Friday Update March 19, 2010

FRIDAY
UPDATES

Friday,
March 19, 2010

A yellow Labrador retriever surveys
the damage caused by last weekends heavy rain. (Courtesy
Stephen Roberts). A number of roads in Town were
closed due to flooding, including a section of Bennett Road
(right).
(Courtesy Sara
Badger Wilson)

The spring-like weather has been
much appreciated this week following the extensive rainfall we received last
weekend. Spring officially arrives at 7:04 AM tomorrow morning, Saturday, March
20^th.

Spruce
Forest
Project CELCP Conservation Project Grant Application Filed by March 15th
Deadline

The Trust for Public Land
(TPL) has submitted a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program
(CELCP) grant for the Spruce
Forest conservation project in
conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game and Durham as
co-applicant. Under the terms of the grant application, the Town of
Durham would acquire 176 +/- acres in
fee located between Mill
Road and the Oyster River
containing forested uplands, grasslands and significant frontage on the
Oyster River, a tidal tributary to Great Bay,
and drinking water source for the Town of Durham
and University of
New Hampshire.
Significant features of the property include: 4,640 feet of frontage on the
Oyster
River, 155 acres of
forested uplands and wetlands, and twenty-six acres of grasslands.
Immediately abutting over 2,200 acres of existing conservation land, this
diverse array of habitats is home to fourteen state threatened or endangered
plants and animals and several exemplary natural communities. Under the
proposed project structure, the property would be acquired by the Town of
Durham subject
to a conservation easement held by South East Land Trust of New Hampshire.
The CELCP grant award would be matched through a combination of state,
local, and private grants as well as individual gifts of cash and donated land
value which will be coordinated by The Trust for Public Land. To view the actual CELCP
application submitted by TPL click HERE.

Oyster
River School Board Discussion on Council Resolution 2010-02 Dealing with 2009
District Surplus Funds

On Wednesday evening, March 17,
2010, the Oyster River Cooperative School Board (ORCSB) discussed with Town
Administrator Selig Town Council Resolution 2010-02, a resolution requesting
that the school board direct the Oyster River
Cooperative School District administration to provide
adequate documentation regarding the expenditure of surplus funds from the 2009
fiscal year. After discussion, the board asked that a response to the Council
resolution be drafted for review at its next meeting. To view Resolution 2010-02
click HERE.
To view a Foster's article
regarding the issue, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100317/GJNEWS_01/703179953/-1/FOSNEWS0102.
To view the specific DCAT/Channel 22 broadcast of the school board discussion
regarding this item, visit http://vimeo.com/10281695.

Perfect
timing? Stormwater issues addressed at Planning
Board
On Wednesday, March 24, the Planning
Board will hold a public hearing on amending the Site Plan
Review and Subdivision regulations to include additional provisions for Stormwater Management. The EPA, under the Clean Water
Act, regulates the discharge of stormwater from municipal systems through the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit system.
Under NPDES, municipalities are required to develop a Stormwater
Management Program. These new regulations reflect current Best Management Practices and approaches to handling
stormwater runoff.
They will also help clarify what developers
are required to provide for information and what to submit with their
applications regarding stormwater management -- currently missing from the
regulations. Members of the Water Resource Protection Subcommittee
developed this set of regulations with considerations
made toward development
in Durham.
To that end, they included a checklist to help the Planning Board move quickly
through their evaluation of applications. At his presentation to the Board two
weeks ago, Town Engineer David Cedarholm also explained how several downtown
projects recently completed or currently in the works would have easily met the
proposed standards. To view the agenda for this meeting, visit: http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/boards/planning/planning_agenda.html.

Economic
Development Committee (EDC)

At the February 12, 2010 EDC
meeting, the Committee voted to change the day and time of their meetings.
The EDC will now be meeting the fourth (4^th) Monday of the month at
7:00 PM. The EDC believes that Durhams
success in accomplishing thoughtful, productive economic redevelopment of
Durham will only
happen if the Committee engages more residents and property owners in its
activities and discussions. To that end, the EDC will be meeting this
coming Monday, March 22, 2010 at 7 PM at Town Hall. There are several
items on the agenda including an open discussion with the Durham Landlords
Association, reports from the several sub-committees of the EDC, and a
discussion on having a market analysis done for the Town. To see the full
agenda for this meeting, visit http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/Committees/economic%20development/economic_agenda.html.

Annual
Appointments of Citizens to Fill Vacancies on Various Town
Boards

On April 30, 2010, terms on various
Town boards, commissions, and committees will expire. In mid-April, the Town
Council will begin the process for making its annual appointments/reappointments
to Town boards, with appointments to take effect May 1, 2010. The Durham Town
Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the
ability, desire, and time needed to fill these vacancies. Citizens interested in
board appointments should contact the Town Administrators office at 868-5571
and ask for a board application form, or stop in at the Town Clerks office
located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road, and complete an
application. Applications are also available on the Towns web site at: www.ci.durham.nh.us under the heading
Features at the bottom of the page. Completed applications may be mailed to
the Town Administrators office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. Deadline for
receipt of completed applications is Friday,
March 26, 2010.

Conservation Commission - (2 regular
vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Durham Cable Access Television
(DCAT) Governance Committee - (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate
vacancy)

Durham Energy Committee (3
vacancies)

Economic Development Committee (1
regular vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)

Historic District Commission - (1
vacancy)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee - (2 vacancies)

Lamprey River Management Advisory Committee (3
vacancies)

Parks and Recreation - (4 regular
vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Planning Board - (2 regular
vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Rental Housing Commission (1
Tenant representative vacancy; 1 Neighborhood representative
vacancy)

Strafford Regional Planning
Commission & MPO Policy Committee - (1 vacancy)

Zoning Board of Adjustment - (2
regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Environmental
Services Urges Safety of Drinking Water in Flooded Areas

Private
Drinking Water Wells Susceptible to Flood
Contamination

The New
Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) encourages residents to
take precautions during and after the flooding that has occurred in some areas
of the state, including protecting their drinking water. Flooding can cause the
contamination of water with fecal matter from sewage systems, septic tanks, as
well as contamination from oil, gasoline, and other
chemicals.

How to make sure your drinking water
is safe:

§
Disinfect and test flooded private water wells after
floodwaters recede.

v
To request a
test container from the DES Laboratory, please contact 271-3445.

v
For information on disinfection of private wells,
please go to Disinfecting
A Private Well (DES Fact Sheet).

v
For information on proper construction of private
wells, please go to Bedrock
(Artesian, Drilled) Well Design for bedrock (artesian, drilled) wells (DES
Fact Sheet), Dug
Well Design for dug
wells (DES Fact Sheet), Point
Well Design for point
wells (DES Fact Sheet).

§
Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal
hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water. Do not use contaminated
water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash hands, or
make baby formula.

§
If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe
source. If you do not know that the water is from a safe source, you should boil
or treat it before you use it. http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/flooding/drinking_water.htm

Preventing
and Dealing with Mold after Heavy Rains

Mold can be a serious problem when
the interior of a building becomes wet. Try the following steps in order to
control indoor mold growth after water damage occurs:

§
Make sure the materials that get soaked do not
contain asbestos. If in doubt, they should be
tested.

§
Dry out any materials that have been damaged by the
water. Completely drying out materials will take time, and you may have to
remove ceilings, wallboard, insulation, flooring, and other materials.
Microorganisms will continue growing as long as things are wet. When fumes
arent a problem and if electricity is available and safe, you can remove
moisture by closing windows and running a dehumidifier or a window air
conditioner.

§
If you see mold or if there is an earthy or musty
smell, you should assume a mold problem exists. Once you have discovered the
mold, any porous materials like sheet rock, insulation, carpets, plaster,
ceiling tiles, and paper products with mold growth need to be bagged and
removed. Non-porous surfaces like hard plastic, concrete, glass, metal, and
solid wood can usually be cleaned with detergent and water, and dried
completely. A disinfectant may be used to eliminate any mold missed by the
cleaning. Keep people with mold allergies out of the area while cleaning.
Everyone should use protective equipment and techniques while cleaning up
mold.

For more information about mold
cleanup, please call (603) 271-3911 or visit www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/pehb/ehs/iaqp/index.htm.
For information on asbestos testing, please call
271-1373.

Preparing
for Weather-Related Emergencies: UNH Cooperative
Extension

Over the last couple of years, many
residents have experienced extended loss of power and property damage due to
significant storms. An underutilized resource available to all that provides
answers to many homeowner questions is the UNH Cooperative Extension. Its
website on "Preparing for Emergencies" includes help on a long list of topics,
among them Electrical Safety During an Ice Storm; Ice Damage and Trees;
Preventing and Thawing Frozen Pipes; Using Generators for Emergency Power; and a
link to a set of Emergency Response Fact Sheets. <http://extension.unh.edu/counties/Cheshire/WeatherRelatedEmergencyInformation_000.htm.

DURHAM ADMINISTRATOR
NAMED CHAIR OF THE NH CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
STUDIES

Town Administrator Todd Selig was
recently appointed as Chair of The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy
Studies, a non-profit, independent, non-partisan public policy research
organization based in Concord. To view the Fosters Daily Democrat article:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100319/GJBUSINESS_01/703199978/-1/fosbusiness

Tour
the First LEED Designed Building in Durham: Saturday, April
17

An 18-month renovation of UNHs
elegant but aged James Hall has produced a striking building that is Smart, LEED
certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) (certification
expected to be granted in 6 months) and uses energy, water and other resources
wisely and innovatively.

Durham residents are invited to tour the
building with the Project Manager, Brenda Whitmore, who has worked on this
renovation from the first ideas brought forth to the move in of faculty,
staff and students and who will continue to be the point person for the
building.

There is so much to see, learn and
experience from the basement to the green, garden rooftop that there will be 2
different tours given:

9:00 10:30
will
be a general tour of how the building works

10:30 12:00
will be a
technical tour for those who want to learn how the specific technologies
work

To sign up for the tour, please
email jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. To
learn more about the James Hall renovation, please click HERE.

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office. All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at
the Town Hall unless otherwise indicated below. To view the agendas for the
meetings listed below, please click HERE.
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing.

Economic Development Committee
Monday, March 22, 2010

Rental Housing Commission Tuesday,
March 23, 2010 (4:00
PM)

Zoning Board of Adjustment
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Planning Board Wednesday, March
24, 2010

Parks and Recreation -

Oyster
River School Board meeting schedule, please click HERE.

Durham
Public Library Board of Trustees meeting schedule, please click HERE.

DCAT
Programming Schedule, please click HERE

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

§
March Parks & Recreation
Reminder: Stay up-to-date on all of Park & Recreations
current classes and programs. Click HERE
to view the March 2010 Reminder.

§
Saturday, April 3, 10:00 AM, Durham Town Landing:
Annual Easter
Egg Hunt. The Durham Parks and Recreation Committee and Oyster
River Parents and Preschoolers will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt. There
will be free refreshments, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and much more. Bring
your basket and be promptthe eggs will go fast.

§
Saturday, April 24, 10:00 AM Noon, Great Lawn at
UNH, near Thompson Hall: World Tai
Chi Day Event. Join Durham Parks & Recreation and instructor Lin
Lin Choy for a morning of Tai Chi demonstrations and instruction. This
free event is FREE.

§
Saturday, May 8, 9:30 AM Noon, Durham Parks & Recreation Building: Introduction
to Digital Photography Program. Professional documentary
photographer Audrey Gottlieb is coming to Durham P&R to teach you how to
take that perfect photo with your digital camera. The class is $25 per person or
$40 for a family.

To register for any of the above
classes please contact Durham P&R Director Michael
Mengers at 817-4074 or mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§
Three Chimneys
Inn is
offering a number of specials during the month of March including: a Magical
March Green Spring Getaway Package, dining specials, and Portsmouth Restaurant
Week. For more information, contact
the Three Chimneys Inn at 868-7800, or visit www.threechimneysinn.com.

§
Durham Public Library, BIG READ: NH Reads To Kill a Mockingbird. Durham
Public Library is one of more than 100 partners working with The Center for the
Book at the New Hampshire State Library to bring The Big Read: NH Reads To Kill
a Mockingbird to the Granite State during March 2010. Durham Public
Library, in partnership with the libraries in Madbury and Lee, and the UNH
Museum of Art, are sponsoring several programs related to the
book:

ü
Atticus Finch: A One-Man Show with Richard Clark -
Monday March 29, 6:30 PM at Madbury Town
Hall.

All events are
free. For more information, visit the Library's website www.durhampubliclibrary.org

§
Saturday, March 20, 10:30 AM, Durham Public
Library: Make a Paper Crane
Workshop. Learn about the Japanese origami art of Paper Crane Folding
from Carolyn Thomas and Jane Kaufmann. Hear about the history and legends of the
paper crane. For more information, please contact (603) 862-3712, www.unh.edu/moa, museum.of.art@unh.edu.

§
Wednesday, March 24, Noon, Room A219, Paul Creative Arts
Center: ArtBreak: Slide Lecture, Cant Give This War Away: The Art of Photojournalism,
From Three Iraqi Summers by Nathan Webster, photographer and adjunct
professor of English, UNH. For more information, please contact
(603) 862-3712,
www.unh.edu/moa, museum.of.art@unh.edu.

§
Wednesday, March 24, 5:00 7:00 PM, UNH Hamel Recreation Center: Basic CPR Class. Open to members of the
community. $5.00 fee for Durham residents. No cost to UNH students,
staff, or faculty. To register, please contact Amy Cunningham at 862-0309 or discovery.program@unh.edu.

§
Wednesday, March 24, 6 8:00 PM, OR High School
Cafeteria: Great Bay Rowing Spring Meeting for High School
Students. This meeting
is intended for High School age students. Visit our web site for schedules and
download and print registration forms. The spring season runs from Monday, April
5 through Sunday, June 13. http://www.greatbayrowing.org/Home.html.

§
Saturday, March 27, 8 11:00 AM, Moharimet Elementary School: Moharimet Pancake Breakfast. Come celebrate
the maple sugaring program at Moharimet with a breakfast of pancakes, sausage,
and (of course) maple syrup. The Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band will
perform from 9:45 to 10:30 and the Moharimet sugar house will be open to
visitors throughout the breakfast. $3.00 per adult, $2.00 per child, with
a maximum of $10.00 per family. Please join us for music, mingling and
merriment with your friends and neighbors. All are
welcome!

§
Wednesday, April 7, Museum of Art, Paul
Creative Arts Center,
Noon: ArtBreak: Discussion
Al
Porsche, M.Ed., counselor, Vet
Center, Manchester, NH, discusses mythical vs. sensory issues
associated with warfare. Offered in conjunction with the current exhibition,
War and Remembrance. Free. For more information, please contact
(603) 862-3712,
www.unh.edu/moa, museum.of.art@unh.edu.

EARTH
HOUR 2010

Earth
Hour is an annual international event to raise awareness
of the need to take action on global warming. The World Wildlife Fund is asking
people to turn their lights out for one hour on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from
8:30 9:30 PM. Earth Hour began in 2007 with the World Wildlife Fund in
Australia and has gained support
throughout the world. Participants range from individuals to businesses to
governments--all showing their support and commitment to find solutions for
global warming. In 2009, hundreds of millions of people
worldwide shut their lights out for an hour, including landmarks such as the
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. For more
information, visit http://www.earthhour.org/about/.

DURHAM DEMOCRATIC TOWN
COMMITTEE

The Durham Democratic Town Committee
will meet on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 7:00 PM, at the Durham Recreation
building (the former Durham Courthouse), 2 Dover Road to elect officers for the
next two years. The four committee officers and an at-large delegate to be
elected at the committee caucus meeting will represent Durham at the New
Hampshire Democratic Party state convention May 22. All registered Democratic
voters in Durham
are already members of the town committee and are eligible to vote in the March
31 caucus. For more information on the meeting or party activities in Durham, contact Durham Democratic town chair Tim Ashwell at
868-3775 or durhamnhdems@comcast.net.

NEW
HAMPSHIRE
TRIVIA & TIDBITS

New Hampshire did not officially adopt a state
flag until 1909. Prior to that, New
Hampshire was represented by numerous regimental flags.
The present flag has been changed only once, in 1931 when the states seal was
modified. AmericanProfile
Magazine First appeared: 12/30/2007

Have a good
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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Friday Update March 19, 2010

Friday Updates