Friday Update August 15, 2008

August
15, 2008

A Family of Ducks
Waddling Along at the Oyster River Dam on Mill
Pond

Photo courtesy
Department of Andrea Bodo

The Tall Ships are coming to
Portsmouth this
weekend. Given Durham’s history along the waterfront at the
Old Landing building sailing vessels, residents may have an interest in seeing
the old sailing vessels. I saw them last year and found the experience very
enjoyable.

BUDGET REVIEW IN
FULL SWING

The budget review process is in full
swing.  This afternoon, Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Todd Selig met with representatives of the Library
Board of Trustees to discuss the proposed 2009 Durham Public Library
budget.  Next week, Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Selig will meet with
representatives from the Planning Department, DCAT, Fire Department, Police
Department, Assessing Office, Town Clerk/Tax Collector, MIS, and Public Works
Department.  Members of the Council are invited to participate in these
meetings and have previously been forwarded dates and times for each
group.  Councilors should let Gail know in advance if they are interested
in attending any of the sessions so that we can have a sufficient number of
copies of documents for everyone.  Those one-on-one budgets meeting are
done each year in an effort to gain a better understanding of each department's
priorities and needs early on in the budget development process.  On
September 15th the Town Council will be holding a special budget work session to
see what a 0% spending increase budget would include as a precursor to the
formal budget submittal by Mr. Selig in the late fall.  Section 5.2. of the
Town Charter states: "At such time as may be requested by the
Administrator or specified by the Administrative Code, each officer or director
of a department shall submit an itemized estimate of the expenditures for the
next fiscal year for the departments or activities under his control to the
Administrator. The Administrator shall, based on these estimates and other data,
prepare a recommended budget which he shall, together with these department
estimates, submit to the Council no later than the last workday prior to
November 1 of the current year."   In addition,
Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Selig will be meeting with the Planning Board in
September/October as part of the Capital Improvement Program development
process. 

COMCAST’S NEW BILL
DESIGN

Comcast customers in Durham will shortly see a
new bill design as part of their August 2008 statements.  In addition to
the new billing statement, there will also be an "Ecobill" option.  Ecobill
is an environmentally friendly way to view and ultimately pay bills on
line.  To learn more about the Ecobill option, go to www.comcast.com/ecobill. 

AUGUST
8^TH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TAPED FOR DCAT BROADCAST – FUTURE OF TOWN HALL
SITE

The Economic Development Committee
arranged to have its August 8th meeting taped for future DCAT (Channel 22)
broadcast in an effort to ensure members of the community could become educated
relative to the ongoing discussions relative to the future of the Town Hall
site.  While the meeting was aired this week, because it has generated so
much interest the Administrator has requested that it be given additional time
slots over the course of the next few weeks.  To view the weekly DCAT
schedule, go to http://ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/channel_22/calendar.html. 
A copy of the meeting tape is also available at the Durham Public
Library.

DURHAM BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The Durham Business Association will
be holding a membership meeting at Libby's this Thursday, August 21, 2008,
beginning at 7:30 a.m.  Members of the Town Council, our various
boards/committees, and prospective new business members are invited to
attend.  One topic of discussion will be economic development initiatives
in Durham. 

A MEETING WITH
DURHAM’S LARGEST
TAXPAYER – GOSS INTERNATIONAL CORP.

Last week, Town Council
Chair Neil Niman, Director of Planning and Community Development Jim Campbell,
and the Administrator visited with Robert Brown, President of Goss International
Corp located on Technology
Drive in Durham.  Goss makes printing presses and
employs about 1,000 people in its Durham and
Dover
facilities. Goss International is Durham’s
largest taxpayer and is in the process of consolidating its Dover operations into the Durham facility.  If many residents were
asked about Goss, it is likely they would not have any idea the large
manufacturing facility even exists in our community.  It was a
productive meeting in which Mr. Brown indicated an interest in working
with the Town to promote economic development initiatives should a
proposal come forward involving lands controlled by
Goss.  However, in the course of the conversation, it became clear
that Goss International Corp is concerned about its long-running trade
dispute with Japanese competitor Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho (TKS). Twelve years ago,
the United States government
determined that TKS, a Japanese competitor of Goss’, illegally sold press
equipment in the United
States at about half of its market cost. In
2003, a U.S. Federal District
Court in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa awarded Goss $31 million in damages from
TKS, but Japan retaliated
through a “clawback” provision by passing legislation that confiscates $31
million in assets from a Goss subsidiary in Japan. While there appears to be
a compelling case that this is a violation of Japan’s Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation
(FCN) Treaty with the United
States, and it has far reaching implications for all
U.S. business investments
abroad, the United
States government has done little to date to
come to the assistance of Goss.  In response, the Administrator Selig
sent correspondence to various state and Federal contacts this week encouraging
them to action to protect a critical Durham company from illegal predatory behavior
by a Japanese competitor and the Japanese government.

PROTEST PETITION
RECEIVED – PROPOSED ORDINANCE # 2008-15

The Town has received a protest
petition from the governing board of the Community Church of Durham, in regard
to the Council-initiated ordinance proposal to amend Chapter 175 "Zoning",
Section 175-54 "Table of Dimensional Standards" to lower the minimum lot area
per dwelling unit in the Church Hill (CH) district from 4200 sq. ft. to 3000 sq.
ft.  The Community Church of Durham is located on Tax Map 5, Lot 2-8, and comprises 35% of the area of the lots
included as part of the proposed change.  The threshold for
a protest petition is 20%.  Therefore the protest petition is valid. 
In accordance with the Zoning Ordinance, Section 175-14(G)2b, any such amendment
developed pursuant to this subsection shall not become effective except by the
favorable vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all Council members present at its second
reading.  A public hearing and second reading on this and two other zoning
ordinance proposals will be held by the Town Council on Monday evening, August
18, 2008.  To view the Council's agenda, click HERE.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT
POURS … MUNICIPAL SALT PRICES ON THE RISE

The State of New Hampshire is extending its contract for road salt to
New Hampshire municipalities in District 6, the
division which includes Durham, at the rate of
$59.23/ton.  In Durham, we actually
utilize Morton Salt based in Newington at the same price of $59.23. We
feel that Morton offers drier salt and a better delivery schedule.  In
2007, the price for salt was $45.96/ton.  This represents an increase
of nearly 29%.  In 2007/2008, the Department of Public Works cut back on
its salt application during winter storms in an effort to both save money and
cause less impact for the environment.  Even with this reduction in use, we
expended $50,556 this past winter. While the recent price increase will likely
add $15,000 to the winter maintenance budget for the coming winter season, the
Public Works Department will continue to look for strategies to mitigate cost
increases moving forward.

MILL
POND CENTER
FOR THE ARTS

On Thursday of this week the
Administrator and Doug Bullen, Assistant DPW Director for Operations met with
representatives of the Mill
Pond Center to walk through the Grange facility and Wagon
Hill Farm with the intention of evaluating whether either of these facilities
would meet the short and/or long term needs of the Mill Pond Center for the Arts. As you may know, the
Mill
Pond Center for the Arts is in the process of
evaluating its future due to financial pressures. The Grange facility is
presently slated to be incorporated into a plaza redevelopment and so any use of
the building would quite likely not only be short term, but would also require
extensive renovations and modifications as the facility is deficient in nearly
every way from ADA accessibility issues to the heating system which is no longer
operational. The Grange is currently vacant and has been since Growing Places
found new accommodations. Wagon Hill Farm does pose possibilities and offers
potential public/non-profit partnership opportunities. The Mill Pond Center representatives will give further
consideration to the sites, and we are planning to arrange a walk through of the
farm house at Wagon Hill Farm in the near future. Wagon Hill Farm is presently
rented to a tenant who opens and closes the gate to the property each day and
keeps and eye on the parcel for us. The tenant is a police officer at a local
police agency.

NH
STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM UPDATE

The New Hampshire Municipal Association has not to
date initiated a suit on behalf of local communities in response to the recent changes in the New
Hampshire Retirement System effecting municipalities, school districts, and
counties. Legislation adopted in this legislative session and signed by the
Governor partially addressed the mandate issue worrying municipalities by
transferring funds from the Special Account to the corpus of the state pension
fund in order to cover the cost of the medical subsidy for the next several
years so that there is no medical subsidy mandate for municipalities or counties
at this time. There is an immediate mandate, however, for schools because the
transfer did not have the desired effect to reduce the employer contribution
rates enough for local school districts to avoid paying directly for the medical
subsidy. The mandate concern is an ongoing one. Two study commissions will meet
this summer and fall and Administrator Selig anticipates additional Retirement
System legislation to be filed in January. Also, the new statue adds an
anticipated mandated cost to employers, in our case the town and school
district, by requiring that for any pension amount in excess of 125% of a
retiree’s base pay, even if it is due to overtime or any other benefits, or the
employer has made contributions on behalf of the employee, the employer must
make an additional payment in an amount determined by an actuary to cover all
future costs to the Retirement System of the amount in excess of 125%. It is
believed that the “125%” provision will add significant cost to public employers
and we wait for further information from NHRS actuaries on the matter. The Town
of Durham and the Oyster River Cooperative School
District had made contributions to a legal fund
managed by N.H.M.A intended to address Retirement System unfunded mandates for
communities, and because of the uncertainty of this topic, the fund will remain
intact for the time being. If the legislature is able to resolve the issue to
the benefit of communities, all funds will be returned to the
municipalities.

COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS

The collective bargaining agreement
between the Town of Durham and the Durham Police
Officers’ Union will expire on December 31,
2008. In accordance with provisions in the extension contract, we have received
a request from the Durham Police Officers’ Union to commence negotiations for a successful agreement.
At this time, the Administrator is in the process of working with the town’s
legal counsel for labor issues to determine a price for services relative to the
upcoming negotiations. The town has a total of four labor unions representing
Police, Public Works, Fire, and middle managers. The Three additional union
contracts extend through December 31, 2009.

PROPOSAL
FOR MARGERY AND LORUS MILNE MEMORIAL SCULPTURE AT MILL POND PARK – FEEDBACK
REQUESTED

As a follow up to the update from
August 1st, 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.  The Administrator would
appreciate feedback from Councilors/residents as to whether there are concerns
relative to this proposal (tselig@ci.durham.nh.us). 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 Mrs. 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.  Mr.
Selig has also reached out to the University of New
Hampshire to evaluate whether UNH would have an
interest in contributing financially toward the project.  And we will need
to evaluate what part Durham would play in contributing
financially or through in-kind labor/services to this
undertaking.

NEW
BUSINESS COMING TO TOWN

Last week Administrator Selig met
with Deb DeColfmacker of Dover who is in the
process of opening an Edward Jones Investment Office in Durham. This is exciting
news for the community in an effort to see a strengthening of its downtown area.
The Administrator talked with Ms. DeColfmacker about the community and positive
attributes of the town and its residents.

INVITATION
TO COOKOUT WITH UNH FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS

President Mark W. Huddleston and
Emma Bricker cordially invite Durham Town Officials to a cookout with first-year
students from the PrOVES* and CONNECT programs to celebrate the new academic
year. PrOVES and CONNECT are both programs that bring first-year students to
campus a week before classes start. PrOVES introduces community service and
leadership through team-building and on-site work at different locations in the
local community. CONNECT offers multi-cultural students the opportunity to
become familiar with the campus before the majority population arrives. The
event is being held Wednesday, August 27, 2008, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The
Gardens at the President’s Residence, 2 Garrison Avenue. RSVP by August 20 at www.unh.edu/presidentialevents
or by calling 862-1261. Parking is available in R
Lot.

THIS
FALL AT UNH – MUB CURRENT ISSUES LECTURE SERIES

The UNH Memorial Union Building
(MUB) current lecture series presents “Explore the World Around You.” The
lectures will feature a variety of topics and will take place throughout the
fall semester. A partial schedule of the series is as
follows:

Tuesday, September 23^rd –
Hazed and Confused
7pm, Granite State
Room

Wednesday, October 1^st –
Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social
Justice 7pm, Strafford
Room

Wednesday, October 29^th –
60’s Rock: When the Music Mattered w/ Barry
Drake 7pm, Strafford
Room

Wednesday, November 19^th-
American Drug War w/ Documentary Film Maker
Kevin Booth 7pm, Strafford
Room

For more information about the
lectures and to see a complete schedule for the semester, please click HERE.

DURHAM
DAY 2008 – THE GUNDALOW RETURNS

We have just learned that the
Gundalow will be coming to Durham Day this fall! 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.

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)

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 Town
Council - Monday, August 18, 2008

Parks &
Recreation Department- Thursday, August 21,
2008

Economic Development Committee –
Friday, August 22, 2008 – 7:30 a.m.

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.

STATE
PASSES NEW LAW REGARDING OUTDOOR WOOD BOILERS

The New Hampshire Department of
Environmental Services (NHDES) is working to make residents aware of a
new law that applies to outdoor wood boilers (also known as outdoor wood-fired
hydronic heaters). If residents own an outdoor wood boiler or are thinking about
purchasing one, they should become familiar with HB 1405 (Chapter 362,
Laws of N.H. 2007) of which certain provisions became effective
on August 10, 2008. The law establishes requirements for the sale,
installation and use of these devices.  A complete list of certified makes
and models can be found at the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/woodheaters/models.htm.
For questions about New
Hampshire’s requirements and how they might apply to
you, please call Pamela Monroe at NHDES, (603)
271-0882

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1806- A new line of stages for the
convenience of passengers between Boston and
Portland was
established. Leaving these cities at 6 o’clock on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, they met here at Richardson’s tavern each evening, exchanged
passengers and returned 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

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