Friday Updates - December 22, 2023

Friday, December 22, 2023

A short day/long night at Jackson's Landing approaching the winter solstice. Courtesy, Sandra Hebert

The winter solstice this week (December 21) marked the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s officially winter!

Christmas is coming right up on December 25^th. Merry Christmas!

Kwanzaa then follows from December 26 through January 1. It is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community, and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. The seven principles that form its core were drawn from communitarian values found throughout the African continent. These principles include: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Kwanzaa gets its name from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza” and is rooted in first fruit celebrations which are found in cultures throughout Africa both in ancient and modern times. 

There will be no Friday updates next week due to vacation schedules. We will see you in the New Year!

The Oyster River Chorus with their instructor, Jarika Olberg, (far right) visited the Town Hall on Wednesday to ring in the holiday season with some caroling. Courtesy, Todd Selig

TOWN OFFICES CLOSED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, DEC. 25-26 | TRASH & RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULE DELAYED BY ONE DAY ALL WEEK DUE TO CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

Durham Town Offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 25 & 26 for the Christmas holiday. There will be no trash collection on Monday, December 25. Collection will be delayed by one day all week. There will be no commercial recycling collection on Friday, December 29th. The Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station will be closed on Saturday, December 23 and open on Tuesday, December 26.

DPW WINTER NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE – Christmas Tree Collection Begins January 8

The Durham Public Works annual Winter Newsletter is now available HERE. The 2024 recycling calendar and holiday collection schedule is contained within the newsletter and is also available in separate files within the hyperlink. Durham Public Works is slated to undertake numerous high value projects in 2024. Narratives for several of these projects can be found within the Newsletter, in addition to information regarding the Department’s policies and procedures on snow and ice control and municipal solid waste collection. The Christmas Tree Residential Curbside Collection Program begins on January 8th at 7:00 AM. Please place trees curbside no earlier than January 6th. The Winter Newsletter is available in hard copy version at Durham Public Works, Durham Police Department, Durham Town Hall, and the Durham Public Library.

UPDATES FROM AROUND DURHAM'S DEPARTMENTS

The new Land and Mobile Radio (LMR) project is nearing completion, although Public Works Department radios must be reprogrammed to be able to utilize the new network. Unfortunately, on Monday of this week, the day before surge protection was to be installed at several of the broadcast node locations to protect batteries identified through a punch list review, Durham received electrical surges creating some system damage. Maddening! 

The Business Office is diligently working with departments as part of end of year closings for FY 2023. The Town’s fiscal year is January 1st – December 31st. Administrator Selig is in the process of finishing up annual evaluations for department heads and the annual year-end wrap up for the Town Report.

The Code Office reports there is now a large hole in the ground at the site of the future ATO project on Garrison Avenue. It’s good to see the redevelopment project finally moving forward. Hannaford installed its new multiple automated checkout machines without pulling building permits. Code Officer Audrey Cline has followed up with Hannaford to address. The former Goss manufacturing facility, now owned by R.J. Kelly Companies, is in the process of undergoing a facelift out on Technology Drive to include some interior improvements as well. R.J. Kelly indicates it has leased out much of the space in this location.

The Administrator's Office has been advertising and interviewing for a new Assessor to fill the [large] shoes of Jim Rice who will be retiring at the end of February 2024. A conditional offer has been made to a qualified candidate with many years of assessing/appraisal experience. 

Sheryl Bass at the Library notes that DPL programming has concluded for 2023 and they are finishing up staff evaluations there.

Town Planner Michael Behrendt notes that the Historic District Commission/Heritage Commission is gearing up for several scheduled forums beginning January 18th to discuss the language utilized on the NH historic marker that commemorates the Oyster River Massacre incident in 1694 in Durham. In addition, Southeast Land Trust has asked the Conservation Commission for a recommendation concerning the possibility of acquiring a conservation easement on approximately 44 acres to permanently protect land owned by Pam Langley along Langley Road.

Durham Police and Fire had their hands full with the Trump campaign event this past week. (See separate report on this topic below.) 

There was no rest for the weary as rain and high winds arrived in Durham Sunday evening through the day on Monday. Public Works, Police, and Fire all did a terrific job dealing with the storm system that impacted so much of the town.

The Durham Fire Department invoice submitted to UNH for the Trump campaign rally at the Whittemore Center in Durham totaled $4,220. The Durham Police Department cost was $8,400. Total expense to Durham not including salaried personnel, who were also on hand over the course of the weekend, was $12,620. UNH has indicated it will reimburse Durham and has also provided billing to the Trump campaign for use of the Whittemore Center to offset these costs.  

The Trump campaign had anticipated a crowd of 8,000 attendees. Around 4,000 were in attendance. An estimated 75 police officers were on hand at the venue and around Durham and the UNH campus to ensure a peaceful experience by all. 

The University and Durham are well-versed in managing such large-scale events and this event was no different. UNH Police and facility/recreation staff with strong support from Durham Police & Fire, McGregor Memorial EMS, and area police and fire departments did excellent work over the course of a long day. Many officers were on post as early as 4:30 AM to be ready for crowds that began forming shortly thereafter. Some visitors came as far as from Tennessee.

The event ran smoothly and there were few issues to report beyond a youth running over a line of Trump signs along the side of the road. The youth was pulled over by officers and required to place the signs upright once again and was then given a warning.  

The Durham Public Works Team spent the better half of the week cleaning up damage resulting from the strong storm system that affected New England on Monday. Several rounds of downpours pinwheeled through Durham dropping an impressive 3.31” of rain in 24 hours and winds gusted to 50 mph at times. Ponding affected Durham’s roadway network in addition to downed trees and damaged utility infrastructure.

It has been an unusual start to the winter season for Durham Public Works, with only one emergency winter response to date on November 9. With little to no measurable frozen precipitation expected over the next 10 days, the “dry” stretch requiring no winter maintenance responses is likely to extend into the new year.  

LONG TIME DURHAM RESIDENT AND PUBLIC SERVANT PASSES AWAY

George Anthony Rief, 82, of Durham passed away peacefully on December 13th, 2023 surrounded by family in the home he designed and loved. After attending the University of Miami in Florida, George joined the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, graduating from their Nuclear Power School in 1963, and serving until 1968 on the nuclear submarine USS Seawolf (SSN -575). He subsequently received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1970, and did post-graduate study in Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University

George generously shared his wealth of knowledge and skills, volunteering and contributing his time and efforts to various community projects by serving on the Durham Town Council for several years, the Planning Board and the Economic Development Committee, and as an active member of Rotary. Additionally, he dedicated himself to serving the community by cooking gourmet suppers for UNH students with other parish families for many Sunday evenings at St. Thomas Moore Church.

To read the full obituary, please click HERE.

Strafford Regional Planning Commissioners along with Durham and UNH staff hitched a ride on Wildcat Transit last Friday, December 15th, while on a tour of Durham and the UNH campus. Durham Town Planner Michael Behrendt, UNH Special Projects Administrator Steve Pesci, and other UNH and Durham officials accompanied the group to discuss past, present, and future projects and aspects of the close working relationship and partnership that exists between Town & Gown here.

DURHAM PROPERTY TAXES 93% COLLECTED BY DUE DATE CONSISTENT WITH PAST YEARS

Despite the severe rain and wind on Monday of this week, the Town had collected 93% ($18,333,248) of the property tax warrant for the 2nd installment of 2023 by the due date.  This is consistent with past years. 

Most Durham property taxpayers pay their taxes on time, or shortly thereafter.  

The Oyster River Cooperative School District School Board is pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Shaps has been selected to be the new Superintendent of the Oyster River Cooperative School District. 

Dr. Shaps was selected by the board after a months-long process in which a Screening Committee, comprised of various district stakeholders, consulted members of the school community about the qualities they wanted to see in a new superintendent.

The Screening Committee narrowed the search to three finalists, who visited the district, attended candidate forums at the Oyster River Middle School, and were interviewed in person from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4.

Community members were also invited to provide feedback about each finalist, which was collected via online surveys that were posted on the district’s website. 

Dr. Shaps has served a distinguished 20-year career leading public schools in Massachusetts and New York, most recently as Superintendent of Schools of the Mamaroneck Union Free School District in Mamaroneck, N.Y. His work has focused on providing positive educational experiences for students by creating authentic learning opportunities with connections to the broader world, fostering innovation, promoting inclusive learning environments, and building a shared vision of excellence within the district and the wider community. During his career, Dr. Shaps has demonstrated the capacity and ability to build consensus, promote collaboration, and orient a system to move forward thoughtfully and effectively. 

“The School Board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Shaps to the Oyster River Cooperative School District. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be central to our continued growth and success as a District,” shared Denise Day, School Board Chair. 

In response to his selection, Dr. Shaps stated, “I am honored and grateful for the privilege to serve as the next superintendent for the Oyster River Cooperative School District. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with dedicated educators as we strive to perpetuate the tradition of excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring that every student not only succeeds but thrives.” 

Dr. Shaps added, “I am excited about the prospect of leading by first learning — understanding the invaluable work of administrators and faculty. My commitment extends to engaging with students, parents, faculty, the Board, and the community in thoughtful conversations about the future of ORCSD. Together, we will chart a course that ensures success, growth, and fulfillment for all.” 

Dr. Shaps will start on July 1, 2024. He will succeed Superintendent Dr. James C. Morse Sr., who is retiring in June 2024 after 12 years of dedicated service to the Oyster River community. 

Richard Belshaw was recognized by the Durham Town Council on December 4 for his 16 years of service as a DCAT technician. He started the part-time position in November 2007 and decided to retire this fall. His last meeting was for the Planning Board on November 29.

Richard televised, recorded, streamed, oversaw Zoom and audio, and did tech troubleshooting for Durham's public meetings, mainly for the Town Council, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustment, but also for the other boards at one time or another. He also televised special events like debates and did some filming and interviewing outside of the control room (located in the basement of Town Hall).

He reflected, “I enjoyed being a partner with the Town in informing its citizens about what's going on. It is fascinating to see how local, democratic government works and how solutions to problems are worked out (or not), and to observe how people present themselves and their views in a public forum.”

Richard said that beyond making sure the tech equipment was running efficiently (it doesn't always), the most important concern in his job was to report accurately - and to make everybody look as "good" as possible. He tried to get a closeup of each participant at the table at least once while they were speaking at every meeting. Richard often offered encouragement to visiting speakers before meetings, providing some relief to their nervousness at speaking in public. But he intentionally kept fairly invisible most of the time, serving somewhat like a referee in a sports match. 

One certainly notices though when this disembodied voice comes over the speaker in Council Chambers, such as if Richard needs to ask a board member to "get closer to the mic" so their voices can be heard better on television or online. Craig Stevens, DCAT Coordinator, has labeled the microphone in the control room “VOG” for Voice of God because of the sudden jolt it can bring to those in the council chambers!

Richard strove for an entertainment factor too, hoping to coax the viewer at home to follow the action. He noted, “Many board members are engaging and make good television. Some are clear thinkers and speak well, some ponder and meander, some are very predictable, some dress in colorful outfits, and some provide comic relief.” Richard especially appreciates watching lawyers present. “They each have their own schtick. All of them sound incredibly convincing…even when they lose an argument. I respect their courage and do try to make them look good.”

Richard was ordained as an Episcopal minister twelve years ago. He serves part time at Christ Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. He is a visual artist and archivist as well. He and his wife Julia and their two young children moved to Durham in May of 1997. He says, “It has been an honor to serve Durham.” Richard will continue to be active in town where at present he is serving on the Human Rights Commission and volunteering at the Swap Shop. 

The holidays are here! Once the celebrating is over, check out this helpful list of holiday items you can recycle and reuse, and what items should be thrown in the trash.

Reuse

• Bows and ribbons 
• Tissue paper 
• String lights *
• Plastic garlands and wreaths *
• Gift bags 
• Wrapping paper 

* These items can also be donated.

Recycle 

• Brown Kraft wrapping paper
• Cardboard boxes 
• Thin gift boxes 
• Wine and champagne bottles*
• Paper greeting cards with no glitter, foil, metallic ink, etc. 

*Corks cannot be recycled, but wooden corks can be composted!

Trash

• Decorations
• Wrapping paper
• Confetti, shredded paper, tissue paper*
• Styrofoam (all kinds)
• Tinsel
• Cellophane

*White and brown tissue paper (only) can be composted.

Source: Recycle Smart MA

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee and Durham Public Library

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

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Click HERE.

Learn about the amazing Durham Swap Shop and the service it provides to divert clean, reusable items from the landfill.  Click HERE.

The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay completed their Annual Holiday Hams donation and delivery to the food pantries of Durham, Lee, Newmarket and Barrington. This year the Waysmeet Center received 60 gift cards to Hannaford, and St. Thomas Moore received 60 hams. The donations were then delivered to the Rotary Club last weekend in time for holiday baskets. In all there were a total of 250 Hams donated. 

The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay includes volunteers from the towns of Durham, Lee, Madbury, Newmarket and Barrington. Club meetings are at Friends Forever International in Durham on the first two Wednesday mornings of each month. Hams donations, roadside clean up, and trail maintenance are just a few of the projects the Club worked on in their towns this year. In 2024 the Rotary Club anticipates working with Durham Recreation on expanded Durham Day Events and on a Community Connections Event in Madbury in April. For more information on the Rotary, please click HERE.

GERRISH DRIVE CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27 - Tree to be removed.

Durham Public Works would like to advise motorists that Gerrish Drive at its intersection with Canney Road will be closed to through traffic on Wednesday December 27 beginning at 7:30 AM. A tree removal contractor will have a crane stationed in the roadway on Gerrish Drive for work at a private residence. Ambler Way will remain open to through traffic at all times.

Town Engineer April Talon and GIS Program Administrator Steve Lutterman visited Bennett Road near Packers Falls Road this past Tuesday and Wednesday to collect water elevation data after the 3.3-inch rain event that Durham received from Sunday into Monday. The Lamprey River peaked at nearly 4,100 cubic feet per second of flow, logged at the Newmarket gauge station. This information, when correlated to the flood event, will be used for the design of the new culverts passing Woodman and Corsey Brooks beneath Bennett Road.

Durham Public Works was notified this past year that the Town’s application to replace up to three critical culvert crossings on Bennett Road was identified for funding in the FY 2023 Federal Budget Appropriations Act. The three culvert crossings included in the conceptual design analysis completed by CMA Engineers included Corsey Brook (nearest the Packers Fall Road intersection), Woodman Brook, and LaRoche Brook.

Each culvert is hydraulically insufficient and shows varying degrees of failure and structural deficiency requiring action. 

The next step in the process is to complete an EPA Community Grant online application that Durham Public Works is currently advancing. This $2,040,000 federal grant includes funding to complete immediate final design and permitting, as well as construction funding in a later phase for up to 3 culvert replacements, subject to available funding.

Supplemental construction funding is included within the fiscal year 2024 capital budget.

Durham Public Works, in conjunction with the Trustees of the Trust Funds installed a new park bench this week at Old Landing Park generously donated by the Dorothy Wilcox Trust. Durham resident Joan Drapeau crafted the following narrative in her memory:

Dorothy grew up on a farm in Lyme NH, in 1907 and was an only child. She was her father’s right-hand man and often accompanied him with morning and evening chores. She would wear a small lantern around her wrist and ask that “he light her dark see,” while desperately trying to keep up. She married and spent all her years in Durham. She taught English and Grammar at the Oyster River Middle School. Many who had her for a teacher remarked that she was the best teacher they ever had. After retiring, still being so community minded, she began the organization "Silver Squares," wanting to involve as many townspeople who, like her, had retired. They enjoyed various activities and many “Mystery Rides.” Dorothy was an enormous part of the Durham community, she was an active member of the Durham Community Church, and intricately involved in the varied yearly activities of the Durham Women’ Club.. Some are even lucky enough to remember her "Sarah Josepha Hale" monologue given every year before Thanksgiving. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed the many different flowers she had in her gardens. Dorothy loved Durham and enjoyed sitting by the Oyster River. She truly was a friend, a teacher and a historian.

The Durham Public Works approved Road Program includes the reconstruction of Dennison Road in 2024. The roadway is extremely deteriorated with a pavement condition index of 37/100 and is experiencing significant rutting, alligator cracking, aggregate loss, and heaving resulting in uneven surfaces and altered stormwater conveyance patterns. The project was intentionally delayed until the completion of Oyster River Middle School construction project to ensure roadway damage did not occur on a newly paved roadway from heavy trucks hauling construction materials. The project will include the replacement and installation of ADA compliant ramps and bituminous sidewalks from Woodman Road to Bagdad Road, drainage and sewer collection system infrastructure upgrades, and a reclamation of the entire roadway.

Durham Public Works and its contractor, Maine Drilling and Blasting, completed 65 ledge probes this week on Dennison Road to gather subsurface information to aid in the utility design of the project. A well-functioning and cost-efficient utility design hinges on understanding subsurface conditions. Developing a ledge profile plays a significant role in cost estimation, resource allocation, project scheduling, mitigating unexpected expenses and delays. Additionally, knowledge of the subsurface conditions will enable the Design Team to choose the most appropriate construction techniques.  

MILL POND DAM REMOVAL PROJECT - Fifth Meeting Scheduled for Section 106 Historic Mitigation Process on January 9, 2024

All federally funded, licensed, or assisted projects in New Hampshire are subject to the review requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, implemented by the procedures of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The Mill Pond Dam on the Oyster River removal project falls under this process.

Federal agencies or their legal designees are required to take into account the possible impacts of their projects on historical resources, and to submit proposed projects to the Director/State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) of the Division of Historical Resources, for a determination of potential effects on properties that are listed, or are eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. The Mill Pond Dam is so listed. 

Section 106 Process. The "Section 106" procedures occurring over many months require public participation and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and others for each part of the process:

1. INITIATION: defining the undertaking, determining the area of potential affect, developing a public participation plan, and identifying other consulting parties.
2. IDENTIFICATION / EVALUATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES: identifying those properties already listed in the National Register of Historic Places, preparing documentation for potentially eligible properties, and making a "determination of eligibility" to determine whether a property or district is eligible for the National Register. Section 106 gives equal consideration to properties that are listed in OR determined to be eligible for the National Register.
3. DETERMINATION OF EFFECT: applying the Advisory Council's "Criteria of Effect" and making a "determination of effect.” 
4. RESOLUTION OF ADVERSE EFFECTS: if adverse effects of state or federal projects are identified or appear to be likely, consultation continues to identify ways to achieve the project purpose and to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects, taking into consideration the values of the historic property or district, the parts of the undertaking that are essential to achieving the purpose of the project, and the adequacy of planning and of funding to achieve both the project objectives and a satisfactory resolution of adverse effects. Mitigation may include avoidance, alternative treatments, redesign, relocation, data recovery, documentation, public education initiatives or interpretive measures.
5. COMPLETION: if consultation is successful, a Memorandum of Agreement is prepared. The MOA is a legally binding document with stipulations that describe the measures that the project sponsor and/or lead agency (the Town of Durham) will take to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. If there is no agreement, the lead agency continues consultation with the Advisory Council, and the Council's final comments must be taken into account by the agency.

Firefighter Artie Boutin has decided to move on from the Durham Fire Department as of December 15, 2023. Artie has served with the department since May 11, 2008, and was assigned to D Shift. In addition to his duties as a firefighter/AEMT, Artie also served as the department’s Radio Coordinator and EMS Coordinator. 

The department and the Town thank Artie for his service to the community and many contributions to the department and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors! 

Artie has taken a position with the Lee Fire Department, which recently increased its wages significantly to be more competitive within an increasingly tight labor market. Portsmouth, Dover, and Somersworth have also significantly raised their pay for firefighters in the last year.

Please join the Durham Fire Department in welcoming Rob Atwater to the position of Deputy Fire Chief effective December 18, 2023.

Rob was previously employed at the Derry Fire Department since 2002 and most recently held the position of Battalion Chief having begun his career in the EMS field in 1990. Rob holds a CPSE Fire Officer certification and served as a flight medic for 10 years.

Rob is a graduate of Boston College High School and attended Colgate University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts.

Rob enjoys spending time at home with his wife, Krista and son, Liam. Rob loves coaching Liam’s baseball team in his spare time and also enjoys upland bird hunting.

If you see Rob around town, feel free to say hello and welcome him to our community!

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 #49

Well Kids it’s been a great year spending a few minutes a week with you and your family. I hope you have gotten some helpful tips from Smokey and his friends at the Durham Fire Department Local #2253. Hopefully you all enjoy your winter vacation and have fun with your family during the upcoming Holidays. The Firefighters and Smokey would like to wish you all Happy Holidays!  

Smokey's helpful tips on safety will begin again in the New Year. Stay tuned!