“FRIDAY
UPDATES”
June
5, 2009
Community Garden at Wagon Hill Farm
Courtesy Dennis
Meadows
Rumor of
Resident's Demise Greatly Exaggerated…On Tuesday of
this week, a resident stopped in at the Town Clerk's Office to register his
automobile. Unfortunately, when the individual's name was entered into the
State of New Hampshire Motor
Vehicle database as part of the registration process,
our staff (and the resident) encountered a small problem. The resident was
listed as being deceased! The resident and I listened with amazement as
Deputy Town Clerk Barbara Landgraf
explained to the NHDOT staff that the resident was in fact very much
alive. When asked how Barbara knew this, she explained, “he is standing
right here!"
2008
Revaluation Review by NH Department of Revenue Administration
The New Hampshire Department of
Revenue Administration (DRA) has completed its final review of the Town of
Durham's 2008
Revaluation Update. The DRA reports that Durham has met all of the required guidelines
as recommended by the N.H. Assessing Standards Board. The report is very
complimentary with respect to the work conducted in Durham in the final three
paragraphs of the May 7, 2009 letter. To view the letter from DRA, click
HERE
For
the Productive Reuse of The Grange (H.A. Davis
Building)
The Town of Durham, New Hampshire is
soliciting proposals for the productive reuse/redevelopment of the parcel and
structure known as The Grange (H.A.
Davis Building) located at 37 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824 (Tax Map 5, Lot 1-5). Proposals must be received by Todd I.
Selig, Town Administrator, at 15
Newmarket Road, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, no later than 4:00 PM on June 30,
2009. To view the RFP, click HERE.
Durham Web
Site Redesign Underway
While the Town's web site is good,
it can be better. In an effort to make access to Durham government more
accessible and easy to navigate, we have kicked off an effort to redesign the
Town's web site at www.ci.durham.nh.us. Look for more
information as this effort progresses.
Store
24/Strafford Avenue Lease Agreements
A brief reminder that the lease
agreements between Durham and UNH relative to the Store 24 Lot (UNH-owned but
leased to Durham) and parking along Strafford Avenue (Town-owned but leased to
UNH) expire at the end of this month. Durham and UNH have been limiting these leases
to 6-month terms since July 2008 so that we have flexibility to roll these
discussions into other broader Durham/UNH collaborative conversations as
appropriate. We tentatively plan to extend the two leases by an additional
6-month period through December 31, 2009.
UNH/Franklin
Pierce Law Center Merger Discussions
For the most recent information
relative to ongoing merger discussions between UNH and Franklin Pierce Law
Center, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090605/GJNEWS_01/706059891/-1/FOSNEWS02.
Oyster
River Dam/Mill
Pond Update
On Monday evening, June 1, 2009, the
Town Council listened to nearly 90 minutes of public comment
concerning the Oyster River Dam. To view a Foster's article about the discussion
and actions taken, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090603/GJNEWS_01/706039949/-1/FOSNEWS0102.
Parks
and Recreation Director Selection Process
On May 31st the application period
closed for the Town of Durham's part-time Parks and Recreation
Director posting. A total of 44 applications were submitted in response
to the Town's advertisement. At this point, our selection
committee comprised of Sara Badger Wilson, Parks and Recreation Committee Chair;
Amy Cunningham, Parks and Recreation Committee member; Cathy Leach, former Town
Councilor; Michael Lynch, Public
Works Director, and Todd Selig has
begun the process of reviewing applications. Applicants range
from recent college graduates with a recreation background, to local
residents, to present recreation professionals, to individuals who have had
little experience in the field of recreation but who are seeking
gainful employment given the prevailing recessionary
environment.
Labor
Negotiations with Three DURHAM Bargaining Units to Begin Shortly
The Town of Durham has Collective
Bargaining Agreements with four labor units representing various populations
within our staff as well as a group of non-unionized personnel. Three of
these contracts (Public Works Employees, Firefighters, and Middle Managers) are
set to expire on December 31, 2009. Durham arrived at an agreement
with the Durham Police Officers Association for a three year contract at
the start of 2009 extending through December 31, 2011. In the near future,
the Town's negotiating team will sit down with representatives from each of the
remaining three bargaining units noted to begin negotiations toward successor
agreements. Given the state of the economy, tremendous uncertainty as to
how the State of New
Hampshire's own budget challenges will impact
municipalities in terms of lost revenue and additional contributions toward the
N.H. Retirement System, this is a very difficult year indeed in which
to enter labor negotiations. The collective bargaining process is a
very time-intensive process for both labor and management bargaining
teams.
Young's
Seeks Customer Input
If residents have not recently
visited Young's for breakfast or lunch in the last few weeks, they may want
to consider doing so. In addition to providing a great meal, Young's is
looking for customer feedback. Customers will receive a card directing
them to an on-line survey focusing on their dining experience. Those who
complete the survey will receive a coupon for a free beverage. The next
time you are thinking of dining out, think of downtown Durham.
EMERGENCY
ALERT DEVICES DURING POWER OUTAGES
While the problems of the December
2008 power outage may seem like a distant memory, especially during the
wonderful spring weather we are now experiencing, several residents have been
attempting to address a number of storm-related issues that arose during that
trying time so they will not be repeated.
Residents Michael and Gisela
Everngam pointed out to the Police Department that many of our other residents,
who are living alone, faced some unusual challenges as a result of lost
electrical power. As an example, it was discovered that the battery backup
capacity of some of the emergency alert devices they utilize only has enough
capacity for 20-24 hours. Many of Durham’s citizens rely on these devices due to
a host of issues including limited mobility, fragile health, and living alone.
These devices offer residents a
safety net with assurances that they can get help if they have an
emergency. While extended periods of power outages are extremely rare in
Durham,
instances of more than day-long power outages have historically occurred every
few years. Therefore, a number of residents who depend on these emergency
notification devices would benefit from backup services which could be activated
during extended power outages.
Such a service system may involve
periodic contacts of citizens with these devices during any prolonged power
outage by either public safety departments or volunteers enlisted to assist.
Hopefully the effort would be neighborhood based, allowing for at least a daily
check of everyone in Town who relies on an emergency alert device. At present,
Sergeant Mike Bilodeau and the Everngams are working on developing protocols for
such a service but wondered if there would be any interest in such an
initiative. They would welcome input from the Durham community via a
telephone call to Sgt Bilodeau at 868-2324 or via his email at mbilodeau@ci.durham.nh.us.
DURHAM POLICE AWARDS
COMMITTEE
While it is the role of the police
to deliver services to the community, often their response and actions go beyond
what may be considered “routine”. In order to review actions that may
deserve individual recognition, Police Chief Kurz instituted an Awards
Committee. The Awards Committee is comprised of employees from the
department including a Division Commander, a Sergeant, a Patrol Officer, a
non-sworn department member, and a community member. The committee meets
as award recommendations are received to review the incident and ultimately vote
as to whether the officer’s actions warrant recognition. Jeanne Allen is
the Durham
citizen representative on the Awards Committee and offered the following review
of a recent recognition:
“Police
work, even in a small town, is often stressful and dangerous. Awards
recognize commendable and honorable deeds by department members, performed in
the line of duty. Recently, Sgt. Frank Daly and Acting Sergeant Kathryn Mone
received a Certificate of Commendation for their actions on Tuesday, September
9, 2008 that occurred at 4:42 AM, when they responded to a report of a house
fire at #32 Main
Street, Campus Convenience. When they arrived,
the officers saw that smoke was billowing from a fire that was believed to be in
the basement. Though a fire alarm was sounding, the residents of the second
floor of the building were not evacuating. A resident on the sidewalk unlocked
the door for the officers who entered the stairwell which was filled with thick
smoke. Sgt. Daly went to the second floor while Officer Mone continued to the
third floor. The officers went apartment by apartment waking the tenants and
alerting them to the pending danger. The officers were able to guide at least 6
people from the building. Despite feeling the effects of smoke inhalation, the
officers did not leave the building until they were sure the building was
completely evacuated. As a result of their actions, all the residents were
safely evacuated and no injuries occurred. Both Sergeant Frank Daly and Acting
Sergeant Kathryn Mone were awarded the Certificate of Commendation for their
actions in this life and death situation.”
INFORMATION
SESSION ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
On Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 7:00
PM, an information session will be held at the Durham Public Library relative to
renewable energy systems, including Solar Hot Water (SHW), Photovoltaics (PV),
and gasifying wood pellet boilers. How much can they save on energy bills? How
much will government and utility incentives help? How do they work? What is the
return on investment of a system compared to stocks, bonds? For more
information, contact Will Kessler at 486-7170.
PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE
The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office and will begin at 7:00 PM unless otherwise indicated
below.
Planning Board – Wednesday, June 10,
2009
Conservation Commission – Thursday,
June 11, 2009
Economic Development Committee –
Friday, June 12, 2009 (7:30
AM)
To view the agendas for the meetings
listed above, please click HERE. All meetings
recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout
and viewing.
To view the Oyster River School Board meeting schedule,
click HERE.
To view the Durham Public Library Board of Trustees
meeting schedule, click HERE.
DURHAM CABLE ACCESS
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
To view a listing of the DCAT
programming schedule, click HERE
Park
and Ride at Jackson’s
Landing
As most readers are aware,
significant improvements have been made to the Jackson’s Landing recreational area. With most
of the work accomplished, some savvy residents have already taken advantage of
the new parking lot's location to “park and ride.” The Public Works
Department and the Durham Energy Committee encourage more residents to jump on
the bandwagon. Ride-sharing saves money for individual drivers, cuts down on our
collective carbon footprint, and can even be an enjoyable social occasion. With
plenty of parking spaces and a nearby Wildcat Transit bus stop (at Old Piscataqua
Road), why not try it
out?
WORKING
WITH BEAVERS
What is it like having beaver dams
and ponds in your backyard? What happens when the beavers run out of food
and abandon their work? And how can a beaver pond become a permanent feature in
the human landscape? Resident and Town Councilor Julian Smith has been dealing
with those questions for nearly forty years. This Saturday, June
6th, from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, he invites you to tour an active
beaver pond at 246 Packers Falls
Road. From the parking area next to his garage,
follow the mown path down across the meadow and around the ponds. Dogs are
welcome--but on leash to keep them away from nesting bobolinks and red-winged
blackbirds. The photograph above was taken
before the beaver dam was dismantled and the sticks became firewood while the
muck was recycled as part of a level causeway for walking across the
dam.
Paving
at Jackson’s
Landing
This week the final top coat of
paving was applied to the parking lot at Jackson’s Landing. There is a small amount
of landscaping remaining to be done at the landing.
Churchill
Rink at Jackson’s
Landing
The Town will be installing an
entrance canopy at the Jackson’s Landing ice rink to help shed the
rain and snow runoff from the roof in order to create a safe and designated
entrance into the rink.
Madbury
Road
Paving
Initial drainage and repair previous
to paving will be starting next week and continue through the summer.
2010-2019
Capital Improvements Plan (CIP)
Town departments have begun working
on the preparation of the 2010-2019 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). Development
of a CIP is part of the annual budget process and typically consists of larger
projects or purchases over the future ten years. Approximately 80% of the
CIP projects originate from the Department of Public Works.
DEER
TICK SURVEY AT WAGON HILL FARM
Maine Medical Center in coordination with New Hampshire Department of
Health and Human Services has chosen Wagon Hill Farm as a location to conduct a
scientific survey on deer ticks. They have chosen several locations
statewide to conduct this survey. Wagon Hill Farm will be the collection site
for Strafford
County. The state
chose to use the location because it is a large parcel and a public recreational
park. During the months of June and July, as well as October and November,
the state will conduct “drag” sampling in which they drag a large net over a
portion of the property and survey the deer tick count caught in the net.
There will only be 2-3 people doing this, which should not impede or interrupt
anyone enjoying the park.
UNH
BEGINS MUB SUMMER FILM SERIES
The University of New Hampshire will begin its MUB Summer
Film Series events each Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the summer. This is
free and open to the public. The outdoor movies are co-sponsored b the MUB, the
Durham Business Association, and Durham: It’s Where U Live. For more information
regarding other summer events, please contact Dave at 862-1586 or log on to: www.unhmub.com. To view the summer series
flyer go to http://www.unhmub.com/mub/UNH_summer_2009.pdf
New
Hampshire
Humanities Council Book Discussion: Yankee Crime Series, Primary Storm, facilitated by the author
Brendan Dubois
On Wednesday, June 17, 2009, 7:00 PM
at the Durham Public Library, award winning author Brendan DuBois will lead a
discussion of his mystery novel, Primary Storm. The discussion is the
last in the Humanities' mystery series and the only one led by the author.
Please visit the author’s website at www.brendandubois.com. The discussion is
sponsored by The Friends of the Library and will be their last book event before
September. Please come and discuss the book with the author. Your copy of
Primary Storm awaits you.
Oyster
River Youth
Association (ORYA) Golf Tournament
The ORYA Annual Golf Tournament
fundraising event is scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2009, beginning at 7:30
AM at Wentworth by the Sea. This represents an opportunity to be
a part of ORYA's major fund-raiser of the year. Contact family or
friends and play on one of the more prestigious and difficult to get onto
courses in the area. Register through the ORYA office at 868-5150, or
Click here
to register.
INCLUDING
SAMUEL to air on
DCAT
On Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 7:30 PM,
Including
Samuel, a
documentary by New
Hampshire photojournalist Dan Habib, will be broadcast
on DCAT (Channel 22). This award winning film honestly chronicles the Habib
family’s effort to include their son Samuel, who was diagnosed with cerebral
palsy, in every facet of their lives. The film also features four other families
with varied inclusion experiences, plus interviews with dozens of teachers,
young people, parents, and disability rights experts. The Including Samuel
Project is part of the Institute on Disability/UCED, a non-profit organization
of the University
of New Hampshire. The
project’s mission is to build more inclusive schools and communities through
curriculum, training, and outreach.
Music
for Youth at UNH
Mornings July 6- July 10 at
Paul
Creative Arts Center, UNH, Music for Youth is a summer
band program for students going in to grade 5 and 6 in the fall. This week-long
camp offers students daily group lessons on their band instrument, ear training
and musicianship classes, two band rehearsals, as well as a snack and recess
break. Instruction will be provided by Dr. Mark DeTurk, Sarah DeTurk, and experienced UNH Music
Education students. The $100 tuition includes sheet music, instruction, t-shirt,
snack. For questions or registration information email Sarah DeTurk at sarah.deturk@gmail.com.
OPEN
HOUSE HOSTED BY DOVER MOUNTED
POLICE
Over the years, the Dover Mounted
Police unit has assisted the Town of Durham Police Department with crowd control
after high profile UNH hockey games and during the Red Sox World Series and
Patriots Super Bowl events. On Sunday, June 7, 2009, the Dover Mounted Police,
along with volunteers, will host an Open House (rain or shine) from 10:00 AM to
2:00 PM at the Dover Mounted Police stables located at 75 Cocheco Street, Dover. There will be paddock rides, games, a
bake sale, and raffle. Bring your camera to take pictures of your children on
the police horses. All proceeds will benefit the Dover Mounted
Patrol.
ONE
WORLD LANGUAGE SCHOOL @ MOHARIMET ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Early language education provides a
lifetime of opportunities. The One
World Language School will hold a Registration and Information Night
on Wednesday, June 10th from 4:30-6:30 at the Moharimet Elementary School. Learn about and
register for our French, German, Spanish, and Chinese classes for children ages
3 and up. Classes are held Wednesday afternoons at Moharimet. The 2009-10
academic year starts in September. Classes fill quickly so register
soon! For more information, please contact Julie Reece at julie.reece@oneworldlanguageschool.org
or 866-0364.
Made
in New England
Products Take Center Stage at Seacoast Public Market
This Saturday
Durham retailer, distributor, and
promoter of New England-made products, Tastes of New England, will be launching
its first Public Market this Saturday, June 6, from 10 AM to 3:00
PM at the Frank Jones Center
in Portsmouth.
The new event is designed to connect Made in New
England products with local consumers. Over 30 exhibitors are
expected to show, sample, and sell their wares. Dozens of products will be
available, including traditional and gluten-free condiments, sauces, pastries,
produce, bread, cheese, jewelry, flowers, t-shirts, handbags, and more from
companies such as Provincial Palate, Arthur Marc's Specialty Foods, ABC
Originals, Natural Disorder, and Trash Monkey Tees. The Frank Jones
Center is located at 400 Route One
Bypass in Portsmouth. For more information, contact
Tastes of New England at (603)762-4155.
FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976
“1914 – On the 3d floor of Thompson
Hall Ex-President Taft lectured, in the then girls’ gymnasium, on his life in
the White House. Being very large he got off the train backwards. The Boston 5:18 Express stopped
for him. Taft’s forgotten umbrella was sent to him the next
day.”
Have a nice
weekend.
Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
Tel
(603) 868-5571
Fax (603) 868-5572
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
www.ci.durham.nh.us
The Town of Durham has developed a list
server. The server provides interested individuals with updates and
announcements concerning the community. Individuals interested in subscribing
should send an email to Town_of_Durham@ci.durham.nh.us and
type the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line