Friday Update June 13, 2008

Untitled Document

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

June
13, 2008

(Courtesy Daniel
Keefe)

For those of you who may not recognize
this creature, it is a fisher, feeding on a suet feeder located in the backyard
of Durham resident Daniel Keefe. Dan’s photograph
was featured in the June 10, 2008 edition of The New York Times, along with an article
about fishers. To read this interesting article, please click on the following
link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/science/10fish.html?ex=1370836800&en=f645f53f1e6f4bc8&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Town
Offices Closed for Independence Day

The Town Offices will be closed in
observance of the July 4th holiday on Friday, July 4, 2008. All offices will
reopen for regular business hours on Monday, July 7, 2008 at 8:00 AM.  There
will be no change to the rubbish and recycling collection schedule.

UPDATE ON STONE QUARRY DRIVE TIF DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT

On March 3, 2008, the Town Council
discussed a draft Development Agreement between the Town of Durham and Rockingham Properties
relative to moving forward with extending municipal water and sewer to Stone
Quarry Drive as part of the Stone Quarry Drive Tax
Increment Finance District established by the Council on October 15, 2007. 
The draft Development Agreement brought forward by the Administrator after extensive
negotiations with Rockingham Properties on March 3rd had utilized a cash escrow
deposit of $102,000 as well as 1st mortgages and deeds in lieu of foreclosure
to be held in escrow on 4 lots of the Town’s choosing from within the Stone
Quarry Drive subdivision as security against the possibility of the development
sitting idle and not generating the tax revenues needed to meet the Town’s long-term
debt obligations for the noted infrastructure improvements budgeted at $850,000. 
After discussing the proposal in some detail on March 3rd, a majority of Councilors
indicated that the proposal was not acceptable because it did not include a
surety or similar form of guarantee to adequately protect the interests
of the Town.  Mr. Selig communicated this to Rockingham Properties at that
time.  It is the Administrator’s understanding that Rockingham Properties
had researched potential surety/guarantee arrangements with financial institutions
and had also evaluated whether it might provide an additional cash contribution
to be held in escrow by the Town in lieu of a security/guarantee.  In late-May
2008, Rockingham Properties proposed to increase the cash contribution from
$102,000 as originally discussed on March 3rd to $180,000.  Other terms
of the draft Development Agreement brought forward for Council consideration
on March 3rd would remain unchanged.  During the Council Roundtable discussion
on June 2, 2008, the Administrator asked the Council whether there was an interest
in scheduling this topic for further discussion and consideration at the June
16th Council meeting.  The majority of the Council indicated that it was
interested in doing so and asked the Administrator to schedule the topic. 
Updated bond market information follows:

In addition, the New Hampshire Municipal
Bond Bank held a bond sale on Thursday, June 12, 2008.  The Bond Bank received
a rate of between 4.22% and 4.25% on the notes issued for a 20 year period.
Every .5% increase in interest rates will cost an additional $3,000 in annual
bond payments as part of the $850,000 bond anticipated for this project. 
The Bond Bank sale is very instructive as to the present market environment
for municipal bond issues in New Hampshire.  As
a final update relative to this project prior to Monday's Council meeting when
it will next be discussed, on June 9, 2008, the Administrator and Council Chair
met with the President of Rockingham Properties to discuss the Development
Agreement further as well as various alternative arrangements that might be
utilized in order to protect the interests of the Town.  At this time,
Rockingham Properties is evaluating various scenarios and we await further feedback
from the company.  On Monday evening, the Council will have an opportunity
to review an Excel spreadsheet analysis outlining various financial scenarios
that will be useful as part of the general discussion. 

MOST “CONSERVATIVE OR RESTRICTIVE” PROVISION
OF ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 175-9, A
(13)

A lengthy discussion was held regarding
this item at the Town Council meeting on March 17, 2008. At the conclusion of
the discussion, there was a loose Council consensus to move away from the philosophical
“most conservative or restrictive” approach indicated in Section 175-9(A)(13)
of the Zoning Ordinance and that this item be brought forward as an ordinance
for the April 7, 2008 Town Council meeting. Section 175-14 (B) of the Durham
Zoning Ordinance states that Council-initiated changes shall be referred to
the Planning Board for its review and study. A number of Councilors also expressed
interest in deleting Section 175-9(A)(13) altogether.  On April 7, 2008
the Town Council discussed a proposed Council-initiated amendment relative to
the “most conservative or restrictive” approach contained within the Town Zoning
Ordinance. The Council subsequently passed a motion to strike paragraph 13 altogether
under Section 175-9(A) and sent the amendment to the Planning Board for its
review and recommendations.  At the Planning Board meeting on May 14, 2008,
the Planning Board held a public hearing to solicit input from the public on
the Council-initiated amendment.  After opening and closing the public
hearing with no comments from the public, a motion was passed to recommend that
the Town Council adopt the amendment. On Monday, June 2, 2008, the Town Council
moved the ordinance on First Reading and scheduled a public hearing for Monday,
June 16, 2008. A public hearing notice
was published in the Foster’s Daily Democrat
on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The notice was also posted on the public
bulletin board located outside of the Town Hall, as well as at the Department
of Public Works and the Durham Public Library.  To view an opinion from
the Town attorney on the implications of this change, go to the Town's web site
at www.ci.durham.nh.us and scroll down on the
home page under the "News" section.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT
LIGHTING INSTALLED AT TOWN OFFICE

Contractors have been
at work over the course of this week installing new energy-efficient lighting
throughout the entire Durham Town Office building, including the Council chambers.
Hopefully everyone will be satisfied with the ambient light generated from these
new fixtures and that they perform well on saving the Town on energy consumption
well into the future.

WATER/WASTEWATER
BUY-IN CONNECTION FEE ANALYSIS

On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, Director
of Planning and Community Development Jim Campbell, Town Engineer David Cedarholm,
the Administrator, as well as the Town’s water/wastewater and impact fee consultants
will meet to discuss the development of a new objective connection buy-in fee
for new water and wastewater hookups. The goal is to try and make the connection
fee as equitable as possible. It has been some time since this issue was last
evaluated by the community.

MILNE
MEMORIAL DEVELOPMENT

On Wednesday, June 18, 2008, a group
from the Town will meet with artist Walter Liff in order to develop ideas for
a memorial on the Milne parcel that was donated to the Town as part of the late
Margery Milne’s bequest. The Milne parcel is located off of Mill Road next to
the Mill Pond.

INTEGRATED
WASTE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKING MEMBERS

The Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee (IWMAC) works within the community of Durham to reduce the total
amount of solid waste by increasing community awareness and participation
in waste management issues. The committee meets for approximately 1.5
hours each month to develop creative and educational outreach programs which
promote sustainability. Residents interested in being appointed to this
committee 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.

FACTS
FROM “THE STORY OF STUFF”

The Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee would like to remind residents that…the old adage "Waste Not - Want
Not" is overdue for a revival.  For some interesting facts on consumption
in the United States, check out the following link:  http://www.storyofstuff.com/pdfs/annie_leonard_facts.pdf.

HICKORY
POND INN TO BEGIN SERVING DINNER

Hickory Pond Inn, located in Durham
on Route 108/Newmarket Road, will be "open to the public" beginning on June
20, 2008 serving dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings by reservation. 
For more information, contact the Hickory Pond Inn at www.hickorypondinn.com or call 659-2227.

MAIN
STREET
PROJECT

The Department of Public Works has
finalized, documented, and forwarded to the contractor a list of finishing punch
list details relating to the Main
Street project. Public Works expects to hear back from
the contractor soon with a schedule for the finishing work.  Items
needing to be addressed by the contractor include: settling crosswalks, roadway
striping and markings, pavement undermining, etc.

SIDEWALK
POWER WASHING

Sidewalks in the downtown area will
be power washed on Monday evening, June 16, 2008.  The washing will begin
on or about 9:00 PM.  Notices of this upcoming event were distributed to
all downtown businesses in the area of the power washing. Business owners
are asked to please remove all message boards, signs, and outside furniture
before 9:00 PM on Monday so that the contractor can get to all areas. 
Thank you for you cooperation.  We will utilize a soy-based product that
is safe for the environment. This effort is part of the Town’s goal in keeping
the downtown looking good.

2008
ROAD PROGRAM PROGRESS UPDATE

Roadwork will resume
on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, for the 2008 Road Program.  The roads that
will be worked on beginning June 18 are: Ambler Way, Gerrish Drive, Watson Road, Williams Way, and
Tirrell Place. 

WATER
CONSERVATION TIPS      

ü     

Collect the water you use for rinsing
produce and reuse it to water houseplants.

ü     

Divide your watering cycle into shorter
periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.

ü     

Choose a water-efficient drip irrigation
system for trees, shrubs, and flowers. Watering at the roots is very effective--be careful
not to over water.

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.

Town Council – Monday, June 16, 2008

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee – Tuesday, June 17, 2008 (7:30
AM)

Planning Board – Wednesday, June 18,
2008

Parks and Recreation Committee – Thursday,
June 19, 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.

MCGREGOR
MEMORIAL EMS WELCOMES NEW PARAMEDIC BENJAMIN
BRIGGS

McGregor Memorial EMS now has eight
paramedics to serve the community. Benjamin Briggs is the newest paramedic to
join McGregor Memorial EMS.  Ben began his EMS career in 2003 as an EMT-B with WPI EMS. Ben grew up
in Peterborough, NH, and joined its Fire and Rescue department
in 2004 working on the ambulance while pursuing his EMT- Intermediate certification
which he obtained later that year.  In 2005, Ben moved to Durham
to study Biology at UNH and began his volunteer service with McGregor. 
Welcome Ben.

UPCOMING
EVENTS AT THE MILL
POND CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Thursday, June 19, 2008, 5:30 PM, Bliss in concert. Tickets:
$10/Adults, $25/Family rate, $5/12 and under, FREE/5 and under. Bring a picnic,
chairs, and blankets. Dinner available for purchase A La Carte menu from Hickory
Pond Inn.

Friday, June 20, 2008, 8:00 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM), The
Robin Nolan Trio and Ameranouche. Tickets: $20.00. Bring a picnic, chairs, and
blankets. Dinner available for purchase by the Blue Mermaid Island Grill.

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

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1786 – Mail was delivered by post
riders from Portsmouth, and in 1796 Benjamin Thompson became
our first postmaster. In the next 120 years 12 men and women held the office
and did business in 10 stores and homes, being in the Ffrost store by the Falls
for 40 years.”

For motorcycle enthusiasts, Laconia
Motorcycle Week begins tomorrow, Saturday, June 14th, kicking off a week filled
with “summer thunder” as tens of thousands of motorcyclists flock to the Granite
State.

Have a nice Father’s Day 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

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