“FRIDAY UPDATES”

December 18, 2009

 

Hot cocoa at Wagon Hill Farm held by the Parks and Recreation Committee – Feb 2009

Photos courtesy Sara Badger Wilson

 

While it is certainly has been frigid in Durham this week, even on the coldest nights in central Germany, new energy efficient “passive houses” and others of this design get all the heat and hot water they need from the amount of energy that would be needed to run a hair dryer. For information on this interesting design, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/world/europe/27house.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1.

 

Mystery AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department is attempting to solve a mystery!  On Monday December 14^th, Jack and his mother came to the Police Department with some brownies they had baked.  Jack, who is two-years old, was very determined to give some brownies to his friends the police officers.  Unfortunately, due to a multitude of calls coming into the police at that moment, the staff was unable to find out who Jack and his Mom were!  The card that Jack left only stated, “Dear DPD, thanks for your hard work!  Your friend Jack”. Chief Kurz would welcome the opportunity to thank Jack for his kindness if someone would please contact him at dkurz@ci.durham.nh.us to let him know Jack’s last name!  By the way…the brownies were outstanding!

 

$200 Million Anticipated Price Tag for Durham, Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter, Somersworth, Rochester, and Newmarket Due to Developing Regulatory Environment -- A Trip to Concord to Meet with the Commissioner

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is focusing on more stringent permit limits for municipal wastewater and stormwater discharge permits. City/Town Managers of communities around and within the Great Bay estuary want to ensure these efforts are supported by the necessary science to insure the best use of scarce municipal dollars.  Excessively strict permit limits will compound communities’ financial difficulties and in turn have greater environmental impact by limiting municipal ability to maintain environmental infrastructure and unfortunately are anticipated to promote sprawl as wastewater user rates increase exponentially thereby encouraging new development to occur on greenfields within presently undeveloped areas of communities where private septic systems are constructed rather than within more urbanized areas.

 

On Wednesday of this week, Town Engineer David Cedarholm and Administrator Todd Selig, along with the City/Town Managers and Engineers from Portsmouth, Dover, Rochester, Exeter, Somersworth, and Newmarket, met in Concord with the Commissioner of the N.H. Department of Environmental Services to discuss this important issue. 

 

The municipal managers stated that we share the common goal of protecting our environment and recognize the importance of the Great Bay to the region and the state’s ecology and economy.  The challenge is meeting that goal given the increasingly scarce resources available to municipalities. It is therefore imperative that municipal resources be targeted to those infrastructure improvements and activities that deliver the greatest environmental benefit.

 

Our efforts Wednesday were to begin a dialog with NHDES which hopefully will help us all move forward to a sustainable approach to environmental protection; one that considers both the environment as well as the best use of scarce local financial resources.

 

Many of New Hampshire’s Seacoast communities with Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP’s) are awaiting the EPA to issue NPDES permits with new discharge limits. EPA has intimated that the new limits will include nitrogen limits potentially as low as 3 mg/l, which is believed to be the current limit of technology in warm climates.  Despite the fact that the data indicates that 70% of the harmful nutrients to the Great Bay are from non-point sources (fertilizer on lawns, failed private septic systems, the impact of runoff from existing development, etc.) the approach is focusing on the WWTPs first.  This approach will require an investment of more than $200 million by the WWTP’s in the watershed including over $20 million in Durham excluding increased operational costs.

 

The municipal Manager/Engineer delegation from the Great Bay Estuary WWTP communities feels strongly that a new more dynamic and balanced approach is needed, one that allows for communities to have greater input into the solutions to address the nitrogen problem. The Seacoast communities are ready to tackle this important environmental issue, however, we need NHDES support, leadership, and funding assistance to help address the water quality in Great Bay intelligently and cost effectively.

 

Update on Discussion With the Trust for Public Land for Preservation of the Spruce Forest Area and Development Opportunities for the Central Business District

On May 18, 2009, Gregg Caporossi of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) attended the Town Council meeting and provided Councilors with a presentation regarding the TPL’s interest in conserving approximately 230 acres of land located off of Mill Road known as Spruce Wood.  The TPL has been in discussions with Dave Garvey and Jack Farrell, who have controlling interest in the property. This land was rezoned in 2008 to ORLI. The idea of a possible project was to work toward conserving several pieces of land, and as part of the process, to instead create new taxable development intended to broaden the tax base on another parcel(s) closer to or within the urbanized area of Durham.  After a lengthy discussion, the Council generally indicated its interest in supporting the project. Since that time, the Administrator has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the TPL, Messrs. Farrell and Garvey, and the University of New Hampshire.

 

At Monday night’s meeting, Administrator Selig and Philip Auger from the TPL will provide the Council with an update on the current status of this project.

 

Courtesy Todd Selig

 

Potential Sale of a 0.079 Acre Parcel of Vacant Town Land Located in the Pettee Brook Parking Lot Behind the Former Don Thompson Real Estate Building to Ionian Properties, LLC

The owner of Ionian Properties LLC, John Kostis, approached the Town about purchasing a 0.079 acre parcel of vacant land located in the Pettee Brook parking lot behind the former Don Thompson Real Estate building. Ionian Properties plans to tear down the existing Don Thompson building and the connecting “crew house” and build a new apartment building. The 0.079 acre tract will allow Ionian Properties to construct four additional apartments per the existing Zoning Ordinance.

 

The Town does not have a use for this small section of the Pettee Brook metered  parking lot parcel behind the former Don Thompson building (the existing parking for Durham Bike), but wants to retain its interests in the property relative to the following: 1) A 20-foot wide easement across the northeasterly corner of the property being conveyed for the location, maintenance, repair, and replacement of a municipal sewer line; 2) An easement for the location, maintenance, repair, and replacement of a stormwater drainage pipe and catch basin; and 3) The public right of pedestrians to travel over the property conveyed to reach adjoining properties.

 

In keeping with the Town Council’s goal of creating economic development in the downtown area, Administrator Todd Selig entered into discussions with Mr. Kostis. Consequently, the Town and Mr. Kostis agreed to equally share the cost to have a fair market value established, as well as an appraisal prepared. 

 

At Monday night’s Council meeting, Mr. Selig will formally describe the proposed transfer in more detail. At the end of the evening, the Administrator recommends that the Council enter into Nonpublic Session to discuss and provide guidance relative to an appropriate selling price. After holding discussions on this matter, the Administrator plans to place on the next Council meeting for Council’s approval authorization for him to execute the Warranty Deed.

 

Town Administrator Employment Contract Renewal Process

There currently exists a multi-year Employment Agreement between the Town of Durham and Administrator Todd Selig dated February 19, 2007 which extends through December 31, 2011.  Section 16 of that document reads:  "If either the Town or Selig wishes to renew this Agreement at the conclusion of its original three (3) year term, that party shall notify the other of such intent no later than December 31, 2009.  In the event that the parties have not successfully concluded their negotiations by March 1, 2010, subsection 14C shall not apply and Selig shall be free to seek and obtain employment elsewhere at any time, even during the remaining term of this Agreement.”

 

This notification is to inform the Council that I would like to engage in contract renewal discussions per the terms of the Agreement.  To this end, I have had a brief conversation with Town Council Chair Neil Niman to inform him that due to the prevailing economic climate, I will not seek, nor will I accept (should it be offered), a wage increase for 2010. 

 

I have not recommended wage increases for our non-unionized personnel due to the economic hardships facing Durham's residents and believe strongly that I must lead by example in insisting that I be treated similarly.  It is my hope that our renewal conversation can revolve around extending the Agreement by an additional year.  (A reminder as well that in January we will need to commence the annual evaluation process for the Administrator.)

 

New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies - Durham Remains Involved

The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that pursues data-based research on public policy matters, develops options, informs policy makers and advises them about choices for action. The Center’s mission is to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire’s future. To advance its mission, the Center actively identifies issues, collects and analyzes data, publishes reports and special papers, holds briefing sessions for elected and appointed policy makers and stakeholders, and participates in public discussion of policy topics through the print and electronic media.

 

The Center is governed by a bi-partisan Board of Directors, which continually strives for balance. Members are sought from among those who have interest and experience in state and local policy questions, who have broad contacts among key policy makers, and who represent a variety of political and policy perspectives.  To view the biography for each Board member, visit http://www.nhpolicy.org/index.php?id=11. At the present time, Town Administrator Todd Selig serves as the Vice Chair of the board.  Mr. Selig's employment contract with the Town reads, "The Town recognizes that Selig is a Board member of the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies . . . and the Town encourages those activities and other similar activities as part of Selig’s professional development."  Over the course of the next year, Mr. Selig will likely become more publicly active with the organization, continuing as Chair of the Governance Committee and as an officer of the Board of Directors. 

 

Durham's Winter Roadway Maintenance – When DO We plow?

The Durham Department of Public Works endeavors to keep roadways as clear as possible during inclement winter weather.  Plowing operations are generally initiated after one to two inches of snow have fallen and continue until the storm has ended.  It is the intent of the department to use only sufficient salt to restore safe travel conditions as soon as practical following termination of winter storms.  For snow storms with a predicted accumulation in excess of two inches, plowing usually begins after an initial pre-storm salt application has formed brine and after one to two inches of snow has fallen (dependent on intensity of snowfall).  Because salt is both costly and has a harmful effect upon the environment, we have worked over the years to reduce the amount of salt utilized in Durham. 

 

The winter maintenance program is set up to perform the same level of maintenance for all roadways and/or sidewalks. This level of maintenance includes six sanding/salting/plow trucks for roadways and two sanding/salting/plow tractors for sidewalks. All routes are set up for a 2-3 hour route; once completed this program is repeated continuously until a storm ends and then one more round of treatment/clean up is completed immediately after the storm. The following night after a storm most snow is removed from the curb line to widen out the roadway and sidewalks.

 

Courtesy Todd Selig

 

Spruce Hole Well Update

As noted in last week's "Friday Updates," Emery & Garrett Groundwater, Inc. (EGGI), Durham's hydrological consultant, completed exploratory test well drilling for the groundwater development and artificial recharge assessment program being conducted in the Spruce Hole area of Durham.   Based upon EGGI's analysis and recommendations, the Town moved forward this week with the installation of the new production well at the original location identified years ago by UNH researchers in preparation for pumping tests and final permitting through the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.  Shown above is the new production well site (the larger of the two tubes shown) next to the original 1993 UNH test site (the smaller of the two tubes) at the rear corner of the Durham gravel pit on Packers Falls Road in Lee.  Town Engineer David Cedarholm, Dir. of Planning and Community Development Jim Campbell, and Todd Selig walked the area earlier today to evaluate various issues associated with the well location.

 

Credit Cards at the Town Clerk's Office?

Our resident's spoke; we listened.  In an effort to meet the needs of our customers, the Town Clerk/Tax Collector's Office and our MIS Department have been working toward the implementation of credit card technology that will allow all of our municipal departments to accept credit cards as payment for anything from the annual property tax bill to building permits.  New legislation at the state level finally allows Town's to accept credit cards as a valid method of payment for services rendered.  Consequently, we are moving toward bringing this method of payment on line in 2010.  Residents can presently pay for motor vehicle registrations on line by electronic check/funds transfer at  http://ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/town_clerk/autoreg.html. 

 

         

Courtesy Todd Selig

 

Active New Construction Activity Occurring in Durham

While the entire region experiences an economic slowdown, Durham is fortunate to have a great deal of building activity ongoing.  At present, there are ten active construction sites within the community including a new apartment building on Rosemary Lane and the new mixed use structure at the former Houghton's Hardware site on Jenkins Court (both pictured above).  In addition, numerous developers and existing property owners have been in touch with the Administrator's Office and the Code/Planning/Assessing Office to express interest in investing within the community. This is due both to the existence of a strong student housing market in Durham as well as our efforts to make the development process more user-friendly in Town. The Town’s promotional video has also proven very useful in orientating prospective investors to the many positive attributes of the community.

 

TOWN OFFICES HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

Thursday, Dec 24^th, Christmas Eve            -           Closed

Friday, Dec 25^th, Christmas Day                -           Closed

Thursday, Dec 31^st, New Years Eve           -           Early closing at 3:00 PM

 

All Town offices will reopen for regular business on Monday, January 4, 2010.

 

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

Thursday, Dec 24^th, Christmas Eve            -           Closed

Friday, Dec 25^th, Christmas Day                -           Closed

Saturday, Dec 26^th                                        -           Closed

Friday, Jan1st, New Years Day                   -           Closed

 

Christmas Holiday Recycling and Refuse Collection

The Public Works office will be closed on Thursday, December 24^th and Friday, December 25^th for the Christmas Holiday.  There will be NO CHANGE TO THE REFUSE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION ON THURSDAY; however, there will be no commercial recycling collection on Friday, December 25^th.  The TRANSFER STATION WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26^TH. 

 

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SEEKING PART-TIME HELP

Public Works is looking for part-time help on weekends (approximately 6 hours).  If interested, stop by the Public Works Department at 100 Stone Quarry Drive or contact Doug Bullen at 868-5578.

 

Surplus vehicle/equipment bids

The Department of Public Works will be holding a closed bid for surplus vehicles/equipment this year for the items listed below. These vehicles/equipment are to be sold as is.

 

1999 Ford Crown Victoria -VIN# 2FAFP71W5XX174388

1987 Blanchet Snow Blower Model A90 – previously mounted on a John Deere 544     

                    

Interested parties must submit a sealed bid to the Town of Durham, Department of Public Works no later than 2:00 PM, Wednesday, January 6, 2010.  The envelope must be clearly marked “SURPLUS VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT BID, VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT #” indicating the corresponding number, above, for each bid.  Use only one envelope for each vehicle/equipment item and each corresponding bid.  All items can be viewed at the Department of Public Works, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, M-F 8AM- 3:30PM. Bids must be at least $100 to be considered.  The Town of Durham reserves the right to reject any and all bids, to investigate the qualifications of any bidder, and to waive or not waive any and all informalities in any bid when making an award.

 

Depot Road parking Lot

The Town recently received a $200,000 grant from the USEPA Brownfields program for additional work at the Depot Road parking lot site.  This work will include the replacement of the 5 foot culvert pipe that runs beneath the property.  The project is 75% designed and will go out to bid late winter 2010, and is scheduled for construction in the summer of 2010.  The construction will not interfere with the normal daily operation of the parking lot. 

 

Safe Routes to School grant application submitted by dpw

The Town of Durham and the Oyster River Cooperative School District recently applied for a Safe Routes to School grant, a Federal and state program.  The grant is designed to allow the Town and school to offer and complete a number of programs all designed to encourage physical activity such as walking and/or riding bikes to school and to make the routes to school safer.  The grant application is worth $116,000.  The Public Works Department will be presenting the grant application before NHDOT officials on February 11^th and should hear results of who will be receiving the moneys by the end of March 2010.  The grant would fund multiple programs such as bicycle safety rodeo’s, crossing guard equipment and training, safety signage to include designation of the school zone, enhancement of pavement markings such as bike lanes, highly reflective thermoplastic crosswalks, new sidewalks, and incentives to those who participate in the safe routes events. 

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meeting is scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Office. To view the agenda for the meeting listed below, please click HERE.  All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing. 

 

Durham Town Council – Monday, December 21, 2009

Water Resource Protection Subcommittee – Tuesday, December 22, 2009 (7:30 AM)

 

Oyster River School Board meeting schedule, please click HERE. 

Durham Public Library Board of Trustees meeting schedule, please click HERE.

DCAT Programming Schedule, please click HERE

 

DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAMS

§         Monday, January 11^th & Thursday, January 14^th: Tai Chi Begins. Preregistration is required for the AM and PM class. 

§         Thursday, January 14, 2010, 5:30 – 6:30 PM:  Thursday Evening Yoga. Preregistration is required for this 8-week yoga session taught by Judy George.

§         Saturday, January 16, 2010, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, Churchill Rink: January Free Skate. Bring the family for a free skating event.

§         Thursdays in February & March, 4:00 – 5:00 PM: After School Fit Camp. This fun, active after school fitness program will never have a dull moment. 

§         Zumba – Pilates – Bootcamp.  Durham Parks & Recreation Department is now offering classes taught by Kathy Kerrigan. 

 

You can sign up for P&R classes at the P&R office, 2 Dover Road, or at the Town Clerk’s Office located in Town Hall. Contact Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, for more information or to register. Follow the Town of Durham Parks & Recreation Department on Facebook. Search “Town of Durham Parks”. 

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§         Three Chimneys Inn is collecting new mittens, gloves, or hats for children and adults that will be donated to local families in need.  Bring in items now until December 22, 2009 and place them on our Mitten Tree in the Ffrost Sawyer Tavern.  Warm up a pair of hands, and we will warm up yours with a coffee, hot chocolate, or soup as our thank you for your kind donation!

§         Three Chimneys Inn, New Years Eve Overnight Celebration. Click HERE to view menu. Packages start at $220. Stay two or more nights and enjoy a lower rate.

§         Fresh Cut Local Christmas Trees. Durham Boy Scout Troop 154 will again be selling fresh-cut local Christmas trees.  Trees will be on sale each Saturday & Sunday throughout December until they sell out.  All trees come from a farm in Farmington NH, loaded with the assistance of the Scouts. 

§         Thursday, February 11 and Thursday, April 8, 2010: Cultural Excursions to the Boston Symphony Orchestra Open Rehearsals. Sponsored by the UNH University Office of Sustainability. The cost of $48 per person per performance includes one BSO performance ticket and round trip bus transportation from Durham to Boston. All performances will be at 10:30 AM. The bus departs from the Community Church of Durham at 7:00 AM. Following the performance, the bus drops participants off at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and departs the MFA at 3:30 PM. The bus arrives back in Durham at approximately 5:00 PM. For program details, and online registration please go to:  https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=6253. For more information, please call Kate Donald, UOS Cultural Excursions Coordinator, 603-862-1634.

 

Holiday Parties

It’s time for holiday parties! Alcohol is flowing freely at parties and gatherings, and what harm could it to do have a couple? And then a couple more get consumed.  The Durham Police would like to offer a few tips to keep your drinking under control over the holidays:

 

1.   If you're going to a party, decide ahead of time how many drinks you'll have. While by no means scientific, about one drink an hour is generally okay for most people who don't have a history of drinking. No one says it has to be alcohol so feel free to stick with soda, juice, and herbal teas as substitutes. It may not be wise to trust yourself to exercise self-control. In some cases, attending a holiday gathering itself is not a good idea due to the temptations.

2.   If you do have alcohol, try to have one glass of water for each alcoholic drink you consume. Sometimes we drink because we want something in our hands during a party. This way, you still do, but you don't end up overdoing it on alcohol. Making sure you have something to eat also helps. It's never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach.

3.   Always have a plan to get home safely BEFORE the party.  It is simply not a good idea to drink even a small amount of alcohol and drive!  Have the telephone number for a cab handy if you have not arranged for a ride home. No one said you couldn’t have a good time but moderation ensures that you have a good time, aren’t arrested, or worse!

 

Weekly Police Arrest Report

 

Week – 11	5 UNH (45%)	6 Other (55%)
*2009/10 Academic Year – 538	333 UNH (62%)	205 Other (48%)
Calendar Year – 1084	630 UNH (58%)	454 Other (42%)

*Commenced September 1, 2009 

 

Historical data for the same week

This data represents the 2009/10 Academic year report which begins anew each August

when UNH students begin arriving in Durham.

Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Week	9	18	12	10	11
Academic Year	656	478	436	470	538
Calendar Year	1215	981	1007	985	1084

 

FROM HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1974 – National attention focused as Aristotle Onasis attempted to locate here the world’s largest oil refinery. Opposition from a citizens’ organization, Save Our Shores, spread throughout the seacoast. At a dramatic Town Meeting on March 6, the vote was 9-1 against the refinery.”

 

“1974 – The official seal was accepted by the selectmen. The rising sun background was from the original State Seal, but the foreground is the scene from the Falls bridge. The gundalow has had much to do with early livelihood of the Town. The seal was designed by Richard Brayton.”

 

“1974 – Enrollment at the University grew from 2,400 in 1923 to 10,000 in 1974. Other state institutions of higher education at Keene, Plymouth, and Merrimack Valley enrolled an additional 4,500 students. These and other units were incorporated into a single University System of New Hampshire.”

 

Have a good 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.