“FRIDAY UPDATES”
Friday, November 12, 2010

Tree across from Holloway Common on the side of Campus Medical Building during this week’s rain.

Courtesy Hana Bartos

Now that we are no longer in Daylight Saving Time, residents may have noticed that it gets dark VERY early...

Addressing the Impact of Student Housing within Residential Neighborhoods

For the last eighteen months, the Durham Rental Housing Commission has been working to address the impact of student rental housing within Durham residential neighborhoods, particularly those surrounding the downtown core.  Durham residents may be interested in learning about challenges the City of Worcester, Massachusetts is having with this same issue by going to http://www.necn.com/11/11/10/Holy-Cross-dealing-with-rowdy-off-campus/landing_newengland.html?blockID=350751&feedID=4206

as well as strategies which have been implemented in Portland, Maine to address quality of life issues like litter, graffiti, dumping, and disorderly houses at http://www.mpbn.net/Home/tabid/36/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3478/ItemId/14111/Default.aspx. 

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Public Hearing on Proposed FY 2011 Budget and 2011-2010 CIP

Residents who would like to provide feedback relative to Administrator Todd Selig’s proposed FY 2011 Budget and 2011-2020 Capital Improvement Plan do so in writing by sending feedback to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us or attend the public hearing on these documents scheduled for Monday, November 15, 2010, as part of the Town Council meeting for that date.  The Council meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.  To view the proposed budget and CIP on line go to http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/business_office/2011_budget.html.  Hard copies of these documents are also available for public viewing at the Durham Town Office or at the Durham Public Library. 

School District Advisory Budget Committee Formed

A new Advisory Budget Committee was approved and charged by the Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) School Board on September 8, 2010.  The purpose of this committee is “to become educated about the ORCSD budget and provide budget recommendations to the School Board that meet the needs of the students and is fiscally responsible to taxpayers.”  On October 21^st the School Board voted on the membership of the Advisory Budget Committee (ABC), choosing eight people from the 15 volunteers who applied.   Serving on this committee are Robert McEwan, Madbury; Jay Hilyard, Lee; Bill Bryon, Lee; Anne Knight, Durham; Jenna Roberts, Durham; David Proulx, Durham; David Taylor, Durham, and Tom Merrick, Durham. For more information, click HERE.

Pettee Brook Lane proposed improvements

Illustration by Janice Hoglund, DPW

Pettee Brook Lane Improvements Proposed as Part of FY 2011 Budget/CIP Plan

The proposed 2011-2020 Capital Improvement Plan includes a $141,000 proposed investment in the Pettee Brook Lane corridor for 2011 depicted above (created by Janice Hoglund at DPW) to include the installation of our standard downtown ornamental lighting (with new L.E.D. energy efficient fixtures), sidewalk treatments, a clearly delineated bicycle lane, and roadway modifications associated with the new traffic pattern along Pettee Brook Lane such as bump outs, brick sidewalks, and parking kiosks.  In the depiction, you will note the former Don Thompson Real Estate building has been replaced with the proposed Kostis development for this site. 

Morgan Way/Route 4 intersection improvements design

Provided by DPW

Morgan Way/Route 4 Intersection Improvement Update

In the 2010 approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget, the Town allocated $390,000 for the construction of an east bound, left hand turn off Route 4 onto Morgan Way.  Residents may recall that citizens who reside on Morgan Way made a passionate plea in 2010 as part of the budget process requesting this new turn lane due to a number of rear end accidents that have occurred.  Durham Police and Public Works have worked closely with the NH Department of Transportation and Morgan Way residents to improve safety at this intersection.  Now that preliminary engineering and construction costs have been refined, the new total cost of this project, including all engineering and contingency values is $545,863.  As part of the FY 2011 budget proposal, an additional $155,863 has been proposed for the project to bring it to completion as part of the 2011 construction season if everything goes as planned.  Utilizing the NH State Highway Aid Program (State 2/3, Town 1/3) the state’s anticipated share of the total project is $363,909 (although the state’s share in the future is dependent upon funding availability) and the Town’s estimated share is $181,954.

Proposed FY 2011 Road Program – Specific Roadways Included in Proposed Budget

The proposed FY 2011 capital budget includes a total of $417,917 for the road program to be bonded rather than paid for with cash.  The list of roadways included for 2011 includes:  Back River Road, Bucks Hill Road, Comorant Circle, Croghan Lane, Daisy Drive, Davis Avenue, Emerson Road, Jenkins Court, Partridgeberry Lane, Razorbill Circle, Shearwater Street, Sumac Lane, and Woodman Road.

Main Street downtown looking southeast

Courtesy Todd Selig

Downtown Durham TIF District?

In October 2007, the Town Council created the Stone Quarry Drive Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District to fund public improvements and infrastructure necessary to attract and advance desirable mixed use development off of Stone Quarry Drive.  Unfortunately the developer involved with the Stone Quarry TIF did not provide the required surety to protect the interests of Durham taxpayers necessary to get the project off of the ground so the project never materialized.  This was unfortunate as the community did everything possible to promote the broadening of the tax base at Stone Quarry and Route 108. 

Looking to the future there may be value in the creation of a TIF district focusing specifically upon Durham’s downtown commercial core to fund infrastructure (roadways, sidewalks, lighting, etc.) needed to leverage investment or to help pay for structured parking (potentially C-Lot) to support existing and prospective business within the Central Business District.  To this end, Administrator Selig is working with the firm of Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) to develop a preliminary outline of a draft TIF district for the downtown commercial core to be further discussed and refined by the Durham Economic Development Committee in the months to come.

Light up Durham – An Update

We are pleased to report that the Seacoast Repertory Theatre will very likely be co-sponsoring the annual Light Up Durham celebration with the Town on Sunday, December 5 at 6 PM on Main Street across from Memorial Park in downtown Durham.   Cast members of The Rep's mainstage show, A Christmas Carol, and the youth production of Madeline's Christmas will tentatively perform musical selections.  There will also tentatively be holiday performances by The Rep's Teen Chorus and Black Box Theater Company.  Refreshments will tentatively be available for purchase.  The music will tentatively be followed by an appearance from Santa Claus (who we must still contact to ensure he is available – yes Durham does have a direct line to Santa Claus!), and will tentatively end with the lighting of the tree around 6:45 or 7 PM.  More details to follow in the next week.

Annual Light Up Durham Lighting Contest

The Durham Business Association (DBA) will once again host the Annual Light Up Durham Lighting Contest and is going for greater participation to make this year’s contest bigger and better. The DBA is encouraging all businesses and Greeks to light their business fronts/houses and share in spreading the joy of the season. The goal is to have all of Main Street from Holiday Inn Express to Ballard’s, Jenkins Court, Pettee Brook Lane, and all of Mill Plaza lit, as well as Madbury and Strafford Roads. The contest is open to all Durham businesses and recognized Greek fraternities and sororities.

Guidelines for judging include: The effectiveness of lights creating the display; the placement and uniformity of the lights; the use of design and color to create the decorations; the use of special lighted displays; and the ingenuity, originality, and creativity exercised in the decorations.

Holiday lights are available for sale at Town & Campus and Rite Aid. Help support Durham’s local businesses. For more information please contact the Durham Business Association at durhambusinessassociation@gmail.com.

Advertising panel frames at Depot Road

Courtesy Todd Selig

NEW ADVERTISING PANEL FRAMES IN PLACE AT DURHAM/UNH TRAIN STATION PLATFORM

Both Durham and UNH have been struggling with graffiti underneath the railroad trestle where train riders wait for the Amtrak Downeaster. To address this problem, the Town undertook an innovative approach to not only paint over the graffiti (courtesy UNH), but also to install nine large advertising panel frames for use by downtown businesses to promote Durham’s downtown business area. The advertising panel frames are now in place and five of nine have been sold at a price of $50/year. Businesses must also pay for the cost of printing the sign (approximately $125). If there are additional Durham businesses that would like to utilize these panels, please contact the Durham Public Works Department at 868-5578, or the Durham Business Association at 868-1123.

Strafford/Woodside Sewer Repair and Rehabilitation Project Public Informational Meeting

The Department of Public Works is holding a public informational meeting to inform abutters about this project on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 in the Town Council Chambers at the Durham Town Hall beginning at 7pm. The purpose of the project is to repair and rehabilitate this older section of sewer main and certain sewer manholes that run along the eastern side of Madbury Road starting near the intersection of Madbury and Edgewood Roads and continuing South to Woodside Dr., crossing Madbury Rd., and cross country to Strafford Ave. Being one of the oldest sewers in town there are numerous deficiencies that need to be corrected. Notification letters were sent to project abutters this week.

Contact Town Engineer David Cedarholm, 868-5578, dcedarholm@ci.durham.nh.us or Assistant Town Engineer April Talon, atalon@ci.durham.nh.us, with questions or concerns.

National Sustainability Education Week

November 8-13 is National Sustainability Education Week. In recognition of its efforts to promote sustainability education, the UNH Office of Sustainability asked Governor Lynch to sign a Proclamation. To read the Proclamation, click HERE.

Innovative Energy Committee member in the news—again!

Peter Ejarque, a former aerospace engineer and inveterate do-it-yourself-er, is proving that harnessing solar energy is within reach of the average homeowner. Last July, he held a free solar water heater class at his home, where he demonstrated to 30 attendees how to build a heater from reused materials such as those found at the Durham Swap Shop and Transfer Station. (Anyone interested in attending his next class may contact him at 603-509-2907.) Peter recently provided a tour of the energy-efficient Quonset-style house he built to a class of 45 UNH students studying Environmental and Civil Engineering. On Sunday, November 7, Peter and his solar hot water heater starred in an article in Foster’s. Check it out: “Solar power: Affordable alternative energy” at http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010711079908.

SEED SAVING GROUP

On Thursday this week, a small group of Durham citizens met at the Bagelry to start a seed saving group.  This group would like to hear from other area citizens who have interest in saving and sharing seeds from plants that grow especially well in their gardens in the Oyster River area.  Contact Suzanne at sgmac@aol.com.

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, November 15, 2010. To view the complete Council packet for this meeting, please click HERE

Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) –  Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee – Thursday, November 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

    2009 Turkey Trot , Courtesy Jenna Roberts

Annual Children's Turkey Trot at Wagon Hill on Thanksgiving Day – SPonsored by Durham Parks and Rec and ORPP

Send a parent with all the kids while you finish getting ready for all those in-laws. Meet at Wagon Hill on Thanksgiving morning from 10:00-11:00 AM. We will trot down to the boat ramp following the turkey feathers to find our way to donuts and hot cocoa. This annual event is a hit. A RSVP is appreciated so that Tom the Turkey knows how many donuts to bring. But, please still come last minute if plans change. RSVP and questions, email parksandrec@ci.durham.nh.us.

Parks & Rec On The Ball holiday mini session begins on Tuesday, November 16th 

Join Parks & Recreation and Instructor Pam Faltin for a holiday session of On the Ball. This stability ball based class offers low impact training in a high energy cardio burning class.  On the Ball begins Tuesday, November 16th.  The class will also meet on 11/30, 12/7 and 12/14.  All classes will take place at Durham Parks & Rec at 6:00pm.  The 4-week session is $30.  Contact Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.

Durham Public Library Programs and Events

Special Family Programming - World Tales with Shawn the Storyteller! Sat. Nov. 13^th at 10:30 a.m. -Join us for this fun program for all ages.  Talented, local storyteller Shawn Middleton will tell us “Tales from Around the World”.  Shawn’s stories are very interactive and fun.  Don’t miss it.  This event kicks off International Education Week at the library.

Preschool Storytime Tues. Nov. 16th and Thurs. Nov. 18^th at 10:30 a.m. - This week: Around the World. Join us for stories, fingerplays, songs, feltboard and a craft.

International Education Week.  Come into the Children’s Room all week to make a different International Craft.

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 Tales for tails. 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. There will be a new session in November and another one in December.

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

§ Thu., Fri., Sat., Nov 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th, 7:00 PM - Oyster River High School presents Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons”. Tells the story of a man who hastily sold defective airplane parts to the Army, which caused the crafts to crash, killing 21 men. His crime, which he long had deflected by blaming his business partner, comes back to light as his son plans to wed the partner's daughter. Tickets: $8.00/adults; $5.00/students.

§ Saturday, November 20^th, Lee Church Congregational – Holiday Festival.  Will begin at 7:30 AM with “Breakfast With Santa” at the Lee Safety Complex on George Bennett Road followed by a ride with Santa in a horse drawn wagon. Shopping at the Lee Church Congregational, Route 155, Lee, is from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. 

§ Sat., Dec 11^th, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM, UNH MUB Food Court – Second Annual Gingerbread House Event sponsored by On Belay. Supplies will be provided; however, all are welcome to bring their own candy, etc. for decorating. Entry cost is $10 per team. For more information on the organization visit www.on-belay.org, or contact Ruth Abelmann, ruth.abelmann@unh.edu., with questions.

McGregor EMTs Renew Skills at Regional EMS Conference

Forty McGregor EMTs each received 15 hours of training this past weekend at the Focus EMS Conference on the UNH campus. Assistant Durham Fire Chief (and Paramedic) Jason Clearly also attended. The conference, which is hosted by McGregor, is the leading regional EMS conference and serves EMS professionals from Hew Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Over 140 EMTs attended. The conference focused on special patient populations that EMTs often find challenging, including pediatric, geriatric, and bariatric patients.

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

“In the early 1900s the Durham-University of New Hampshire (then New Hampshire College) fire department’s response to fires was haphazard, to say the least. When the fire alarm sounded, anyone so inclined could run to the shed on campus behind Thompson Hall, where the hose reel was housed, and haul it by hand to the fire. A hand-drawn trailer with a few ladders stacked on it and a hand-drawn chemical tub completed the department’s fire-fighting apparatus. Later, a Reo chemical truck replaced the hand-drawn tub, and the university’s service department converted an old International truck into a ladder truck.” 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

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