one, and name and phone numbers of 2 emergency contacts.

WHY SO MANY POLICE AT THE ELECTION POLLS?

While a host of Durham voters exercised one of their civil liberties, the right to vote, several took notice of the police presence at the polls, which is also the Oyster River High School. 

The Oyster River School District graciously allows Durham voting to occur at the High School, and with school in session during elections, parking and traffic can become problematic with the increase of activity Election Day brings to the campus. 

Additionally, the voting takes place in the gymnasium or multi-purpose room, areas that provide immediate and free access to the school facility. On a number of previous occasions non-school personnel have been discovered walking the hallways looking at art, posters and other notices on the walls within the academic area. Others were professing to be seeking bathroom facilities normally used by students only.  

Sadly in this era of heightened school safety, these incidents of access to the interior of the school, especially when school is in-session, are unacceptable. 

Consequently, Durham Police were strategically positioned between the gymnasium and the hallway that leads directly into the student populated environment. These efforts are accomplished to ensure the integrity of a safe school environment while providing an opportunity to interact with Durham Police and our residents in a positive and cheerful manner.  

DURHAM-GREAT BAY ROTARY NO LONGER ABLE TO ORGANIZE DURHAM’S JULY 4TH FIREWORKS CELEBRATION – Citing financial and horse-related challenge.

The Town has received formal notification this week that the Durham-Great Bay Rotary is no longer able to organize the annual fireworks celebration.  Rotary had stopped hosting the event many years ago due to the club not being able to cover the cost of the event.  For the last two years, Durham-Great Bay Rotary organized the event once more and worked very hard to get donations to cover the costs and provide this wonderful community event.  While Rotary received many generous donations from businesses and families in and around Durham, unfortunately, the club was unable to fully cover the cost of the event and members had to cover the cost, which the club simply cannot sustain.  

In addition, apart from the inability to attract and event underwriter, for the last two years Durham-Great Bay Rotary has received complaints from the UNH Horse Barns.  Rotary received a communication two years ago from a concerned horse owner accusing the club of “cruel and inhumane torturing of animals.”  The club members were horrified at this accusation because in all of the past years of Rotary hosting fireworks at the site, this had apparently not come up.  Durham Great-Bay Rotary contacted the UNH Veterinarian responsible for the UNH Horse Barns and developed a “Horse Protocol” in conjunction with him.  Despite Rotary’s best efforts there were apparently still concerns at the UNH Horse Barns after the second year.

With these challenges, the club has decided due to funding limitations and horse-related issues regretfully it will not host the July 4th fireworks in 2020.  Rotary indicates it is saddened the club will not be able to continue this tradition but is looking into having other events that are more sustainable and have an impact upon the community.  

A thank you is extended to Durham-Great Bay Rotary for all of the club’s significant efforts as part of this event in Durham.  It has been greatly appreciated.

UPCOMING POLICE ACCREDITATION CONFERENCE CANCELED - Refunds obtained for our staff scheduled to attend.

Several Durham Police personnel were scheduled to attend the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) upcoming March 17-21st conference in Orlando. However due to the Coronavirus, or COVID19 epidemic, the meeting has been canceled.

Durham Police Staff have been able to cancel hotels and delay utilizing the flights. All costs associated with the conference and training meeting will be refunded. 

The meeting would have brought together police agencies from across the United States and the current thinking is to do so may expose public safety officials unnecessarily.

BENNETT ROAD RR BRIDGE TO BE RESURFACED BY NHDOT BEGINNING WEEK OF MARCH 23, 2020.  

I heard back from Pan Am this morning. They cannot accommodate our bridge work the week of 3/16, but they were able to schedule us the following week (Monday 3/23/20). We are planning on beginning on 3/23/20 with the daily closures from 8am to 3pm, M-F. If you have any concerns or comments feel free to contact me. Thanks,

The NHDOT Bureau of Bridge Maintenance is planning to replace the timber deck on bridge Durham 093/080 (Bennett Rd over PAR). The bridge is a timber bridge with concrete/masonry abutments over the Pan Am Railway. NHDOT IS only anticipating replacing the 3”x 8” timber deck planks. This bridge has been “red listed” by the NHDOT due to the deterioration of the deck planks.

To perform the work NDHOT will close the bridge between the hours of 0800 and 1500 on weekdays beginning March 23rd for around 11 days. Closing the road will allow NHDOT to complete the work significantly faster and cheaper. NHDOT will provide all necessary signage to complete the work and close the road. NHDOT will utilize variable message boards at the NH 108/Bennett Rd and Bennett Rd/Packer Falls Rd intersections a week in advance of the work advertising the closure hours. NHDOT will also put out a press release in advance of the work.

NHDOT is coordinating directly with Pan Am, which owns the RR line and coordinates flagging along the RR tracks.  

Postal carrier John Pacheco has a customer on Valentine Hill Road that taps a few maple trees on his property. John said that with the warm days and cool nights, his customer has been collecting a lot of sap from the three trees he has tapped. One of those 5 gallon containers was full. Courtesy John Pacheco