Friday Update August 01, 2008

“FRIDAY UPDATES”

August 1,
2008

Photo
courtesy Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works has installed
a memorial garden honoring Dorothy Wilcox in the area of Old Landing
Park adjacent to Newmarket Road. The
garden was funded by a gift that Mrs. Wilcox left to the Town to preserve the
beauty at the landing.  A formal dedication is planned for the
future. The garden features a weeping cherry tree, as well as various
perennials, including: an ornamental onion plant, three variations of Phlox,
two ornamental celosias plants, and three varieties of ornamental grasses.

Proposal for Margery
and Lorus Milne Memorial Sculpture at Mill Pond Park

Our working committee has received a proposal at Durham's request from artist/sculptor Walter Liff of New Castle, NH for the creation of an aluminum plate alloy sculpture
of the late Margery and Lorus Milne for location at
the Mill Pond Park
directly next to the natural area donated to the Town by Mrs. Milne. 
Because this effort at creating public art celebrating the life of the Milnes -- Keepers of the Durham Swans for decades,
long-time Town residents, and University faculty members -- is not part of
Mr. Milne's formal bequest to the Town, it is not eligible for funding through
the $25,000 left to the community to care for the long-term maintenance and
upkeep of the Milne natural area.  Monies were not budgeted for this
project either as part of the approved FY 2008 Durham budget.  Nonetheless, there is an
interest on the part of the working committee in raising monies to pay
for the creation of this sculpture at an estimated cost of
$6,475.00.  A copy of the proposal complete with images of the proposed
sculpture is available for viewing on the Town web site by clicking HERE.
 Resident Diana Carroll has already received queries from residents
interested in contributing to the effort and can be contacted at dianaccarroll@hotmail.com.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

The
Department of Public Works recently delivered large slabs of granite to the
center of the natural area donated to the Town by the late Margery Milne called
the “Valley Nature Area. Overlooking the Mill Pond, the Oyster River,
and College Brook, this beautiful property was given to the Town by the late
Margery Milne. This Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3, 2008, between 9:00 AM
and 3:00 PM, volunteers are invited to help prepare for the installation of the
monolith that will be erected as a memorial to the Milnes.
This is a good opportunity to learn how to move large pieces of granite using
come-alongs, chains, rollers, and hydraulic jacks.
Even if you can't help out this weekend, you're welcome to drop by and watch
the process and explore this new addition to the Town's park on the Mill Pond.

Stonemark
Management Co., Inc. v. Town of Durham

As previously reported, the Town has
received Judge Fauver’s decision in the Stonemark Management Co., Inc. v. Town
of Durham case relating to the Planning Board
approved age-restricted development at 99 Madbury Road. 
The Superior Court affirmed the Zoning Board of Adjustment on both issues that
were in contention – the issue of the lots not being “contiguous” and the issue
of the elderly bonus applying to only 80% of the units. To view the decision on
this case, click HERE.

Cable
System Information for Durham
Customers

The Town Office has received several calls from
frustrated Comcast customers concerning the recent minor reduction
in the analog cable channel line up offered in Durham. In response, we contacted
Comcast to better understand Comcast's rationale for these changes, as well as
whether there is any opportunity to address the concerns that are being raised
through the restoration of eliminated channels.  Our Comcast representative
got back to us with some additional information. Comcast indicates that more
and more of their customers are asking for digital and high definition
channels. To make the necessary room for these new channels on the Comcast line
up, a number of analog channels were eliminated and reformatted in digital
signal. It is possible for Durham
customers to obtain one free digital cable box by contacting the cable company
directly for a period of one year. The free box should allow Durham customers to again
have access to the eliminated analogue channels which are now in digital
format. More than one box can be obtained as well for a reduced price over the
course of the initial year. After one year, the rental cost will be
approximately $3.80 per month per converter box. In addition, on February
17, 2009, broadcast networks will begin to broadcast only a digital
signal.  Currently, they continue to broadcast in analog format.  For
residents with analog televisions using a "rabbit ears" or outdoor
style antenna, your screens will go blank.  It will be possible,
however, to obtain two coupons from the Federal government valued
at $40 each to help offset the cost of securing a converter from a local
electronics dealer which should restore the signal.  For more information
on the coupon program, go to www.dtv2009.gov
or call 1-888-388-2009.  If residents have an analog television set
connected to Comcast, they will not be affected by the change.  A
more detailed flyer is also located on the Town web site at the following link http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/generalpdfs/broadcast%20digital%20tv.pdf.

State Primary
Election - September 9th

The State Primary Election will be held at the Oyster River
High School on Tuesday, September 9,
2008, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the nomination of candidates for the
following offices:  Governor, U.S. Senator, U.S. Congress, Executive
Councilor, State Senator, County
Officer, State
Representative, Delegate to the Republican State
Convention (Election).  For more information in the coming the upcoming
Primary election, contact the Town Clerk's Office at (603) 868-5577.

Strafford County Delegation
Meets to Discuss Reducing County Tax Rate

The Strafford County Delegation and Strafford County
Commissioners will be meeting on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. to
discuss the possible reduction of County taxes.  The Commissioners will
provide specific information about the amount of the reduction in taxes and how
that figure was derived prior to the meeting date.  For more information,
contact the Strafford County Commissioners at (603) 742-1458. 

Durham
Business Association Office Relocation to Town Office

In June, the Administrator attended the Durham Business
Association (DBA) monthly board meeting. Mr. Selig and a representative from
the University serve as ex-officio members of the board.  The DBA is
working to cut back on its expenses and would also like to play a more active
role in serving as a facilitator to business owners, particularly in the
downtown area, who would like to expand their businesses but do not understand
the Town of Durham's
permit process. The DBA was in the process of evaluating
potential locations for its part-time staff person to have office space.
Currently, the DBA rents an office located along Jenkins Court. In an effort to provide
support to the organization without adding cost to the Town, the
Administrator offered the small desk (typically used by our interns) in the
copy room just off from the Council chambers on the first floor of the Town
Office for use by the part-time DBA director. While the space is by no means
luxurious, we can provide a desk and access to a telephone and internet service
(any additional costs would be offset by the DBA). The director would, however,
have to put up with copying and storage going on around her.  The DBA
board evaluated the idea and at its July meeting opted to move forward with a relocation in August.  The DBA will track the use of
the space as an in-kind contribution by the Town.  In the big picture,
this change should help facilitate a community goal of working to support the
downtown area in Durham
so that it remains viable into the future.

Zoning Amendment
Procedure

Over the last few weeks, the Administrator has received many
inquiries concerning the process for making changes to the Durham Zoning
Ordinance.  Changes may be initiated by the Planning Board, the Town
Council, or by petition.  The actual procedure is outlined in Section
175-14 of the Zoning Ordinance and is available for viewing or downloading
on the Town web site at http://ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/planning/zoning_ordinance/Article_4.pdf. 

Cowell Drive Student
Rental Concerns

Residents in the Cowell Drive neighborhood are
experiencing student rental challenges and have been in contact with the Code
Enforcement Office, the Police Department, and the University of New Hampshire
for assistance and guidance.  To view a petition that the Town received
acknowledging the efforts of Code Enforcement Officer Tom Johnson over the last
few years, please click HERE.

REPAIR OF PETTEE BROOK LANE SEWER MANHOLE BEGINS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5^th

A reminder that beginning on
Tuesday, August 5, 2008, the Department of Public Works will be conducting a
major repair of a sewer manhole on Pettee Brook Lane
between Rosemary Lane and Main Street.  This emergency repair will
correct a sinking and deteriorating sewer manhole.  Due to the depth of
the manhole, 16 feet, and the location of it, the construction site will be
quite large which will require shutting down that portion of Pettee Brook Lane
completely during the repair. This may take up to 16 hours to complete. 
The detour plan is to re-route Pettee Brook Lane traffic down
Rosemary Lane. 
Rosemary Lane
is one-way exiting onto Pettee Brook Lane. 
During this construction, the direction will be reversed with Rosemary Lane
exiting onto Garrison Avenue
instead.  Message boards and detour signs along with police traffic
control details will be in place to assist pedestrians and motorists during the
construction.  DPW personnel would like to thank everyone in advance for
their patience and cooperation during this important infrastructure
repair. 

MAIN
STREET CROSSWALKS

Contractors have been repairing
crosswalks on Main Street
that were installed during last summer's Main Street project between Pettee Brook Lane
and the railroad tracks. They are approximately half way through their work at
this point. 

WEST END PARKING
IMPROVEMENTS

Department of Public Works officials
are meeting with consultants and University officials to discuss planned
improvements to the west end of Main
Street from the Field House to 155A. 
The Town and UNH have a State grant to make corridor improvements to the
roadway, as well as new pedestrian paths, and bike lanes.  The
project may include a new round-about as part of the traffic improvements. 

JACKSON’S LANDING UPDATE

The Jackson's Landing Master Plan project
has started after months of discussions with state and Federal agencies over
permitting.  The initial phase is the removal of phragmites,
a tall, fast growing invasive plant similar to a corn stalk that is not native
to New Hampshire and
chokes out the naturally occurring marshland vegetation along the
shoreline.  Following their removal, the creation of walking pathways
and a new parking area north of the Churchill Rink will be undertaken.  We
will update you as the project progresses.  Kudos to
Public Works Director Mike Lynch and members of the Jackson’s Landing Committee for moving this
initiative forward.

DURHAM POLICE
DEPARTMENT AWARDED REACCREDITATION

While the community has been given a
primer recently on the Durham Police Department’s recent quest to be
reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation For Law Enforcement Agencies,
Inc, (CALEA) (www.calea.org) the department
accomplished this feat last weekend.  The process for being reaccredited
involves an on-site assessment by a team of assessors who arrived in April 2008
and reviewed the department’s policies and procedures and performed a variety
of inspections that served to confirm that the Durham Police Department
actually follows them.  The team issued its findings via a report which
was ultimately reviewed at a conference held last weekend in Boca Raton, Florida. 
This is the fourth time that the Durham Police have been reviewed by the
Commission at meetings that move around the country.  Previous locations
include: Montreal, Cleveland,
and Boston. 
At this conference, there were another 100 or so law enforcement agencies being
reviewed in five separate hearing rooms, undergoing the same scrutiny,
simultaneously.  The 21 commissioners are divided up so that all 100 +/-
agencies can be reviewed in one-day.  Since the report issued by the team
was very positive in its findings and demonstrated how diligent the department
is in providing professional services to the Durham community, there was anticipation that
the Commissioners would highlight the positive.  As the Durham contingency awaited their turn for
review it was clear that there would not be a “rubber-stamp” approach by the
Commissioners as several agencies before us were there to explain how they had
“fixed” problems found at the last hearings. They had returned to explain what steps
they had done to overcome non-compliance issues detected at their
on-sites.  Yet another department immediately before Durham’s
review was reaccredited “with conditions” meaning they too will have an
additional inspection and will need to report to the next meeting scheduled for
Tulsa, Oklahoma
in December to explain how they addressed and resolved the problem.  The
Commission unanimously awarded reaccreditation to the Durham Police until the
year 2011 when the process begins anew ensuring the department constantly
reviews and adheres to procedures and that it is performing appropriately,
professionally, and in a cost-effective manner.  At the hearing, Chief Kurz, the Durham Police Department Accreditation Team, and
the department as a whole were held as models for other agencies to evaluate.
An article which appears in today’s Foster’s Daily Democrat is linked
below. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080801/GJNEWS_01/233636568/-1/FOSNEWS0102. 
To view the April 2008 Assessment Report for the Durham Police Department,
click HERE.

VACANCIES ON TOWN
BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES

There are still a number of
vacancies remaining to be filled on various Town boards, commissions, and
committees. Residents interested in being appointed to any of the boards,
commissions, or committees listed below may obtain an application form by
clicking HERE. 
Applications are also available at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office.
Completed applications may be submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us,
or mailed to Jennie Berry, Town of Durham,
15 Newmarket Road. To view the
charges/responsibilities for the various Town boards, commissions, and committees,
click HERE.

Conservation Commission – (1
alternate member vacancy)

Historic District Commission - (1
vacancy)

Planning Board – (1 alternate member
vacancy)

Zoning Board of Adjustment - (1
alternate member vacancy)

Durham Cable Access Television
(DCAT) Governance Committee - (2 vacancies)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee - (1 vacancy)

Strafford Regional Planning
Commission (MPO Policy) - (2 vacancies)

Representative to the Strafford
Regional Community Health Coalition

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.

Durham Energy Committee – Monday, August
4, 2008 (4:30 PM)9999

Durham Town Council - Monday, August 4,
2008

DCAT Governance Committee –
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Historic District Commission –
Thursday, August 7, 2008

Economic Development Committee –
Friday, August 8, 2008 (7:30 AM)

To view an agenda 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.

DURHAM
DAY 2008

Durham Day 2008 has been set for Sunday,
September 14, 2008 from 12:30-4:30 PM at Wagon Hill Farm. Residents
interested in assisting with this annual event should contact Durham Day
Coordinator, Nicole Moore, at 868-6775 or e-mail durhamday3@yahoo.com.

UNH MUB SUMMER SERIES

A reminder that the University of New Hampshire MUB Summer Series events
are currently underway each Tuesday and Wednesday. These events are free and open to
all Durham residents, Movies are co-sponsored by
the MUB, 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,
or to view the summer series flyer www.unhmub.com/mub/unh_summer_2008.pdf.

FROM HISTORY IN AN
OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1796 – Franklin City
was planned as the site of the state capital, with state house, library,
meetinghouse, burial ground, streets and quarter-acre house lots. Few houses
were built. The War of 1812 and the decline of shipping caused its
abandonment.”

“1796 – From Franklin City to
Concord, the First N.H. Turnpike Road was 36 miles long and cost $900 per mile.
Toll gates were at Johnson Creek, by Durham Corner and at Mast Road. Tolls per mile were 1¢ for
horseback ride, 1-1/2¢ for horse and cart and 3¢ for 4-horse coach.”

“1796 – Jonathan Woodman, Jr. sold 1
acre ‘for the sole and exclusive use of a burying place for them and their
posterities forever’ to 19 of the leading businessmen. To date, headstones
indicate 243 burials. No funds exist for upkeep so the Town assumes
maintenance.”

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

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