“FRIDAY UPDATES”

Friday, January 28, 2011

 

 

Intersection of Main Street and Pettee Brook Lane - A dedicated bicyclist braves the cold weather

Courtesy Todd Ziemek

 

Today marks the 25^th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster that killed Concord High School teacher Christa McAuliffe and six other passengers. To read the various articles on Challenger published in the Foster’s Daily Democrat, go to: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110128/GJNEWS_01/701289925

 

Durham Master Plan Visioning Forum TONIGHT

A reminder that the Town of Durham Master Plan Update Forum will be held this evening, Friday, January 28, 2011, at the Oyster River Middle School, beginning at 5:30 PM with a FREE community dinner and childcare with youth activities.

 

All residents are invited to participate in the forum to help structure the updating of Durham’s Master Plan. Please refer to the information below.                                                                   

_______________________________

 

Session Goal:          The visioning session will provide valuable input for the vision for the community as well as the development

of the Durham Master Plan. Ideas will be sought for addressing current issues and challenges pertaining to various aspects of the community.

 

Please Join Us:       Friday, January 28, 2011 (Snow date: Saturday, January 29, 2011)

 

§  5:30 P.M. @ Oyster River Middle School 1 Coe Drive · Durham · NH

§  5:30 P.M. Free Community Spaghetti Dinner (vegetarian option available)

§  6:30 P.M.

o   Childcare & Children’s Activities Durham Public Library; Story Time & Craft Ages Pre-K –

o   Grade 2

o   Art Activities; Ages 9-11

o   McGregor Memorial EMS Babysitting and CPR/First Aid Classes; Ages 11 years old and up

 

Agenda:

§  6:30 Welcome & Introduction by MPAC

§  6:40 What’s Happened Since Last Master Plan Update

§  7:25 Small group meetings on following topics:

1. Housing

2. Recreation

3. Land Use and Zoning

4. Community Facilities, Infrastructure and Transportation

5. Natural and Cultural Resources

6. Business and Industry

 

§  8:45 Report-outs from each group on their top priorities

§  9:00 Closing Remarks, Next Steps and Adjourn

 

Strafford County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee (CEDS)

Strafford Regional Planning Commission received funding from the U.S.  Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to create a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for all 13 communities in Strafford County, and Wakefield and Brookfield in Carroll County. The CEDS is a continuous regional planning process addressing the economic opportunities and constraints of an area.  The CEDS process involves bringing together private, nonprofit and public sectors to create an economic road map to diversify and strengthen regional goals and to craft a five year strategic plan of action that is updated annually. The plan is submitted to the Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) for review and certification.  Once the CEDS plan is certified by EDA, the region and the communities may apply to receive funding assistance for public works, planning, and technical assistance projects related to economic development.  Administrator Selig and DBA Executive Director Katie Muth are participating in the process as committee members along with Bagelry owner Warren Daniel and Durham Economic Development Committee member Ute Luxem. 

 

Blue Light Proposal from UNH Student Senate

Last year Durham Police Chief David Kurz was asked to participate during a UNH campus safety tour with UNH officials and student representatives. This annual event occurs at night to inspect the campus for any safety issues or deficiencies. The group walked along Garrison Avenue, Strafford Avenue, and Madbury Road and inquired about the potential of installing “Blue Light Telephones” in these off-campus locations. The University is in the process of determining cost implications for these installations. The UNH Student Senate recently passed a resolution asking the Town of Durham to participate in extending the Blue Light system off campus. 

 

Speed Tables

The Durham Traffic Safety Committee reviewed the community responses to date regarding the speed table built on Edgewood Road late last fall.  While several have commented that they have observed vehicles slow to traverse the table, others have observed vehicles sharply brake and then rapidly accelerate as they approach the other side. There has also been some discussion regarding fuel waste as vehicles accelerate. A small minority of vehicle operators have been observed using the speed table as some kind of “launch ramp”!  There is funding in the 2011 Town budget for three new speed tables…locations as yet undetermined. Durham Planner Jim Campbell was asked to contact the Strafford Regional Planning Commission to set a date to have a speed counter device installed at the same location previous to the installation of the speed table on Edgewood to determine the effectiveness of the installation of this calming device utilizing objective speed and traffic count data.

 

Downtown Parking Strategy

As has been noted in the past, Transportation Engineer and B. Dennis Team member Rick Chellman has been retained to assist the Town with developing and implementing a long-range parking strategy in downtown Durham. One determination is that there should be a concerted effort to transition away from single meters to a kiosk system that will accept various methods of payment including coins, paper money, debit, or credit cards.  Currently we are awaiting recommendations from Mr. Chellman that would allow Durham to focus upon a specific brand of parking kiosk to consider purchasing.  Because Portsmouth and Dover are currently in the midst of transitioning to this type of parking control it would be prudent for Durham to make inquiries regarding their experience.  The hope is that Durham may benefit and avoid some of the pitfalls they experienced.  Additionally there may be an opportunity for Durham to employ their Request for Proposal and benefit from their current pricing structures. 

 

Durham’s current concept is to employ as many as three stages of implementation to include an initial focus upon Pettee Brook with three (3) kiosks installed at calculated locations: Main Street in front of Huddleston Hall with two (2) and possibly another two (2) kiosks controlling parking in front of the UNH President’s residence.

 

The newly implemented business permit parking system has resulted in the sale of 97 permits, well below the 125 that normally sell at the first of the year. 

 

South Drive Project (the fourth, as yet uncompleted spur off the new round-a-bout on Main Street)

A representative from the University of New Hampshire discussed and distributed several documents to the Durham Traffic Safety Committee regarding the $5.3M project to construct South Drive that would intersect with the round-a-bout on Main Street and traverse southerly through the campus in the area behind the football stadium to join the existing roadway at the railway underpass built several years ago (in the vicinity of Gregg Hall).  The University is appropriately looking to the Town of Durham to be a partner in the process as UNH is working to secure funding although it is overtly recognized that the Town would not be asked to contribute financial support.  It is likely, however, that there would be a number of upgrades to the Town's sewer and water systems, as part of the project which would  be the partial (1/3) responsibility of Durham.    

 

Energy Efficiency Systems RFQ Issued

The Town of Durham, New Hampshire is soliciting qualification-based proposals (RFQs) for a firm or firms to assist the municipality in providing assessment and consulting, system design and development, financing and procurement, installation, and maintenance of potential energy efficiency systems, as well energy procurement, for all aspects of its municipal infrastructure utilizing best available technologies to meet desired outcomes. 

 

In summary, Durham desires to:

 

§  Reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions within municipal infrastructure;

§  Improve energy efficiency in buildings, infrastructure, and other areas as determined by the community;

§  Procure energy commodities as cost effectively as possible.

 

RFQ proposals must be received by Todd I. Selig, Town Administrator, at 15 Newmarket Road, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, no later than 4:00 pm on February 4, 2011.  Finalist(s) will be invited to review their proposals in a meeting with the Town Administrator and other representatives of the Town.  To view the RFQ, click HERE.

 

Town Election - March 8, 2011    

The 2011 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 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.

 

Filing Period for ELECTED OFFICES

A list of individuals who have filed for various Town elected positions will be sent out via our listserver after the close of the filing period at 5:00 PM this evening.

 

Drawing Names of Candidates for Order of Listing on Town Election Ballot

At the Durham Town Council meeting on Monday evening, February 7, 2011, Town Moderator Christopher Regan and Town Clerk-Tax Collector Lorrie Pitt will be present at the beginning of the meeting to draw names of individuals running for elected offices to determine the order of names on the Town’s March 9^th Election ballot. 

 

In 2007, the Town Council adopted a resolution discontinuing the Town’s previous practice of listing candidates alphabetically on Town election ballots as outlined in Article 2, Section 2.6 of the Durham Town Charter and adopting the method of listing candidates on Town election ballots by the Town Clerk, under the supervision of the Town Moderator of drawing candidates’ names out of a hat and listing them in the order by which they are drawn.

 

Durham Business Association Candidates Forum

On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 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 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 candidates who are running for these elected offices at the March 8, 2011 Town Election.

 

Questions may be submitted by email to the Durham Business Association at durhambusinessassociation@gmail.com by Monday, February 14, 2011

 

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

 

Downtown Tax Increment Finance District – An Idea to be Discussed by the EDC

At its meeting scheduled for January 31, 2011, the Economic Development Committee will receive a general presentation from Director of Planning and Community Development Jim Campbell regarding Tax Increment Finance Districts (TIFs), what they are, and how they are used in New Hampshire. 

 

Durham presently has one TIF district which was established in 2007 for Stone Quarry Drive.  Unfortunately the Town was unable to secure an adequate surety from the developer with whom the Town worked at the time in order to protect the interests of the community as part of this project.  The Town Council therefore did NOT approve a Development Agreement with the developer which is a prerequisite for this project to move forward.  The Town has NOT issued any debt as part of this project and all phases are presently ON HOLD until a Development Agreement is in place.  No additional taxable value has been developed within the Stone Quarry Drive TIF to date. 

 

In late-2012, Administrator Selig suggested the EDC might want to consider the merits of talking about a TIF for Durham’s downtown commercial core to fund public improvements and infrastructure (parking structure, roadway, traffic, sidewalk improvements, etc.) necessary to retain, attract and advance desirable mixed use development and private investment in the downtown / central business core. This particular area of Durham has tremendous potential to contribute much more significantly to the Town’s tax base, employment base, and quality of life through expanded positive economic growth & development. The area has remained largely unchanged over the past several decades and has experienced some decline consistent with national trends for the commercial retail and business office sectors to shift away from downtown centers. Stimulating mixed use development and reinvestment in this area could provide needed taxable assessed valuation, business revenue, employment opportunities, and public amenities within the boundaries of a TIF district.  To learn more about TIFs, go to http://durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/planning/pdfs/eco.dev/Tax%20Increment%20Financing.pdf .

 

Update on The Grange RFP – Redevelopment Ideas for Consideration

The Grange is located within the heart of downtown Durham on the southerly side of Main Street at the Madbury Road intersection directly across from the U.S. Post Office.  It was originally constructed as a single-floor structure around 1880, with a second level added in 1897.  It has a gross building area of approximately 2,945 +/= s.f.  Of that total, 1,674 +/- s.f. is first floor space and 1,271 +/- s.f. is on the second level.  The unfinished basement consists of 1,271 +/- s.f.  The construction is wood framing. 

 

Over the last ten years, there have been discussions locally of selling the land and improvements outright, moving the historic Grange structure to an alternate location, or entering into a lease with a prospective new tenant to preserve municipal ownership of the parcel while at the same time allowing long-term productive reuse/redevelopment flexibility on the site and preserving the historic character of the structure. 

 

The location of the Grange site has been envisioned as part of the 2000 Master Plan and 2008 Mill Plaza Study Committee Report as a possible vehicular/pedestrian access point to the Mill Plaza area located directly behind the Grange and as such the building and/or building site could play a future part in the redevelopment of the Mill Plaza or potentially part of a redevelopment of the older structures to either side of the Grange.  There currently exists a paved walkway that connects the Mill Plaza with Main Street allowing foot traffic only. 

 

The Grange most recently housed the Durham Art Association and the infant and toddler site for Growing Places Daycare, a non-profit organization, for many years until it was vacated in February 2007.  It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing structure in the Durham Historic District. 

 

From the perspective of the Administrator, the Grange presents an opportunity for the Town and a potential private development partner to fully utilize a downtown municipal property resource in an effort to enhance Durham’s downtown, spur economic development and retail activity, and enhance Durham’s sense of community at no cost to Durham taxpayers.

 

One Durham property owner, Peter Murphy, responded to the Grange RFP in a timely manner.  His initial proposal suggested transforming the structure into two floors of student housing, however, Mr. Selig did not believe this approach to be consistent with the Town’s goals and with this feedback, Mr. Murphy worked to develop a revised proposal to invest approximately $275,000 into the property to create two high quality student apartments (which could later be turned into workforce housing) and a 1,200sf commercial/retail space on the first floor under a 15-year lease (three 5-year options) and where the Town could opt out of the arrangement at 5 year intervals in case redevelopment around the property occurs and it is deemed necessary to include the Grange. The Economic Development Committee will discuss this project on January 31, 2011, and the Historic District Commission/Heritage Commission on February 3, 2011. To view Mr. Murphy’s most recent proposal, click HERE.

 

Oyster River Cooperative School District Advisory Budget Committee (ABC) Update

The final FY2011-2012 budget for the Oyster River Cooperative School District has been posted via the District website (www.orcsd.org) by the Advisory Budget Committee (ABC).  The two links from the website take you to Google Docs where you can view full budget data as well as visual graphs and charts of the data.  Note that:

 

·      These links can be shared with anyone.

·      You do not need Excel or Powerpoint to view the documents online via Google Docs.

·      You can download the documents as PDF, Excel, Powerpoint, or OpenOffice.

 

In addition to the budget links, the final report of the ABC (1/3/2011) to the School Board is posted under School Board SubCommittees at http://www.orcsd.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=103&Itemid=203

 

The School District Meeting on the February 8, 2011 at 7 PM in the High School Auditorium provides an opportunity for citizens in the Oyster River School District to make comments and recommendations for changes to the budget.  The ABC recommends reviewing the posted budget documents in advance of the district meeting.  Voting will occur March 8, 2011.

 

Contact the ABC by using the email address abc@sau5.org about school district budget matters.  An ABC member will respond to such emails.  Serving on the ABC 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.

 

Mini-Charette on Combined Fire Department/Structured Parking Site Feasibility Study on UNH C-Lot

On Wednesday, March 2, 2011 beginning at 7:00 PM, the Town of Durham will hold a Mini-Charette in the Council chambers at the Durham Town Hall. The charette will be on a Site Feasibility Study on the UNH-owned parking lot currently known as ‘C Lot’, located at Mill Road across from Mill Road Plaza. This charette was originally scheduled for December 16, 2010, but because the lead architect had a sudden death in her family and was not be able to attend, the charette was cancelled.

 

Discussion will center on developing the parcel with a new Fire Department building and parking garage. This meeting is open to the public and the Town is looking for input from all interested parties.  We are hopeful that members of Durham’s downtown business community will attend to provide input.

 

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. 

 

Rental Housing Commission – Wednesday, February 2, 2011 (3:30 PM)

Master Plan Survey Subcommittee – Wednesday, February 2, 2011 (5-6:30 PM)

Planning Board – Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Historic District Commission – Thursday, February 3, 2011

 

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 AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

 

§  Winter Carnival & Chili Tasting, Feb 12^th from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM at the Mill Pond. Residents and businesses are welcome to provide a crock of Chili to share. Please contact the Parks & Recreation Dept. at 817-4074 for more information.

 

Durham Public Library Programs and Events

§  Town of Durham Master Plan Update Forum, ORMS, Friday, Jan. 28^th, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. - The Durham Downtown Master Plan will be discussed. The library will be at the event with stories and a craft for children during the meetings and there will be a free community dinner. All residents are invited to participate in the forum to help structure the updating of Durham’s Master Plan. Questions?  Call the Durham Planning Office.

§  Preschool Storytime, Tues.  Feb.1st and Thurs. Feb. 3rd at 10:30 a.m. - This week: Toys and Groundhogs. Join us for stories, fingerplays, songs, feltboard and a craft.

§  Racoon Readers, 2^nd-4^th grade book club, Tues. Feb. 1^st, 6:00-7:00 p.m. -  Join us for this fun book group.  This month we are reading “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster or “The Magician’s Elephant” by Kate DiCamillo.  Your choice.  We talk about the books and authors, play some games and make a craft.  All are welcome!

§  Something Old and Something New: An Experiment in Discarded Goods, Weds. Feb. 2^nd, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Trash can be treasure, especially when you find it at the Durham Swap Shop! Kelly L. Cullen, UNH associate professor of environmental economics, furnished her entire house — from towels to tea pots — with things she found at the swap shop and other local secondhand stores. She spent only $1,000. Come hear how she did it, and get some tips from her on being economical and resourceful in our own neighborhood.

§  Join the patch program, our reading incentive program for children aged 2-12 years. 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 a 6 week session in January and February.

§  Registration for Seacoast Reads Second Semester has begun.  Sign-up for a UNH reading buddy for your child in grades 1^st through 3^rd.  Sessions will begin in February.

 

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

§  Friday, January 28^th, 7:30 PM, Community Church of Durham – Winter Organ Concert featuring Organist Jim Bullock. Mr. Bullock will be playing Bach, Liszt, and Alain among others.

§  Saturday, January 29^th, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Durham Evangelical Church – PC Clinic. Bring in your “sick” PC and the DEC tech team will run basic diagnostics tests for FREE. For more information, visit www.decITSupport.com.  

§  Thursday, February 3^rd, 7:00-9:00 PM, Oyster River High School, Room C123 – Meeting of Republican Committee of Durham, Lee, and Madbury. Call Mike McClurken at 868-6525 if you have questions.

 

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

“During the Great Depression, the federal government, in conjunction with the State of New Hampshire, developed a state aid program many times greater than had ever before been undertaken. The then gravel-and-dirt Madbury, Durham Point, and Mast roads, as well as others, qualified for aid in getting the farmer out of the mud, by graveling and tarring the surfaces for year-round use. Many of the older residents in Durham well remember that, during mud season, it was almost impossible to go to Madbury by Madbury Road; axle-deep mud holes were encountered beyond Dean Harold Scudder’s house.” 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.