Friday, December 16, 2011

Code Enforcement Officer Tom Johnson forwarded along to the Administrator a panoramic aerial image (courtesy Capstone Development, LLC) of the 619 bed Capstone student housing development under construction on Technology Drive. Residents may find the project of interest.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE

All Town offices will be closed on Friday, December 23rd and Monday, December 26th for the Christmas Holiday. 

Friday, December 23, 2011:  There will be no commercial recycling.

Monday, December 26, 2011:  There will be NO CHANGE to the regularly scheduled refuse and recycling collection. 

Saturday, December 24, 2011:  The TRANSFER STATION will be CLOSED.

NOTE:    Residents should receive the 2011-2012 annual newsletter within the next two weeks with the 2012 recycling and Holiday calendar. 

NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE

All Town offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012 for New Year’s Day. 

Monday, January 2, 2012:  There will be NO COLLECTION of refuse and recycling. All refuse and recycling will be pushed forward one day (Example:  Monday’s route will be on Tuesday, Tuesday’s will be on Wednesday, etc.).  All items need to be out by 7am as always. 

Friday, January 6, 2012: There will be no collection of commercial recycling. 

DURHAM TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTS FY 2012 BUDGET
On Monday evening, December 12, 2011, the Durham Town Council adopted a 2012 General Fund budget totaling $11,257,284.00, an increase of $258,612 compared to FY 2011. Of the $258,612 increase, a total of $150,950 represents an appropriation from the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG) account to specifically support smart growth central core redevelopment should a major redevelopment project require public partnership in order to come to fruition in areas such as transitioning one-way to two-way traffic, off site underground utility infrastructure improvements, or economic development consultative, engineering, or staffing services. This leaves a total increase of $107,622 coming from General Fund tax dollars representing a .97% change over FY 2011 budgeted levels.

The approved budget 2012 is projected to increase the 2012 local municipal portion of the tax rate by four cents (or .55%) to $7.61 from the estimated 2011 level of $7.57.
 
For comparative purposes, the twelve-month September 2010 to September 2011 Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) numbers are:  U.S. City Index – 3.9%, Northeast Urban Index – 4.0%, and Boston-Brocton-Nashua – 3.7%.
 
A listing of highlights from the proposed FY 2012 budgets follows: 

1. No pay increase is budgeted for non-unionized personnel, nor are there funds budgeted for wage increases for employees covered by the public works and police officer collective bargaining agreements as both contracts will have reached expiration by December 31st of this year.  The Council did, however, request that the Administrator work to identify non-unionized personnel exhibiting exceptional performance for a one-time bonus award to recognize their contributions on behalf of the Town should funding become available during the year.
2. In FY 2001, the Town had 85.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.  Despite the implementation of new programs and initiatives since that time, we have been successful over the years in identifying strategies to increase efficiencies and trim our workforce. The FY 2012 budget includes 83.55 FTE’s.
3. Increase in the number of hours for the part-time Parks and Recreation Director position from 20 hours per week to 30 to more accurately meet the needs and aspirations of the community within this burgeoning functional area.
4. A total of $4,000 has been allocated to support the Strafford County Conservation District as a result of funding reductions by the County for this program.
5. The department’s 19th full-time police officer position, which had been cut by the Administrator in 2009 due to budget constraints, restored by the Council in 2010, then held vacant for the majority of 2011 by the Administrator, has been eliminated once again for 2012 as a cost savings measure.
6. The road program is funded at $455,487 for FY 2012 primarily through long-term debt – however, the Council has asked the Administrator to utilize any savings realized during 2012 to pay cash for as much of the road program as possible.  We anticipate at this time that $50,000 in cash can be targeted toward the road program rather than incurring debt.   Targeted roadways for 2012 include Bagdad Road (Route 108 to overpass), Magrath Road, Oyster River Road, Pettee Brook Lane, Sunnyside Drive, Valentine Hill Road, Willey Road, and Wiswall Road (Packers Falls Rd. to Wiswall Bridge).
7. $75,000 is budgeted to stimulate economic development in Durham's downtown core through Phase II of the upgrade to sidewalks, streetlights, bump outs, and pavement markings along the Pettee Brook Lane corridor.
8. The proposal includes a $4.8 million Durham Public Library project along Madbury Road to be funded $2.1 million through private fund raising and $2.7 million through bonding contingent upon approval of a referendum vote in March 2012.

To view the full 7 page transmittal letter providing an overview of the FY 2012 budget, click HERE. 

GRAFITTI AT PACKERS FALLS BRIDGE
During the summer months, residents reported to the Department of Public Works graffiti that had been painted under the Packers Falls Bridge.  The location of the graffiti is extremely challenging to reach and cleaning in this location requires significant thought in that we do not want chemicals to impact the Lamprey River below.  Recently, the Public Works Department power washed the vandalized area but unfortunately this technique proved insufficient to completely remove the graffiti.  Consideration is now being given to whether it makes sense to sand blast the area or save the money and simply allow the remaining graffiti to wear off with time. 

“REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR”

Several years ago, Producer Chris Pane made a movie about the aborted effort by major car makers to produce electric cars for California in the 1990s, titled “Who Killed the Electric Car.”  But now, 10 years later, electric cars are hitting the streets again and these same players are now joined together in the sequel “Revenge of the Electric Car” by the same Producer to celebrate the re-introduction of electric cars into the market.  Viewers will see and hear several compelling stories from the key players and their efforts to make it happen.

“Revenge of the Electric Car” will be showing at the Red River Theatres, 11 South Main Street, Concord, NH. There will be eight showings of this movie - two each evening - on Friday, December 16th, Saturday, December 17th, Sunday, December 18th, and Monday, December 19th.  The showings are sponsored by Green Concord.  
 
There will be a panel discussion on Monday after both film showings and plug-in electric vehicles will be on display outside the theatre all four nights (see schedule on theatre website for details).
 
For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE.

FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN FOR REACHING BENNETT ROAD AND COLD SPRINGS ROAD RESIDENTS DURING FLOOD EVENTS
It is not too soon to begin to think about the potential of spring flooding, particularly the Fire Department’s plan for response within the potentially flooded areas of Bennett Road and Cold Springs Road.  During the last spring flood, the department paid close attention to the weather and rising waters and when it was determined that the Bennett Road/Cold Springs Road area was going to be flooded, the fire department placed our forestry vehicle inside the stranded area. The department borrowed a vehicle from the Madbury Fire Department that was able to drive through high running water and placed that on Newmarket Road. Two firefighters were assigned these vehicles. These firefighters were equipped to handle medical aid calls and quick attack fire calls. These firefighters did visit every home within the flooded area and consequently the Fire Department was able to get in groceries and medical prescriptions to that area. This assignment remained in place within the stranded area until the water was at a point that the normal Fire Department equipment could go through it on a response.

If Durham runs into the same flooding situation in 2012, we will plan on a similar type of set-up.

Residents should also recall that the Department of Public Works has been working with the N.H. Department of Transportation to address flooding along Newmarket Road at Hamel Brook.  The Public Works Department has also submitted a grant application to address flooding at Bennet Road by LaRoche Brook.  Both projects are included as part of the approved 2012-2021 Capital Improvement Program.

A GRAPHIC VIDEO OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING AND DRIVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Last year we provided a link to a video produced by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), a Victoria, Australia government-owned organization that pays for treatment and benefits for people injured in motor vehicle accidents.  TAC is involved in promoting road safety in Victoria and in improving Victoria's medical trauma system. 

The video, with a link below, is a very compelling depiction of the results of drinking and driving.  The movie is professionally accomplished with background music by REM of their song “Everybody Hurts” that significantly adds to the power of the video. 

The five-minute video is extremely graphic in its depiction of motor vehicle accidents and should be viewed by parents first and certainly warrants family discussion to determine whether it is appropriate for others in the household.  The video may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8.

PROPERTY TAXES DUE

A reminder that property taxes are due to the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office by close of business (5:00 PM) on Monday, December 19, 2011 in order to avoid any late interest fees.

The Seacoast Sewer Snakes — John Sykora, Tim Vadney, Durham's Daniel "Max" Driscoll (standing), and Michael Carle (not pictured) — from the New England Water Environment Association credit teamwork for earning them first place overall in Division 2. Courtesy Kieffer Photography

OPERATIONS CHALLENGE - PROMOTING EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN WASTEWATER OPERATIONS
Congratulations go out to Daniel "Max" Driscoll, an employee at Durham's Wastewater Treatment Facility, and his team the "Seacoast Sewer Snakes" for winning 1st place at the 2011 Division 2 Operations Challenge held in Los Angeles, CA. Max was one of four team members consisting of the best treatment professionals from New England.

Operations Challenge is the "Wastewater Olympics" for professionals in the wastewater treatment industry. Teams of four members and one captain compete in five separate events: operations, maintenance, laboratory, safety, and collection systems at a regional level to earn the right to represent the New England Water Environment Association(NEWEA) at the national Water Environment Federation (WEF) competition. Each team is sponsored by a WEF Member Association or recognized Operator Association.  Winners are determined by a weighted point system for the five events, each designed to test the diverse skills required for the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities, their collection systems, and laboratories. 

ALTERNATE MEMBER VACANCY - DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

There is currently an alternate member vacancy on the Durham Library Board of Trustees. Residents interested in seeking appointment to this vacancy should contact the Town Administrator's office at 868-5571 and ask for a board application form, or 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 http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ on the right-hand side in blue.

Completed applications may be mailed to the Town Administrator's office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

DURHAM POLICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Members of the Durham Police Department met with several highly committed citizens who have expressed an interest in volunteering some of their time to help out at the police department. The goal of the meeting was to identify tasks that would require minimal training and/or expertise to accomplish yet are still important functions that the department must perform. One idea focused upon the volunteers providing small blocks of time to answer telephones, provide data entry, and other office roles. This would allow the two administrative assistants to focus upon critical functions relative to court preparation, financial accounting, payroll, and analysis of police officer activity. 

As Chief Kurz attempts to launch the program, he would welcome input from active citizens who could possibly donate their energy, snippets of time, coupled with their desire to help out the community that would enable trained and experienced staff to focus upon critical police matters.  Please feel free to contact Chief Kurz @ dkurz@ci.durham.nh.us.

New granite bench at Wagon Hill Farm honoring Durham's 1974 decision to reject the Aristotle Onassis oil refinery. Courtesy Theresa Walker

NEW COMMEMORATIVE GRANITE BENCH AT WAGON HILL FARM

Those visiting Durham's Wagon Hill Farm recently may have noticed a new, very large, granite bench located down by the waterfront overlooking Great Bay.

The bench, which reads "March 1974, Durham says NO to Olympic Oil Refinery" was the idea of Durham residents Nancy Sandberg, Dudley Dudley, and Phyllis Bennett, and former longtime resident Ed Valena honoring the Durham decision to reject an oil refinery proposal by Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, for a massive oil refinery to be built on Great Bay just outside of Durham. A citizens group, "Save Our Shores" was organized in 1973 to combat this proposal. Click HERE to read a more detailed article on this event, published by the UNH Library.

The bench is made from “tapestry” granite and is seven-by-three feet. It was quarried in Milford, NH, sawn in Chelmsford, MA, and inscribed in Stratham, NH. The “gneissic rock” is an amalgam of two granite pieces merged millions of years apart. It is estimated that the original rock may date to 650 million years ago.

DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

The Durham Business Association still has a number of ornaments for sale from past years. Anyone interested in purchasing one of these ornaments may do so at the locations listed below. Available ornaments include:

2011 Wagon Hill Farm, $20.00

2011 Special edition 100th Anniversary of the Durham Fire Department, $5.00

2010 Smith Chapel, $10.00

2009 Houghton Hardware, $10.00

2007 Town of Durham 275th Anniversary, $5.00

Locations to purchase ornaments:

People's United Bank, Main Street

People's United Bank, Newmarket Road

Durham Marketplace

Durham Town Hall

Towle-Emery Farms

Town & Campus

Federal Savings Bank

Three Chimney's Inn

For more information, contact Lori Roy at People's Bank, 603-868-1022.

CROSS INSURANCE - THIS WEEK'S FEATURED BUSINESS

Cross Insurance is your local, one-stop, full service insurance agency, providing  Auto, Home, Business, Life, Health, Employee Benefits, Financial Services.

MacDonald, Wainwright and Gorman Insurance, have merged their services in order to provide clients with the best protection and service at the most competitive price, including access to over 110 companies conducting business in New Hampshire and Maine.

Chris Gorman, Branch Manager, and Diane Gorman, Marketing Coordinator, long-time Durham residents, are available for their clients both at their Dover/ Somersworth office and their home office in Durham, serving many of Durham’s Main Street businesses and residents.  To contact
Chris or Diane, call 603-868-5563, email cgorman@crossagency.com  or visit http://www.crossagency.com/.

OYSTER RIVER SEEKING INTERESTED RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SCREENING COMMITTEE

The Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) School Board has engaged the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) to assist them in the search process for a new Superintendent of Schools.

An integral part of the process involves parent, student, staff, and community participation. To date the district has conducted a series of focus groups to obtain participant input about the attributes, experience, and knowledge that the new superintendent should possess. The groups also identified immediate tasks that the new superintendent should address. A detailed report of focus group findings may be found on the district website.

For more information, view the ORCSD Press Release HERE.

ROTARY CLUB OF DURHAM-GREAT BAY

The Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay is pleased each Christmas season to donate 220 turkeys to local food pantries, including UNH’s Waysmeet Center, St. Thomas More, Lee Congregational Church and Newmarket.  This year, over $3,000 was raised toward this endeavor. The Rotary extends a thank you to the Durham Marketplace for procuring these wonderful turkeys.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Durham-Great Bay, please visit http://www.durhamgreatbayrotary.org/. The Rotary meets each Wednesday morning at the Three Chimney's Inn, 7:30 AM, and would enjoy having visitors. 

PUBLIC MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON DEMAND

THERE ARE NO TOWN MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 26, 2011.

All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing.

VIDEO ON DEMAND: Meetings can also be viewed via Video on Demand. Interested viewers can access the streaming site from the Town’s website at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ by clicking the DCAT on demand logo, or directly at http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.

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 & RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

The Winter Carnival & Chili Festival will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 1:00 - 3:30 PM at the Churchill Rink. This year, the event will include a Mac & Cheese Tasting.

An opportunity to contribute to the warmth and comfort of your community awaits you. Durham Parks & Rec is looking for people who would like to share a crock of chili or a dish of macaroni & cheese at this year's Winter Carnival on Jan. 28th from 1- 3:30 PM. For more information contact Sandy Devins at recreation@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Wonderful news: The Durham Public Library has reached the $900,000 fundraising objective for the new library. Donations in this current “On the Move” program will be added to $1.2 million previously given to the Trustees specifically for a new building. All told, the Trustees and donors will contribute at least $2.1 million as the private portion of the project costs. Heartened and unwaveringly committed, the Library’s Board of Trustees and campaign volunteers are still continuing their fundraising efforts in earnest with the intent of surpassing the goal as much possible – and to make certain everyone who wants to be a part of making the new library a reality has an opportunity to participate. Several corporate and foundation grant requests are pending and a number of special initiatives are underway.
Durham Businesses Support the New Library Campaign: The business community is also rallying in support of the New Library Campaign. Beginning New Year’s Day, Hayden Sports and Outback Gift Shop will contribute 10% of sales through January 31. The ffrost Sawyer Tavern at Three Chimneys Inn follows on January 7 with an offer to contribute $1 for every order of the chef’s popular potato-crusted haddock entrée through January 21st. Other business-sponsored activities are in the works. We encourage you to make your donation now and to support our community-minded businesses during their special promotions. We will continue to keep you informed.
Toys for Tots Late Fee Amnesty. Bring in a toy and we'll waive your late fees. The Durham Public Library has joined with the Durham Fire Department once again for their annual Seacoast Toy Drive. Bring in an unwrapped toy for a deserving boy or girl and we will erase any late fees you have accrued. This is a great opportunity to help out children in the Seacoast area and clear your late fees at the same time. Don't have any late fees? You are still welcome to donate a toy. This offer does not apply to lost materials. Last day to bring in a toy is Weds. Dec. 21st.

Storytimes, Tues. Dec. 20th and Thurs. Dec. 22nd at 10:30 a.m. – This week: Holidays and Gingerbread! Join us for stories, fingerplays, feltboard, songs and a craft.

Pajama Storytime, Tues. Dec. 20th at 6:30 p.m. - Join ORPP - the Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers group – for the library's monthly night-time storytime. Come wearing your pajamas! This month we invite you to come and hear stories about Gingerbread, and Holiday Magic. We will read stories about Gingerbread and the Holidays and make a special craft! This is a fun time for kids and for networking parents and all are welcome.

Library Holiday Hours: We will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23rd and Sat. Dec.24th. We will re-open on Tues. Dec. 27th. Happy Holidays!

Registration for Tales for Tails: sessions starting again January, 2012! 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 at the library.

Need a reading buddy? UNH tutors are available through Seacoast Reads at the library for your child in 1st through 3rd grade. Sign up for the second semester!

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. Thanks to the Friends of the Durham Public Library for their continued support of this program. We have new patches!

Check out the library's website, www.durhampubliclibrary.org, for more information.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Waysmeet Center, located at 15 Mill Road across from "C" lot. The Cornucopia Food Pantry of the United Campus Ministry plans to put together between 150-200 food baskets for the winter solstice and winter break season. These will be given to families and individuals in the Durham community. Items are still needed for the baskets, including gift certificates to local supermarkets. Volunteers are also needed to help with the food baskets on Thursday, December 15th, to organize food donations and put together baskets, and Friday, December 16th, to distribute food baskets. Hours are from 9-5 each day or parts thereof. If you can help, please contact Stacey Hoang at stg9@wildcats.unh.edu or Larry Brickner-Wood at Larry.Brickner-wood@unh.edu or 862-1165. You can also check out the web site at www.cornucopia.unh.edu.

Christmas Concert by English Specialist Choral Ensemble Stile Antico, Friday, Dec 16, 2011, 7:30 PM, UNH Johnson Theatre. This program, Puer natus est, is centered around Thomas Tallis’s magnificent 7-part mass, of the same name, written for the combined choirs of the Spanish and English Chapels Royal, and first performed in December 1554.To purchase tickets for this performance, visit http://unhmub.com/ticket/. For more information regarding this event, call 603-862-2290.

Boy Scout Troop 154 Holiday Tree Sale, Saturday and Sundays, Dec 17 & 18. 9AM - 4 PM on all dates at the Mill Road Plaza in front of Bagelry and Durham Marketplace. Trees are locally grown and freshly cut. For more information, call Sam Pollard at 603-944-1153.

Oyster River Taxpayers Meeting - Tuesday, Dec 20, 2011, 7:00 PM, Durham Town Hall, Town Council chambers.

Community Christmas Eve Service, Saturday, Dec 24, 2011, 4:00 PM, Oyster River High School.

Oyster River FIRST Robotics Team #3499 Competition, Saturday, Jan 7, 2012, Southern NH University. Working with adult mentors, Oyster River High School students have just six weeks to design, build, program, and test their robots to meet this year’s engineering challenge. For more information on this competition, click HERE.

The Pressured Child: How to Help your Child find Success in School and Life, presented by Dr. Michael Thompson, consultant, author, and psychologist specializing in children and families, Oyster River High School Auditorium, Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012, 7:00-9:00 PM. This event is being hosted by the Mast Way PTO, Moharimet PTO, ORMS PTO, ORHS PTO, The Alliance for Better Childcare, and Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers. All are welcome.
ECHO Community Thrift Shop - Durham Community Church, 17 Main Street, Durham. The economical and environmentally friendly way to shop. Hours: Wednesday 10 am-5 pm, Thursday 10 am-7 pm, Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-2 pm. Offering clothing, accessories, small household items, and vintage. Gladly accepting donations of clean and gently used items during hours of operation. For more information contact: 603-868-1230 or office@durhamcommunitychurch.org. The Thrift Shop entrance is at the back of the Church in the lower parking lot.

WEEKLY ARREST REPORT

*Academic year commences the third week of August through graduation at UNH in May.

Have a nice weekend.

Todd

Todd I. Selig, Administrator

Town of Durham, New Hampshire

T:  603-868-5571    F:  603-868-5572

tselig@ci.durham.nh.us    http://www.ci.durham.nh.us

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