"Friday
Updates"
July
31, 2009
Courtesy Andrea
Bodo
Finally in the last week of July it
has begun to feel like summer. Tomorrow is August 1st
On Tuesday July 28th,
Town Councilor Karl Van Asselt, Planning Board Member Susan Fuller,
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
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 raising and
appropriating $1,231,055 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 in
accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act, RSA Chapter 33, and
further authorizing the Town Council to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes
and to determine the rate of interest thereon? Of said funds,
$615,527 is to be funded through the State Revolving Loan Fund and the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, with $615,528 to be raised by
taxation. 2/3 ballot vote required.
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,
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
Promotional
Film of
The Town of
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
Durham’s
277th Birthday
Some local trivia -- 2009 marks
NEW
CAPTAIN AT DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Durham Fire Department is
pleased to announce that Firefighter
FIREFIGHTER
HIRING PROCESS UNDERWAY
The Durham Fire Department is in the
midst of interviewing 25 applicants to fill the firefighter opening created by
the promotion of Captain
Labor
Negotiations with Three Bargaining Units to Begin Shortly
The Town of
2010-2019
CAPITAL IMPROVEMNENTS PLAN (CIP)
Town departments are presently
working on the preparation of the 2010-2019 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP).
Development of a CIP is part of the annual budget process and typically consists
of larger projects or purchases over the future ten years. Approximately
80% of the CIP projects originate from the Department of Public Works.
DEER
TICK SURVEY AT WAGON HILL FARM
Administrator's
Plan for Reducing the Risk to
The State of
What can residents do around their
homes to help reduce exposure to mosquitoes?
·
Make sure that
doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace all
screens in your home that have tears or holes.
·
Remove all
discarded tires from your property. The used tire has become the most
important domestic mosquito-breeding habitat in the
·
Do not allow
water-holding containers. Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic
pots, or similar water-holding containers. Do not overlook containers that
have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.
·
Drill holes in
the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage
holes that are located on the sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed
in.
·
Make sure roof
gutters drain properly. Clean clogged gutters in the spring and fall.
·
Tightly screen
“rain barrels” to ensure mosquitoes cannot deposit eggs in or on
water.
·
Clean and
chlorinate swimming pools and outdoor hot tubs. If not in use, keep empty
and covered.
·
Drain water from
pool covers.
·
Aerate
ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable
but become major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to
stagnate.
·
Turn over
wheelbarrows and change water in birdbaths at least twice weekly. Both
provide breeding habitat for domestic mosquitoes.
·
Eliminate any
standing water that collects on your property. Use landscaping as needed.
Mosquitoes will develop in any puddle that lasts more than 4 days.
Mosquito larvae look like tiny shrimp and are not recognized for what they
really are by most people.
·
Remind or help
neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their
properties.
What can residents do to reduce
their risk of becoming infected with WNV or EEE? When mosquitoes are active,
take the following precautions:
·
Wear protective
clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and socks if outside during
evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, the time when mosquitoes are most active,
and at other times when mosquitoes are biting.
·
If outside
during evening, nighttime, and dawn hours, or whenever mosquitoes are biting,
consider the use of an effective insect repellant.
·
Vitamin B,
ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in
preventing mosquito bites.
·
Use repellants
according to manufacturer’s directions.
v Repellents containing DEET have been
proven effective. No more than 30% DEET should be used on adults or
children.
v The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) has updated recommendations for use of DEET products on children,
citing: “Insect repellents containing DEET with a concentration of 10%
appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used according
to the directions on the product labels.” AAP recommends that repellants
with DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months
old.
v Repellents containing Picaridin
(KBR3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus (a plant based repellent) provide
protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET. Oil of
lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. Do
not allow young children to apply repellent
themselves.
v Do not apply repellent directly to
children. Apply repellent to your own hands and then put it on the child’s
exposed skin.
v Avoid putting repellent on the hands
of children or near their eyes or mouth.
v Do not spray directly on the face,
spray into the hands first and then apply to the
face.
v Do not apply to cuts, wounds, or
irritated, skin.
v Do not use under
clothing.
v Do not spray repellent containing
products in enclosed areas.
v Avoid prolonged or excessive use of
repellents. Use sparingly to cover exposed skin and
clothing.
v Wash all treated skin and clothing
after returning indoors.
v Store repellents out of reach of
children.
v
Research has shown that repellents based on natural
oils or herbs are less effective than products based on Picaridin or
DEET.
v Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices,
incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing
mosquito bites.
Lyme Disease
Prevention
In addition to WNV and EEE, summer
also brings the increased threat of the tick-borne infectious disease known as
Lyme disease. Citizens are urged to take precautions to prevent the potential
for becoming infected with tick-borne diseases by performing frequent, thorough
tick checks, wearing light-colored clothes, tucking pants into socks, and
placing clothes in the dryer for 30 minutes to kill ticks. More
information may be obtained by contacting the Lyme Disease Association, Inc.,
VOLUNTEERS
SELECT TO HELP NEIGHBORS DURING POWER OUTAGES
While the problems of the December
2008 power outage may seem like a distant memory, especially during the
wonderful spring weather we are now experiencing, several residents have been
attempting to address a number of storm-related issues that arose during that
trying time so they will not be repeated.
Residents Michael and Gisela
Everngam pointed out to the Police Department that many of our other residents,
who are living alone, faced some unusual challenges as a result of lost
electrical power. As an example, it was discovered that the battery backup
capacity of some of the emergency alert devices they utilize only has enough
capacity for 20-24 hours. Many of
These devices offer residents a
safety net with assurances that they can get help if they have an
emergency. While extended periods of power outages are extremely rare in
Such a service system may involve
periodic contacts of citizens with these devices during any prolonged power
outage by either public safety departments or volunteers enlisted to assist.
Hopefully the effort would be neighborhood based, allowing for at least a daily
check of everyone in Town who relies on an emergency alert device. At present,
Sergeant Mike Bilodeau and the Everngams are working on developing protocols for
such a service but wondered if there would be any interest in such an
initiative. They would welcome input from the
Bicycle
Accident Prevention
·
Protect their head by always wearing a helmet.
·
Assure their bicycle readiness by having the proper
size and function of bicycle.
·
Always ride wisely by learning to follow the “Rules
of the Road”.
·
Be predictable and act like a driver of a
vehicle.
·
Remain visible and see and be seen at all times.
·
Remember to drive with care and always share the
road.
·
Remain focused and alert at all times
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.
Town Council – Monday, August 3,
2009
Historic District Commission –
Thursday, August 6, 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.
To view a listing of the DCAT
programming schedule, please click HERE
THE
The Lamprey
River Advisory Committee is looking for a few good kids to participate in a
preliminary/practice run for the NH Dragonfly Survey. The state is trying to
determine what dragonflies live where. The Lamprey River Advisory Committee
hopes to lead a full program during the upcoming school year, but summer time is
a wonderful opportunity to introduce kids and their parents to the fun of
spending some quality time with these winged jewels. If you are aware of a few
kids who have an interest in nature and/or science and might enjoy an excursion
to the riverbanks of the Lamprey, please inform them of this
opportunity. The committee is especially interested in kids who will be
entering fourth through sixth grade. There is no cost to participate and the
sampling date will be determined by consensus among those who sign up. Please
email rgrims@gwi.net.
Only
TWO left -
Please join members of the
Preschool
Storytimes.
Thank you
for a great summer session during our Summer Reading Program! We will be taking
a break in August, but will start a new session in September. Stay
tuned!
2009
Summer Reading Program. Saturday, August 1st is the LAST DAY to turn
in reading logs. Read books, (or be read to,) record your titles or minutes read
on your reading log, and turn in your logs to win free books! Write book reviews
of your favorite books and be entered in a drawing for even more prizes. Special
thanks to the Durham Library Friends of the Library for an excellent selection
of SRP book prizes.
Arrests
in
During the UNH academic year, Chief
Kurz provides a statistical report of arrests that occur within the
jurisdictional boundaries of
FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976
“1924 – The Pettee Brook Block,
built in 1897 by George Whitcher, burned, destroying general store, market,
barber and tailor shops, pharmacy, men’s dormitory. Mrs. Gorman warned all the
residents.
Have a nice
weekend.
Todd
The Town of