Peter E. Stanhope - Trustees of the Trust Funds

PETER E. STANHOPE - Town Council
37 Dover Road

Education:  I attended the University of New Hampshire before leaving to serve a tour of service in the U S Navy while continuing my college education by correspondence. I returned to the University after fulfilling my military service leaving again to manage a workout of a family business. I completed my professional education by completing the curriculum of the Appraisal Institute and obtained Certification to practice in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont. I returned to the University as adjunct faculty where I taught undergraduate and professional education courses. I also taught as adjunct faculty in the University of Maine system.

Occupation:  Appraiser

Years as Durham Resident:  I have lived in Durham on and off for over two decades

Previous Service on Governmental/Community/Civic Boards & Reason for Interest in Running for Elected Office::
After serving as the Town Council representative to the Historic District Commission / Heritage Commission I joined the HDC/HC as a regular member after my TC second term. While serving on the HDC/HC I became aware of two issues that I consider an important responsibility of the Trustees. The first is they are responsible for the properties left in trust to the Town of Durham. The second is the care of cemeteries owned and abandoned in Durham.

The HDC/HC during my term became aware that the Smith Chapel one of Durham’s great historic structures had been allowed to fall into disrepair. Its condition could have been cited by Durham under our demolition by neglect ordinance except for the fact it is owned by Durham. It was the Trustees of The Trust Funds responsibility to protect and preserve it. As the HDC/HC representative I went to the Town Council with a proposal for partial funding to restore this historic structure. Additional funding was obtained through grants which were in large part gained through the efforts of HDC/HC member Andrea Bodo. I want to serve on the Trustees to be an advocate for the structures under the responsibility of the Trustees.

The second issue cemeteries is more complex. By example the cometary  located on Schoolhouse Lane has a number of its earliest stones dating back to the 1700s that have fallen over making them impossible to read the inscription on them. The state RSA 289 makes the Trustees responsible for “suitable care and maintenance” of both owned and abandoned cemeteries. I believe I can as a Trustee prioriitize the importance of attending to the preservation of all of cemeteries that fall under the responsibility of the Trustees.

The current Trustees have carried out their responsibilities to manage all of the funds in their trust in accordance with the NH RSAs. If elected, I want to bring attention to the Trustees responsibility to preserve and address any restoration needs of the properties and cemeteries it is responsible for. My experience sitting on the Town Council and the HCC/HC I believe has prepared me for the responsibility of serving as a Trustee. I would appreciate your vote.

Additional Background Information:
My background includes public services as a resident of Goffstown, New Hampshire where I was elected to and chaired the School Board during a period when a new high school was built and the first teachers’ contract was negotiated. I also served on the Municipal Budget Committee and as an alternate on the Zoning Board of Adjustment. I was elected to New Hampshire’s last publicly elected Constitutional Convention. As a resident of Portsmouth, I served on Portsmouth Economic Development Loan Program Board of Directors and the Prescott Park Arts Festival Board of Directors. I have served on Boards of Directors for a number of banking and real estate organizations I served a term as Durham’s representative to the Strafford Regional Planning Commission and served two terms on the Durham Town Council and currently sit on and Chair Durham’s Historic Commission / Heritage Commission.

Professionally, I am a senior member of an appraisal and consulting firm that maintains the seacoast’s largest practice in the area of conservation land and easement acquisition. My primary professional responsibility is to head the litigation and taxation section of my firm.

Personally, I reside with my wife Debbie and our two dogs at 37 Dover Road. We have four adult children and one wonderful grandson. I have a personal commitment to preserving the environment, being a hiker, and outdoor sportsman.