“FRIDAY UPDATES”

February 19, 2010

Courtesy Scott Gagne, LGC staff

Durham resident and City of Rochester Planner Michael Behrendt has published a book titled The Architectural Jewels of Rochester New Hampshire: A History of the Built Environment. Michael is featured in the February 2010 edition of the New Hampshire Town and City magazine, published by the New Hampshire Local Government Center. To read the article, click HERE.

Durham Business Association Candidates Forum

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010, beginning at 7:00 PM, a Candidates Forum for Town Council and Library Trustee candidates will be held in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall located at 15 Newmarket Road. The forum is being planned and hosted by the Durham Business Association (www.durhambusinessassociation.org), moderated by Town Moderator, Chris Regan, and will be broadcast on the Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) channel, Channel 22.

DBA members and the public are invited to attend and to participate by submitting questions for Town Council and Library Trustee candidates who are running for these elected offices at the March 9, 2010 Town Election.

Questions may be submitted by email to the Durham Business Association at durhambusinessassociation@gmail.com no later than Friday, February 19, 2010

Please Note: The Durham Business Association is a 501 (c) (6) nonprofit and does not promote, endorse any specific political candidates.

Candidate PROFILEs for Town Elected Offices

Citizens interested in learning more about the prospective candidates who have signed up to run for various Town elected offices in March may now view candidate profiles of each candidate. To view this information, click HERE.

Town Election - March 9, 2010

The 2010 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Oyster River High School. Polling hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Voters will park in reserved spaces along the front of the school and use the Multipurpose Room entrance. To view a sample ballot, please click HERE.

Mixed-use 3-story commercial/residential building Bryant Park West under construction on Mast

at former Houghton Hardware site on Jenkins Court Road. Photos courtesy Tom Johnson

NUMEROUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD IN DURHAM

There is a lot of new construction activity in Durham. Moe’s Sandwich Shop will be moving into the Philips 66 Service Station on Dover Road into the former Dunkin Donuts space that was vacated when they moved over to the Irving Station about 5 years ago. St. Georges Episcopal Church, Park Court, has started its renovations that include some minor additions and ADA accessibility. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 20 Madbury Road has added a major addition along with interior renovations of the existing building. The Sigma Beta Fraternity house at 26 Madbury Road has been closed for the past academic year while major gutting and overhaul of the interior has been done, along with a side addition for a required second exit stair enclosure. Sigma Beta plans to reopen in June for occupancy. Peter Murphy, 22 Rosemary Lane, has built a 3-story 4-unit Townhouse building to house 8 occupants in each Townhouse. The building is near completion for June occupancy. Matt Crape, 6 Jenkins Court, is constructing a new mixed-use 3-story commercial/residential building with housing for 60 students on the former Houghton Hardware store site. Permits have been issued to Slania Enterprises at 12 Jenkins Court for a 3-story addition and a new 3-story building at 14 Jenkins Court. The interior of the former RKG Offices owned by Dick Gsottschneider on Mast Road Extension are being converted into a combination residential/office mixed use. Back in the woods off Mast Road and Spinney Lane is a new private home being built by David Sawyer. A substantial addition is being made to the Hoene property at 281 Mast Road as well as the recent completion of a horse barn. An indoor riding structure is planned to start soon for their prized competitive horses. Bryant Park West at 262 Mast Road is currently under construction. Two 3-story apartment buildings housing 120 students are under construction for an anticipated occupancy in late summer. The new 9 single-family home project on the new Sophie Lane is starting off of Bagdad and Canney Roads. Jack Farrell, 46 Bagdad Road, recently completed a new solar powered, heat smart single-family custom home. Jack Farrell is now starting another new home at 12 Woodside Road. A new custom home is also under construction at 557 Bay Road, and the Dame Farm Ryan home that was destroyed by fire last year is also under re-construction at 321 Dame Road. At 239 Piscataqua Road the homeowner has started new additions to their waterfront home. In this same area, an existing camp is going to be torn down and a new home and detached garage will be built at 14 Cedar Point Road. In addition to all of the new construction there are many back up power electrical generators, roof and ground mounted solar systems, and the usual kitchen, bath, and interior remodeling that is always on-going around town.

Is it time for you to apply for your building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire permits for additions, renovations, roofing, siding, windows, or other plans this spring or summer? Please call ahead to 868-8064 if you need to speak or meet with the Zoning, Code Enforcement, and Health Officer Tom Johnson.

Trust for Public Land Spruce Forest Project Update - Durham to Proceed with Submittal of Grant Application

In March 2008, representatives from the Trust for Public Land (TPL) approached Administrator Todd Selig to request that the Town submit an application for the preservation of approximately 171+/- acres of Sprucewood/Tecce land as part of a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) grant application due later that month. Given that the Town Council had recently rezoned the area in question to Office Research and Light Industry (ORLI) to promote taxable development and that there was insufficient time available to thoughtfully weigh the merits of the application before the grant due date, Administrator Selig declined and suggested that instead TPL work with the Town, University, and other partners over the next year to develop a program that would meet the needs of all parties – land conservation, economic development, enhanced graduate/affordable faculty housing for UNH, and potential recreation field area for Durham residents.

On May 18, 2009, Gregg Caporossi, TPL Project Manager, attended the Town Council meeting and provided Councilors with a presentation regarding the TPL’s interest in conserving the land in question. The TPL has been in discussions with Dave Garvey and Jack Farrell, who have controlling interest in the property. The idea of a possible project was to work toward conserving several pieces of land, and as part of the process, to work with UNH to identify a parcel closer to the town that could be developed economically to broaden the tax base.

After a lengthy discussion, the Council on May 18th generally indicated its interest in supporting the project as then envisioned. Since that time, the Administrator has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the TPL, Messrs. Farrell and Garvey, and the University of New Hampshire.

As the project progressed, it became clear for a variety of reasons that the timeframes for TPL, the property owners, and UNH did not coincide for such a collaboration … so efforts were made over many months to identify other parcels on which economic development could be created in conjunction with the Spruce Forest parcel. These included: Depot Road parking lot, Durham Business Park, Pettee Brook Parking Lot, Store 24 Parking Lot, and others.

After much consideration it appeared that the Grange site, with a 2009 appraisal value of $650,000, could be an “elegant solution.” Ideally poised to leverage a Mill Plaza development coming on line, the Spruce forest owners introduced Town officials to a variety of large external development corporations, and one of these, SORA Holdings based in Towson, Maryland, expressed interest in December 2009 in the Grange parcel and a Mill Plaza redevelopment.

Unfortunately, a March 2009 CECLP grant deadline precluded the ability of SORA to bring forward a bona fide development proposal in time for the community to realistically consider whether the $650,000 Grange asset would in fact leverage the kind of new taxable development necessary to replace the loss of economic potential within the 171 acre Spruce Forest parcel.

At the February 1^st Council meeting, there was concern expressed regarding utilizing the Grange as a Durham asset contribution toward the conservation of the Spruce Forest area. There was also concern around the viability of locating municipal ball fields off Mill Road, the confidential restricted appraisal which had been prepared for TPL on the parcel, and whether the project had ultimately become a pure conservation project versus one that could realistically be expected to leverage the creation of new taxable value.

In response to the February 1st discussion, Mr. Selig worked on behalf of the Town to provide as beneficial an arrangement for the entire community as possible while being responsive to Council concerns which had previously been expressed. This included the following:

De-link the Grange from the program.
Durham’s contribution would be $400,000 or 10% of the final appraised value of the Spruce Forest area at closing, which ever is less, with a minimum contribution of $300,000
The Durham Conservation Commission has indicated a willingness to support the full $400,000 purchase price utilizing Land Use Change Tax proceeds
A minimum of 5-10 acres located off Mill Road will be reserved for the potential creation of recreation fields with the possibility of more acreage being set aside. [Note that there has been NO analysis as to the viability of recreational field development, there is no money budgeted for the development of ball fields, and it has not been discussed whether we even desire fields in this location.]
Conversations are taking place as to whether approx. 28+/- acres of Colasante land adjacent to Spruce Forest and Spruce Hole could also be leveraged as part of the project -- as well as whether it would be possible to set aside approximately 3.5 acres of land for the creation of affordable housing (a Council goal) along Mill Road – all as part of this project.
We plan to evaluate whether the implementation of a new zoning provision allowing for the Transfer of Density Credits from the Spruce Forest project to our Central Downtown Core could in fact leverage the kind of new taxable value the Council has aspired to create for the last several years.
Public access will be guaranteed as part of the project.
The Town will have the ability to connect municipal infrastructure such as water lines from the Spruce Hole Well across the Spruce Forest parcel to meet the community’s future infrastructure needs.

After a lengthy discussion on Monday evening, February 15th, a majority of the Council felt comfortable with Mr. Selig moving forward to submit the CECLP grant application for the Spruce Forest project in partnership with the Trust for Public Lands. Mr. Selig will be working with TPL in the coming weeks to submit the application by March 15th.

Durham Police Officers Association Pancake Breakfast

On Saturday, February 27, 2010, from 8:00 – 11:00 AM, the Durham Police Officers Association (DPOA) will hold a pancake breakfast fund-raiser for the Chief Ray Burrows Scholarship Fund at the Durham Evangelical Church, 114 Dover Road. The Chief Ray Burrows scholarship is offered every year to an Oyster River High School Senior who is interested in pursuing a career in public service. Suggested donation is $5 for adults and $3 for seniors/children.

Durham Police Recruit in Training

Matthew Brown, a new recruit hired to replace the vacancy of retiring police officer Ed Levesque, continues his training at the NH Police Academy where he receives the core knowledge necessary to work as a police officer in New Hampshire. The academy, which is 14 weeks long, requires the recruits to live on-site, except for weekends. While paramilitary in nature, the day begins at 5:30AM with an exercise program to strengthen the body and improve endurance. After breakfast the curriculum turns to classroom training in laws, ethics, report writing, human relations, first aid, and many other topics. The day ends at 9:30 pm after a short study period. Besides exercise and classroom training, there are practical exercises involving firearms, scenario-based training on everything from traffic stops and defensive tactics to building searches. Motor vehicle stops can even be simulated inside the facility, which contains a realistic street scene and is capable of holding several vehicles. Outside, there is a "track" for the practical driving exercises where "skid cars" are used to simulate less-than-ideal driving conditions, including glare ice on ordinary pavement.

Matt is at the half-way point of his training at the academy and will graduate April 9^th. Upon return, he will begin 12-weeks of Field Training with specially trained senior Durham officers. During this period Matt will be shadowed at all times learning and being evaluated on the policies, procedures and the nuances of policing in Durham.

Assistant Town Engineer Position

The Department of Public Works began interviewing for the Assistant to the Engineer position today. Applications for this position were due on February 8^th. Fifteen applications were received and seven individuals were selected for an interview. All interviews will be concluded by Monday afternoon of next week.

PURCHASE OF Compost Bins and Rain Barrels

The Department of Public Works is participating in the Northeast Resource Recovery Association’s (NRRA) annual compost bin sale. Within the past year, the DPW has received many inquiries regarding the rain barrels, so the department agreed to also offer this product to interested parties. A sample compost bin and rain barrel can be seen in the lobby of the Town Hall and have information sheets attached to them. Anyone desiring to purchase one of these items can complete an order form and either drop off or mail both the forms and a check to Durham Department of Public Works, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham NH 03824, no later than April 1st, 2010. Checks must be made out to NRRA. Compost bin: $42 - Rain barrel: $60. A pickup will be scheduled for late April once it has been coordinated with the NRRA. Order forms can be requested via e-mail at publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us, picked up at the Town Hall and Public Works buildings, or obtained by clicking HERE.

Annual Appointments of Citizens to Fill Vacancies on Various Town Boards

On April 30, 2010, 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, 2010. 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 is Friday, March 26, 2010.

Conservation Commission - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) Governance Committee - (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate vacancy)

Durham Energy Committee (3 vacancies)

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

Historic District Commission - (1 vacancy)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee - (2 vacancies)

Lamprey River Management Advisory Committee – (3 vacancies)

Parks and Recreation - (3 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Planning Board - (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Rental Housing Commission – (1 Tenant representative vacancy; 1 Neighborhood representative vacancy)

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

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

Application for Elderly Exemptions

Eligible citizens may apply for an Elderly Exemption or other exemptions/credits (Veterans Credit, Blind Exemption, Solar, etc.) by the deadline of April 15, 2010 for the 2010 spring tax bill. An application may be obtained from the Planning, Zoning, and Assessing Office located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road. Questions regarding these exemptions can be directed to the Planning, Zoning, and Assessing Office at 868-8064. Current criteria and exemption amounts for the elderly are as follows:

Income Criteria

Single net income: Not more than $32,500.00

Married, combined income: Less than $43,700.00

Asset Criteria

Net assets: Not in excess of $200,000.00

Age Eligibility Criteria Exemption Amount

65 years up to 75 years: $125,000.00

75 years up to 80 years: $175,000.00

80 years or older: $225,000.00

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

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

Candidates Forum sponsored by DBA – Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Planning Board – Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Parks and Recreation Committee – Thursday, February 25, 2010

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 FEBRUARY REMINDER

Stay up-to-date on all of Park & Recreation’s current classes and programs. Click HERE to view the February 2010 Reminder. Check out a new class being offered starting in February: Introductory Art – Drawing & Sketching.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§ UNH Office of International Students and Scholars: Cultural Connections Schedule of presentations by international students. Open to the public. For more information, contact Leila Paje-Manato, 862-3491, Leila.Paje-Manalo@unh.edu.

§ Tuesday, March 2, (inclement weather: Wednesday, Mar 3), 6:30 – 8:00 PM, Moharimet Elementary School: Growing Places 15^th Annual Art Show Special. Artwork by the infant and toddler classes. Refreshments will be served.

§ Wednesday, March 3, Noon, UNH Paul Creative Arts Center, A219: ArtBreak: Lecture & Discussion by Bruce L. Mallory, Professor of Education. Free to the public. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/moa, or contact museum.of.art@unh.edu, 862-3712.

§ Wednesday, March 10, Noon, UNH Paul Creative Arts Center: ArtBreak: Gallery Talk with artist Langdon Quin who discusses his work currently on view in Acts & Memory: Paintings by Langdon Quin, 1900-2010. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/moa, or contact museum.of.art@unh.edu, 862-3712.

§ Wednesday, March 10, Noon, UNH Paul Creative Arts Center: ArtBreak: TBA. For more information, visit www.unh.edu/moa, or contact museum.of.art@unh.edu, 862-3712.

BOBCAT BOLT 5K/10K RACE

On Saturday, May 15, 2010, the Bobcat Bolt 5K/10K race and Oyster River Festival 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 go directly to The Oyster River Alumni Association. This non-profit organization will donate the proceeds to The Durham Teen Initiative for the construction of a youth center in Durham in the names of Josh and Nate Hardy. Registration is $35 ($25-UNH student, $20-OR student) and can be completed online at www.bobcatbolt.com. Following the race, the 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 orh92@yahoo.com. Residents should expect traffic delays; especially in the area of the Oyster River High School.

“EVENING OF THE ARTS FOR HAITIAN RELIEF” CONCERT TO REPLAY ON CHANNEL 22

On Friday, February 12^th, the Community Church of Durham, UCC, held an “Evening of the Arts for Haitian Relief.” Over $4,000 was raised to assist the United Church of Christ in its mission to restore lives and create new opportunity for the Haitian people.

For those who were unable to attend the concert, the event was taped and will be rebroadcast over Durham’s cable channel, Channel 22 on Friday, February 19^th at 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM, as well as Wednesday through Friday February 24^th, 25^th, and 26^th at 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM.

Weekly Police Arrest Report

Week – 10	6 UNH (60%)	4 Other (40%)
*2009/10 Academic Year – 593	366 UNH (62%)	223 Other (38%)
Calendar Year – 50	32 UNH (64%)	18Other (36%)

*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	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Week	14	21	15	21	10
Academic Year	760	602	506	561	593
Calendar Year	98	99	65	84	50

NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIVIA & TIDBITS

“Born in Manchester in 1933, William "Billy" Pappas was a three-sport standout-lettering in football, basketball and baseball-in high school and at the University of New Hampshire. His achievements continued beyond school when he was named to the All-U.S. Air Force football team. He's a member of the Wildcat Athletics Council Hall of Fame.“ AmericanProfile Magazine – First appeared: 7/26/2009

And from Mr. Selig’s 4.5 year old daughter…

Q: What kind of fish does a cat like for dinner?

A: A cat fish!

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.

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