Friday Update July 18, 2008

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

July
18, 2008

Photo courtesy
Frank L. Pilar

The Cardinal Flower (Lobelia
cardinalis), a member of the Bluebell family (Campanulaceae). Photographed
earlier this summer on the outlet side of an old stone bridge approximately 100
feet down an abandoned road going off to the west just before the first beaver
dam on Longmarsh Road.

Summer is in full swing here in
Durham. Downtown
is fairly quiet with the students from the University on summer recess.  In
addition, residents and staff members alike are taking vacations and taking it
easy during these “dog days of summer”.

UNH
LIBRARY DIGITAL COLLECTIONS SCAN OLD DURHAM TOWN REPORTS DATING TO 1846

The University Library at UNH has
scanned the Town of Durham Annual
Reports from 1846 to 1977.  These can be accessed
from the Internet Archive at archive.org and from the UNH Library Digital
Collections Website at http://www.library.unh.edu/diglib/state.shtml.  The
Town Administrator has provided a copyright release permitting the UNH Library
to scan Annual Reports for the town post 1977.  While the UNH
Library can legally scan reports published before 1978 as long as a
copyright statement is not present, beginning with 1978 most publications are
automatically copyrighted.  This reservoir of data will be a welcome back
up for Town records.

THOMPSON
LANE/BURNHAM AVENUE
DRAINAGE ISSUE – AN UPDATE

As reported some time ago, the Town
is aware that most of the drain pipe between Thompson Lane
and Burnham Avenue has collapsed and
needs replacing.  It is believed that this is the root of the
neighborhood drainage problem in this area. Last week, the Public Works
Department performed a video inspection of the drain pipe that crosses
under Thompson
Lane and feeds the collapsed section to
determine how much of that drain pipe is usable. The video revealed a pipe in
trouble, but the pipe interior contained so many cobble size rocks that the
camera would not go through. Public Works is now developing an
alternative method of viewing inside the pipe to see how problematic
it is. The Public Works Department is working on a solution for the
issue and our staff hope that it does not require replacement of
the drain pipe that crosses Thompson Lane. That would be an expensive
and complicated effort since it also crosses the water and sewer pipes, and most
likely a gas main.  We should have additional information in another
month.

DURHAM
POLICE DEPARTMENT ORAL BOARD PROCESS

The Durham Police Department is
presently in the process of conducting oral board examinations to fill two
police officer vacancies at the department.  A third vacancy is
anticipated toward the end of this year as a result of a planned
retirement.   

DURHAM
POLICE CALEA ACCREDITATION RECERTIFICATION PROCESS ENTERING FINAL PHASE NEXT
WEEK

The Durham Police Department is
nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).  This non-profit agency was founded in 1979 as a
credentialing authority stemming from a joint effort of the International
Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP), the Police Executive Research Forum
(PERF), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE),
and the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA).  The express purpose of the
founding of CALEA was to establish a set of standards that a modern, effective
and ethical police agency should incorporate and adhere to as their guiding
policies and procedures.   Required
Certification Standards:  The standards are broken down by
subject matter to include: law enforcement role and authority; organization,
management and administration; the personnel structure; law enforcement
operations and communications to name a few.  Within these subsets are
found additional standards that govern the recruitment and selection of new
police officers; training, performance evaluations and promotions; patrol
tactics; investigations; evidence collection and storage and budget
activities.  Overall, there are 459 standards considered “basic” to the
proper management of a law enforcement agency.  Why Accreditation?:  The essence of
the CALEA accreditation program is to ensure that a law enforcement agency’s
policies and procedures are in line with the industry standards and most
importantly, adhered to.  Unfortunately in the law enforcement field it is
a far too common trait that contemporary policies and procedures are in place
yet all too often routinely ignored when “inconvenient”.  The On-Site Assessment:  Possibly the
most important aspect of the program is the “on-site assessment” that is
accomplished every three-years.  Three (3) out-of-state police managers
traveled to Durham and inspected the department to ensure
that the agency in fact followed applicable standards.  That exercise for
Durham took place from April 26-30,
2008, when the Commission sent three executive police practitioners to
Durham to
conduct an assessment (inspection) of the Durham Police Department.  These
practitioners were not familiar to or with the Durham Police
Department.  In fact they were not even familiar with each other as
this trait is viewed as an important factor in maintaining the integrity of the
process.  During their visit, they conducted an extensive review of
the department's policies and procedures; they interviewed staff; they
conducted inspections of our facilities and equipment; they rode along with
officers and observed their actions.  The entire process was designed
to ensure that the Durham Police Department is as efficient and effective
as possible.   Next
Steps:  Following the on-site inspection, the assessment team
prepared a comprehensive report of their findings for presentation and review by
the full board of CALEA Commissioners at its July 26, 2008 meeting
in Boca Raton,
Florida.  A small team from
the Durham Police Department, Chief Kurz, and Administrator Selig will
attend this July meeting to meet with the full board of CALEA Commissioners as
the final step in the Reaccreditation process.  In addition, at the
Florida
meeting, the Durham Police Department will be recommended for recognition as a
Flagship CALEA Agency.  To learn more about the Flagship Agency
distinction, go to:  http://www.calea.org/Online/Awards/flagship.htm.

7
ZONING PROPOSALS MOVE TO FIRST READING

A brief reminder that on Monday,
July 21, 2008 the Town Council will be holding first readings on seven proposed
zoning changes.  Three of the proposed changes are to the Zoning Map, one
to the definition of “Habitable Floor Area”, two proposed changes to the Table
of Dimensional Requirements, and the final proposed change is to allow Stables
as a Conditional Use in the MUDOR district.  The Council agenda is posted
on the website. For a complete digital copy of the Council packet with
supporting information, go to:  http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/council/council_packets/2008%20July%2021%20Council%20Packet.pdf. 

PLANNING
BOARD

The Planning Board will be meeting
on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, and will be discussing the acceptance of a Site
Plan Application submitted by Stephen and Lori Lamb to convert a single-family
residence into a ten room Inn.  The
property is located at 90 Bennett
Road and is known as the “Highland House”.  In
addition, the board will be reconsidering a denial of a request by Tom Christie,
Slania Enterprises, to amend his Finding of Facts and Conditions of Approval and
waive the requirement for an engineered stormwater
plan.

ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Economic Development Committee
will be meeting on Friday, July 25, 2008, and will be discussing the process for
the sale, if such a sale would occur, of the Town Hall site.  In addition,
the committee will continue its review of revisions to the 2008 Action
Plan.

SEWER
MANHOLE REPAIR ON PETTEE BROOK
LANE

The Public Works
Department needs to make a major repair to 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
large resulting in the need to shut down that portion of Pettee Brook Lane
completely during the repair which will take at least 16 hours to
complete.  This project should occur in the next three weeks.  Public
Works is still finalizing the supplies and materials for the repair and
organizing the detour details.  More information will follow as the plan is
further developed. 

MAIN
STREET
PROJECT

The contractor from last years
Main
Street project (Pettee Brook Lane up to the railroad
bridge) will be back in on Monday, July 21st, to reset some of the granite and
all of the brick crosswalks.  They should be here for about two
weeks.  They will be working on one side at a time.  The
road will remain opened but will have lane changes during the course of
work.  Please be alert for any lane changes and take caution around
workers. 

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, July 21, 2008

Planning Board – Wednesday, July 23,
2008

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
Energy Committee Newsletter, The
Alternative

In an effort to inform, update, and
generally spread the word about the current state of the environment the Durham
Energy Committee has developed a newsletter, The Alternative.   The committee hopes to
provide residents with up-to-date information and entertainment with its
articles. To view the second issue of The Alternative, click HERE.

ENERGY
SAVING TIPS

§        
During the cooling season, keeping
window coverings and drapes closed during the day help prevent solar heat gain.

§        
Trees and shrubs provide shade and
generally make for a cooler yard and house. Studies show that summer daytime air
temperatures in tree-shaded neighborhoods are 3° to 6°F cooler than in treeless
areas.

GREAT
BAY ROWING

Great
Bay Rowing is
looking for kids going into the 7th, 8th and 9th grades interested in
learning how to row.  We are holding two Youth Summer Rowing Camps. 
The first is July 28th to August 1st and the second is August 11th to August
15th.  Both camps run from 10am to 2pm.  For more information go to www.greatbayrowing.org or contact greatbayrowing@comcast.net.

GREAT
BAY
NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE HOSTS WORKSHOP ON INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL
OPTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS

On Saturday, August 2, 2008, from
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will hold
a workshop to teach homeowners how to identify the most common invasive plants
in the Great
Bay region and provide and
overview for both chemical and pesticide-free options for their removal. The
workshop is free to the public and will be held at the Great Bay Discovery
Center, 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH. Please contact Rachel at Rachel@greatbay.org or call (603) 778-0015
with questions and to register.

UPCOMING
EVENTS AT THE MILL
POND CENTER FOR THE
ARTS

Tuesday, July 22, 2008,
6:30 PM. Theatre in the Meadow. The
New England Shakespeare Festival presents “Much Adoe About Nothing”.
Tickets:  Adults, $5.00; Children, $3.00; Children 5 and under, Free. Bring
picnic basket and blanket.

For more information or to purchase
tickets, call (603) 868-8999 or visit www.millpondcenter.org.

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1794 – The Piscataqua bridge was
one of the wonders of N.E. It was 2,262’ long and 38’ wide, had a 240’ arch and
draw. It cost $65,947.34, paid partly by lottery. It served as an important link
between the seacoast and interior farmlands. Carried away by ice in 1855, it was
never rebuilt.”

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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of Durham has
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