“FRIDAY UPDATES”

Friday, September 24, 2010

 

 

Graffiti on the climbing wall at the Woodridge playground

Courtesy Todd Selig

 

As we move into fall, take a moment and think about whether you know longtime or new residents to Durham who might benefit from receiving the weekly “Friday Updates”. If so, please forward the updates along and encourage them to subscribe by going to: http://ci.durham.nh.us/SERVICES/email%20listing/app.php.

 

DURHAM DAY – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26^TH

A final reminder that Durham Day is this Sunday, September 26^th, from 12:30 to 4:00 PM at Wagon Hill Farm.  The following is an entertainment schedule for Durham Day:

 

12:30 PM       Free Resident Barbeque  (runs until 3:30pm.)

12:30 PM       Antique Car Show (NE Region Nash Car Club of America)

12:30 PM       Vertical Dreams Rock Climbing Wall (runs until 4:00pm)

12:30 PM       Live Performance by FLING

1:00 PM         Introduction to Geocaching with Larry & Renee Vannata and Friends.  (GPS provided, but bring your own if you can.)

1:30 PM         Storytelling with Shawn

2:00 PM         Wagon Hill Nature Walk with the Conservation Commission

2:15 PM         Live Performance by FLING

3:00 PM         Tai Chi Demonstration by the Durham Parks & Rec Clan

 

Please direct Durham Day questions to P&R Director Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Durham’s 2010 Municipal Tax Rate Projected to Increase 8% Due to Decrease in Total Town Assessed Valuation, Goss Abatement, Diminished Revenues, Fewer K-12 Students Attending ORSD Residing on UNH Property

 

Taking into consideration a variety of non-spending items listed below, it is projected the estimated municipal portion of the tax rate for the Town of Durham will increase to $7.04 from $6.52, or 8.02% over 2009. Last December, the Town had projected a tax rate for 2010 of $6.60 or 1.20%.

 

- $85,000 revenue shortfall (majority is due to fewer K-12 students going to ORSD living in UNH housing for which Durham receives a per pupil payment from UNH, as well as low interest rates -- staff have been successful in recouping the majority of this shortfall through an increase in revenues in building permits, recycling revenues, and sale of municipal property.)

 

- $235,000 added to overlay for the Goss abatement granted last month by the Town Council

 

- The Town of Durham's total assessed valuation experienced a decrease of 0.7% from last year due to resolution of 2008 and 2009 abatement appeals:

 

    2009  Total Durham Assessed Valuation                                            $898,552,542

    2010 Projected Durham Assessed Valuation (pre-abatements)      $903,810,603 (0.5% increase)

    2010 Actual Durham Assessed Valuation (post abatements)          $892,139,835 (0.7% decrease)

 

On a positive note, the Oyster River School District had a surplus of $2,239,401 for 2009-2010 which will impact the school portion of the tax rate by an as yet undetermined amount.  At this time, the Durham Business Office is working with the School District Business Office to determine the actual impact the surplus will have on the projected school portion of the tax rate for 2010 which of course impacts the overall full tax rate for the municipality. 

 

We will continue to update projections as additional revenue and expenditure data becomes available moving toward setting the tax rate which is typically accomplished in October followed by the issuance of the 2010 Town/School/County tax bills. 

 

DISORDERLY HOUSE ORDINANCE

On Monday evening, September 27, 2010, the Durham Town Council is scheduled to discuss and take action on Ordinance #2010-08 “Disorderly House” ordinance. The Town has received much feedback concerning this matter. To view comments received to date, click HERE.

 

In response to questions raised during the September 13, 2010 Town Council Public Hearing, the Town’s attorney provided a written opinion which the Town Administrator has released for public information. To view this correspondence, click HERE.

 

BE PART OF DURHAM’S FUTURE!

Are you interested in being part of the important process of shaping our new Library?  If so, the DPL Board of Trustees needs your help. The Trustees are seeking participants on its Library Building Committee or the Citizens Library Building Review Committee. For more information, click HERE.

 

Green Buildings Open House: Saturday, October 2

Get a behind-the-scenes look at sustainable technologies and renewable energy solutions, and see how they’re saving your neighbors lots of green! The New Hampshire Sustainable Energy Association’s annual Green Buildings Open House (GBOH), part of the largest sustainable energy event in the Northeast, will take place on October 2, 2010 from 10 AM to 4 PM.  On this day, homes, businesses, and schools invite the public inside to investigate the renewable technologies and green building features being employed on site.  Last year, more than 16,000 people toured some 500 sites in the Northeast, and this year’s event is expected to be even bigger!

 

Durham will showcase three very different houses, including those of two Durham Energy Committee members—Kevin Gardner and Peter Ejarque. The third is the home of Melinda Salazar and Kevin Beane, the first Durham participants in SEAREI's volunteer cooperative solar panel "raising." To get a list of locations in our area (or to learn more about building features or fuel types) go to http://www.nhsea.org/gboh and search the NHSEA GBOH database.

 

At host sites, participants will be able to talk with homeowners, ask questions, and see how their renewable energy technologies actually work. GBOH also connects building owners and managers with professionals who can provide them with sustainable energy services or energy efficiency retrofits.

 

As host sites register, detailed information and photos of the buildings' innovative energy features are posted, providing an ongoing educational tool. If you’re thinking of investing in energy efficiency and/or clean energy measures, this event may be the one to get you going!

 

                                       Stage 2:

Ø      Supply is declining

Ø      Mandatory water conservation such as banning vehicle washing and filling of swimming pools, limited watering of lawns and gardens (i.e., odd/even watering schedule), and a shut-down of non-essential water cooling systems at UNH

Ø      Goal is to decrease demand by 10% within two weeks.

 

Additional Water Conservation Efforts Needed
Despite the recent rain, flows in local rivers remain at critically low levels and there is no significant rain in the forecast.  Those conditions make it necessary to declare a Stage 2 water conservation alert.   Stage 2 requires that mandatory water conservation measures be implemented.  Those measures include bans on vehicle washing and filling of swimming pools (including the UNH Outdoor Pool), and shut-down of non-essential water cooling systems.  Limited watering of lawns and gardens is allowed only between 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm.  Thank you for your voluntary assistance with helping to provide adequate water supplies during this period.

 

Parks and Recreation Department Director Application Process Update

The Town received a total of 33 applications for the present part-time Parks and Recreation Department vacancy by the September 17^th due date.  The selection committee consisting of P&R Committee Chair Sara Badger-Wilson, P&R Committee member Amy Cunningham, P&R Director Michael Mengers, and Administrator Selig met this week to begin the process of reviewing applications.  It is our hope to have the new director in place this fall.

 

Workforce housing Advisory Committee

The Workforce Housing Advisory Committee invite all residents to an exciting Public Forum to learn what we can do to encourage affordable housing for local people making average incomes in the area. Please join us at the Town Hall on Tuesday, September 28th at 7 PM.  Please join us at the Town Hall to share your ideas, issues, and concerns, and to learn about possible solutions. We want to learn how you feel about Durham’s housing needs. The Workforce Housing Committee is beginning the process to update the Zoning Ordinance to include greater opportunities for workforce housing—for those people who can’t afford to live where they grew up or where they may want to work. Now is the time to share your thoughts.  For more information, click HERE.

 

Wood Chips

The Town has a surplus of wood chips due to the past year of storms.  Due to this excess of material, residents will be given the option of having some wood chips delivered to their address or picked up with the help of DPW personnel loading their vehicle.  This event is offered to Durham residents only. 

 

Residents will have the option to have either a 5 or 10 yard load delivered to their residence.  Someone must be home to accept the delivery and the delivery location must be in a dry stable area easily accessible by the Town’s dump truck.  The Town will not be responsible for any damage caused by the delivery, and the actual location and safety of area will have to be approved by the driver. 

 

This will be a first come first served scenario as only so much can be delivered in one hour.  There will be two delivery slots of time, an AM slot between 8:00 AM and noon, and a PM slot between 1:00 and 4:00 PM. Residents are strongly encouraged to come to the Transfer Station and Recycling Center themselves on October 8^th to pick up chips in their own vehicles. DPW staff will load the chips.  Residents who will be picking their own chips may do so between the hours of 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Residents desiring to have chips delivered MUST call the Department of Public Works on or before Wednesday, October 6^th, at 868-5578.    

 

2010 SURPLUS VEHICLES

We are conducting our annual surplus bid and will be accepting bids through 2:00PM on Wednesday, September 29^th.  This year the following items are up for bid:

1.      1995 GMC Sierra 3500                      VIN# 1GDHC34KXSE539296

2.      1997 Crown Victoria                           VIN # 2FALP71W3VX165981

3.      2001 Crown Victoria                           VIN # 2FAFP71W91X158   

4.      Ranger Pick-up Cap-  Dark Blue

 

Interested parties must submit a sealed bid to the Town of Durham, Department of Public Works no later than 2:00PM, Wednesday, September 29, 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.  Vehicle 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.

 

RFP FOR PRODUCTIVE REUSE/REDEVELOPMENT OF GRANGE (H.A. DAVIS BUILDING) ISSUED

The Town of Durham, New Hampshire is soliciting proposals for the productive reuse/redevelopment of the parcel and structure known as The Grange (H.A. Davis Building) located at 37 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824 (Tax Map 5, Lot 1-5).  Proposals must be received by the Town, no later than 4:00 pm on November 12, 2010.  To view the RFP, go to http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/generalpdfs./grangerfp.pdf.

 

Paving Scams

This week, the Durham Police Department responded to a neighborhood for a complaint of a possible driveway paving scam.  Residents are reminded that legitimate door-to-door sales people must have a Hawker and Peddlers’ Permit issued by the State of New Hampshire AND a Permit to Solicit issued by the Town of Durham.  If door-to-door sales people come to your home without these documents, please call the Durham Police Department for assistance immediately.  These scam artists can be very persuasive and potentially dangerous; please NEVER let unknown people into your home and please do not give any money, credit card numbers, bank account information, or any other form of payment to any "business" either in person or over the phone without first verifying that they are indeed legitimate and reputable, and are conducting business in the state legally. 

 

Additional information about legitimate businesses in the Town of Durham can be obtained at:

§         Durham Town Administrators Office by calling 868-5571; or

§         The New Hampshire Attorney General's Consumer and Anti-Trust Protection Bureau at www.doj.nh.gov/consumer or by calling 271-3658; or,

§         The Better Business Bureau of Concord New Hampshire at www.concord.bbb.org, or by e-mailing the BBB at info@bbbnh.org or by calling 224-1991.

 

Drug “take back” program tomorrow - Saturday

Individuals can drop off expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction from 10 am until 2 pm at the Durham Police Department front lobby.  Durham Police Chief Dave Kurz reminds us “It is important people get rid of unused medications from their homes. Some can harm the environment, but narcotics are often the target of thefts and lend themselves to be abused.”  Saturday's event is a national program that allows residents and others to bring all types of prescription drugs for disposal. Outside of the event, only law enforcement agencies can collect the narcotic-type drugs. While the front lobby will be monitored by an officer, no one disposing prescription drugs will be identified or questioned.

 

“Pulling Together” to Combat Invasive Plants: Weedwrenches for free loan

The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) is pleased to announce its new invasive plant removal tool loan program funded by the Lamprey River Advisory Committee. The purpose of the library is to provide a storehouse of specialized tools, called Weedwrenches, useful for manual removal of invasive plants such as glossy buckthorn, autumn olive multiflora rose or honeysuckle.

 

The Reserve has enough tools available for large work groups and encourages their use. There are currently thirteen Weedwrenches available in three different sizes. Another thirteen will soon be added to the tool library. Why so many? To provide an easy, free way for conservation commissions, land trusts, natural resource managers, restoration ecologists, or individual landowners to carry out their invasive plant control projects.

 

Tools are housed at the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland and available on a first come first served basis. Please contact Paul.StPierre@wildlife.nh.gov to make arrangements. Tool loan is FREE, only a brief form to fill out is requested giving the location of your project, the species of invasive plant to be removed, and an approximate acreage.  A full press release will be distributed once the lending library is complete with its full inventory. More information about Weedwrenches can be found at http://www.weedwrench.com/weedwrench.

 

Wiswall Drawdown Public information meeting - RESCHEDULED

The Town of Durham Department of Public Works plans to drain the reservoir upstream of the Wiswall Dam on the Lamprey River starting after October 1, 2010 to complete final elements on the abutments of the newly installed Wiswall Bridge. 

 

A public informational meeting (originally scheduled for Wednesday, September 27^th), has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 30^th at 4:30 PM in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Hall located at 15 Newmarket Road to provide details about the event and answer questions.  The work should to be completed by mid-October.

 

Questions and comments should be directed to Durham Town Engineer David Cedarholm at (603) 868-5578.

 

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, September 27, 2010.  To view the complete Council packet for this meeting, please click HERE.

Inclusionary Zoning Implementation Program (IZIP) Public Informational Meeting – Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Planning Board – Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wiswall Drawdown Public Information Meeting – Thursday, September 30, 2010 (4:30 PM)

 

Zoning Board of Adjustment – Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Rental Housing Commission – Wednesday, September 15, 2010 (4:00 PM)

Planning Board – Wednesday, September 15, 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

 

The Parks & Recreation Nature Note – Merrick Property

The Merrick Property is a 23.3 acre plot of conservation land located between Dover Road, Canney Road and Bagdad Road.  The property was sold at a reduced price to the Town of Durham by Tom and Mary Merrick in 2006.  The property offers an elaborate trail system for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and bird watching.  On Bagdad Road there is access to the trail system on the south side of the road, just past Nobel K. Peterson Drive.  To reach the land via Canney Road, use the grass parking lot directly across from 4 Canney Road.  At both entrances a sign/map of the trails are visible thanks to Ryan Horton’s Eagle Scout project.  Manu Putcha also constructed raised walkways throughout the trails for his Eagle Scout project.

 

The Merrick Property is part of the Durham Parks & Rec Adopt-A-Trail program, but is currently not spoken for.  If you (or a group) would like to claim the Merrick Property as part of the Adopt-A-Trail program, contact Michael Mengers, 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Durham Public Library Programs and Events

§         Preschool Storytime this week, Tues. Sept 28th and Thurs. Sept. 30th at 10:30 am - Join us for stories, fingerplays, feltboard, songs, and a craft.  This week - Trains!

§         Pajama Storytime, Tues. Sept. 28th, 6:30 p.m. -  Join ORPP and the library for our monthly pajama storytime.  The theme is trains.  We will read stories about trains, make a craft and take a pretend train ride.  Wear your pajamas if you want.  All are welcome!

§         Special Storytime during Fire Prevention Week, Tues. Oct. 5th and Thurs. Oct. 7^th at 10:30 a.m. - The Durham Fire Department will visit with their Fire Trucks!  Come meet our Firemen, hear stories, climb aboard the fire trucks and make a craft.

§         Join the Ripped up Rat Readers, a book discussion group for 2^nd-4^th graders on Tues., Oct. 5^th at 6:00 p.m.  This month’s book is “Chasing Vermeer” by Blue Balliett.  We will discuss the book, solve some puzzles and mysteries, and make a craft.

§         Granite Earth “Healthy Child, Healthy Planet” 7-week series meets again on Tues. Sept. 28th, 7:45-9:15 pm. 

§         The patch program, our reading incentive program for children aged 2-12 years has started.  Children earn patches for minutes read or being read to as well as a Durham Library book bag.  If new to the program, stop by and register.

§         Registration for UNH Reading Buddies through Seacoast Reads has started.  Would your child in grades 1^st through 3^rd benefit from a UNH Reading Buddy? Then sign up at the library for your child to be partnered with a student trained by the UNH Education Department’s Seacoast Reads program.

§         Registration for Tales for tails has started.  Have a young reader who could use some non-judgmental encouragement for reading aloud?  A Delta Therapy dog is waiting for your child.  Sign up now at the library for 4 week sessions beginning in October.

§         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 at www.durhampubliclibrary.org for more information. 

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§         Wednesday, Sep 22nd – UNH Sixth Annual Local Harvest Feast. This event is open to the public. During the event, breakfast is served at Stillings Marketplace (7:15 – 10 a.m.), lunch at Elements at Philbrook Hall (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.), and dinner at Holloway Commons (4:30 – 9 p.m.), all on the UNH campus in Durham. The Local Harvest Feast is offered to all students on the UNH meal plan as well as to the general public (breakfast $9, lunch $12, dinner $16, plus tax). For information and menus, visit http://www.unh.edu/dining/inform_local_harvest.html.

§         Tuesday, Sep 28^th, 7:00 PM, Memorial Union Building Theatre I – Film: “Flow”. Irena Salina’s award-winning documentary film investigates what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21^st century -- the world water crisis. This event is FREE to the public.

§         Saturday, Oct 16th, 6:00 – 10:00 PM, The Barn at Winecellar Farm, 21 Winecellar Road, Durham – ORYA Live and Silent Auction. This adult only event will raise much needed money for programming, coach’s training, equipment, and scholarships. For more information, contact Nick or Mike at ORYA, 868-5150.

 

New Hampshire Choral Society

The New Hampshire Choral Society is accepting singers for the fall semester. The chorus is a non-auditioned adult group conducted by Dr. Madelyn Gearheart. Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings from 7-9 at Oyster River High School. Come raise your voice in song, make new friends, and have fun!  For more information call 868-5331.

NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUTH CHORUS

The New Hampshire Youth Chorus is celebrating its ten-year anniversary and accepting singers for the fall semester.  The chorus is for high school aged singers and is conducted by Dr. Madelyn Gearheart. Among other engagements, the chorus will travel to Italy for a concert tour in June 2011.  Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons from 1-3 at Oyster River High School. To arrange an audition or seek more information, call 868-5331.

 

Weekly Police Arrest Report

Week – 25                                                     15 UNH (60%)           10 Other (40%)

*2010/11 Academic Year – 151                 99 UNH (66%)           52 Other (34%)

Calendar Year – 577                                    348 UNH (60%)       229 Other (40%)

 

*This data represents the 2010/11 Academic year report which began August 27th when UNH dormitories officially opened and students begin arriving in Durham.

 

Historical data for the same week

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Week	72	43	38	42	47	25
Academic Year	285	183	157	157	221	151
Calendar Year	844	686	728	672	767	577

 

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

“The town and the university cooperated again in the late 1970s in planning for a new secondary sewage treatment plan. Construction began in 1978, and the plant was dedicated in September 1981. It is owned and operated by the town, with the town and the university each paying half of the operating cost. (It should be noted that the town provides water and sewage services only on the north side of the Oyster River. Those residing on the south side rely on their own wells and septic systems.)” Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic Association.

 

Have a good weekend.

--------------------------------

Town of Durham: "Friday Update" Special Edition - An Historical Perspective to the Proposed Disorderly House Ordinance

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

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