“FRIDAY
UPDATES”
Friday,
January 23, 2009
Canada Goose landing in the Colby
Marsh off of
Courtesy Matthew
Carter
This week's Friday Updates begin with
a recognition. Durham Resident, Dr. Dennis Meadows, is the winner of this
year’s Japan Prize from the Science and Technology Foundation of Japan for
“Transformation towards a sustainable society in harmony with nature.” This
prestigious award is given once a year to people from all parts of the world
whose original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are
recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause
of peace and prosperity for humankind. It carries a cash award of 50 million
yen (about $500,000) and will be awarded during a Japan Prize Awards week
in April 2009. For more information about the award, go to http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47800.
Congratulations, Dr. Meadows.
2008
Town Report
The 2008 Durham Annual Report has
been delivered to the printer. Once the published reports are received from
the printer, copies will be mailed out to property owners and will be available
at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office and the Durham Public Library. In
the meantime, residents can view the 2008 Annual Report on the Town web site
by clicking on the following link: http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/admin/admin.html.
The 2008 Annual Report, along with previous reports, is located on the far
right side of this link. Production of the Annual Report is a major undertaking.
A thank you is extended to all contributing writers, to Julian Smith for his
editing skills, and to Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry who does yeoman’s
work in pulling the publication together.
FY
2008 Unaudited General Fund Expenditures
The Town’s expenditures as of
December 31, 2008 show a total expenditure of $10,519,343 or 99.9% of the total
approved budget. Although some departments show budget overages we can
attribute these primarily to increased costs in the line of heating fuel,
gasoline, and other energy costs. All of our department’s are to be
commended for their successful attempts to maintain the total budget by delaying
or foregoing purchases altogether.
In an effort to have the
community become more involved with Amtrak Downeaster service to Durham and
ways in which train service can support the vitality and economic development of
our downtown area, the Administrator plans to attend an upcoming meeting of the
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority with representatives from UNH in
Saco, Maine on January 27th. Mr. Selig will take the
train.
Meeting
with N.H. Department of Revenue Administration Auditor
Scheduled
On Wednesday of next week, Business
Manager Gail Jablonski, Assessor
Town
Election, March 10, 2009
The 2009 Town Election will be held
on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at the
Filing
Period for Local Town Offices
The filing period for local elected
offices opened on Wednesday of this week beginning at 8:00 AM. Residents have
until 5:00 PM on Friday, January 30, 2009 to sign up for any of the elected
offices. There is no longer a $1.00 filing fee required to sign up.
Please do not
hesitate to contact the Town Clerk’s Office to inquire about any of these
important local elective positions at (603) 868-5571. The Town and
Town Council - 3 positions (3-year
terms)
Neil Niman
Library Board of Trustees - 2
positions (3-year terms)
None
Trustee of Trust Funds - 1 position
(3-year
term)
George
Frick
In addition
to elected offices, there are also two proposed Charter amendment changes
included on this year’s ballot.
The first
amendment, pertaining to Article 7 “Conduct of Officials”, Section 7.1 (C),
proposes to strike current language that requires an elected official who is
presently holding another elected or appointed position to immediately forfeit
the office he/she held prior to such election. New Hampshire Supreme Court case
Town of Hooksett v. Baines, 148 N.H. 625 (2002) precludes communities from
imposing term limits on elected offices or imposing qualifications for elected
offices. Since the language in Section 7.1(C) of the Durham Town Charter
is not enforceable and has not been practiced, it should be removed to avoid
confusion in the future.
The second
amendment, pertaining to Article 9 “Town Report”, Section 9.1, proposes to
strike the current word “delivered” and replace it with the word “available”. In
doing so, this will eliminate the current process of mailing annual Town Reports
to individual property owners, resulting in a cost-savings to the Town. Instead,
copies of annual Town Reports would be available at the Town Offices and the
Durham Public Library as well as on the Town web site. The two amendments, as
they will appear on the March 10, 2009 Town Election ballot, are as
follows:
Strikethrough: Indicates language to be removed
from the Charter.
Underline: Indicates
language to be added to the Charter.
Article 7
“Conduct of Officials”, Section 7.1 (C)
Sec. 7.1.
Conditions for holding office.
A. Any person while in
town office convicted of a Class A felony in
B. No full-time or
regular employee of the town shall be eligible to serve as a Councilor.
C. Any
person elected to a town office or trusteeship while presently holding another
such town office, board membership, commission membership or trusteeship shall
immediately forfeit the office he held prior to such election.
C.D. Except as
otherwise provided by this Charter, no department head nor regular employee of
the town shall be appointed to a town office, board, membership, commission
membership or trusteeship. They may, however, serve as advisors to such boards,
committees or commissions.
D.E. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall not have any
members who also serve on the Planning Board, Conservation Commission or
Historic District Commission.
Reason for
proposed change: New Hampshire Supreme Court case Town of Hooksett
V. Baines, 148 N.H. 625 (2002) precludes communities from imposing term limits
on elected offices or imposing qualifications for elected offices. Since
the language in Section 7.1 (C) of the Durham Town Charter is not enforceable
and has not been practiced; it should be removed to avoid confusion in the
future.
_______________________________
Article 9
“Town Report”, Section 9.1
Sec. 9.1.
Town Report.
Each year, the Town Administrator shall prepare a Town Report which shall
include: (1) a statement of the past year's financial activities and a
comparative statement of the previous and present budget; and (2) a review of
all major Council actions, including a summary of ordinances enacted; and (3)
Town vital statistics. There shall be a section which presents any actions which
are in progress or pending before town boards or departments and the Town
Council. The effective date of the Report shall be the end of the fiscal year,
and the Report shall be delivered available to the
voters of the town not later than February 15 of each year.
Reason for
proposed change: To eliminate the process of mailing annual Town
Reports to individual property owners, resulting in a cost-savings to the Town.
Instead, copies of annual Town Reports would be available at the Town Offices
and the Durham Public Library as well as on the Town web site.
ORCSD
BUDGET DELIBERATIVE SESSION
The
PSNH
Smart Start Energy Grant Update – lighting retrofit at churchill
rink
The Department of Public Works has
finalized an energy grant with PSNH to replace all of the commercial
lighting fixtures at the Churchill Rink at
2009
Road Program Bids
As stated last week, the Department
of Public Works opened up the 2009 road paving bids with the lowest bidder
at $82/ton. Last year’s price was $57.98/ton, having increased
$24.02/ton this year. At these prices, there will have to be an adjustment
in the planned scope of work due to the very large increase in the paving
costs this year. After further review by the Public Works Department and
discussions with the Town Administrator and Business Office, the department will
be rejecting all bids opened a few weeks ago and will re-bid the package with a
new scope of work in the spring. This decision will hopefully allow us to take
advantage of more competitive pricing reflective of reduced oil
costs.
Wiswall
Fish Passage Meeting
This
evening, January 23, 2009, beginning at 7:00 PM at the
Looking
for partners in a community garden effort - grow your own
vegetables
Some
PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMITTEE SPONSORS HOT CHOCOLATE AT WAGON HILL
FARM
The members of the Parks and
Recreation Committee are sponsoring hot chocolate at Wagon Hill on Sunday,
February 8, 2009, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Come join them for a warm beverage
up by the wagon! You are welcome to bring any food or snacks to share with
other community members, but that certainly is not required. Come enjoy
this fantastic Town property during the winter.
PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMITTEE BROCHURE
The Parks and Recreation Committee has a new brochure
available with information regarding activities and facilities throughout
the town. They are available to pick up at the Town Hall or Durham Public
Library. You may also e-mail the committee at: parksandrec@ci.durham.nh.us with
any questions or suggestions. Please also check out the Parks and Recreation
(soon to be updated) website: http://ci.durham.nh.us/community/recreation.html
for additional information.
SEACOAST
LYME DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP
The Seacoast Lyme Disease Support
Group, held at the Durham Public Library, will be taking a winter break during
the months of February and March and will resume again on the second Tuesday of
each month from April through October.
Durham
Public Library Parenting Book Group
On the second Tuesday of each month
beginning February 10, 2009 from 10:30-11:30 AM, Ellen Rondina, Extension
Educator with UNH Cooperative Extension, will facilitate a free book group for
parents to discuss Scott Brown's How to Negotiate with Kids - Even When You
Think You Shouldn't. Bring your young children for the Library's
Storytime while you attend the group. Copies of the book will be available
at the circulation desk. Please read the first chapter before the first
meeting.
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.
Town Council – Monday, January 26,
2009
Planning Board – Wednesday, January
23, 2009
To view the agendas 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.
To view the Oyster River School Board
meeting schedule, click HERE.
To view the Durham Public Library Board of
Trustees meeting schedule, click HERE.
Churchill
Rink
January
Events
Adult only Skate
Night: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 7:30-9:00 PM, Cost:
$5.00
Public skating - times offered every
day
Stick and Puck – Monday – Friday and
Sunday
Pick Up Hockey – Monday – Friday and
Sunday
For more information, call the rink
at 868-3907, or visit our website at www.churchillrink.org
TASTES
OF
Tastes of New England, a retail store
on
FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976
“1880 – Body of Peter Duvall,
employed as woodchopper, was found in Horn’s Woods by small girls. His
companion, Otis, was tried in
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
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