“FRIDAY UPDATES”

Friday, August 16, 2010

 

 

A bullfrog enjoys a tasty fish (bluegill)

Courtesy Cat Dees

 

As part of Durham’s Kaizen (continuous quality improvement) initiative, several department heads and staff members are participating today in the last day of a two-day 2010 Lean Systems Summit held in Portland, Maine. Attendees discuss and learn how Lean continuous improvement principles and methods are being used to improve organizational effectiveness.

 

PACE Energy Efficiency Program: Do You Want To Participate?

In the last few weeks, the Friday Updates has introduced readers to the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements using low‐interest bonds arranged by the municipality. The Energy Committee must hear from you by August 25 if you wish to participate in Durham's first round of the program, anticipated for this fall. Thirty enthusiastic residents have already expressed interest.


Here is the background: Durham is not there yet, but the Energy Committee is working with the Town Administrator to make it happen.

This is how it works: Residential and commercial property owners may opt in to the program to receive long-term financing (up to 20 years) for improvements. They then repay the loan through a separate property tax assessment. This arrangement spreads the cost of clean energy improvements – such as energy-efficient boilers, upgraded insulation, new windows, solar installations, etc. – over the expected life of the improvement. The program also allows for the repayment obligation to transfer automatically to the next property owner if the property is sold.

Here's an example of how this would work. Let’s say a homeowner receives PACE funding for a solar photovoltaic installation. For a typical system of 3 kW, the net cost would be on the order of $8,400 (assuming $6/watt installed, a $6,000 rebate from NH, and a 30% tax incentive from the federal government). This system would be expected to produce approximately 4,800 kW-h per year -- or about $720 of electricity per year, assuming a constant electricity cost of 15 cents per kW-h. (This example uses a 3 kW system that produces about 13 kW-h per day, which is enough to run an energy efficient house.) The loan repayment over 20 years would amount to approximately $610 per year, depending on the interest rate on the loan. 

 

You do the planning and the math for your property under PACE. We would do the setting up of the program for the town. 


Interested in participating? Please send a brief note to the Chair of the Energy Committee via this link dec@ci.durham.nh.us. Describe what kind of energy efficient improvement you are considering. (Note: This is just a feeler, to get a sense of community interest. Details on your anticipated installation cost will be required before we proceed to the next step of setting up such a fund.)  

 

Responses must be received by August 25, 2010 for this first round.

 

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the Town Council meetings in September will be held on Monday, September 13 and Monday, September 27.

 

Council meetings in October will be the normal first and third Monday schedule with meetings to be held on Monday, October 4 and Monday October 18.

 

PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Office. All meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at the Town Hall unless otherwise indicated below. To view the agenda 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. 

 

Town Council – Monday, August 16, 2010

Zoning Board of Adjustment – Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Rental Housing Commission – Wednesday, August 18, 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

 

Vacancies on Various Town Boards

The Durham Town Council is seeking interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time needed to serve on the Town boards and/or committees listed below that currently have vacancies. Citizens interested in board appointments should contact the Town Administrator’s office at 868-5571, or email Jennie Berry at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us and request an application form. Interested residents may also 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 “I want to” on the right-hand side in the blue box. Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Durham Cable Access Television (DCAT) Governance Committee (2 regular vacancies; 1 alternate vacancy)

Durham Energy Committee (2 vacancies)

Parks and Recreation Committee (1 alternate vacancy)

Rental Housing Commission (1 tenant representative)

Economic Development Committee (1 regular vacancy)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee (3 vacancies)

Planning Board (1 alternate vacancy)

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

 

UNH OUTDOOR POOL EVENTS AND INFORMATION

Pool hours change to Noon – 6:00 PM on Monday, August 16th. The pool will be open 7 days a week until September 1st.   Thank you for a great summer!

 

Reggae Night at Wagon Hill Farm – Friday, August 20th – 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Join Roots, Rhythm & Dub and the Parks & Recreation Department for Reggae Night at Wagon Hill Farm on Friday, August 20th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Roots, Rhythm & Dub is a reggae band from Southern Maine.  Their music touches on Jazz, Blues, Latin Rock, R&B and Folk all the while staying true to their Reggae roots.  Bring a picnic, blanket and lawn chair and be prepared to enjoy beautiful views of the Little Bay, great music and the company of family and friends.  Free admission. 

 

Monday Evening Yoga with Ruth Abelmann begins September 13th

Parks & Rec is happy to announce a new session of Monday Evening Yoga with Ruth Abelmann will begin on September 13th at 5:00pm.  This 8-week yoga class will meet every Monday at Durham Parks & Rec.  The entire program is $40.  Please register with Michael Mengers, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074.

 

Family Dragonfly Day – Saturday, August 21st – 2:00pm – John Hatch Park

Join Suzanne Petersen of the Lamprey River Advisory Committee for a day of dragonfly fun.  This free program includes a lesson on dragonflies, catching and releasing specimens, species identification and more.  The program is for children entering 3rd through 6th grade, but the whole family is encouraged to attend.  Please RSVP Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us 

 

Parks & Rec Looking For Kite Enthusiasts

Parks & Rec is looking for resident kite enthusiasts to help with a kite construction and flying event.  If interested contact Michael Mengers at mmenger@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074.

 

The Parks & Recreation Nature Note – Packer’s Falls

With the summer’s heat still in full effect take the opportunity to cool off in the Lamprey River at one of Durham’s scenic swimming holes.

 

Packer’s Falls, located at the intersection of Bennett Road and Packers Falls Road, was deeded to Captain John Packer in 1694.  Packer constructed a mill to bring waterpower and industry to Durham’s earliest settlers.  Since 1985 the Falls have been maintained by the Town of Durham as a recreation area where residents can stay cool in babbling rapids and calm pools as well as enjoy nature, fishing (license required) and bird watching.

 

Foot trails offer various water access to the Lamprey.  Take a look around for a spot that is right for you.  At the Falls you will find spots in the river to sit as water flows beside you or calmer areas that offer wading pools.  At the bottom of the Falls the river calms and opens into a large pool where swimming is possible.  The best fishing spot is said to be at the Big Rock just along side of Bennett Road.  History buffs will be interested in seeing the old brick foundations of buildings that once stood on the land.

 

Parking is available in the marked lot on Bennett Road.  Two additional parking spots are at the dirt turnout on the north side of Bennett Road, just down the road from the main lot.  NO ON STREET PARKING IS ALLOWED.  Please note that there are no lifeguards on duty.  Swimming is at your own risk.  During periods of heavy rain the Falls flow very fast and entrance into the water is not advised.

 

(Every week in the Friday Updates the Parks & Recreation Department will be highlighting a Durham natural area to make residents aware of all of the great natural areas right here in Town.  If you have a spot that you think should be highlighted email mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us with your location.)

 

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

§         Wednesday, August 18th – Free Yoga at Wagon Hill Farm – Noon to 1:00pm

§         Friday, August 20thReggae Night at Wagon Hill – Roots, Rhythm & Dub – 6:00pm

§         Friday, August 21stFamily Dragonfly Day – 2:00pm at John Hatch Park

§         Monday, September 13thMonday Evening Yoga begins (5:00pm) – preregistration required

§         Tuesday, September 14thOn the Ball class begins (6:00pm) – preregistration required

§         Wednesday, September 15thSound Beginnings youth music program starts

§         Saturday, September 18thWalking to Wellness begins (9:00am) – preregistration required

§         Sunday, September 26thDurham Day – 12:30pm to 4:00pm – Wagon Hill Farm

 

Durham Public Library Programs and Events

§         Tuesday, September 7th - Storytime, the patch program, rat readers (our 2nd-4th grade book group), tales for tails, seacoast reads, pajama storytime and the middle school book group bookeaters will start.  Check our calendar and website for details coming soon at www.durhampubliclibrary.org.

§         Young adults interested in writing a review of a book, play, movie, event?  Email the children’s librarian at ekleinmann@ci.durham.nh.us  or stop by the circulation desk and we’ll put you in contact with our partner, YA author Megan Frazer, who is helping us with this blog. Visit our website above for more information.

 

FROM “DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY – 1900-1985”

“Votes in the 1922 and 1923 town meetings to construct sidewalks addressed a concern for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and highway traffic. These sidewalks were to be on Main Street, from the junction of Madbury Road west to the former Alpha Tau Omega house, and along Route 108, from Schoolhouse Lane to the old Town Hall. In the same period, voters also approved a building code and a fire precinct code.” Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

 

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.