Friday Updates - July 15, 2022

Friday, July 15, 2022

U.S. inflation has hit 9.1%, adding pressure on the Federal Reserve Bank.  The consumer-price index’s advance for the year that ended in June was the largest for any 12-month period since the one that ended in November 1981. Gasoline drove much of the increase, with shelter and food prices also major contributors.  Courtesy The Wall Street Journal

BUDGET AND CIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS UNDER WAY FOR FY 2023 – Departments working to development budget requests amidst significant inflationary environment

Durham’s department heads, as well as the Town’s various boards, committees, and commissions (as well as external organizations to which the Town makes payments for services such dispatch, ambulance, social service agencies, etc.) have begun (or will shortly begin the process of preparing their proposed budgets and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) requests for FY 2023 for consideration by Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Administrator Todd Selig as part of the annual budget development process.

Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Selig have been discussing how best to prepare the 2023 Budget and CIP requests for the Town Council. Since wages and benefits are fixed by contracts and some benefit rate increases are unknown at this time Jablonski and Selig would like departments to put those budget lines aside for now and concentrate on the other lines of the budget and present to them department proposal for what department heads feel is minimally necessary for 2023. Jablonski and Selig would then like departments to take their proposed amount, subtract what their 2022 budget was and figure out how much their budget is increasing.

Once departments have the number of the increase, they will provide Jablonski and Selig a breakdown of where cuts can be made to bring in a 0% budget (excluding wages and benefits). It is understand that the budgets are tight and it will be difficult to bring in cuts anywhere considering how flat the Durham organization is structured but the work needs to be done so we can demonstrate to the Council the impact and any reductions in services that may occur.

For example if a 2022 Budget (less wages and benefits) was $500,000 and a department is proposing $560, 000 for 2023 Jablonski and Selig will need a breakdown of areas that can be reduced by $60,000. Yes we realize it may mean getting so petty that you are reducing some lines by only $100 or $1,000 but it is must be done and if departments don’t do it – Ms. Jablonski and Mr. Selig will do it and and departments may not like those cuts. And yes, it is realized that electricity and heating fuel and other areas are increasing significantly over 2022 and we have no control over them but our direction from the Council is to keep the tax rate the same regardless of rising costs in areas Durham can’t control.

Budget proposals from departments are due to the Business Office by Wednesday, August 17th

Beginning in September Mrs. Jablonski and Mr. Selig will begin to meet with each of the Town’s department heads and members of their department to better understand budget requests, as well as departmental CIP requests. Members of the Town Council will also be invited to each of these meetings if they have an interest in doing so.

One of the Town’s Council’s approved goals for FY 2022-2023 states: “Task the Administrator with meeting the following: 1) Holding the municipal tax rate at the 2022 level or less. 2) Continue to make an effort to control spending, enhance revenues, broaden the tax base, and explore innovative ways to stabilize or reduce the municipal tax rate.” And “Work to secure available external grant funding opportunities.”

Per Town Charter, the Administrator is charged with the development of the annual budget and CIP program. The proposed annual budget must be submitted to the Town Council by the last business day in October. The Town Council by Charter then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget or the Administrator’s budget becomes the budget of the Town by default.

The requested CIP projects will be presented initially to the Planning Board in September (9/14/22) for the board’s feedback and then integrated into the formal budget proposal for FY 2023 by Administrator Selig for the end of October as described above.

DURHAM TOWN HALL TO CLOSE ON AUGUST 2ND FOR ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING

Given recent tragic events involving gun violence around the country, the Town of Durham will be hosting an active shooter training for staff and police/fire/emergency service personnel at the Town Hall on August 2nd beginning at 3 PM.  

All offices at the Town Hall will therefore be closing at 3 PM on August 2nd.  

SUSPICIOUS LETTERS BEING RECEIVED BY DURHAM RESIDENTS

The Durham Police Department is aware of letters being received by various neighborhoods in town. The letters reference an alleged crime and a picture of a person. The allegations in the letter were investigated fully by the Strafford County Attorney’s Office. The Strafford County Attorney’s Office deemed there was no way to move forward with any type of prosecution. The sending of these letters now is under investigation. If you receive a suspicious letter, generally addressed to “Community Members,” please contact the Police Department at 603-868-2324 and an officer will come and take the letter. It is possible you may receive the letter as “returned” mail. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the detective division of the Durham Police Department. 

UPDATE ON COVID IN NH FROM DR. BENJAMIN CHAN, NH STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST

New Hampshire health officials are continuing to stress the importance of vaccination as new subvariants of the omicron variant spread.

State epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan has indicated that about 76-76% of COVID-19 infections in the Northeast are caused by the BA.4 or BA.5 subvariant, with BA.5 responsible for about 60% of cases. As of mid-June, about 20% of infections in NH were caused by one of those subvariants, and Chan indicates that percentage has likely increased in the past couple of weeks.

It’s difficult to know exactly how widespread COVID-19 is in NH because case numbers are not considered reliable with the end of broad public testing and the rise of home testing. Hospitalizations have plateaued since they rose in April in May, but they remain elevated.

Some health experts have said that apparent plateaus in hospitalizations and viral counts in wastewater may indicate a decline in earlier subvariants in omicron balanced against a rise in the new subvariants, raising concerns that we’re at the start of a new surge.

Chan recommends that anyone eligible to be vaccinated, which now includes everyone 6 months old and up, should get vaccinated and get up to date on any boosters for which they are eligible. 

Administrator Selig and the 15 visitors hosted by the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire.

DURHAM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING $10,000 GRANT FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE TRAINING

Thanks in large part to the efforts of Human Rights Commission (HRC) member Janet Perkins- Howland, the Town has been awarded a $10,000 grant to organize DEIJ training for staff/boards/committees. The HRC will be setting up a meeting with some departments and committee chairpersons to get feedback as part of planning out this upcoming training.  

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETES THE TOWN'S 2022 CATCH BASIN CLEANING PROGRAM

Durham Public Works, working closely with its stormwater structure maintenance contractor Eastern Pipe Services, recently completed the 2022 Catch Basin Cleaning Program. Silt, leaves, and other debris were removed from 180 storm water catch basins. The operation of the Town’s storm water conveyance system is heavily dependent on a catch basin structure that is free of damage and sediment build-up. This year, Public Works Operators worked closely with GIS Program Manager Steve Lutterman who developed a field tablet application using Survey123, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ESRI product, to digitally document the condition and cleaning record of each basin. This will ensure accurate reporting and compliance with the Town’s federally issued EPA storm water permit. Durham’s network consists of roughly 575 basins.  

1ST CYCLE POLICE CALEA COMPLIANCE REVIEW COMPLETED AS PART OF NATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROCESS

The Durham Police Department is a Nationally Accredited Police Department under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Every four years, assessors from CALEA will come to the Durham Police Department and ensure the department remains in compliance with over 400 National Standards that govern the departments policies and procedures. During the first three years of the four-year cycle, the department undergoes a remote review conducted by a CALEA Compliance Service Member (CSM). CSM’s are not actual assessors; rather they are trained to review a selected portion of the standards to ensure the department is on track to meet all the fourth-year requirements.

Between July 6th and July 13th, CSM Bruce Robertson reviewed a selected portion of the Durham Police Department’s policies with the cooperation and assistance of Durham Accreditation Manager Captain Jack Dalton. CSM Robertson made it clear to Chief Kelley that he found the Durham Police Department’s commitment to accreditation and professionalism outstanding and lauded Captain Dalton for his exemplary efforts at guiding the department through such a demanding process. CSM Robertson will provide Chief Kelley with an official report of his findings upon completion. In 2025, the department will be up for re-accreditation for their 9th Award.

PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED NEW SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS ORDINANCE

At the Planning board meeting on Wednesday the board set a public hearing for the proposed new Solar Energy Systems ordinance for August 10. They continued discussions about site plans for a mixed-use project at 74 Main Street and the Tideline Public House to July 27. 

The board continues its final deliberations about the proposed parking lot at 19-21 Main Street to July 27.  PLEASE NOTE: The adjourned public hearing for this project was pushed back to August 10 (from July 27).

DURHAM PD WELCOMES THREE NEW OFFICERS

Officer Sean Malonson, Officer Jasdeep Kaur and Officer Travis Bach were all sworn in as Durham Police Officers on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. Officer Malonson is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and recently worked for the Middlesex Massachusetts Sheriff’s Office. Officer Kaur graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston in 2022. While in school, she was a police cadet with the UMass Boston Police Department. Officer Bach is currently a University of New Hampshire student and was recently employed at the Durham Rite Aid as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. All three officers will start their formal 16-week police training in August as part of the 190th New Hampshire Police Academy class.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RECEIVES QUERY FROM OYSTER RIVER RACIAL UNITY TEAM THIS WEEK – Is Durham interested in hosting a Racial Unity Day in September 2023?

Shawna Coppola, a member of a new local organization called the Racial Unity Team, has been involved with others in the Seacoast with organizing a Racial Unity Day in Exeter for the last few years. Ms. Coppola inquired whether the Human Rights Commission would be interested in hosting something to correspond with this in 2023. The HRC expressed initial interest at its meeting on Tuesday of this week. It will discuss the idea further in the future.

Aerial view of 66 Main Street property in 2022. Courtesy DCAT Studios

SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST will hold the following session::Thursday July 21, 2022 7:00 – 7:30 PM Durham Town Hall

Durham Town Hall

for the purpose of accepting new voters. People may also register to vote.  Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile. Driver’s license and passport are helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking. Please note that anyone who will have turned 18 by September 13, 2022 (born on or before 09/13/2004) may register at this time, or any time during the summer at the Town Hall. Parents of students who just graduated from high school may want to discuss this with their children.

Changes in party cannot be accepted at this time or at any time before the day following the Primary. If a voter is registered Undeclared the day of the Primary, they may pick which party ballot to vote, and may then change back to Undeclared as they leave the polling place (or later). However, if they are affiliated with a party (Republican or Democrat), they may only vote within that party and may NOT change party until at least the next day. One may choose to change party INSTEAD OF voting on primary day. You should be able to check your current party status on https://app.sos.nh.gov or by calling the Durham Town Hall at 603-868-5577 within a day or two after this session.

ADDITIONAL LIGHTING INSTALLED ON SIDEWALKS FROM OLD PISCATAQUA ROAD TO STONE QUARRY DRIVE

Durham Public Works coordinated with Eversource Energy on the installation of two additional LED cobra head streetlights to further illuminate the sidewalk from Old Piscataqua Road to Stone Quarry Drive. This section of new sidewalk was generously funded by the Riverwoods and completed last year and is frequently used by residents of Riverwoods-Durham located on Stone Quarry Drive. 

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETES REPLACEMENT OF HOT WATER STORAGE TANK AT PD

The Durham Public Works Department’s Facilities and Grounds Team, in conjunction with plumbing contractor Dennis Munson Plumbing + Heating, completed the replacement of the 52-gallon hot water storage tank at the Durham Police Department this week. Corrosion of the inlet piping resulted in pin hole leaks on the surrounding tank wall. Both teams performed exceptionally well, completing the replacement in eight hours.

DPW COMPLETES SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION ON BENNETT ROAD AND MADBURY ROAD

The Durham Public Works Department and subsurface exploration contractor, Miller Engineering and Testing, Inc. recently completed six (6) individual subsurface explorations on Bennett Road surrounding the LaRoche, Woodman, and Corsey Brook culverts. Previously the Town of Durham, working with Engineering consultant CMA Engineers, completed conceptual designs and cost estimates for the three culverts on Bennett Road, which include LaRoche, Woodman and Corsey Brooks. Each of these structures exhibited several substantial deficiencies including a preliminary finding that the existing roadway is below the mapped FEMA 100-year flood Elevation for the Corset and Woodman structures and highly susceptible to roadway flooding. In addition, the Woodman Brook crossing includes dry-laid stone retaining wall structures at the culvert and along the adjacent roadway approach which is in poor condition and requires attention prior to failure.  

Durham Public Works has included a request for $2.5 million dollars in funding within a Congressionally Directed Spending Request through United States Senator Shaheen’s office and is pleased to report that the project has been viewed favorably and has been submitted by Senator Shaheen for the FY2023 appropriations process which will now be reviewed by the appropriations committee to determine if the project will be funded.  

Additionally, The Durham Public Works Department and subsurface exploration contractor, S.W. Cole completed fifty (50) individual subsurface explorations on Madbury Road as part of the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project.

Riverwoods residents give Thumbs-up to supporting local businesses like CEO's Gelato Bistro, already a big hit in the community. Pictured l-r are: Patrick Parks, Carmelo Fillipone, Giovanna Fillipone,Brenda Murray, Judy Parks, Connie McNulty, Judy Smith, Catherine Kyle. Photo courtesy Catherine Kyle

TRANSFER STATION WALL REPAIR UNDERTAKEN BY PUBLIC WORKS THIS WEEK

The Durham Public Works Highway Division team members completed the repair on a section of the “saw tooth” wall at the transfer station’s residential drop off area. Over time the wall had shifted and had the potential to impact wall stability. These planned repairs will ensure an emergency situation does not develop which could cause an interruption of access to the residential drop-off.

NOISY HVAC UNIT AT THE DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY RESOLVED

The Durham Public Works Department’s Facilities and Grounds Team recently addressed noise concerns stemming from the primary air handling unit at the Durham Public Library this week. An inspection of the unit revealed that the electric motor powering the unit’s fans was beginning to fail. The team procured a new motor and completed the installation in four hours in conjunction with HVAC contractor, ENE Systems of NH. 

OLD COURTHOUSE BOILER PROJECT UPDATE

Durham Public Works recently awarded a contract to APH Plumbing and Heating for the replacement of the boiler at the Old Town Hall / Courthouse / Parks and Recreation Building. The existing 25+ year old Weil-Mclain oil-fired boiler has required significant maintenance over the last few years. The project began this week and will include the removal of all existing equipment including the oil tank and the installation of a new surface mounted boiler and circulation pumps. In preparation for this project, Unitil ran a new low-pressure natural gas service to the building in the spring to provide fuel for the new unit.

OFFER OF DONATION OF LAND TO DURHAM IN WOODRIDGE DEVELOPMENT RAISES SOME CONCERNS OVER POTENTIAL COSTS TO COMMUNITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION/RESTORATION 

Durham engaged the services of wetlands scientist Marc Jacob’s concerning the potential costs to the Town should the Town Council ultimately choose to accept the offer of a donation concerning a Woodridge Road lot owned by Julian Smith and seek after the fact wetland impact approvals from NHDES due to work performed by the owner without state permits.

This is speculative because we don’t know exactly what work was done without a permit and what, if anything, NHDES would require from the Town to address any issues. Very rough range of costs estimated by Mr. Jacobs includes:

NHDES application: $3,000 to $5,000

Possible costs for Priority Resource Area: $1,750 to $3,000

Wetland Restoration Plan: $3,000 to $4,000

Trail Restoration Work: $4,000 to $5,000

Based on these estimates, the cost could range from $11,750 (or less possibly) to $17,000 (or possibly more).

Our options at this point are:

1. Simply accept the property and then prepare an application for NHDES
2. Reject the offer of the property
3. Prepare and submit an application to NHDES up front and decide about acquisition after NHDES determines what work would be required.

As reported over the last year or so, the owner lives in Georgia and the property likely has little financial value. The lot is almost certainly not developable for a residence. The property would then continue toward a wild state unless the current owner or one or more homeowners in the Woodridge Road neighborhood decided to maintain the property for their own use and enjoyment.  

The Land Stewardship Subcommittee will discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting to recommend next steps, if any.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS FLEET SERVICES DIVISION COMPLETES MAJOR EQUIPMENT REPAIRS

The Durham Public Works Fleet Services Division, led by Mike McCrillis, continues to efficiently manage an extremely large workload, and has completed major repairs on the Department’s front-line, one-ton dump trucks this week. One of the vehicles was experiencing an abnormally discolored exhaust plume which was diagnosed as an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve failure. The EGR valve is a critical piece of emission control technology which significantly reduces the emission of nitrogen oxides. The location of this valve in the engine compartment made for a challenging repair as the removal of several mechanical components was required for access.

Additionally, the second one-ton vehicle was put out-of-service for a fluid leak under the engine compartment. Fleet Services Supervisor, Mike McCrillis diagnosed a failed oil pan and was able to complete the replacement in with minimal downtime. The DPW continues to navigate significant supply chain constraints which have led to extended lead times on many mechanical components, further complicating these repairs. 

DATA VERIFICATION FOR 2023 REVALUATION IS UNDERWAY

As you may be aware, the State of New Hampshire requires all real estate within the municipality to be reappraised at least every five years (per RSA 75:8-a) so property tax assessments are at their full and true value.  To keep in compliance with this law, the Town of Durham has contracted with Municipal Resources, Inc. to reappraise all residential and commercial properties in Durham for TY 2023.

Staff members from MRI have started the process of measuring the exterior and inspecting the interior all structures in Durham to make sure the data regarding each property is accurate.  Post card notifications will be mailed to residents letting them know they will be working in specific neighborhoods during the next few weeks.  If, for any reason you are not comfortable allowing an interior inspection, we kindly ask you to verify information at the door.  If you are not home, a notification will be mailed to you requesting an inspection or to verify information by phone.  If you do not wish to have a representative from MRI visit your property, please notify the Durham Assessor’s Office as soon as possible.  All MRI representatives will have a photo ID and a Municipal Letter of Introduction.   

Any questions regarding the project should be directed to the Durham Assessor’s Office at 603-868-8064.  Updates regarding the project will be posted in the Friday Updates newsletter and through mailings.  We greatly appreciate your cooperation throughout this project.

PUBLIC WORKS OPERATORS REPAIR COLLAPSED STORM DRAINPIPE ON BUCKS HILL ROAD

Durham Public Works Highway Team members completed repairs to a collapsed portion of storm drain piping in the vicinity of 65 Bucks Hill Road this week. A 40-year-old corrugated metal pipe had failed due to excessive corrosion. Crews expertly removed the corroded portion and replaced it with corrugated plastic.

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS ACCEPTS DELIVERY OF NEW LOADER/BACKHOE

The Department accepted delivery of new 2022 Caterpillar 420 Loader/Backhoe this week and attended an on-site vendor training session. This piece of equipment is operated on average six days per week, including significant duties at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center, where it is used throughout the solid waste and recycling operation, including winter maintenance duties. It also serves as a backup for the Town’s rubber-tired excavator, used in the Durham Public Works Highway, Water and Sewer Division operations. 

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS EVALUATES CONDITION OF EDGEWOOD ROAD SEWER MAINS

Durham Public Works contracted with Green Mountain Pipeline Services to perform an underground utility inspection of the sewer main on Edgewood Road from Madbury Road to Main Street this week. Recent cleanings of the main performed by the Wastewater Division have revealed pockets of sediment buildup which likely entered through cracks or separations in the clay piping. Wastewater Division Chief Operator Max Driscoll skillfully assisted the contractor with pre-cleaning of the sewer main and all daily coordination requirements. The results of Green Mountain’s CCTV inspection will provide valuable insight as to the pipes condition allowing the Department to evaluate and plan for repair approaches planned for 2023.

DPW REVISES SPEED TABLE MARKINGS FOR BETTER VISIBILITY

To improve the visibility of Durham’s several speed tables, DPW has modified our current structures (Madbury Road, Coe Drive, Bagdad Road, Edgewood Road (between Madbury and Emerson) markings as shown in the diagram above.  

This follows from excellent feedback received by DPW from residents a couple of weeks ago at the Durham Public Library where many residents came together to discuss their interest in future Madbury Road improvements as part of a complete streets approach -- a roadway redesign strategy that overtly includes the multiple needs of pedestrians, bicycles, mass transit, and vehicles versus the “car is king” approach from the post WWII era.

ICONS OF DURHAM POSTER - IMAGE #12

Icons of Durham Poster – Image #12. The beautiful poster “Icons of Durham” created by Ellie Lonske is now available. Just stop into the Town Clerk’s office to place an order. 

General Sullivan House and Monument. This magnificent historic house overlooking the Oyster River is Durham’s only National Historic Landmark.  According to the Durham Historic Association walking tour (published 1992) Dr. Samuel Adams built this high-style Georgian house in 1740. In 1764 his widow sold the house and three acres to John Sullivan, a young lawyer. He added other structures over time: a law office, a dairy, stables, and what is believed to have been a building housing slaves. Sullivan served alongside George Washington and was a hero of the Revolutionary War. He was elected governor of New Hampshire in 1786. He entertained distinguished guest from all over the country and from Europe. A monument to General Sullivan stands nearby.