“FRIDAY
UPDATES”
March
5, 2010
Courtesy Andrea
Bodo
Last Thursday night's storm left
quite a path of destruction in
First…
Thank you to all
Kudos
to
It should be noted that a great deal
of work in the early stages after last Thursday night’s storm was accomplished
by Durham Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments. Numerous fire alarm
activations and elevator rescues coupled with reports of damage to structures
and vehicles kept all agencies extremely busy. The Fire Department
responded with a ladder truck to
…AND
ALSO TO THE
A thank you is also extended to the
Portion of
Courtesy Joan
Graf
Preliminary
Storm Damage Assessment –
Governor John Lynch did make a
disaster declaration associated with this past week’s storm event. As
such, all
WHERE
TO BRING YOUR Storm Debris
Last week’s wind storm has left
residents with a large amount of brush and downed trees in their yards.
Residents that are clearing their properties may bring all brush to the
Food
Safety: Your Refrigerator and Power Outages
The USDA fact sheet on "Keeping Food
Safe During an Emergency" provides detailed information that may be helpful to
INFORMATIONAL
HANDOUTS RELATING TO TREES AND STORM DAMAGE
The USDA Forest Service has supplied
the Town with handouts related to trees and storm damage and include information
on how to recognize defects in hazardous trees, how to prune trees, trees and
ice storms, storms over the urban forest, and more. These handouts are located
in the lobby of the Town Hall for the public. Information may also be obtained
at: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/
Courtesy Andrea
Bodo
Swans
on the Mill Pond – Now There Are Two!
For those residents familiar with
the long history of swans in
TNH
Editorial Regarding Implications of Student Housing in
On February 15th,
Code
Enforcement Efforts Trigger Zoning Board Appeals for
Relief
As you know, the Code Enforcement
Office sent out approximately 27 violation letters a few weeks ago in an effort
to actively enforce the existing ordinance framework in place in Durham with
particular emphasis on rental properties and the “No More than 3 Unrelated
Rule.” On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the Zoning Board of Adjustment will hear
several appeals. To view the ZBA’s agenda, go to: http://ci.durham.nh.us/GOVERNMENT/boards/zoning/zoning_meeting_agenda.html.
The Zoning Board does rely on testimony provided to help guide its decisions so
resident and landlord/owner input on these cases will be important as part of
the deliberation process. For specific case information, contact
Transfer
of Development Rights/Credit Program to Be
Evaluated/Developed
The Town has engaged the services of
Roger Hawk of Hawk Planning Resources, LLC to help
Inclusionary
Zoning Efforts Moving Forward
Consultant Jack Mettee has been
engaged by the Town to work with us on the development of an Inclusionary Zoning
Program made possible by a $9,000 grant sought by the Planning Department
through the N.H. Housing Finance Authority. Kudos to the Planning Department
staff for going after external grant funding to make this kind of analysis
possible.
While driving the Durham Fire
Department’s ladder truck back to Durham from North Attleboro, MA where it had
been undergoing repairs, the vehicle experienced a tire blow out on Interstate
495 at Exit 49 in the North bound lane. The driver was traveling in the
slow (right) lane when the tire let go. This caused the truck to veer
across both left lanes if the interstate. The driver managed to gain
control and steer the truck off to the right hand shoulder. The ladder
trick did not strike any other vehicle but the driver did witness pieces of tire
flying through the air. Upon exiting the vehicle, it was noted that the
tire was almost completely gone. The inner fender was damaged so that the
vehicle could not be driven. No one was
injured.
A
Quick Update on the
The Department of Public Works
advertised in the local papers for “Request for Qualifications” (RFQ’s) for
engineering services on January 30, 2010, and also sent out ten letters to
consultants in our vendors file. On February 11, 2010, Public Works received ten
RFQ proposals. After a thorough review of the ten RFQ’s, our staff short listed
four consultants for interviews. Those consultants were
Spruce
As a follow up to the February 15th
meeting of the Town Council in which the Council authorized the
Administrator to proceed with working in conjunction with The Trust for
Public Land (TPL) to submit a Federal CELCP grant application for preservation
of the Spruce Forest parcel, Mr. Selig has had numerous conversations with
various stake holders relative to the project. To view the most recent
correspondence from TPL regarding the topic, click HERE.
RECEPTION
TO HONOR OUTGOING BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
On Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 6:30
– 8:00 PM, the Town will host an informal reception to honor the contributions
of citizens who will be completing their tenures on various Town boards,
commissions, and committees the end of April, as well as those citizens who have
stepped down from board appointments over the past year.
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
AND SCHOOL Elections - March 9, 2010
The 2010 Town and School Elections
will be held next Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the
On Wednesday evening, March 3, 2010,
between 10:00 and 10:30 PM, a male posing as a utility worker requested access
to a resident’s home on Route 4. The male suspect stated he needed to
check for “water problems” in the basement due to the recent power
outages. While the resident and the suspect were in the basement, the
suspect’s accomplice or accomplices entered the upper levels of the house.
The suspect apparently used his cell phone to coordinate with his accomplices
while he was in the basement with the resident. The accomplices stole the
resident’s birth certificate, vehicle title, social security card, and banking
information. The resident did not notice the thefts until 5:36 PM. The
resident discovered the thefts because items were moved and were out of place
making them suspect someone rummaged through the house.
The suspect was described as having
a dark complexion, possibly Hispanic, under 5’6”, approximately 50 years old,
with a thin mustache. He was wearing dark colored pants and jacket and
gray suede gloves. He was also wearing a hat pulled down low on his
forehead. He told the resident he was 58 years old and from
A similar incident occurred in
Anyone having information are asked
to please contact the Durham Police Department at
603-868-2324.
CENSUS
2010: WE CAN’T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL YOU MAIL IT BACK
In March of 2010, census
forms will be delivered to every residence in the
It is so important that
you fill in the form and promptly mail it back. Accurate data reflecting changes
in your community are crucial in apportioning seats in the U.S. House of
Representatives and deciding how more than $400 billion per year is allocated
for projects.
When you do
the math, that's more than $4 trillion over a 10-year period. It is easy to see
what an accurate count of residents can do for communities. Better
infrastructure. More money for services. The information the census collects
helps to determine how Federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and
services like: hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers,
bridges, tunnels and other public works projects, and emergency
services.
In
addition, residents themselves have used census data to support community
initiatives involving environmental legislation, quality-of-life issues and
consumer advocacy. People from many walks of life use census data to advocate
for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate
pools of skilled workers and more.
Remember,
by filling out the census form, you're making a statement about what resources
Take a look to see how
well your community participated in the 2000
Census.
DPOA
PANCAKE BREAKFAST FOR CHIEF RAYMOND BURROWS SCHOLARSHIP
FUND
The Durham Police Officers’
Association (DPOA) is holding a pancake breakfast on March 20, 2010 from 8:00 –
11:00 AM at the
LED
Lighting Demonstration
The Town in cooperation with the
University has put LED lighting in two lamps in front of Thompson Hall to
demonstrate the look and feel of LED lighting in the corridor. Both posts
are marked with a sign explaining LED lighting and it’s benefits such as that it
consumes 80% less energy than current lighting and lasts 3-4 times longer.
These lamps are on loan for a couple months to observe their capabilities.
Please feel free to drive or walk by to take a look.
Director of Public Works Mike Lynch
will be attending an LED lighting workshop next Thursday in
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,
GLASSES
FOUND AT TRANSFER STATION
Staff at the Durham Transfer Station
found a pair of men’s prescription tortoise shell reading glasses in the
cardboard shed. If this fits the description for a pair of reading glasses you
may have recently lost, please speak to one of the transfer station staff at the
attendance shack.
The Whittemore School of Business
and Economics' Marketing Workshop class invites citizens to participate in a
short Transportation survey. Participation is completely voluntary. Responses
will be kept confidential to the extent possible when communicating via the
Internet and will be used to study regional transportation awareness and use.
The survey will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes to complete and responses will
be instantly cataloged upon submission. Participants will remain anonymous. The
Transportation survey may be found at the following link: http://wsbe.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_bdNc0swzaii1hn6&SVID=Prod
For questions about the survey and
corresponding research, please contact: WSBE Marketing Workshop Students,
Professor Peter Masucci, peter.masucci@unh.edu.
For questions concerning individual
rights as a research subject, please contact Julie Simpson at the UNH Office of
Sponsored Research, Julie.Simpson@unh.edu,
603-862-2003.
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,
Photos courtesy
David Cedarholm
On Tuesday, February 25th
members of the Wiswall Historic Interpretation Committee visited the
Wiswall
Fish Ladder Public Informational Meeting
On Tuesday, March 16, 2010 beginning
at 6:30 PM the Department of Public Works will host a Public Information meeting
to present the conceptual plan for the fish ladder proposed for the Wiswall Dam.
The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers of the
NEW
ENHANCED Stormwater Regulations Proposed
At the Planning Board’s quarterly
planning meeting on Wednesday, February 24th, the Town Engineer
presented a proposed update to the stormwater management requirements associated
with the Town’s Site Plan Review Regulations. The new regulations are necessary
to comply with conditions of the Town’s Federal stormwater discharge permit and
are expected to help streamline the Site Plan Review process. Once
adopted, the regulations will replace the former Site Plan Review drainage
requirements that have not been updated since the early 1980s. The updated
requirements apply to new development and redevelopment projects for commercial,
industrial, and multi-dwelling residential. The Planning Board has scheduled a
public hearing on the subject for its next regular meeting on Wednesday, March
10, 2010. For details about the proposed requirements contact Town Planner
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,
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
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
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)
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)
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - CHANGE TO MONTHLY MEETING SCHEDULE
Beginning Monday, March 22, 2010,
the Economic Development Committee will hold its meetings on the fourth Monday
of each month. The meetings will still be held at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall
Council chambers. The Committee currently has an opening for an alternate
member. Citizens interested in applying for the vacancy may do so by following
the application process noted in the item above.
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO DICUSS
On Wednesday, March 10, 2010
beginning at 5:00 PM in the Town Hall Council chambers, members of the Economic
Development Committee will receive a presentation from Bill Dennis, B. Dennis
Town Design, on the draft “Commercial Core Strategic Plan” resulting from the
Charrette process held in November 2009. Mr. Dennis has prepared a thorough 50+
page document full of photos and maps. This document can be viewed at: http://ci.durham.nh.us/generalpdfs/2010/DurhamCommPlan2009.pdf.
Downtown property and business owners have been invited to participate in the
meeting.
On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, the
Planning Board will meet at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Council chambers and hold a
work session to discuss the draft “Commercial Core Strategic Plan” prepared by
B. Dennis Town Design. The replay of the presentation made by Mr. Dennis to the
Town Council on March 1, 2010 can also be viewed on Channel 11. Please refer to
the DCAT programming schedule for dates and times.
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.
Zoning Board of Adjustment –
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Economic Development Committee –
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 (5:00
PM)
Planning Board – Wednesday, March
10, 2010
Conservation Commission – Thursday,
March 11, 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
§
§
Wednesday, March 10, 12:45 PM,
§
Saturday, April 3, 10:00 AM,
§
Space still available in FREE
introductory Karate program (ages 8-12). There are still spots available in Quest Martial
Arts Academy’s free six-week Introductory Karate Program for children between
the ages of 8 and 12. The program will take place at the
To register for any of the above
classes please contact Durham P&R Director
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 9, 7:00 PM, UNH Paul Creative Arts
Center Johnson Theatre: Mozart Festival
Opera’s The Marriage of
Figaro. Tickets are available at www.unhmub.com/ticket or by calling 862-2290
Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
§
Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 – 8:00 PM,
§
Wednesday, March 10, Noon,
§
Wednesday, March 10, Noon,
§
Three Chimneys
Inn is
offering a number of specials during the month of March including: a Magical
March Green Spring Getaway Package, dining specials, and Portsmouth Restaurant
Week. For more information, contact
the Three Chimneys Inn at 868-7800, or visit www.threechimneysinn.com.
7th
Annual Todd’s Trot 5K Road Race/Walk
The 5th annual Todd's Trot 5K Road
Race/Walk will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at the
Weekly
Police Arrest Report
Week –
24 |
14 UNH
(58%) |
10 Other
(42%) |
*2009/10
Academic Year – 617 |
382 UNH
(62%) |
235 Other
(38%) |
Calendar Year
– 74 |
46 UNH
(62%) |
28Other
(38%) |
*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
Year |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
Week |
14 |
13 |
13 |
8 |
24 |
Academic
Year |
760 |
615 |
519 |
569 |
617 |
Calendar
Year |
98 |
112 |
78 |
92 |
74 |
“Reminisce about
your camping days at the
And…ending with a little humor…this
sign was placed on Route 155 past Coppal House Farm in Lee just after the wind
storm.
Courtesy
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