“FRIDAY UPDATES”

March 20, 2009

 

 

Students from the Oyster River High School Senior class wash and wax the Public Works vehicles as a community service project

 

 

Spring has sprung! Spring officially arrived this morning at 7:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time. Public Works personnel have been inundated with a flurry of activity with several local private development projects keeping staff busy with site walks, plan reviews, construction schedules, and utility hookup requests.

 

Economic Stimulus Update – Wastewater and Water

The most recent details on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Package) for the Clean Water Fund (wastewater) lists 324 projects totaling $637,024,189.  Of those projects, the Town of Durham has applications in for seven totaling $6,905,500.  To view the list of wastewater projects, please click HERE. There are 265 projects pertaining to the Drinking Water Fund, totaling $246,236,590. Of those, Durham has two projects totaling $2,751,000, and UNH has five projects totaling $1,070,000. To view the list of water projects, please click HERE. The Town is also on the list for police assistance, a new fire station, Brownfields grant monies, state bridge aid, and state highway aid.  The state will be publishing a priority list in the next few days which will be listed in a future “Friday Update”.  The Wiswall Bridge Replacement project is a strong candidate as well for stimulus highway funds.

 

Fire Department Minor Reorganization

We have continued working within the Fire Department to streamline the organizational structure there.  To this end, the Administrator has authorized two changes intended to improve efficiency, save money, and realign our structure more closely with traditional fire service models in New Hampshire. 

 

With the promotion of Corey Landry from Division Chief of Operations to Fire Chief, Division Chief for Fire Prevention and Safety Jason Cleary applied for, was selected, and will be laterally transferred to Chief Landry’s former position with one exception -- the position name has been changed to Assistant Fire Chief.  "Assistant Chief" is the typical title for second in command at a New Hampshire Fire Department.  While we had previously had an Assistant Chief at the Durham Fire Department, the Division Chief for Operations position had been assigned increased supervisory responsibility within the department and the renamed Assistant Chief position will carry with it those expanded responsibilities.   

 

At this time, the Division Chief for Fire Prevention and Safety position will remain unfilled and we will instead move forward with advertising a new classification -- Deputy Chief for Fire Prevention & Safety.  I italicize "new" because years ago Durham had a Deputy Chief with primary responsibility in the area of fire prevention.  While the new Deputy Chief position carries the same name as the old classification,  the Fire Department has updated the position responsibilities within the job description to reflect present needs within the department.  The Deputy Chief will be the third in command of the Fire Department with primary responsibility within the Fire Prevention Bureau.  Because the Deputy Chief position will be a lower rank within the command structure, the salary range will be $62,050 to $75,839 versus the range for the Division Chief classification at $66,626 - $79,770.

 

For a description of the posting, go to http://ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/fire_dept/employ.html. 

 

Chief Landry deserves a great deal of credit for developing this minor staffing change within the department for the benefit of the Town.

 

Community Garden Efforts

Residents Dennis Meadows, Suzanne MacDonald, Filson Glanz and others have been working diligently to organize a community garden effort for the upcoming growing season.  To learn more about the latest developments, click HERE. 

 

Earth Hour

At precisely 8:30 PM on Saturday, March 28^th, the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of a worldwide event - Earth Hour 2009.  Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House, and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.  In 2009, Earth Hour has a goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights.  For more information, go to http://www.earthhour.org/about/. 

 

Oyster River Community Blogspot

A new citizen-initiated and managed blogspot has been started within Durham, Lee, and Madbury.   The blog’s stated goal is to inform the community about school board updates and information from recent school events and discussions.  Interested authors on all sides of issues are sought to contribute articles, posts, etc. by emailing oysterrivercommunity@gmail.com to get authorized to post articles on the blog spot.  For more information, go to http://oysterrivercommunity.blogspot.com/ . 

Oyster River Dam Update

The issue of whether to repair, replace, and/or remove the Oyster River Dam was discussed by the Town Council at Monday evening's meeting.  For more information, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090317/GJNEWS_01/703179850/-1/FOSNEWS0102.  In addition, residents can find information about the Oyster River Dam on the Town web site at http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/Commissions/historic/OR%20Dam/historic_dam.html. 

 

Spring has Sprung—Addressing Trash in the Downtown Area

A number of emails have been received over the last week regarding the annual Spring trash experience in Durham as melting snow begins to reveal garbage and winter debris underneath. Below is a summary of concerted efforts presently under way to address this issue: 

 

1.  Code Enforcement Officer Tom Johnson has sent an email out to several groups reminding everyone to participate and do their part in addressing trash/litter issues around Durham.

 

2.  The Durham Business Association will be working with its membership to address the spring trash experience as the weather permits.

 

3.  Discussions and planning for a Durham Clean Up Day, successful in the past, are underway.  Public Works Director Mike Lynch has been contacted and the Town will play an important role.  The Durham Police Department will be working with individuals required to undertake community service projects to address trash in the near future as well.

 

4.  When the Greek community returns from wherever they are enjoying Spring break, the UNH Greek coordinator is planning to encourage them to participate in the clean-up and move their tentative clean-up day (May 9) earlier, weather permitting.

 

5.  The Durham Landlords Association (DLA) has communicated with the DLA membership and they will individually and collectively be active participants.  We very much appreciate their collaborative efforts.

 

6.  The Durham Rental Housing Commission (RHC) will work with various groups if there is any additional communication or other work the RHC can do to help facilitate the activities being planned.  Anne Lawing, UNH Senior Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs (and UNH's always helpful contact with the RHC and the Town), is aware of the discussions and will continue to be an outstanding contact point at UNH.

 

All of these community efforts will again ensure that the annual spring trash experience will be successful in removing what winter has left behind. That leaves the individual residential neighborhoods and we are hopeful that individual citizens will do their part with their immediate property and the public ways adjacent to their property.  

 

DURHAM Rental Housing Commission (RHC)

In the mid-1990’s the Durham Rental Housing Commission (RHC) was formed and charged generally with addressing and resolving on a continuing basis public policy issues associated with rental housing.  The Commission accepts complaints from any party in the Town regarding violations of laws or codes and refers these complaints without evaluation or comment to the appropriate Town enforcement agents or other appropriate enforcement entities. Citizens may submit any concerns they have to the Administrator’s office which will then be forwarded to the RHC. The Commission facilitates enforcement of Town ordinances regarding rental housing and fosters positive communication between all constituent groups represented on the Commission, which includes:

 

·      Two members shall be appointed by the Durham Town Council.

·      Two members shall be appointed by the Durham Landlords’ Association.  These members shall be owners of rental property in the Town of Durham.

·      Two members shall be appointed by the University of New Hampshire.

·      The Durham Town Council shall appoint one member to represent the interests of tenants.

·      A student organization on the campus of the University of New Hampshire which shall be designated jointly by the Durham Landlords’ Association and the Town Council shall appoint an additional member to be representative of the interests of tenants.

·      A member shall be selected by the Town Council who shall act as liaison between the Town of Durham Rental Commission and the Durham Town Council.

·      The Durham Town Council shall appoint one member living in a neighborhood that is affected by rental property.

 

Increased Officer Presence

On Monday, March 23, 2009, University of New Hampshire students resume classes after spending a week away from campus on spring break.  With the return of students and the anticipated arrival of warmer weather, the Durham Police Department, in cooperation with the University Police Department, will implement its high visibility strategy to dissuade disruptive behavior.  This strategy is implemented to increase officer presence in the downtown area while proactively addressing noise violations, alcohol offenses, and disorderly behavior. The Durham Police Department will be challenged this spring due to staff shortages which include two officers in the police academy, one officer on paternity leave, and one officer position eliminated from the 2009 budget.  The Durham Police Department will endeavor to make the following months peaceful and enjoyable for all and urges residents to contact the department at 868-2324 if they are being disturbed by noise or rowdy behavior.

 

SEMIANNUAL WATER METER READING

On Monday, March 23^rd, the Water foreman will begin the semiannual water meter reading.  Please don’t be alarmed if you see him walking through your neighborhood.  Typically this process takes him about two weeks.  The spring newsletter is in the works and should be going to print next week.  Residents can expect to receive them by mid-April. 

 

2009 SPRING CLEANUP

Spring Cleanup for annual bulky waste collection will begin on Monday, May 11, 2009. All items must be put out no earlier than Saturday, May 9^th, and no later than 7:00 AM on Monday, May 11^th.  Remember that electronic items must have an electronic sticker on them in order to be collected during the cleanup.  To view the guidelines for bulky waste collection, please click HERE.

 

2009 Road program bid

The 2009 Road Program went out to bid on January 1, 2009.  Bids came in high in January resulting in the Town rejecting all of the bids. Department of Public Works personnel decided to wait and give oil prices a chance to stabilize, therefore painting a clearer, hopefully better picture for asphalt pricing for the coming season.  This week, Public Works staff mailed out the second set of bid requests with a bid closing date of Friday, April 3, 2009, at 2:00 PM, and hopes to report more positive results after the opening. 

 

Annual Appointments of Citizens to Fill Vacancies on Various Town Boards

On April 30, 2009, terms on various Town boards, commissions, and committees will expire. In mid-April, the Town Council will begin the process for making its annual appointments/reappointments to Town boards, with appointments to take effect May 1, 2009. The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to fill these vacancies. Citizens interested in board appointments should contact the Town Administrator’s office at 868-5571 and ask for a board application form, or stop in at the Town Clerk’s office located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road, and complete an application.  Applications are also available on the Town’s web site at: www.ci.durham.nh.us under the heading “Features” at the bottom of the page. Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us. Deadline for receipt of completed applications for consideration in April is Friday, March 27, 2009. We also advertise vacancies over the course of the year as they arise.

 

Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing Advisory Committee (1 vacancy)

Conservation Commission - (2 regular vacancies; 2 alternate vacancies)

Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) Governance Committee - (2 vacancies)

Durham Energy Committee (1 vacancy)

Economic Development Committee – (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)

Historic District Commission - (2 vacancies)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee - (2 vacancies)

Parks and Recreation - (2 regular vacancies)

Planning Board - (2 regular vacancies; 2 alternate vacancies)

Strafford Regional Planning Commission & MPO Policy Committee - (1 vacancy)    

Zoning Board of Adjustment - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

 

CPR Training at Durham Public Library

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, from 6:00 – 8:30 PM, the McGregor Memorial EMS will offer a CPR and AED Certification Class at the Durham Public Library. The cost for this two-year certification is $20.  To register, or to find out more information, please call 862-3674 or visit the McGregor website at: www.mcgregorems.org.

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meeting is 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.

 

Planning Board – Wednesday, March 25, 2009

 

To view the agenda for the meeting 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.

 

DURHAM CABLE ACCESS TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

To view a listing of the DCAT programming schedule, click HERE 

 

New Hampshire Humanities Council Book Discussion: Yankee Crime Series

On Friday, April 24, 2009, 10:30 AM at the Durham Public Library, the Yankee Crime Series begins with Stranger in the Kingdom (April 24), continues with Flashpoint (May 22), and will end with Primary Storm sometime in June. This selection of murder mysteries, set in New England and written by contemporary New England authors, looks through a local lens at questions such as: What is justice? What role should mercy play? Is crime ever justified? What can ordinary citizens do to uphold social order? A copy of the Stranger in the Kingdom can be picked up at the Circulation desk. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

 

ORMS JAZZ BAND FUND-RAISER

On Friday, April 3, 2009, beginning at 8:30 PM, the Dads of Oyster River Middle School Jazz Band will hold a fund-raiser at Libby’s Bar and Grill to benefit the ORMS jazz band’s trip to Walt Disney World. There will be two local bands, “Rough” and “The Modulators”. There will also be a raffle for items donated by Daddy’s Junky Music and Wildcat Fitness. Proceeds from this event will benefit the ORMS Jazz Band.

 

BOBCAT BOLT 5K/10K AND OYSTER RIVER FESTIVAL

On May 9, 2009, the inaugural Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K and Oyster River Festival, presented by Gault Builders, will be held at the Oyster River High school where the race will begin. The Bobcat Bolt and the Oyster River Festival are part of the larger goal to bring the Seacoast together to celebrate with sport, live music, art, and a positive community building effort. Proceeds from the races will benefit youth initiatives in the surrounding community in honor of Durham, NH brothers Joshua and Nathan Hardy. A Youth Center, with music, art, and a skatepark in the school district is the immediate focus. Registration is $35 and can be completed online at www.bobcatbolt.com. Following the race, the inaugural Oyster River Festival will commence with live music, art exhibitions, and food vendors on-site. For more information, contact Race Director Christopher Jerard at CJ@bobcatbolt.com or Festival Director Anita Mathur at Anita@bobcatbolt.com

 

SATURDAY MATINEE AT TOWN HALL

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, March 21st) at 2:00 PM, the controversial 1949 feature film "Lost Boundaries" will be shown in the Council Chamber at Town Hall. Filmed in Portsmouth, Newington, Durham, and other seacoast communities, this story of small town life in New Hampshire before and during WWII, was produced by Louis de Rochemont, who won an Oscar for the 1944 documentary "The Fighting Lady". Among the scenes shot in Durham or on the UNH campus is one that shows Durham’s Mill Pond dam as it was sixty years ago.  The film, which deals with crossing racial barriers, will be introduced by resident Julian Smith, a retired professor of film studies.

 

EVENTS AT THE MUSEUM OF ART/ UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Monday, March 23, noon - 2 p.m.
Room A204, Paul Creative Arts Center
Brown Bag Lunch Film Series: The Circus (Charlie Chaplin, 1928, 68 min.)

 

Wednesday, March 25, noon
Museum of Art, Paul Creative Arts Center
ArtBreak: Gallery Talk: Ben Cariens, professor of Art, UNH, discusses works on view in the current exhibition Drawing the Line.

Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham, NH 03824  All programs are FREE.  www.unh.edu/moa

 

FUND-RAISERS FOR ORHS SENIOR CLASS

Parents of Oyster River High School's 2009 seniors are selling raffle tickets to raise funds for Project Graduation. Project Graduation is a parent-supervised event that provides seniors with a fun-filled, safe evening of activities to celebrate their high school graduation.

 

Items for raffle include:

• 4 Red Sox Field Box tickets to a home game.  Winner will select date based on availability. $5 for 1 chance, $10 for 3 chances.  Drawing to take place by mid-May.
• March raffle calendars for $10 per calendar. Drawing date will be on 4/1.
• Beautiful jewel-tone, handmade twin-size quilt made by a mother of one of the high school seniors - $5 for 1 chance, $10 for 3 chances.
• Drawing to take place by mid-May.

 

Participants for this fund-raiser will be at Durham Marketplace on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 10:00AM-2:00 PM; and at the Durham Community Church on Sunday, March 28 and Sunday, April 4 from 11:00 AM-12 noon.  Raffle tickets can be obtained through committee co-chairs, Diane Gallant (coyotemesa@yahoo.com) and Sheila Harding (smdh@comcast.net).

 

FAMILY BOATBUILDING WORKSHOP - APPLY BY APRIL 15

The tenth annual UNH Marine Docent Family Boatbuilding Workshop will be held at Kingman Farm in Madbury, May 15, 16 and 17. Each participating family will build their own 12 ft. Oyster River Cat sailboat over the three-day weekend. It is a chance for families to work together on a project they will enjoy for years to come. No experience is needed; only a strong desire and rudimentary skills. Single moms, all thumbs dads, and extended families are invited to apply. Each family must include a youth 12 years or older. The boat is a sprightly sailing vessel with a 5 ft. beam that can carry a family of three for a day of sailing on quiet water. It can double as a row boat if there is no wind.  It is light enough to car-top or transport in a pickup, van, or small trailer. The total cost of $950 includes all materials, rigging, and sail. An experienced Docent will work with each family to guarantee success. For complete details and application forms visit our website at www.unh.edu/marine-education. Please call UNH Sea Grant, Mark Wiley or Dari Ward at 749-1565, or Project Director Ray Belles at 868-7180 with questions.

 

HICKORY POND INN

Hickory Pond Inn is pleased to announce NEW hours for public dining Thursday – Saturday 5:00 to 9:00 PM and Sunday Brunch 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Reservations are welcome, but not necessary. Durham, Lee, and Madbury residents will receive a $10.00 discount. Visit the Hickory Pond Inn’s website at www.hickorypondinn.com.

 

Extreme Air to Host Regional Tournament

New Hampshire’s Competition Jump Rope Team, Extreme Air, will host the USA Jump Rope Region 10 Tournament on Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Oyster River High School gymnasium at 55 Coe Drive in Durham, New Hampshire.  Members of Extreme Air will face teams from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York as they vie for the opportunity to compete at the USA Jump Rope National Championships which will be held in Galveston, Texas in June.

 

This will be the first time that a Regional Tournament has been held in the Granite State and, therefore, presents a unique and exciting opportunity for area residents to experience live competitive jump rope.   The event is open to the general public.  The day will begin at 8:00 AM with an Opening Ceremony, followed by single rope individual, relay and double dutch speed events, single rope individual and pairs freestyle, double dutch freestyle and double dutch pairs freestyle.  The competition will conclude late afternoon with group team show and an awards ceremony.  Continental breakfast and lunch, jump ropes and t-shirts will be available for purchase.  Visitors may also purchase a chance to win several exciting raffle prizes.  For additional information visit www.extremeairnh.com.

 

FROM HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1901 – Tourist attractions: Adams House, 25 guests, $6 to $10 per week; Brookside Farm, 15 guests, $1 per day, 2 miles from station; Highland House, 20 guests, $7 per week, electric lights, good boating. Additional boarding houses – Chesley, Wiggin, Emerson and Woodman.”

 

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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