"FRIDAY
UPDATES"
July
24, 2009
Courtesy Andrea
Bodo
Promotional
Film of Durham
NOW ON TOWN WEB SITE
The Town of Durham'Bs promotional video
is now available for viewing on the Town web site, www.ci.durham.nh.us. To view the video,
click on the icon on the left side of the Home page, then press the play button
when the video is displayed. To view the video in full screen mode, click on the
icon next to the word "vimeo".
The promotional film is
intended for widespread distribution in order to more
effectively market all of the wonderful attributes present within
our community situated along the banks of the Oyster River
and the Great
Bay. The film focuses
on four key areas: Durham's History,
Durham's Recreation/Culture, Durham's Education, and Durham's Businesses/Downtown. In addition
to including it as an integral part of the Town's existing and soon to be
re-launched web site later this summer, we also plan to air it on DCAT-Channel
22, provide copies to local realtors for marketing purposes and business
interested in relocating to Durham, as well as to the N.H. Department
of Resources and Economic Development for business
development.
Dover
Road
Wastewater Pump Station Referendum
On August 3, 2009 the Town Council
will hold a public hearing on a bond referendum to approve applying for a low
interest loan through the NH State Revolving Loan Fund for the rehabilitation of
the Dover Road Wastewater Pump Station in the amount of $1,231,055. The Town has
received a Federal stimulus grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act covering half the $1,231,055 project cost or approximately $615,000.
The Town Charter currently requires a referendum vote for any bond or loan
exceeding $1,000,000.
The existing Dover Road Pump Station
is the small brick building that sits between Dover Road (Route 108) and the Oyster River near the outlet of Beards Creek. It
was built in 1964 and operates 24 hours per day and 7 days per week continuously
pumping virtually all of Durham'Bs wastewater to the Wastewater Treatment
Plant. On average the pump station conveys 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD) of
wastewater and up to 7 MGD during heavy rain storms. This pump station is one of
the most critical pieces of infrastructure in the Town's wastewater
system. It still contains the three original 50 horse power pumps which
all been rebuilt several times each. The building has a number of operational
issues, including a leaky flat roof, outdated electrical controls, poor
ventilation, and a wet well almost impossible to maintain. The pumps are located
in dank basement area with restricted access. The rehabilitation project
is proposed to include the construction of a new submersible wastewater pump
station with a self cleaning trench style wet well located underground and
immediately next to the existing building. The existing building will house the
new electrical controls and is slated to receive a more architecturally
interesting (and functional) gabled roof. By locating the new pump
station on the same site it will allow the existing pump station to continue to
operate uninterrupted throughout the project.
SPECIAL
ELECTION BOND REFERENDUM PUBLIC HEARINGS
At its regular meeting scheduled for
Monday, August 3, 2009, beginning at 7:00 PM, the Durham Town Council will vote
to schedule a Special Election Bond Referendum to be held on Tuesday, August 18,
2009, for the purpose of bonding $1,231.055 for the Dover Road Pump Station
Rehabilitation Project; said funds to be raised through the State Revolving Loan
Fund and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Funds and approve
the following proposed language to be placed on the election
ballot:
"Are you in favor of bonding
$1,231,055 for long-term debt for the Dover Road Pump Station Rehabilitation
Project to improve equipment deficiencies and other operational problems,
and of authorizing the issuance of not more than $1,231,055 of bonds or notes;
said funds to be raised through the State Revolving Loan Fund and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Funds, in accordance with the provisions
of the municipal finance act, RSA Chapter 33?" YES _____
NO _____
Following these actions, the Council
will hold two Public Hearings on the Dover Road Pump Station Rehabilitation
Project Special Election Bond Referendum. One Public Hearing will satisfy the
requirements of the Durham Town Charter, Section 5.12 (A). The second Public
Hearing will satisfy the requirements of RSA 33:8a. The Public Hearings will be
held in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 15 Newmarket
Road.
Interested citizens are invited to
attend the public hearings and to express their views. Questions concerning the
Dover Road Pump Station Rehabilitation Project Special Election Bond Referendum
should be directed to Business Manager Gail Jablonski at 868-8043, gjablonski@ci.durham.nh.us. The
Town of Durham
needs 48 hours notice if special communication aids are required. Written
comments will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Friday, July 31, 2009 at the Town
Administrator's office. Comments may also be sent by electronic mail to:
jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
Wiswall
Bridge Closure Begins on Monday, July 27, 2009
In preparation for the start of the
Wiswall Road Bridge Replacement Project, the Town of Durham Department of Public
Works will be closing off public access across the Lamprey River
via the Wiswall
Road Bridge beginning at 8:00 AM on Monday,
July 27, 2009. Construction of the new bridge will take approximately one
year, and during that time the traffic on Wiswall Road will be open to local traffic
only and the public will not be allowed to access the bridge. The Wiswall Road bridge
was permanently damaged during the Mother's Day Flood of 2006. A detour
will be established to reroute traffic coming from the east in a north/south
direction on Packers Falls
Road, and traffic coming from the west will be
rerouted north/south on Lee Hook
Road in the Town of Lee. Arrangements have been made with the Lee
Fire Department and McGregor EMS to assist with emergency services to the
temporarily disconnected Durham residents west of
the Lamprey
River as needed.
Please contact Town Engineer Dave Cedarholm, 868-5578, dcedarholm@ci.durham.nh.us
with questions or additional information about the bridge project, or
Assistant Fire Chief Jason Cleary
862-1426, jcleary@ci.durham.nh.us
concerning emergency services.
N.E.Center
to Close
The New England Center (NEC) at the
University of
New Hampshire will close
on June 30, 2010. According to UNH officials, the action is necessary for
several reasons: the downturn in the economy has aggravated an already challenging
financial situation; there is increased competition from other hotel/conference
facilities in the Seacoast; and there are no available funds for necessary
capital repairs and upgrades. To view the story on line go to http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090723-BIZ-907230394.
The New England Center was designed by William Pereira, who built the
Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco,
and was built in 1969 with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation.
Do
You Enjoy the "Friday Updates"?
If you enjoy the weekly "Friday Updates"
list server broadcast, spread the word! We rely on word of mouth
to let people know of its existence. Please tell people who might benefit
from the publication to visit this link
and fill out the form to sign up. Or visit the Town's web site at www.ci.durham.nh.us to view the "Friday Updates" on line.
Kaizen
in Durham
The Town is continuing its efforts
to introduce Kaizen (‰ü‘P, Japanese for "improvement") into the municipal
workplace here in Durham. Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy
that focuses on continuous improvement throughout all aspects of life. When
applied to the workplace, Kaizen activities continually improve all functions
of a business, from manufacturing to management, and from the CEO to front
line staff. This approach takes the perspective that no matter how well
a process works, it can always be made more efficient. By improving
standardized activities and processes, Kaizen aims to eliminate waste and
improve efficiency.
Earlier this year, our Durham payroll Kaizen team
was able to enhance efficiencies within the weekly payroll process. Staff at the
Fire Department and within the Code Enforcement Office are presently working to
consolidate permits utilized, enhance collaboration between the departments, and
make the general permit process more user friendly for residents, property
owners, and contractors alike. In addition, Each bi-monthly Durham department head
meeting now begins with a Kaizen-based exercise identifying a municipal process
or function to evaluate for potential improvement.
The Town has received an invitation
from the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to meet with representatives
from MDOT to discuss Kaizen efforts under way there. We have tentatively
set aside August 21st as an in-service date for our department heads
to meet with representatives from MDOT in Augusta, Maine.
Appreciation is extended to resident
Jerry Gottsacker for his assistance in this effort.
Economic
Revitalization (ER-Z) Zone Application SUBMITTED
On May 18, 2009, the Town Council
adopted its goals for 2009/10. One goal related to moving forward with efforts
to increase taxable value and social capital in the Central Business District
and downtown commercial core.
Representatives from the Town have
researched possible programs and incentives that may be available in order to
move this goal forward. One such program, the New Hampshire Economic
Revitalization Zone Program, managed by the New Hampshire Department of Resource
and Economic Development (DRED), allows the creation of Economic Revitalization
Zones (ER-Z) and provides state tax incentives for ER-Z projects which are
available to qualifying new and existing businesses in the state. The program
encourages ER-Z projects that meet certain state economic objectives, such as
stimulating economic redevelopment, expanding the commercial and industrial
base, creating new jobs, reducing sprawl, increasing tax revenue, and
remediating Brownfields sites. The primary goal of the program is to increase
the quality of ER-Z projects which will contribute to the economic vitality of
the state.
At the July 20, 2009 Town Council
meeting, Councilors discussed this initiative and authorized Administrator Selig
move forward with an application to include four zones within Durham's
commercial core that would be included in the application: the Central
Business (CB) district, Professional Office (PO) district, Church Hill (CH)
district, and Courthouse (C) district.
Durham
Historic Building - Possible Future Use
FOR PARKS &
RECREATION
The Durham District Court, located
on the first floor of the Durham
Historic Building at the corner of Newmarket and Dover Road, has now officially moved all
operations to Dover. As such, the Administrator is presently
working to find a suitable and productive use for the first floor of the facility.
At this time, the Administrator is considering the idea of utilizing the first
floor of the facility to house Durham's emerging Parks and
Recreation Department as well as potentially the offices for the Oyster River
Youth Association (ORYA). Such a match would bring together two programs
with obvious synergies into one space allowing for collaboration and
partnership to benefit the entire community. Mr. Selig walked
through the building this week with representatives from ORYA and with Mr.
Michael Mengers who has been selected as Durham's new part-time Parks
and Recreation Director to evaluate whether the building would meet this need.
The Durham Historic Association occupies the second floor of the facility.
For more information about the Durham Historic Association, go to http://ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/historic/dha.html.
Parks
and Recreation Director Candidate Selected
After reviewing 44 applications for
the Durham's
new part-time, 20 hr/wk Parks and Recreation Director position, we are
pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Michael Mengers. Members of
the selection committee introduced Mr. Mengers to the full Parks and Recreation
Committee last evening. On August 3rd, Todd
Selig will formally appoint Mr. Mengers to the position subject
to the "advice and consent" of the Town Council. To view Mr. Mengers'
resume, please click HERE.
Jackson's
Landing Open House
On Sunday, July 26, 2009, beginning
at 2:00 PM, the Town will host an Open House at the new and improved Jackson's Landing. The Piscataqua
Gundalow Company will be bringing the Gundalow to the landing to celebrate
the Oyster River. There will be music and tours.
All are invited and encouraged to check out the landing and the Gundalow. For
more information, please click HERE.
THURSDAY NIGHT
PARK
PICNIC HOSTED BY DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE
This
past Wednesday saw a very good turnout at the UNH Outdoor pool for the Swim
under the Lights event, co-sponsored by Durham Parks & Recreation and
UNH Recreation. Thanks to all who took advantage of the fantastic UNH
outdoor pool! Please join members of the Durham Parks and Recreation Committee at our fourth
"Thursday Night Park Picnic" for townspeople this summer.
Every other Thursday, a location has been selected where people can bring
a picnic and any games, etc., they would like to play or share. The next
picnic location will be at Woodridge Park on August 6. The wonderful playing
fields will be available for a variety of games, as well as the tennis courts,
skateboard park, and a fantastic playground. Games such as volleyball will
also be set up in advance, but feel free to bring your favorites along as
well. It is intended to be a very casual event, with no specified times
or requirements beyond getting together after 5:00 PM and meeting more of
the members of our great community. Come alone or in groups and join
in the fun. Please contact the Parks & Recreation Committee at durhamparksandrec@yahoo.com with
any questions or suggestions for other locations you would like to see utilized
for these gatherings. Given the venue, consider the event canceled if it is
raining. Hope to see you there!
FILM
ON LYME DISEASE – UNDER OUR
SKIN
On Thursday, July 30, 2009,
beginning at 7:00 PM, a new film about Lyme Disease and other tick-borne
illnesses, "Under Our Skin", will
be shown at the Music Hall in Portsmouth. The U.S. Centers for Disease
Control reports that New
Hampshire has the third highest incidence of Lyme
Disease in the nation. Following the film there will be a panel discussion and
an opportunity for questions. Experts on the panel are:
Dr. Alan Eaton, PhD – UNH
Entomologist – Focus on tick mapping and prevalence in the Seacoast; also
preventative strategies.
Dr. Richard French, DVM, PhD
–
Director, NH Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory –
Focus on other pathogens prevalent in local ticks.
Dr. Bernard Raxlen, MD – Lyme
Resource Medical, PC, New
York - Focus on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme
Disease and coinfections. Dr. Eva Sapi – New Haven University, Molecular Biology – Focus on
the latest research on the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme
Disease.
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.
Zoning Board of Adjustment –
Tuesday, July 28, 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,
please click HERE.
The Durham Public Library Board of Trustees meet
every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Durham Public Library.
All are welcome to attend. To view the Trustees meeting schedule, please click
HERE.
The Friends of the Durham Public Library is a
non-profit group of volunteers from the community who are passionate about the
Library and all it has to offer our town. Friends meet every third
Wednesday of the month at 1:30 PM at the Durham Public
Library.
DURHAM CABLE ACCESS
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
To view a listing of the DCAT programming
schedule, please click HERE
Durham
Energy Committee Summer Series
The Durham Energy Summer Series
presents: "The End of Suburbia",
a film about oil depletion and the collapse of the American Dream. This film
will be shown at the Durham Public Library on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 7:00
PM.
boat
tours of the
Great Bay Estuary
The Piscataqua Region Estuaries
Partnership (PREP) is conducting boat tours of the Great Bay Estuary for
Planning Board Members, Conservation Commissioners, and other municipal planning
officials of the 52 coastal watershed communities in the PREP Focus Area.
Participants will learn about the
Great Bay Estuary from researchers and conservation professionals who will
discuss current projects, technical assistance programs, and funding
opportunities for coastal watershed communities. The free, 4-hour boat
tour leaves and returns to the University of New
Hampshire pier in New
Castle, NH. One guest
may accompany invitees (children must be over 8 years old).
Go to http://www.nhep.unh.edu/vip_reg.htm,
to register. Note that the registration deadline for either tour is
one week before tour date. Space is limited (typically, the tours fill
up very quickly – so register early).
ORYA
FOOTBALL
On Tuesday, July 28, 2009 beginning
at 7:00 PM, the Oyster River Youth Association will hold a football "Meet
and Greet" night at The Inn at Sprucewood, 25 Worthen Road. Come meet the coordinator
and coaches of the new football program. Open to all families. To register
for the football program, please Click here.
FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976
"1923 – N.H. College functioned as a single
administrative unit. However, the variety of subjects being taught and the size
of the school required a fundamental reorganization. A university pattern was
adopted, wit separate colleges for Agriculture, Liberal Arts, Technology and
Graduate
School."
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
