“FRIDAY UPDATES”

May 30, 2008

Emery Farm located on Route 4

(Photo courtesy Beryl Harper)

The Memorial Day Parade went off without a hitch on Monday, May 26th. A “thank you” is extended to Dick Dewing and all the other individuals who helped to make the day memorable for the community. An additional mention is offered with respect to the Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band which was simply fabulous.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT EMERY FARM

A final reminder that on Sunday, June 1, 2008 from 3:30 – 5:00 PM, Emery Farm invites families to come and explore one of Durham’s newest conservation lands and learn what it takes to make Emery Farm function.  The walk will begin at 3:30 and will take place rain or shine.  Bring your binoculars for bird watching!  The trails are easy, but please wear appropriate footgear and take measures to protect from those pesky insects.  Please leave pets at home.  Call Cynthia Belowski at 868-5562 for more information. Meet at the Emery Farm stand off of Route 4.   This walk is sponsored by the Durham Land Protection Working Group and the Durham Conservation Commission.

NEWMARKET’S WATER NEEDS

On Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 2008, Town Engineer David Cedarholm and the Administrator will meet with the Newmarket Town Administrator to discuss the Town of Newmarket’s long-term water needs. Newmarket is evaluating the possibility of utilizing water from the Lamprey River to recharge its own well head area in an effort to improve its municipal water supply. The meeting is intended to bring Durham up-to-date on Newmarket’s efforts and to see whether the discussions in Newmarket have any bearing on Durham’s own water supply.

MILNE PARCEL

The Department of Public Works has moved a large piece of granite from the entrance of the Longmarsh Trail area to the Town-owned Milne property on Mill Road to be utilized as part of a long-term monument commemorating the Milne’s deep love of the community. A working group comprised of members of the Town staff, Conservation Commission, and Trustees of the Trust Funds will be evaluating different approaches for the memorial, including a visit to the studio of Walter Liff to evaluate potential artistic renderings that might be included as part of the memorial stone.

Fire Captains Richard Miller, Mike Hoffman, and Hubert Matheny TO BE HONORED

On June 7, 2008 the Fire Department will hold a retirement / promotion celebration for Captain Hubert Matheny, Captain Richard Miller, and Captain Michael Hoffman thanking them for their 70 years of combined service to the Durham community. The department will also welcome three new Fire Captains.  For more information and to purchase a ticket for this event, please call Melissa at the Durham Fire Department 862-1426.

TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION

A reminder to members of the Council that a special budget work session has been scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM. I have asked each of our department heads to attend to so that they might listen to the discussion that takes place and answer questions from Council members that arise.

STATUS OF MILL PLAZA PROJECT

The Administrator called offices of the owner of the Mill Plaza property this week to touch base in an effort to maintain an open line of communication with respect to possible interest in redevelopment of the property. At this time the property owner is focusing a good deal of attention on the parcel and has been in communication with many individuals concerning possibilities on the site. The Administrator was encouraged to continue to reach out the owner moving forward and plans to do so.  

CONCEPTUAL REUSE OF DURHAM EVANGELICAL CHURCH AS DURHAM TOWN OFFICES, POLICE STATION, AND DISTRICT COURT

The Administrator requested a proposal from Kellie Davis from Sumner Architects with regard to the above. A scope of work has been submitted, reviewed, and Administrator Selig has approved Sumner Davis moving forward with an initial conceptual analysis for the reuse of the Durham Evangelical Church. The fee for the scope of work is $2,806.00 and will include the following:  1) Review of the floor plan and exterior elevation drawings of the DEC building; 2) Analysis of the overall condition of the existing church building and quality of construction; 3) Prepare two concept programs for the district court and police station which have yet to be done. The Town office program is already completed from a previous study. 4) Assemble an existing site plan to study the relationship to the site of the three proposed uses; 5) Suggest locations in the existing building for the three proposed uses; and 6) Attend meetings with the Town Administrator, the Economic Development Committee, and other stakeholders to present findings.

APPRAISALS FOR VARIOUS PROPERTIES

The Town Administrator has requested proposals for appraisals on the Durham Town Office site, the Durham Evangelical Church site, the Durham Police Department site, and the Park Court properties site adjacent to the Mill Plaza. An Initial proposal has been submitted by appraiser Peter Knight of the Stanhope Group. Two additional firms were solicited, and it is the Administrator’s expectation that at least one of the remaining two will submit a proposal in the next few days. It is the Administrator’s hope that these appraisals can be moved forward in the near future.  Two additional appraisal RFPs were subsequently solicited by the Town: the Grange property and the property owned by Varsity Durham LLC located at 2 Mill Pond Road

NOISE ORDINANCE

Within the past week the Town has received several reports related to excessive noise levels. The Town has a Noise Ordinance which limits private and public areas to acceptable sound levels during specific times of the day. In short, loud noise is not permitted before 10:00 AM on Sunday or before 7:00 AM during the rest of the week. Residents experiencing noise disturbances should contact the Durham Police Department at 868-2324. Click HERE to view a copy of Durham’s Noise Ordinance.

BROKEN GLASS ON TOWN SIDEWALKS AND STREETS

This week the Town was notified of excessive broken glass on the sidewalks in and around the area of Madbury Road, Coe Drive, and Garrison Avenue. Residents are encouraged to report any areas in Town where broken glass is located on sidewalks or on Town streets to the Department of Public Works at 868-5578 so that it can be promptly removed.

NEW BUSINESS OPENS IN TOWN – WILDCAT FITNESS 

Renovations are underway in the Mill Plaza Shopping Center for a new fitness center, Wildcat Fitness. Owners Ken and Susan Entz have a target opening date of June 28, 2008.

CHANGES IN AUTOMOBILE REGISTRATION

Beginning on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, the Town Clerk’s office will be going “on-line” with the State of New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. This means the Town will be working directly from the state’s motor vehicle database, thereby allowing the Clerk’s office to offer more services and limit the necessity for residents to go to motor vehicle substations.  During the initial adjustment period, we ask that residents be patient as the Town Clerk’s office will be responsible for more aspects of the motor vehicle process and it will take longer to process automobile transactions. Registration renewals may be done on-line through E-Reg by logging on to the Town web site at www.ci.durham.nh.us, or by mail. New registrations must be done in person at the Town Clerk’s office. If registering a new vehicle, residents are reminded to please bring their old registrations or renewal notices with them when registering their cars.

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Office and will begin at 7:00 PM unless otherwise indicated below.

Durham Energy Committee – Monday, June 2, 2008 (4:30 PM)

Town Council – Monday, June 2, 2008

Historic District Commission – Thursday, June 5, 2008

To view an agenda for the meetings listed above, please click HERE.  All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing.

SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST

On Tuesday, June 3, 3008 from 6:30-7:30 PM, the Durham Supervisors of the Checklist will meet at the Town Hall to make corrections to the checklist, to accept new voter registrations, and to accept changes in party registration. This is the last time changes in the party registration can be made before the state primary on September 9, 2008. Prospective voters are required by law to show proof of identity, age (18 by the election day), domicile/residence in Durham, and US Citizenship. A driver’s license and a birth certificate or passport are useful. Affidavits of domicile and citizenship may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking.

PAVING UPDATE

To date, the paving crew has reclaimed and applied a 2" base coat to Deer Meadow Road, Langley Road and Fox Hill Road.  The recently applied asphalt will be left to settle for approximately two months to reveal any low spots or other issues that can be tended to prior to the final coat.  The final coat, a 1" wearing course, as well as the tie in of driveway aprons, mailbox pullouts, and shoulder work, will be completed sometime in late August.  Miscellaneous landscaping and other cleanup will also be completed at that time. 

ROAD PROGRAM

The 2008 Road Program will be starting on Ambler Way, Gerrish Drive, Morgan Way, Williams Way, and Tirrell Place scheduled to begin approximately the 3rd week of June. 

UPCOMING WORK AREAS IN TOWN

The Public Works Department would like to caution residents that there will be two separate operations taking place in the roadway in various locations of the central Town area for the next month or so, both of which will be utilizing a large truck and will have employees or contractors in the roadway from time to time.  The projects include cleaning of stormwater catch basins and cleaning of wastewater (sewer) manholes.  Please use caution when approaching these work areas. 

JACKSON’S LANDING PROJECT

The Jackson's Landing wetland permitting process has become delayed due to an extensive review of the project by the Army Corps of Engineers which deals with any projects in or around tidal waters.  We hope to have more information in the near future.

REMOVAL OF OLD INCINERATOR AND SMOKE STACK AT TRANSFER STATION

On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, the Department of Public Works staff opened bids for the decommissioning and removal of the old incinerator and smoke stack at the Transfer Station and Recycling Center.  The project was budgeted at $75,000. Due to the steadily rising price of steel and metal, and because much of what will be removed is metal/steel, it appears that the decommissioning cost may be closer to $16,000, half of which will be paid for by the University of New Hampshire. More information will be provided after a complete review of the bids is conducted. 

UNH MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS HOST 7th ANNUAL PLANT SALE AND GARDEN EXPO

On Sunday, June 1, 2008, the Master Gardener volunteers from the University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension, Strafford County Office, will hold their 7th Annual Plant Sale and Garden Expo in the parking lot of Ocean Bank on Route 108 in Durham (across from the Town Hall).  The Plant Sale and Expo hours are from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, rain or shine.  Master Gardener volunteers from throughout Strafford County will be on hand to help local gardeners. For more information, contact Jim Berry at 603-750-4114 or email Berrycomm@aol.com.

MCGREGOR MEMORIAL EMS OFFERS CPR /AED TRAINING

The McGregor Memorial EMS will conduct training in the life saving techniques of Cardiopulmonary Respiration (CPR) and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for adults, children, and infants on June 3, 2008 from 6:00-8:30 PM at the Durham Public Library. Students will also gain knowledge on how to relieve choking and what to do for a heart attack and stroke. This class is hands-on with students practicing on mannequins and using AED devices. Course participants will receive a two-year certification from the American Heart Association.  The cost is $20.  To register please email your name and the name and date of the class to cprregistrations@mcgregorems.org or call 862-3674.

ORHS SAVE DARFUR CLUB HOSTS COMMUNITY BENEFIT CONCERT

A final reminder that on Saturday, May 31, 2008 from 1:00-4:00 PM, the Oyster River High School Save Darfur Club will host a “Rock-Fur-Darfur” community benefit concert at the Mill Pond Center. All proceeds go to the people of Darfur.  Bring your family and a blanket, enjoy great music, and learn about this issue.

FROM HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1782 – Portsmouth – Received of the Selectmen one hundred twenty seven gallons, by half gallons, Rum, being a tax on the Town of Durham agreeably to an Act of Said State passed the 31st of August last.”

Have a nice weekend.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham
15 Newmarket Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824
Tel (603) 868-5571
Fax (603) 868-5572
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
www.ci.durham.nh.us

The Town of Durham has developed a list server. The server provides interested individuals with updates and announcements concerning the community. Individuals interested in subscribing should send an email to Town_of_Durham@ci.durham.nh.us and type the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line