Friday Updates - January 19, 2024

Friday, January 19, 2024

Sunrise looking downstream from Jackson's Landing Courtesy, John Parsons

This week the Town Clerk's Office received several phone calls from media outlets including NBC, ABC, and CNN. NBC tentatively plans to come to the election in the morning and would like to go LIVE from the polls in Durham for the Today Show. As you know, there's always a lot happening in Durham!

The polling place for Durham residents is at the Oyster River High School Gymnasium. For the NH Presidential Primary election, the polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM.

Bill Sullivan was nominated and named the new Principal of Oyster River Middle School by the Oyster River School Board. Read more about Bill below.

Durham’s progress toward Community Power continues this week with an informational mailing to all residents scheduled for the week of January 22nd. This multi-page letter will contain all the information you 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:

• Week of January 22nd a mass mailing to all Durham residents with details on the available power plans and how to choose them.
• 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: https://CommunityPowerNH.gov/durham or call the number 1-866-603-7697 (POWR).
• A public Information Session will be held on January 30th at 7 PM in the Town Hall Council chambers, or register to attend by Zoom by clicking HERE.
• 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.

Durham Assistant DPW Director Sam Hewitt was out storm chasing this weekend and came across this scene on Route 1A in Hampton. You can see just see the yellow center line at the bottom of the photograph. Yikes! DPW Director Rich Reine reached out to offer mutual aid assistance to Hampton if needed. 

We can expect to see more of this as the new reality along NH’s Seacoast associated with Climate Change.

DURHAM'S NEW EQUALIZATION RATIO HAS BEEN SET - Even with the recent revaluation, properties are assessed at 5.8% below market.

The Department of Revenue Administration (DRA) recently conducted a sales-assessment ratio study using properties that sold in Durham between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023. The purpose of the study is to compare the assessments of those properties sold to their selling price. 

Based on the survey, the DRA has determined that the median ratio for vacant land and improved properties in Durham for tax year 2023 is 94.2%. Basically, this means that on average, even with the revaluation just completed, the assessments of properties in Durham were approximately 5.8% below market value as of April 1, 2023. 

The median ratio in 2022 was 61.5%. According to the statistical guidelines established by the Assessing Standards Board, the median ratio must fall between 0.90 and 1.10. When the ratio falls outside of these parameters, a revaluation or statistical update must be conducted to bring all assessed values in the municipality to 100% market value. As a result, a town-wide revaluation was conducted in 2023. Prior to that, the last statistical update was performed in 2018.   

The plan moving forward is to undertake a statistical update of values annually.      

This week's flooding at the Town Landing. Courtesy, Mike Drooker

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND TOWN ELECTION VOTING INFORMATION

Durham's polling place is at the Oyster River High School. For the NH Presidential Primary election, the polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM.

The final date for registering to vote at the Primary has passed. If you wish to vote on January 23, you must register in person that day at the polls. 

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Driver’s license and passport are very helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking. However, a photo ID is essential. 

Filing period for local Durham elective offices and for School District offices is from January 24 till February 2. By law the Supervisors of the Checklist are required to meet from 7:00 to 7:30 PM the day before filing opens. Therefore, the Durham Supervisors of the Checklist will be available:

At Oyster River High School gymnasium

January 23, 7:00 to 7:30 PM

Anyone who registers during this time will be entered onto the Checklist the next day, but you will NOT be allowed to vote in the Primary because the polls will officially close at 7:00 PM.

POSITIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 12, 2024, TOWN AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS - Filing period begins Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

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 open Town offices are:

• Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)
• One position for Town Councilor (1-year term to finish retiring member’s term)
• Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)
• One position for Town Moderator (2-year term)
• One position for Supervisor of the Checklist (6-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (1-year term)

Candidates interested in running for Town office should file their declaration at the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office starting on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, at 8:00 am, through Friday, February 2, 2024 until 5:00 pm. If you would like to learn more about any Town elective office, responsibilities, time commitments, etc. please give the Administrator's Office a call at (603) 858-5571 or write to kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us.

The following open Oyster River School Board offices are:

• One position for Moderator (1-year term)
• Three School Board Positions (3-year terms) - one position from Durham, Lee and Madbury each

The filing period starts on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, at 8:00 am, and ends on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 5:00pm. Individuals interested in a School Board position should contact School District Clerk Susan Caswell at 603-498-7054 to set up a time to file, or Wendy DiFruscio at the SAU 603-389-3286 to make an appointment. 

The Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission is hosting three roundtable discussions to talk about the Oyster River Massacre Marker and potential revised language for the marker (along with ideas for conducting these kinds of conversations effectively going forward). The marker was removed from its location on Newmarket Road several years ago by NH Historic Resources and NHDOT, among numerous signs statewide, pending a re-evaluation of the appropriateness of certain existing markers.  

The first meeting was held on this past Thursday evening. You can watch the discussion on DCAT HERE.

Participants in the roundtable discussions are as follows:

Chair/Facilitators

• Larry Brickner-Wood, chair of the HDC, will chair the discussions.
• Charlotte Bacon, of Montgomery Will, will facilitate the discussions.
• Barbara Will, of Montgomery Will, will facilitate the discussions.
• Michael Behrendt, Town Planner

Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission (HDC)

• Jennifer Becker
• Carolyn Singer

Durham Human Rights Commission

• Richard Belshaw
• Janet Perkins-Howland
• (Kathy Collins as an alternate)

Durham Historic Association (DHA)

• Steve Eames
• Janet Mackie
• (Nancy Sandberg as an alternate)

New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (NHDHR)

• Amy Dixon, Community Preservation Coordinator
• Nadine Miller, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer

New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT)

• Sheila Charles, Cultural Resources Program Specialist/Archaeologist
• Jill Edelmann, Cultural Resources Program Manager

New Hampshire Commission on Native American Affairs

• Anne Jennison, Chair

Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective and Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People

• Denise Pouliot, member of the Cowasuck Band

DURHAM HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

The Town of Durham hired RKG Associates to write a Housing Needs Assessment to assist the Housing Task Force in understanding the specific needs for housing in town. You can review the draft report on the website HERE.

The Town received a $25,000 grant under the state’s Housing Opportunity Program, which included $20,000 for the assessment plus $5,000 to hold a forum later this year to talk with the community about housing issues.  There is a good deal of interesting, and some surprising, information in the report which covers demographic trends in Durham, housing characteristics, market trends, workforce housing, senior housing, student housing, and a discussion of the capacity of the land to accommodate new development.

With the start of a new year, some of us are gathering items we no longer need or have room for. Many of these items may still be of use to others… but how do we find a place to pass them on?

You may know about Durham’s Linda H. Hollister Swap Shop. Located at the transfer station, the Swap Shop is run by volunteers who accept selected household items that are clean and in good condition. These items are then made available to others that can find use for them.  The Swap Shop is seasonal, however, and is currently closed until Spring. In addition, the Swap Shop is limited on what it can accept and does not take clothing donations or upholstered furniture.

• How can I get rid of an old pair of sneakers?
• How do I pass on a student desk our family has outgrown?
• Where can I bring old CDs I no longer listen to?
• What are the options available to us?

With these questions in mind, the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee (IWMAC) has put together a list of local businesses that accept reusable items.

Please click HERE to download that list. We hope you find this information helpful!

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

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

WINTER STORM SAFETY MESSAGE

Durham Public Works would like to remind the motoring public that maintaining safe and passable roadways, sidewalks and public parking lots is our main priority during a snow and ice event. Please slow down and allow extra space within the vicinity of snow fighting equipment. Road conditions behind a snowplow are significantly better than those preceding it, and drivers should avoid creating an unsafe situation by attempting to pass this equipment. We kindly ask that residents be mindful of roadway conditions and avoid parking on the street during snow and ice events to maximize the efficiency of snow removal operations.

Durham Public Works would also like to remind parents to speak with their children about the importance of staying away from the road during a snowstorm and avoiding snowbanks altogether.

At times children play and make tunnels within snowbanks piled during snow and ice operations and the extreme danger these snowbanks present is not always realized. While operators are cognizant of the possibility of children playing in snowbanks, the height of snowbanks can impair visibility, making it very difficult for the operators to react quickly. Additional snow loads on existing tunnels or forts can significantly weaken their structure, potentially collapsing them completely. Many children are fascinated with snow removal equipment, but they do not understand the power or damage they can cause. It is important to educate your children about these dangers to prevent a tragic accident from occurring.

Durham Public Works purchased a 2023 Prinoth SW50 Sidewalk Tractor with snow removal attachments towards the end of last year as part of the 2023 Fiscal Year Capital Improvements Budget. This piece of equipment replaced the existing Colpron Landini Sidewalk Tractor which has faithfully served the community for the last 25 years. The SW50 is highly regarded in the industry due to its compact and agile design and robust snow clearing capabilities. The flexibility and grip of its rubber tracks allow for improved traction control, ensuring better maneuverability and stability on slippery terrains. This feature enables the SW50 to efficiently clear winter precipitation from sidewalks, even in the most challenging of weather conditions. Furthermore, the flexibility of the rubber tracks allows the machine to navigate through tight spaces and around obstacles on sidewalks with greater ease. In the photo above, Durham Public Works team member Chris Starkweather is seen in the machine clearing snow from the sidewalks on Newmarket Road during a recent event. 

HOLIDAY TREE CURBSIDE COLLECTION PROGRAM COMPLETED

The Durham Public Works Highway team successfully completed the Holiday Tree Curbside Collection Program this week. The one-week effort netted 383 trees.

Residents who were unable to set their tree curbside prior to the collection effort can dispose of them at the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center located at 100 Durham Point Road. The Facility is open Tuesday’s and Saturday’s from 7:30am – 3:00pm.

A reminder that a permit is required to use the Facility may be obtained from either the Durham Public Works Office or Durham Town Hall. 

EELGRASS RESILIENCE PROJECT

The Great Bay Estuary, on the border of New Hampshire and Maine, is currently listed as nitrogen impaired, largely based on decreases seen in eelgrass habitat. Loss of eelgrass habitat resulted in a 2020 U.S. EPA “Great Bay Total Nitrogen General Permit,” focused on reducing nitrogen loading from 13 communities with Wastewater Treatment Facilities but also offering options on how to control nitrogen inputs through non-point source controls. Gaps in understanding of how eelgrass responds to changes in water quality limit the management tools available for ensuring eelgrass health.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) and permitted municipalities are looking to their partners, such as Great Bay NERR and the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP), to provide critical scientific insights needed to meet the new permit requirements. 

The Eelgrass Resilience project will explore whether nitrogen reduction actions have improved eelgrass resilience and the role that initial eelgrass recovery could play in further reducing the impacts of nitrogen and other stressors. The project combines hydrodynamic modeling and new field observations to delineate the relationships among nitrogen loading, in-situ nitrogen processing, sediment dynamics, light, and eelgrass resilience. Outputs include habitat connectivity estimates, likely stressor-response scenarios, charrettes, education curricula, and associated reports and presentations. Building on existing regional collaborations and efforts to link the science with decision making, this work will directly inform the adaptive management plans developed by communities, as well as future modifications to the EPA permit requirements. 

Durham’s Public Works Director Rich Reine and Town Engineer April Talon have been appointed as members of the Project Advisory Committee. Part of their role is to be a liaison - sharing information about the project and gathering any input. 

Please take a minute to review the Project webpage HERE to learn more about this exciting project. 

Source: eelgrass resilience project website

Following the receipt of project bids well outside of the project budget, the City of Portsmouth determined the best path forward would be to split the project into two phases. The first phase will focus on the installation of new valves on either side of the crossing in advance of rebidding the water main replacement project. This valve replacement project will advance a portion of the land-side work at Wagon Hill Farm that was included in the water main replacement project and provide Portsmouth with means to shut off flow to either of the cast iron mains under Little Bay should leaks occur.

The access route to the valve improvement project is the same alignment through Wagon Hill as proposed for the water main project as shown above. The access road entrance off Route 4, is to the east of the existing Wagon Hill Farm entrance. The access road will be 20-ft wide and will be constructed of timber mats. At the entrance to the road, there will be a stone apron to prevent construction vehicles from tracking sediment out of the project site.

Timber mats will extend from the start of the access road, through the eastern side of the existing Wagon location, to the City of Portsmouth’s existing easement through Wagon Hill Farm. The access road will be located within the currently held easement through the adjacent private property.

Anticipated equipment that will need access to the project site include excavators, dump trucks, and pick-up trucks. Silt fence and will be placed on either side of the timber mat road. A temporary construction staging area will be located on either side of the access road at the entrance near Route 4. These areas will be constructed of gravel placed on geotextile.

The valve improvement project construction is anticipated to last approximately 3 months. Portsmouth bid the project in January 2024 and is moving forward with contract award. Their goal is to have the project under construction as soon after award of the project as possible, likely March through May 2024.

Use of the temporary access road through Wagon Hill is anticipated throughout the project duration. 

The Durham Fire Department's Brendan O’Sullivan has successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of “Fire Marshal” (FM). The Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) met on October 3^rd, 2023 to confer the designation. Brendan becomes one of only 235 FMs worldwide.

The Designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.

The Fire Marshal designation program uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate candidates seeking the credential. The Commission on Professional Credentialing awards the designation only after an individual successfully meets all the organization’s stringent criteria.

Achieving this designation signifies Brendan’s career commitment to the fire and emergency services.

This professional designation is valid for three years. Maintaining the designation requires recipients to show continued growth in the areas of professional development, professional contributions, active association membership, and community involvement as well as adhere to a strict code of professional conduct.

The Commission on Professional Credentialing, an entity of the Center for Public Safety Excellence®, Inc., (CPSE®) administers the Designation Program. The CPC consists of individuals from academia, federal and local government, and the fire and emergency medical services profession. To learn more about CPC, please click HERE.

GIVE BLOOD AND POSSIBLY ATTEND THE SUPERBOWL!

The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage right now. Per an article in Fosters this week, the number of people donating blood has fallen about 40% over the last 20 years.

The article also states that the Red Cross and the NFL are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets. Those who give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For more information, click HERE.

Here in Durham you can donate blood on January 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or January 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Memorial Union Building on the UNH campus. You will need to visit www.redcrossblood.org and make an appointment.

To read the full article in Fosters with more locations listed to give blood, click HERE.

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 #3

Now that we know to DIAL 911 FOR AN EMERGENCY and the questions that will be asked of us, also  how important it is for YOU KNOW YOUR ADDRESS, we can start to put more together.

DO YOU HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN?

Having an escape plan to get out of your house is important so you can get out as quick as possible. Most people commonly exit their homes from the most common or most used exit. It’s a great idea to have multiply ways to get out of the house if other ways are not possible. Work as a family to come up with an escape plan for emergencies. Click on this helpful link HERE from the Virginia Arlington County Fire Department Fire Prevention Office to design your own plan.

Another view of the flooding this week at the Town Landing. Courtesy, Lyn Howard

CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPOSED FOR LANGLEY PROPERTY

Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director for the Southeast Land Trust (and former Durham Planning Director), will present a plan to the Conservation Commission on January 22 requesting a letter of support for funding to acquire a significant new conservation easement. Duane has been working with the landowner for several years to allow for the protection of several parcels totaling 44.5 acres located near the mouth of the Oyster River and Little Bay. Support from the commission is helpful as the funding programs are competitive. 

These types of projects involve securing funding from numerous sources with different (and sometimes conflicting) requirements, negotiating a price with the landowner and addressing their various concerns, complying with complex law, obtaining Town approvals when needed, and keeping the deal moving forward over the course of several years as the details keep changing. 

To download a map showing the areas proposed for this easement, please click HERE.  

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

Bill Sullivan was nominated and named the new Principal of Oyster River Middle School. Mr. Sullivan came to the district in 2000 as a 5th grade classroom teacher. In 2011 he became the Vice Principal of ORMS and has been the interim Principal since the beginning of the school year. Congratulations to Mr. Sullivan!

The Mouth of the River, the high school news magazine, will hold their next Coffee House gathering on January 25th at ORHS. This will coincide with the release of the newest issue of the Mouth of the River. Come for a great night of music and entertainment. The high school will also be hosting an 8th Grade information night for students and parents on February 8th. Details and times are on the district website HERE.

On February 1st, the district will be hosting an Internet and Digital Safety event for adults only. The topic will be represented by the NH Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). This will be held at the middle school and begin at 6:00 P.M. more details can be found on the district website HERE.

ORCSD OPENING FOR BALLOT CLERK (LEE RESIDENTS ONLY)

The SAU Office is looking for a resident of the Town of Lee, NH, to serve as a Ballot Clerk for the February 6, 2024, Deliberative Session (snow date February 8). The meeting is being held at the Oyster River Middle School in the Concert Hall at 7:00 p.m. (1 Coe Dr. Durham, NH 03824). If you need additional information or are interested in serving as a Ballot Clerk, please contact Wendy at the SAU Office at 603-389-3286 or wdifruscio@orcsd.org.

To view the official announcement, please click HERE.

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.