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- Doing Business
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Inside Town Hall
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Helpful Resources
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Town Council
About the Town Council
The Town of Durham operates under the Town Council form of government, according to the Town Charter (see Article 3) adopted at the 1987 Town Meeting. Registered voters vote the Council in for a term of three years, and each year three seats are open for re-election.
Eligibility for Membership
To be eligible to run for Durham Town Council, a candidate must:
- Be a registered voter in Durham, NH
– Only registered voters of the Town are eligible to hold office.
– Candidates must meet New Hampshire voter registration requirements (U.S. citizenship and at least 18 years old by election day). - Be at least 18 years old by election day.
- Meet the residency requirement
– You must have been a resident of Durham for at least 90 days immediately preceding the election and remain a resident throughout your term. - Remain a resident for the duration of the term
– Moving out of Durham during your term makes you ineligible to continue serving. - Not be a full-time or regular employee of the Town of Durham.
- There are no campaign finance restrictions or requirements.
Eligible persons who would like to run for Town Council must submit in person a Declaration of Candidacy Form (see below) with the Town Clerk's Office during a specified filing period at the end of January. Town Council elections take place on the second Monday of March and are nonpartisan; party affiliation does not appear on the ballot. Newly elected Councilors take office on the Monday in March following the election.
The Town Council approves all ordinances, resolutions, policies, and the yearly budget. The Town Council also appoints people to the various Boards and Committees. Councilors are also required to assist at all Durham elections. This includes signing and witnessing ballot box security procedures, being present for the opening of the polls, and attending the close.
The State of New Hampshire's RSA 91-A is commonly referred to as the "Right To Know" law. As a matter of principle as well as legal obligation, the Town of Durham seeks to "embrace openness in the conduct of public business," as stated in the Town Council's 2014-2015 Goals.
Every year the Town Council develops and approves goals that will guide Town Staff, boards and committees, and the Council itself in the coming year. Some goals are intended to span a longer horizon and so remain on the list from year to year.
