Friday Updates - January 30, 2026

Friday, January 30, 2026

The late Henry Smith in 2008

On January 17, 2026, Henry M. Smith passed away at 85 years old. Henry served the Town of Durham in many ways while a resident here. He was a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment for 6 years in the early 2000's, serving as Chair for two of those years. He was a Town Councilor from 2006-2009, serving as a Council Representative to the Cemetery Committee and Historic District Commission. And then from 2010-2012 he served as a member of the Historic District Commission. A complete obituary has yet to be published, but you can find the information for a memorial service HERE.

The Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden Winter Newsletter is available. You can read it HERE.

One resident sent a gentle reminder this week that folks shouldn't complain too much about this cold weather - low temperatures may be a harbinger of a great maple syrup season. That should warm people's taste buds!

FEBRUARY 2 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEMS

• Approval of first 2026 Water and Sewer Warrant
• Scheduling a Public Hearing for the acceptance of a private donation of $10,000 to the Bickford Chesley House Gallery
• Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town and Durham Professional Middle Managers Association
• Approval of awarding a Solid Waste Collection Contract to Casella Waste Services
• Acceptance of the Progress Report on the Town Council Goals
• Approval of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement between the Town and Riverwoods
• Appointment of Allison Jumper as an alternate to the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee
• Appointment of Steven Fellows as an alternate to the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee
• End of year Financial Report by Gail Jablonski, Business Manager
• Discussion and consideration of three ordinance changes pertaining to height restrictions in the downtown

All information can be found HERE.

QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT ON TOWN COUNCIL GOALS (as of 12/31/25)

Staff have prepared a quarterly progress report relative to the adopted Town Council goals for 2025/26. To review progress as of October 1st, click HERE.

WHEN FEDERAL FORCE UNDERMINES LOCAL TRUST - A Community Commentary from Admin. Todd Selig

One of the Town Council goals is as follows: "Proactively anticipate, monitor and respond to changes in federal and state laws and policies, particularly those that may affect human rights or the well-being of residents, students, and employees, through coordinated action with UNH and other relevant partners. When necessary, express clear and timely concerns to safeguard the safety and rights of the entire Durham community.”

To that end, Admin. Selig crafted a Community Commentary, which has been published in Seacoast Online. You can view it HERE.

2025 YEAR END GROSS WAGES COMPILED FOR DURHAM

The 2025 year-end gross wages for Durham have been compiled and are posted on the town website HERE.

While the Town is under no obligation to do so, Administrator Selig believes it’s 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.

MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE REVIEWS DURHAM’S CREDIT METRICS FOR EXISTING AA2 BOND RATING

Moody’s Investors Service periodically reviews municipalities such as Durham that carry a bond rating. We received Moody’s latest Issuer Comment for the Town this past week. The review is not a commentary on specific local budgeting decisions or on the impact of the tax rate on individual taxpayers. Rather, it evaluates communities from a rating agency’s point of view in terms of overall credit risk. 

In its Issuer Comment dated January 27, 2026, Moody’s reports that the Town of Durham continues to hold a high-quality Aa2 issuer rating with no outlook change. This rating reflects Moody’s assessment of Durham’s underlying economic strength, overall financial performance, and manageable long‑term liabilities, as evidenced by the metrics presented in the report.

Moody’s notes that Durham’s tax base has grown in recent years. Growth is largely due to strong appreciation in the regional real estate market. The total estimated market value of taxable property (what Moody’s calls “full value”) increased from approximately $1.53 billion in 2021 to about $2.00 billion in 2024. On a per‑resident basis, full value is high in absolute terms and broadly in line with values for similarly rated communities, underscoring the strength of our property tax base. Durham’s resident income levels also remain above the national average, another positive factor in the Town’s credit profile.

​On the operating side, Town‑wide revenues have grown steadily from roughly $22.9 million in 2021 to $28.3 million in 2024. Available fund balance (a key measure of operating reserves in Moody’s framework) has been maintained at healthy levels over this period, with a ratio of 26.7% of revenues in 2024, although below the 57.1% median for Aa‑rated peers. Liquidity is strong, with net unrestricted cash equal to 83.6% of annual revenues in 2024, indicating ample capacity to manage routine cash flow and unforeseen needs.

​The report also shows that Durham’s long‑term liabilities (debt, pensions, and other post‑employment benefits) have declined relative to our revenue base. Our overall long‑term liabilities ratio fell from 272.3% of revenues in 2021 to 160.2% in 2024, now better than the 210.2% median for similarly rated local governments. Fixed costs (debt service, pension, OPEB, and other long‑term commitments) accounted for 10.5% of revenues in 2024, modestly above the 9.6% median for Aa local governments, but still at a level that can be comfortably accommodated within our current budget structure.

 Taken together, Moody’s 2026 Issuer Comment indicates that Durham continues to exhibit strong credit fundamentals supported by a robust and growing tax base, above‑average resident income, prudent reserve and liquidity levels, and a declining burden of long‑term liabilities. This independent assessment affirms that the Town remains well positioned to meet its obligations and to continue investing in infrastructure and public services at reasonable borrowing costs under our existing Aa2 rating.

​For those interested in the full details, the Moody’s Issuer Comment titled “Town of Durham, NH: Update to credit metrics” is dated January 27, 2026, and is available as a PDF HERE. 

A hungry pileated woodpecker looking to get some suet. Courtesy, Veronique Ludington, Land Stewardship Coordinator

DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE THE TOWN ELECTION?

Two more sessions for registration or changes to registration before the Town/School meeting on March 10 have been scheduled:

Monday, February 9, 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Saturday, February 28, TBD

You may also register to vote any time before February 28 in the Town Clerk’s office whenever they are open. February 28 will be the last day registration will be allowed until Election Day on March 10.

Applicants for registration must bring with them proofs of identity, age (18 by the next election), U.S. citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Affidavits are no longer accepted. The list of proofs currently accepted, especially for domicile, is rather complicated. A NH Driver’s License or Non-Driver’s License with your local address is the easiest thing to bring for identification, age, and proof of domicile in Durham. However, it does not prove citizenship, even if it is a Real ID, so you must bring another document for that.  Passport, birth certificate with your current name, or naturalization papers are the best proofs for citizenship. However, if you have voted before in New Hampshire, that will suffice as long as your name can be found on the Statewide Voter Checklist. If you are unsure of what paperwork is necessary and what will be accepted, please call the Clerk’s office at 603-868-5577 or check the Secretary of State’s website https://www.sos.nh.gov/elections/register-vote and click on the link ‘Registering to Vote in New Hampshire.’ Laws change frequently.

WHAT IS THE ORCSD “DELIBERATIVE SESSION”? - (Annual Meeting Session I) as part of the Oyster River School District Annual Meeting Process? 

We received a question this week from a resident about this topic. A deliberative session is the first part of the two‑step SB2 annual meeting process used by the Oyster River Cooperative School District under New Hampshire law. It’s an in‑person meeting, typically held in early February (February 3rd in the ORMS Recital Hall at 7 PM), where voters can hear presentations on each warrant article (including the school operating budget), ask questions, debate, and offer amendments to the amounts and wording, but do not take the final vote that night.

Whatever comes out of the deliberative session, after any amendments, is what appears on the official ballot at the March 10th election (Annual Meeting Session II), when voters then cast “yes” or “no” votes on each school district warrant article by secret ballot. In practical terms, the February 3 deliberative session will be an opportunity to:

• Get an explanation of the proposed FY 2026 school budget and any other articles.
• Ask questions of the School Board and administrators.
• Make or support motions to amend article wording or dollar amounts within the limits of state law.
• No final decisions are made on February 3; the binding votes happen at the March 10, 2026, ballot session.

DO I NEED TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED IN 2026? Yes - at least for now...

This week a federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking the NH state law that would have ended mandatory vehicle inspections on February 1, 2026. 

• This court order requires the state to continue the existing vehicle inspection program while a lawsuit over the law plays out. 
• The judge specifically found that the state likely cannot end inspections without first getting required approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the federal Clean Air Act. 

 What that means for Durham Residents...

• The January 31, 2026, repeal that was supposed to end the inspection requirement is on hold because of the judge’s order. 
• Right now, you still must get your car inspected under the existing inspection laws and have a valid inspection sticker — just as you would have before Feb 1. 
• That remains true until the judge lifts the injunction or the EPA approves the state’s plan to end.

You can learn more from this WMUR story HERE. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION RELEASES WHITEPAPER ON HOUSING POLICY AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE

The New Hampshire Municipal Association has released a new white paper, “Room for Everyone: Housing Policy and Local Governance,” which reviews New Hampshire’s long-running housing shortage, the limited impact of statewide zoning mandates adopted in 2025, and the growing tension with the state’s tradition of locally driven land use decisions. The paper looks back over nearly two decades of economic, demographic, and market trends that have pushed housing costs higher and restricted the supply of homes, with particular attention to the shortage of affordable rental and workforce housing. 

It concludes that real progress will require a renewed partnership between the state and municipalities, combining reasonable regulatory expectations with infrastructure investment, targeted incentives, and flexible tools that communities can adapt to their own needs. 

NHMA’s central message is that communities must be empowered, not bypassed, if New Hampshire is to achieve sustainable, fiscally responsible growth that expands housing options while respecting local infrastructure limits and community values, and interested residents are encouraged to read the full white paper at the link provided.

The paper is available HERE.

REVISIONS BEING MADE TO SOME OF DURHAM'S FLOOD MAPS - only limited properties affected

The Town of Durham has received copies of proposed updated flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) possibly affecting a limited number of properties in the westerly part of Durham. (See map HERE for locations.) These revisions are preliminary now and will be finalized unless affected residents successfully appeal the proposed changes. The deadline for submitting an appeal is Tuesday, April 20, 2026 (90 days from when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a second notice in the New Hampshire Union Leader on January 20, 2026).

At the moment, we have access only to the existing flood maps and the preliminary new maps. We do not have maps showing the specific proposed changes. We are in contact now with FEMA and hope to receive maps showing the changes so that residents need not try to compare the two maps. We will update the community in Friday Updates in the next week or two about obtaining this additional information.

You can see the current flood maps HERE.  Click on the top link – FEMA Index Map, showing Strafford County. Durham is shown at the lower right. Place your cursor over the map and press to enlarge the map. You can then see the individual maps (aerial photos) for Durham. The only maps in Durham affected by the proposed change are 0314E, 0376E, and 0378E. Click on the map number below the index containing your property. Then click on the aerial photo to enlarge it. The flood zones are shown in blue and blue/red stripes.  

To then see the preliminary new maps click HERE.  (1) select New Hampshire, (2) select Strafford County, and (3) just click to open. This shows all of the maps in the county proposed to be changed (with only the above three in Durham).  Click on the pdf for the map corresponding to your property and it will open.

Again, we will follow up with more information if we are able to obtain maps from FEMA showing the specific proposed changes. The responsibility to check if there are any changes to properties and to pursue an appeal if desired rests with the property owner. The Town of Durham will not be checking to see if there are any changes nor will the Town be involved in preparing appeals, though we will compile any appeals submitted to us and send them to FEMA. For more information, please email Michael Behrendt, Durham Town Planner, at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.

Demolition of the old Cumberland Farms building began on Thursday at 2 Dover Road to make room for a new Dunkin Donuts. The present Dunkin storefront located in the Irving gas station across Dover Road will move to a new free-standing location. The parcel is located in the Courthouse district with frontage along Dover Road.

The new Dunkin Donuts has been approved with a footprint of approximately 1,520 square feet, fifteen off-street parking spaces, a walk-up window as well as an interior service counter, new utility connections including a grease trap and a water quality unit for adequate sewer and stormwater treatment, and landscaping improvements to beautify the site. The project will also include the construction of new sidewalks along Dover Road. NHDOT has approved this project under the conditions that there be no left turn into the site when traveling east on 108 (towards Dover), and no left turn out of Dunkin Donuts turning east on 108 (towards Dover)

The project received a variance allowing parking spaces to be located within the front, side, and rear setbacks, which reflect the current condition of the site. The project will benefit the town by redeveloping a lot which has been vacant for the last decade and improving pedestrian accommodations and safety along Dover Road.

Hometown standout Grace Henderson has earned a spot on Team USA and will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina this February.

Grace, 24, has been chasing her Olympic dream since childhood. She began skiing at a young age and has been a member of the U.S. Freeski Team since just 15 years old. A proud product of Moharimet Elementary School and ORMS, Grace went on to attend Waterville Valley Ski Academy to pursue her passion for competitive skiing.

Grace is a 2024 graduate of the University of Utah, where she earned a degree in Psychology, balancing academic success with the demands of elite international competition. For the past eight years, she has competed on the World Cup circuit in Slopestyle and Big Air—two of freeskiing’s most exciting and technically demanding events.

Slopestyle challenges athletes to navigate a course filled with rails and jumps, where creativity, style, and technical skill are on full display. Big Air features a single massive jump—often exceeding 60 feet—where athletes are judged on difficulty, execution, grabs, and amplitude.

The 2025–26 season marked an Olympic qualification year, and Grace rose to the occasion. Strong performances, including a 6th-place finish in Stubai, Austria, and a 9th-place finish in Aspen, Colorado, earned her enough points to rank among the top four U.S. women selected to represent Team USA in Italy.

Grace now trains full time in Park City, Utah, at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team’s Center of Excellence. She shares that journey with her brother, Hunter Henderson, who is also a member of the U.S. Freeski Team. Hunter has been named the men’s Team USA first alternate and plans to travel to Italy to cheer on his sister while remaining ready to compete if called upon.

From local slopes to the world’s biggest stage, Grace Henderson’s Olympic selection is a point of pride for her family, coaches, and hometown community—and a testament to years of dedication, perseverance, and passion.

The official Olympic website can be found HERE with a schedule of events. Competitions begin on February 4.

Snow and long shadows at Doe Farm cemetery. Courtesy, Amanda Merrill

Every year, fires caused by improper battery disposal cost over 1 billion dollars and threaten the lives of hundreds of waste, recycling, and scrap operators. In fact, the town of Lee had a fire at their transfer station in 2022 due to poor battery disposal.

Along with the risk of fire, batteries that must be recycled are a danger to the environment when thrown in the trash and end up in a landfill.

A Change in NH Law.

As of July 1, 2025, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are prohibited from disposal in New Hampshire’s landfills and incinerators. 

Examples of where to find lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in a wide variety of consumer products, including: 

• Automotive vehicles
• Electric bikes and scooters
• Lawncare equipment
• Portable electronics such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, wireless headphones, speakers, toothbrushes and other rechargeable electronic devices
• Cordless power tools
• Toys

Where can I recycle my lithium-ion batteries?

To find a drop-off site nearest to you, click HERE. In addition, the Durham Transfer Station accepts lithium-ion batteries. Please give them directly to a transfer station attendant. 

Remember – if it’s rechargeable, it’s recyclable! 

Next week, we will review the best disposal methods for other types of batteries. Stay tuned!

Sources: Northeast Resource Recovery Association, NH Department of Environmental Services

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at: DurhamRecycles603@gmail.com

Check us out on Instagram: sustainable.durham.nh

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

Want to learn more about the Swap Shop? Click HERE.

The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (SELT) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the region’s forests, farms, and waterways. Their team works to conserve land permanently while maintaining trails, wildlife habitat, and public access. SELT has played an important role in safeguarding natural areas in and around Durham by acquiring easements, executory interest, or ownership of lands with resources that meet their criteria. Acquiring a conservation easement requires a partnership with the landowner, who can donate an easement, sell the easement at market value, or sell the easement at a discount, thereby relinquishing their right to develop the affected land.

SELT’s portfolio of properties in Durham is impressive with 12 easements. The organization will obtain its first fee simple site (outright ownership) in town soon: the Gsottschneider parcel on Durham Point Road. Holding an executory interest is a second level of protection where SELT could reinforce an easement owned by another party in court if the primary party failed to do so. You can see the remarkable selection of easements in Durham HERE, including those held by SELT, the Town of Durham, and other parties. The Durham Conservation Commission has worked closely with SELT over many years to support conservation planning and promote responsible land stewardship.

We are pleased to note also that Duane Hyde, SELT Land Conservation Director and long-time Durham resident, served as the Durham Town Planner for a number of years prior to the appointment of Jim Campbell (Michael Behrendt’s predecessor). Duane advanced planning in this community extensively, including overseeing the Town’s excellent 2000 Master Plan, until he realized that his true calling was in land protection.

Discover Durham “Astronomy Night” last Friday had to be switched to an indoor presentation due to the cold and cloudy weather. John Gianforte, Director of the UNH Observatory and Extension Associate Professor of Space Science Education, had kindly put together a presentation titled “Our place in the Cosmos," just in case the weather didn’t cooperate for an outdoor sky viewing session.

There were many people in attendance, and John did an amazing job appealing to all ages in the audience and took the time afterwards to answer a couple of enthusiastic participants' questions and show a great video. 

There will be another outdoors astronomy night event planned in the spring. 

In the meantime, check out this site HERE for more information on the UNH 4-H Starlight Challenge, a self-guided astronomy project for anyone interested in learning more about the night sky. 

A big Thank You to Scout Troop 154 who gathered last Saturday to help assemble 10 Leopold Benches and 3 small kiosks for Durham's Conservation properties!

The Scouts will be helping again in the spring to install the benches and kiosks and to accomplish other stewardship tasks on the trails! 

Want to be a Scout? See below on how to join Durham's Troop 154!

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 17 - Your questions requested

In partnership with the Oyster River Cooperative School District, the Oyster River High School Student Senate is organizing a School Board Candidate Forum on February 17th, 7PM at the Oyster River High School Auditorium. The forum is open to all community members. Our goal is to inform the community about the candidates and their ideas. 

We would love to hear from a variety of community members as we gather questions to ask at the forum. Please provide questions that you would want answered by this year’s school board candidates on the following Google Form HERE.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Scheduled January School Closures

January 26: Teacher Workshop Day

2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open on January 27. Our in-person registration schedule, registration packet, and requirements are available on our Kindergarten Registration web page HERE. 

Annual Meeting Sessions and FY27 Information

• February 3, 7:00 p.m.: Annual Meeting Session I in the Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824).
• March 10: Voting Day at each town's voting location.
• NEW VIDEO SERIES! The district launched a series of videos intended to share information related to the FY27 budget. Watch the videos on the new FY27 Budget Videos page HERE.
• Budget and warrant articles information is available on the District website's Budget Documents page HERE, under the Budget FY 26-27 tab.

2026 R.E.A.C.H. Summer Camp

R.E.A.C.H. Summer Camp's registration will open on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00 a.m. Camp registration can be completed through Durham Parks & Rec RecDesk portal HERE and will remain open through April 17 or until full.

School News

2025-2026 Winter Concerts

What a wonderful season of music we enjoyed this winter! Oyster River students across all grade levels showcased their talents through an impressive series of concerts and performances throughout December and January. Learn more HERE.

ORMS Winter Clothing Swap

Oyster River Middle School (ORMS) held its annual winter clothing swap on Friday, January 22, an event organized by the ORMS Sustainability Club. Throughout January, Sustainability Club members collected gently used winter clothing from students, families, and staff. This year, the club gathered an impressive 1,271 items, which students were invited to pick from. Learn more HERE.

Coming Events 

Please consider supporting Oyster River students and staff by attending the following exciting events in our schools! Our full calendar of events is available online HERE.

February 2: ORHS Blood Drive 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Multipurpose Room at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

February 7: ORHS Spring Festival Community Day 10:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. At Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)

February 13: ORHS Dance Showcase

6:30-8:30 p.m. Auditorium at Oyster River High School (55 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824). No tickets required, donations will be accepted.

February 17: Mast Way 2nd Grade Chorus Concert

6:30-7:30 p.m. Morse Recital Hall at Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Dr, Durham, NH 03824)