Friday Updates - February 2, 2024

Friday, February 2, 2024

Punxsutawney Phil. Courtesy World Wide Web

Today is Groundhog Day! The famous Punxsutawney Phil made his prediction this morning in Pennsylvania. He did NOT see his shadow so we should see an early spring.

THE FILING PERIOD HAS CLOSED FOR LOCAL DURHAM AND OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIVE OFFICES

The 2024 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. 

The following are the open Town offices and the residents who have filed for that office in red:

Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)

• Darrell Ford
• Heather Grant
• Curtis Register
• Harry Tobias

One position for Town Councilor (1-year term to finish retiring member’s term)

• James Bubar

Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)

• Callie Langton
• Susan Wagner

One position for Town Moderator (2-year term)

• Chris Regan

One position for Supervisor of the Checklist (6-year term)

• Christian Kuhn

One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)

• Thomas Bebbington

One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (1-year term)

• Alberto Manalo

To learn more about the candidates running for Town office, please click HERE.

The following people running for Oyster River School Board offices are:

One position for Moderator (1-year term)

• Michael Williams

Three School Board Positions (3-year terms) - one position from Durham, Lee and Madbury each

Durham:

• Andrea Chan                                 
• Kelly Ickes                                      
• Jason Kolligs                                  
• Stephanie Pitts
• John Colwell

Lee:

• Renee Beauregard Bennett
• Brian Cisneros
• Rebecca Blake

Madbury: No candidates

This year's Town Report celebrates the 50th anniversary of public skating at Jackson's Landing. Printed Town Reports are available in the Town Clerk's Office at the Town Hall. To read the Town Report online, please click HERE.

2023 YEAR END GROSS WAGES COMPILED FOR DURHAM

We have compiled and uploaded the 2023 year-end gross wages for Durham on our web site as we do every year. This information can be accessed HERE.

While the Town is under no obligation to do so, Administrator Selig believes it is important for the community to be able to easily understand what public employees and officials are paid by the municipality in a completely open manner. Business Manager Gail Jablonski therefore annually prepares the costs of full time, part-time, overtime wages, and other compensation-related payments. 

This past Tuesday evening, Energy Committee member Steve Holmgren gave a very informative presentation regarding the upcoming launch of Durham Community Power through the Community Power Coalition of NH. The session can be watches on DCAT by clicking HERE.

An informational mailing was also sent to all residents. The multi-page mailing contains all the information residents will need to stay informed during this transition. The good news is that the vast majority of residents will not need to take any action to be transitioned to Durham Community Power with lower rates.

Important dates coming up:

• The period from January 22nd through February 26th is the window for any who want to select a plan other than the default of Granite Basic @ 8.1¢ per kWh – for example to “opt-up” to greener content power plans like Granite Plus or Clean 50.
• The CPCNH website to make such selections is now “live” at the address HERE or call the number 1-866-603-7697 (POWR).
• February 26th is the last day to make selections other than the default of Granite Basic before the transition.
• March – residents will be transitioned to Community Power with the first meter read during March.
• April – the first bills that show Community Power as the supplier will be sent.
• At any time, residents are free to choose to buy power from Eversource or from a competitive supplier, or select a different Community Power plan, without penalty or fee if you switch at the next available regular meter reading date.

A thank you is extended to Energy Committee member Steve Holmgren, who serves as Durham’s representative to and board member of CPCNH. Many members of the Energy Committee were also in attendance at the forum as was Durham resident Rob Sullivan who is volunteering his time to assist Steve and the Energy Committee as part of the important information campaign around this transition. 

PROPOSED STATE HOUSING BILLS COULD BE HARMFUL TO DURHAM

Town officials are closely following several proposed bills in Concord related to housing that could have a significant impact upon Durham. There is a housing shortage in New Hampshire, and the Town appreciates the extensive efforts of House and Senate members to search for solutions. Staff are watching the progress of bills that could be beneficial for the state, as proposed or with amendments; other bills that are probably neutral in their effect on Durham; and others that could be harmful, do not offer real benefits and should therefore be killed. Administrator Selig is in contact with Durham’s representatives, officials from other college towns in the state, and the New Hampshire Municipal Association about these proposals.

HB 1281 is of particular concern. (HB means the bill is proposed in the NH House and SB means it is proposed in the NH Senate.) It would substantially reduce the ability of municipalities to set limits on the number of unrelated occupants in a house or dwelling unit (It does not limit the number of occupants in a family). In most of Durham’s zoning districts there is not allowed more than three unrelated occupants in a unit. This ordinance has been extremely effective for many years in protecting our neighborhoods. Durham is a college town and UNH students are, of course, an essential and valued part of our community. However, students often have a different lifestyle than nonstudents; and student residences, especially with a larger number of occupants, can sometimes be disruptive to neighbors. HB 1281 would strike down Durham's no more than 3-unrelated zoning provision. The Town Administrator is communicating opposition to this bill which can be read HERE.

SB 527 is also of great concern. This proposal would undermine the ability of cities and towns to regulate student housing. You can see the proposal HERE. The Town is likewise communicating displeasure with this bill.

HB 1291 could be helpful in New Hampshire in addressing the housing crisis, but it would have some impact on Durham. Several years ago, the state passed a law requiring municipalities to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in all zoning districts that allow single family housing. The Town supported that change because Durham was already receptive to ADUs, although many other municipalities were not. ADUs are an excellent tool for providing housing and they can fit into a neighborhood unobtrusively. Arguably, a push from the state was needed to work around the resistance in some communities to allowing ADUs. Nonetheless, most such proposals can have wide reaching consequences, and they must be carefully crafted and adopted only after taking input from local leaders who understand their local situation best. The Town believes that Concord did that in the case of that current ADU law, which Durham actually helped to craft. HB 1291 would go further, requiring municipalities to allow a second unit on single-family lots. This proposal is somewhat controversial, but there are a few built-in provisions that could give towns flexibility in implementing the requirement. The Town is watching this proposal carefully. You can review it HERE. 

There are several other bills in Concord which would provide incentives and funding to cities and towns, as well as developers, to accommodate and build workforce housing, without imposing any requirements. The Town supports and applauds those efforts.

VEHICLE SNOW REMOVAL – JESSICA’S LAW - Snow must be removed from the top of vehicles before driving...

The Town of Durham has taken several reports of drivers not clearing the snow/ice off of their vehicles. Please note that Jessica's Law in NH prohibits driving with snow/ice piled high on the roof of a vehicle. Jessica's Law is named after Jessica Smith, who was killed when ice from a tractor-trailer blew off, causing a second truck to collide with her car. The 2002 New Hampshire legislation requires drivers to clean their cars of snow and ice or face hefty fines!

View more information regarding RSA 265-79-b HERE.

Oyster River Community Read (ORCR), a grassroots collaboration aimed at using books as tools to help foster connections and build common understandings among community members, will be taking place from February through April 2024.

This year’s Read will feature two books that address the topic of poverty: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond. The Durham, Madbury, Lee, and Newmarket libraries will have books available for patrons. ORCR will offer a variety of free, weekly programs that address poverty, including its roots, the systems that perpetuate it, and ways to overcome it. In panel discussions, book groups, podchats, selected films, lectures, and an original reading by Prof. David Richman, the community is invited

to examine the relationships between poverty and mental health, homelessness, public policy, food insecurity, and addiction. According to Madbury Public Librarian, Susan Sinnott, “In 2023, these two very different books about the causes and effects of poverty became bestsellers. The library is exactly the place to explore the many facets of this troubling and urgent subject.”

ORCR was generously funded this year by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Thorland Fund and Charlie Bucket Fund, the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay, New Hampshire Humanities, the Trustees of the Durham Public Library, and the Friends of the Madbury Public Library. The kick-off event will include a soup social, live music by The Chickenshack Bluegrass Band, and a presentation by our local food pantries. We invite guests to bring non-perishable items to the event which will be held on Friday, February 9, from 6pm-8pm at St. Thomas More Center on 6 Madbury Rd, Durham. To RSVP and to see the full calendar of events, visit the Oyster River Community Read website HERE.

WORKFORCE HOUSING AMENDMENTS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE ZONING ORDINANCE

The Durham Housing Task Force has prepared a set of proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, including the rezoning of one parcel of land, to accommodate Workforce Housing in the Research-Industry Districts. This change would not affect the four residential districts. The proposal will be presented to the Planning Board on February 14. The board will then likely schedule a public hearing on the proposal, or it could make revisions at its option. To download a set of these amendments, please click HERE. Please feel free to contact Michael Behrendt, Town Planner, with any questions about this proposal at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us

FRUIT TREE PRUNING WORKSHOPS TO BE HELD IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH

With the Durham Agricultural Commissions' endorsement, a series of fruit tree pruning workshops are being held in the months of February and March within the watershed community. Join in reconnecting with the landscape to restore and recommit relationships to place. These workshops will be held in different locations on Saturdays from 1-4pm. During the workshop techniques and practices of pruning will be discussed with fellow community member Bryan Cassidy, who will support participants in actively engaging in pruning in the later part of the workshop. Bryan believes that pruning fruit trees benefits the ecosystem (wildlife and human) through shelter, fruit, and health but maybe more importantly our interdependence of belonging and supporting the abundant gifts that come from a little attention close at hand and foot.

 When: Saturdays 1-4pm.

• February 17th: Emery Farm (older apples) 147 Piscataqua Rd, Durham, NH
• February 24th: LaRoche Farm (varying ages of apples) 41 Bennett Road Durham NH
• March 2nd: Tuckaway Farm (blueberries) 36 Captain Smith Emerson Rd, Lee, NH

What to bring: Wardrobe for the weather, water/snacks, and any tools available to you (loppers, pruning saw, pole saw, gloves, safety glasses to prevent falling wood shavings from saw cuts.) 

Cost: These workshops will be by donation to welcome all who are interested without a fee for entrance. Any donation is gratefully accepted by cash or check without any expectation by Bryan.

Please RSVP to bryancassidy77@gmail.com or with any further questions!

Are you wishing for spring weather? Want to try your hand at gardening in a welcoming community garden? Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden invites interested people to check out wagonhillcommunitygarden.com to learn more about this organization! The organization has over 100 beds and 80+ members. Members cultivate their own beds, share the community garden work, share tools and garden materials, and enjoy making new friends with other members while gardening.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please see our website for further Garden Guideline details and submit the Plot Request form on the Contact Us tab. Our first annual meeting of members will be in mid-March. We look forward to welcoming you then! 

Brown paper napkins and brown paper towels can be composted because they are not bleached. In addition, brown paper towel rolls and brown toilet paper rolls can also be composted. Seventh Generation is an example of one business that sells brown paper products.

An even more effective way to cut back on landfill waste is to use washable kitchen cloths instead of paper products.

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

The Durham Public Works Snow and Ice Control Team is beginning to catch its breath after a parade of winter weather events from January 24th through January 28th whose details are highlighted below:

1) January 24th: ~24-hour event which consisted of two separate waves of precipitation which rode along a stalled frontal boundary draped across New England. Light snow during the first wave was followed by an extended period of freezing rain. A combination of below freezing ground temperatures and the loss of radiant heating as the sun set resulted in potentially local dangerous travel conditions during the evening hours without an appropriate winter maintenance response.

2) January 26th: ~10-hour event which consisted of a period of ice pellets which transitioned to rain. The storm featured a similar set-up to the January 24th event albeit less precipitation. 

3) January 28th: ~18-hour event which consisted of a transition from rain to wet snow. Low pressure developed off the Delmarva Peninsula and tracked East Northeast to South of Nova Scotia by Monday morning. Broad warm air advection in the mid layers of the atmosphere combined with surface temperatures above freezing allowed rain at the onset of the storm before “wet-bulbing” changed the dominant precipitation type to snow.

Durham Public Works Heavy Equipment Operator Kevin Linchey is pictured removing snow and ice from Durham Point Road.

The team continues to monitor long range trends and anticipates the large-scale atmospheric blocking pattern to remain in place through next week, suppressing the storm track to our South and opening the door for periods of moderating temperatures. 

INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES COMPLETED AT THE LEE WELL

Durham Public Works and its contractors, A+D Instrument Repair and Hydrus Solutions, completed further infrastructure upgrades to the Lee Well Water Production Facility this week. A variable frequency drive (VFD) unit was installed to provide power to the well pump. Simultaneously, the near pump piping and appurtenances were replaced. The VFD will allow the facility to adjust water production rates to meet varying system demands. This capability is important in scenarios where the Beech Hill Water Storage Tank and Technology Drive Pressure Reducing Value / Booster Station are offline for maintenance or emergency purposes. This redundancy will further bolster the resiliency of the UNH/Durham Water System while conserving energy. 

USED OIL COLLECTION – Transfer Station Program Temporarily Paused

Durham Public Works and its hazardous liquid remediation contractor, Clean Harbors, recently pulled a composite sample of the contents of the used oil storage container at the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr., Transfer Station and Recycling Center. This sample is required to be tested in a laboratory prior to the storage container being pumped to verify its contents and ensure that no contamination is present. While the Department awaits the results and ultimate pumping of the tank, the Used Oil Collection Program will be on pause. Residents are encouraged to either hold onto their material or dispose of it where the replacement oil was purchased in the interim. Durham Public Works would like to thank the participants of this program for their patience and cooperation.

Congratulations to Firefighter Ken Lundberg on completing 20 years of service with the Town of Durham. Ken began his career in the fire service in 2001 and was hired as a full-time Firefighter by the Durham Fire Department on January 20, 2004.

Ken has served for several years on the Executive Board of the Durham Professional Firefighters Association, currently as the President. 

Ken has frequently been a key player in innovative fire department community outreach and public education ranging from developing firefighter story time videos, organizing neighborhood parades through the COVID period, firefighters reading at the Durham Public Library, or supporting numerous Durham Main Street events with the Firefighter’s Association. His passion for public service and grounding in family values has had an impact on the department and in the community.

The department recently held an informal celebration with department members and Ken’s family to recognize Ken’s dedicated service to the department and the community.   

Congratulations, Ken!   

Durham Fire Department’s Community Risk Reduction Administrative Assistant, Aimee Routhier, recently completed the National Career Certification Board’s (NCCB) Administrative Assistant Certification program. 

This program focuses on excellence in communication, customer service, records management, data entry, time management, and financial documentation. To achieve certification, the individual must be able to demonstrate competency in the skills necessary to be a recognized professional in the field of administrative assistants.   

The department appreciates Aimee’s hard work and commitment in successfully completing this valuable program. Congratulations, Aimee!

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents and guardians can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #5

DO YOU HAVE SMOKE DETECTORS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE?

Smoke detectors warn you when there is smoke in your house. Replace your batteries every year, when you change the time on your clocks. For a fun link for Family’s Fire Safety Checklist from Monroe County FLA, click HERE.

The Durham Fire Department is hiring for the position of Firefighter/AEMT. The full position posting may be found on the Town’s website HERE or by clicking on the QR code above.

Resumes will be reviewed as submitted. Position to remain open until filled. 

ORCSD KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION TO OPEN FEBRUARY 5-13

Oyster River kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be open February 5-13, 2024. 

Mast Way Elementary School

• For questions, please contact Christine Nelson by clicking HERE or phone (603) 659-3001, ext. 3300
• Mast Way registration packet is available HERE.

Moharimet Elementary School

• For questions, please contact Helen Holmes by clicking HERE or phone (603) 742-2900, ext. 4302
• Moharimet registration packet is available HERE.

In-person registration information is available on the district website HERE.

UNH-4U IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2024

Applications are now being accepted for UNH-4U for students to start in fall 2024. UNH-4U, offered through the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), is an inclusive post secondary education program at the University of New Hampshire for students with intellectual disability, ages 18-24. UNH-4U students are immersed in campus life at UNH and take classes that are aligned with their career goals. Students have the option to live on campus. 

To learn more about UNH-4U, visit the FAQs on the website HERE. To learn more about the application process, eligibility, and fill out an application, visit the application webpage. The deadline for applications has been extended to February 9.

APPLY NOW FOR THE 2024 BRIDGES TRAINING SERIES AT UNH

The Bridges Training Series, offered through the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), is an online college and career training series designed to prepare young adults, ages 18–24, with an intellectual and/or developmental disability for higher education, independent living, and careers.

Available Online Trainings:

Tools and Tech for Academic Success

• Learn about computer programs used in college and many workplaces, including Zoom and Microsoft Office.
• Learn about assistive technology that can help you reach your goals.

Setting and Realizing Goals Using Person-Centered Planning

• Set goals for life after high school.
• Learn about person-centered planning.
• Learn to problem solve and advocate to reach your goals.

Healthy and Social Aspects of Life

• Learn about different parts of being healthy and well as an adult, including social well-being, spiritual well-being, financial well-being, and well-being at work.

Next Steps in Person-Centered Planning

• Make a plan for career and employment OR college.
• Identify next steps for your goals.
• Learn about and identify the people and resources who will help you reach your goals.

Have Questions? Check out the FAQs on the website HERE. Please contact IOD.Bridges@unh.edu if you have further questions.

UNH SPRING AND SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT - Even more opening on February 13!

Whether you’re looking for day or overnight youth programs and camps, from academic enrichment to sports, UNH Youth Programs provide an endless array of opportunities for students from kindergarten through high school. Programs are held on the main UNH campus in Durham and throughout the State. Programs include: 

• Athletic Camps, like Basketball, Field Hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Soccer, Volleyball, and more!
• Academic Enrichment Programs, like Camp Pageturner, Writers Academy, and more!
• Arts Programs, like Theatre, Dance, Summer Youth Music School, and more!
• Recreational Activities, like Camp Wildcat, Sailing, Kayaking, Paddle boarding, and more!
• STEM Programs, like KEEPERS, Tech Camp, and more!

Learn more and enroll today by clicking HERE.