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 NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...
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A Herring Gull
searches for fish - Courtesy Andrea
Bodo
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SALE/REDEVELOPMENT OF GRANGE BUILDING
APPROVED
In September 2010, Administrator Selig
advertised a Request for Proposal 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). One
proposal was received by the deadline from
local developer Peter Murphy on November 12,
2010.
Since that time, the Administrator and Mr.
Murphy have brought the redevelopment project
to the Historic District Commission/Heritage
Commission, the Economic Development
Committee, and on several occasions, the Town
Council for discussion and refinement.
The parties have reached an agreement on
terms consistent with Council dialogue and a
public hearing on the proposal was held at
the May 16, 2011 Town Council meeting.
On Monday evening, August 1, 2011, the Durham
Town Council voted to approve the sale of the
Town-owned H.A. Davis Grange building.
The agreed upon sale price is $240,000.
Assuming a price $240,000 paid over 5 years
secured by a subordinate 7% mortgage to
primary debt. The town would receive an
annual loan payment of $58,533.77. In
addition the town will receive approximately
$45,000 in property taxes annually based upon
an assessed value in the $1,700,000 range.
This transaction will include the following
items:
- Move Grange building forward to
sidewalk.
- Three workforce housing units in
Grange or in addition (to be determined) w/
associated covenants.
- Retail/commercial use on first floor
front part of Grange w/ associated
covenants.
- Restore and preserve outside
historical look and materials of Grange w/
associated covenants.
- Pedestrian enhancements along side of
bldg with ROW access for general public
with maintenance and upkeep the
responsibility of the new property
owner.
- Student housing to rear of Grange
structure that is convertible to adult
housing when the market
permits.
- Universal access
apartment.
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DURHAM POLICE
DEPT RECEIVES NATIONAL
REACCREDITATION
The Durham Police Department is a
nationally accredited police department
through the Commission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Every
three years, the agency is required to
demonstrate to external CALEA examiners that
it adheres to nationally accepted best
practice standards in the field of
policing.
In April,
a team of external examiners visited Durham
to evaluate the agency over the course of
several days. In summary, with the
exception of one (1) file, the 55 off-site
files that were examined were found to be
well documented and meticulously prepared.
There were no issues requiring special
attention as part of the assessment. The
examiners reported that overall, the Durham
Police Department has done a remarkable job
of integrating the CALEA standards into the
agency’s everyday
operations.
The final
phase of the accreditation process included a
panel review by the full board of CALEA
Commissioners in Cincinnati, Ohio from July
29 – 31st where representatives from
the department answered questions regarding
the agency and discussed findings as needed
from the on-site
assessment.
We are
pleased to report that the full board of
CALEA commissioners voted to grant
reaccreditation to the Durham Police
Department. To view a full report
regarding the reaccreditation process click
HERE.
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DURHAM FARMER’S MARKET
AVAILABLE WEEKLY THROUGH OCTOBER
6TH
The Durham Farmer’s Market takes place
each Monday from 2:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
through October 6th in the Pettee Brook
Parking Lot located on Pettee Brook Lane in
Durham. For more information about the
Seacoast Growers Association, go to: http://www.seacoastgrowers.org/durham-farmers-market/
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DURHAM, NH PROMOTIONAL FILM
– MARKETING
DURHAM
For
residents who have not yet had an opportunity
to see it, Durham has a very nice promotional
film which was put together in part to assist
local realtors in marketing properties within
the community. To view the video, go to:
http://ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/PromoVideo.html. If
you know of others who may want to become
more familiar with Durham, don’t
hesitate to forward a link to the film along
to them.
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Smith Chapel
located on Mill Pond Road - Courtesy
DPW
SMITH CHAPEL
REPAIRS UPDATE
The American Steele and Tower Company
crew has encountered both carpenter ants
and rotten wood on both top sill beams
(beams that the roof rafters attach to
on the top of the masonry walls) and the two
roof rafters closest to the doorway. All
rotten wood is being replaced and the
carpenter ants have been extinguished. The
good news is that all of the tongue and
groove pine sheathing (wood under the slate
pieces) is in great shape. Copper gutters are
being fabricated back at the American Steeple
shop and look terrific.
Bob Nelson of Art Glass of America has
been on site this week and has removed four
windows and frames and transported back to
his shop in Natick.
The Chapel is secured with plywood
and Public Works Director Mike
Lynch will meet next week with a
local woodworker regarding interior
repairs and the exterior door
rehabilitation.
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DURHAM
FEATURED ON CHRONICLE’S MYSTERY MAIN
STREETS!
On July 18, 2011, the Town of Durham was
featured on Chronicle’s Mystery Main
Streets on Channel 5 out of Boston.
Chronicle sent a production crew to Durham to
film the community featuring a number of
prominent residents including Diana Carroll,
Andrea Bodo, Dudley Dudley, Julian Smith, and
others as well as vistas that will be quite
familiar to community members. To view
the program on line in four parts, go
to:
Mystery Main Streets – Durham
– Segment One:
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=7960900&msgid=156675&act=GOYV&c=832637&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebostonchannel.com%2Fvideo%2F28589797%2Fdetail.html
Mystery Main Streets – Durham
– Segment Two:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/28589818/detail.html
Mystery Main Streets – Durham
– Segment Three:
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=7960900&msgid=156675&act=GOYV&c=832637&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebostonchannel.com%2Fvideo%2F28590116%2Fdetail.html
Mystery Main Streets – Durham
– Segment Four:
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=7960900&msgid=156675&act=GOYV&c=832637&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebostonchannel.com%2Fvideo%2F28589935%2Fdetail.html
Interestingly, a number of
downtown businesses have indicated that
out-of- town visitors have come to Durham to
eat, shop, and sightsee based on the
show. To this end, Durham residents are
urged to share the Chronicle show focusing on
Durham with their friends. The Pert
Shamoo advertisement from the 1970’s
comes to mind – if we all tell two
friends and so
on…
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PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED TO
TIGHTEN UP TRASH
ORDINANCE
On May 2, 2011, Councilors Marple and Lawson
brought forward for Council discussion the
subject of proposing fine structure changes
to the trash violation process currently used
in the Zoning and Code Enforcement
Office. Councilors Marple and Lawson
proposed that changing the enforcement would
result in improved compliance.
Councilors Gooze and Stanhope volunteered to
work with Administrator Selig on this
issue.
Councilors Gooze and Stanhope met with the
Administrator to revise the current trash
violation process as well as to review the
Town’s Solid Waste ordinance for
possible needed changes and developing a
“courtesy” notification of solid
waste violation. Town Attorney Laura
Spector has reviewed and made suggestions for
amendments to the current Solid Waste
ordinance.
To
view the revised trash violation notice, a
new “courtesy” notification, and
the Solid Waste ordinance incorporating the
changes proposed by Councilors Gooze and
Stanhope and Administrator Selig, with
assistance from Attorney Spector, click
HERE.
A public hearing on the proposed
ordinance is scheduled for the Council
meeting on August 15, 2011.
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HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
DAY: HOLD THE
DATE
This year’s Household Hazardous Waste
Day will be on the morning of October 15,
2010. Please call Administrative
Assistant Janice Hoglund at the Durham
Department of Public Works for an appointment
at 868-5578 or email her at jhoglund@ci.durham.nh.us. More
information regarding HHWD will be available
as we move into the fall.
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ASSESSING DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW CURRENT
USE FILES
In 2013, the Department of Revenue
Administration will review the Town of
Durham’s assessment practices and
record keeping for accuracy and compliance
with state guidelines and regulations.
In preparation for this review process, the
Town is required to review and update those
properties enrolled under the Current Use
program.
Most of
the current use records in the assessing
office are the originals and have not been
updated with new current use land
categories. Many of the applications
are incomplete, missing information, or the
acreages listed on the current use
applications do not match the tax maps and/or
assessment cards.
To assist
the Assessing Office in verifying current use
information and in determining the correct
assessment range for current use properties
property owners with land in Current Use will
be asked to carefully review the list of
requested information that
follows:
- CURRENT FOREST MANAGEMENT
PLAN
- UPDATED CURRENT USE
APPLICATION
- CURRENT USE MAP
- COMPLETED CURRENT USE ASSESSMENT
FORM
After receipt of the completed form(s)
and or map(s), a review of the material will
be conducted for accuracy and compliance with
NH RSA 79-A and Current Use
criteria.
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PROHIBITION
OF “HAPPY HOUR” BILLBOARD
ADVERTISING APPROVED BY TOWN
COUNCIL
Early this spring, upon learning of a N.H.
Senate Bill (SB 120) to be heard by the
Senate Commerce Committee that sought to
eliminate restrictions on “Happy
Hour” billboard advertising,
Administrator Selig, Police Chief Kurz, and
resident Peter Smith testified in Concord
before the Senate Commerce Committee against
passage of this bill as presented.
Because of the unique nature of the Durham
community, the Town worked with New Futures
to craft an alternate amendment for
consideration by the New Hampshire
Legislature that would ensure appropriate
local control and would afford the
legislative body within a city or town the
ability, after due consideration, to prohibit
exterior signs or signs in view of a public
way that contain a reference to “Happy
Hour” or otherwise promote the sale of
liquor or beverages at reduced prices.
The amendment also made clear that the
advertising of liquor or beverages shall not
be inconsistent with the spirit of public
health or safety and granted the Liquor
Commission the authority to suspend any
single advertising or promotion of liquor or
beverage at its discretion that is
inconsistent with the spirit of public health
or safety.
The Durham community remains diligent in the
prosecution of alcohol violations with the
realization that virtually every criminal act
faced by the Durham Police Department has
alcohol at its foundation. In 2010, for
example, the Durham Police Department
responded to over 24,000 calls for service
and on average makes approximately 1,000
arrests annually. Of these arrests, the vast
majority occur on Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday between the hours of
midnight and 3:00 AM and involve persons
between the ages of 18-22 years. Hence, the
promotion of the sale of alcoholic beverages
is a concern to us locally. While we
realize that students and visitors may be
aware of “Happy Hour” specials,
additional advertisement opportunities
advising of inexpensive alcohol are extremely
problematic for our community and for our
partners at the University of New Hampshire,
the N.H. Liquor Enforcement Department, and
on occasion the N.H. State Police for large
scale events.
The Senate passed an amended version of SB
120 (not the version presented by the Town of
Durham) that allowed communities to opt out
and prohibit outside Happy Hour billboard
advertising but not inside Happy Hour
billboard advertising facing outward.
Following passage of this amended bill,
Administrator Selig, representatives from the
University System of New Hampshire, New
Futures, and others appeared before the House
Commerce Committee to oppose the amended
Senate Bill 120.
The House, taking the Town of Durham’s
request into consideration, further amended
and passed SB 120 to allow communities to opt
out and prohibit both outside and inside
facing outward Happy Hour billboard
advertising. Governor Lynch signed the bill
on July 5, 2011.
On Monday evening, July 25, 2011, the
Council voted to approve a resolution
adopting the provisions of New Hampshire
Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA) 179:31 XI-a
allowing a city or town to prohibit exterior
signs or signs in view of any public way
promoting the sale of liquor or beverages at
reduce prices by an on-premises
licensee.
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POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES FOR THE
TOWN'S SOLID WASTE COLLECTION - DISCUSSED AT
AUGUST 1ST TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING
Director of Public Works Michael Lynch,
Director of Operations Douglas Bullen,
Business Manager Gail Jablonski, and
Administrator Todd Selig met recently to
discuss options for the solid waste and
recycling program that might help to save the
Town money. This group discussed these
options with the Town Council at its meeting
on Monday evening, August 1,
2011.
As part of the Town’s ongoing Lean
Efforts, the Public Works Department recently
solicited bids for the Contracting out of
Collection of Curbside Solid Waste and
Recycling to determine if there would be a
cost savings versus the present approach of
doing this process in-house. The results are
as follows:
Bestway Disposal:
$180/ton for Solid Waste; $229/ton for
Recycle
Pinard Waste Systems:
$179.00/ton for Solid Waste; $232.00/ton for
Recycle
Waste Management:
$149.10/ton for Solid Waste; $148.75/ton for
Recycle
In addition, the Town performed an analysis
to determine the present cost to the Town for
proving this service in house. The results
indicate that it currently costs the Town
$124.95/ton for Solid Waste and $133.30/ton
for Recycling which indicates that the Town
would not save money by contracting out this
service. In fact, the Town’s operation
is approximately $55,000 less expensive than
contracting out. Ultimately, the
Council was most comfortable with continuing
to provide curbside collection for solid
waste and recycling in house.
The Council also discussed ideas such as the
elimination of curbside collection totally
and opening the Transfer Station for
additional hours & having residents bring
their items to the Durham Point Road facility
potentially saving the Town sup to $146,000
annually.
Another idea discussed was implementing a
“Pay as you Throw” (PAYT) program
for curbside collection.
There was not interest in either
eliminating curbside collection or
implementing a PAYT
program.
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SRPC SEEKING
MEMBERS FOR BROADBAND STAKEHOLDERS
GROUP
Strafford Regional Planning Commission
(SRPC) is looking for members for the
Broadband stakeholders group meeting which
will take place in early fall. The first
meeting will describe project overview and
purpose, the stakeholders group role and
leadership, and meeting
schedule.
The group will meet quarterly or as
needed and will focus on collecting and
analyzing relevant information, identifying
barriers to broadband deployment, promoting
collaboration with service providers, and
facilitating information sharing between the
public and private sectors regarding the use
of and demand for broadband services. This is
directly related to the Strafford Regional
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
(CEDS) goals and objectives under
infrastructure. The Program is managed by the
Complex Systems Research Center at the
University of New Hampshire (UNH) and is a
collaboration between UNH, the nine regional
planning agencies in the state, and the NH
Department of Resources and Economic
Development/Division of Economic
Development.
The efforts of these organizations,
other partners, and input from the public,
will yield a mapped inventory of existing and
planned broadband assets, as well as a view
of locations in New Hampshire where there is
either no or inadequate coverage. Results
will be integrated into a national broadband
availability map, and will provide a solid
foundation for future broadband deployment
efforts at the state and national
level.
For more information please visit
http://iwantbroadbandnh.org/.
Questions may be directed to Kyle Pimental,
kpimental@strafford.org.
There is also a Broadband Access survey and a
Speed Test which provide valuable information
for the program. If you have a few extra
minutes please take part in the
survey.
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MAC SWAP + GADGETS FOR CASH AT IDEA
GREENHOUSE
Do you have used laptops, cell phones,
iPods, or video games you want to responsibly
recycle? Want to trade or get cash for your
dusty (but
working) older electronics? Cameras,
smartphones, laptops, monitors, GPS
units...any working gadget or electronic
item?
Come to Idea Greenhouse in downtown
Durham at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, August 9th to
swap or sell your usable
gadgets.
The Seacoast Mac User Group is holding
its annual "Mac Swap" that night, while Idea
Greenhouse is also launching its "Gadgets for
Cash"
program.
Bring your Mac or Apple products to
swap or sell, or any other gadget to trade-in
for cash. Take the money for yourself, or
contribute it to support the programming and
events at Idea Greenhouse.
Learn more about both at http://www.ideagreenhouse.biz/gadgetcash.
Idea Greenhouse is a workspace and
event center for creatives, entrepreneurs,
and professionals looking to work together to
grow great ideas in Downtown Durham. Learn
more at http://www.ideagreenhouse.biz/.
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LEARN HOW TO
BUILD A SOLAR HOT WATER HEATER: AUGUST
7
Peter Ejarque, a member of the Durham
Energy Committee, will be holding an outdoor
hands-on “build it yourself”
solar water heater class at his home on
Sunday, August 7, starting at 9:00 a.m. (Rain
reschedules.) Reused materials such as those
found at the Durham Swap Shop and Transfer
Station will be used. The day includes a
potluck lunch.
The next
"how-to" class, on building a “wind
generator,” will be held in September.
For more information, visit the Seacoast
Energy and Sustainable Living Meetup Group
at http://www.meetup.com/oilawareness-286 or
call 603-312-6735.
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DURHAM'S
FRIDAY
DEALS
Listed below are
ongoing offers of various downtown
businesses.
Wildcat Fitness -
located in the Mill Plaza next to the Public
Library
Use the gym for FREE on
Fridays
Red Carpet Flower Shop
- 56 Main Street
$5 Bouquets of Flowers every
Friday
Village Pizza - 45
Main Street
$5 Wraps or Large Salad w/Steak or Chicken
add
$2
Minos's Roast
Beef - Located in the Mill
Plaza
Come try the best Boston-style roast beef sub
for only $5 on Fridays.
Money spent locally stays local.
Support Durham businesses. If your business
has a Friday special to offer please send it
to Ken Entz at sentz@comcast.net. The phone number
is 603-661-2907.
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UNH OUTDOOR
POOL
Pool Hours: 12:00 noon -
7:00 PM until August 14th
12:00 noon - 6:00 PM August 15th through
September 5th
The UNH pool now has a
self-operating battery powered chair lift
located in Perch for those who would like to
use it to enter and exit the
pool.
NOTICE: The pool was
closed due to high bacteria from July
29-31. UNH Recreation
staff followed standard precautions by
super chlorinating the pool and tested for
bacteria during the weekend. On
Monday, August 1 the UNH pool
was approved for reopening after all
three bacteria tests came back
clean. UNH Recreation would like to
thank everyone for their patience and
understanding during the pool's
closure.
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PUBLIC
MEETINGS: SCHEDULE AND VIDEO ON
DEMAND
The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week All
meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the
Council chambers at the Durham 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.
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://ci.durham.nh.us/ or directly
by clicking
the DCAT on demand
logo,
http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.
Durham Energy Committee - Monday,
August 8, 2011
Zoning Board of Adjustment - Tuesday,
August 9, 2011
Planning Board - Wednesday, August 10,
2011
Conservation Commission - Thursday,
August 11, 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.
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DURHAM PARKS
& RECREATION PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Music by the Bay
features Rhythm, Roots & Dub on August
19th from 6-8pm at Wagon Hill Farm. Bring the
whole family while taking in the view of the
bay. Friends and families are encouraged to
bring picnic dinners, lawn chairs, and
blankets. Rhythm Roots & Dub returns
again this year by demand. Music includes
fusion jazz, reggae, soft rock and some
original songs. Event is free. Check out
their website: http://www.myspace.com/rootsrhythmdub
Come
enjoy summer fun while staying in
shape:
Pilates: Mon
- 9:00am and 6:30pm; Sat - 10:00am
Yoga:
Mon - 5:00pm; Thu - 12:00noon
Zumba: Mon - 5:30pm;
Sat - 9:00am
Boot camp: Wed & Fri -
5:45am and 7:30am
Strength & Stretch:
Wed & Fri - 8:30am
Tai Chi: Wed
- 9:30am; Mon - 6:15pm
(advanced)
Ultimate
Frisbee: Mon
- 6-8pm at the OR Middle School
For more information please contact
P&R Director Sandy Devins at 603-817-4074 or sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us Also
check out our new Facebook account on
“Durham Rec”.
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DURHAM PUBLIC
LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
DPL Busier Than
Ever!
The Library saw its second busiest month in
July with 5,341 visits to the library, 5,012
items checked out, 267 interlibrary loans
either lent or borrowed, and 600 patrons
attending library programs. The
Wednesday “family night” programs
in the library saw particularly large crowds:
50 for Ben Baldwin’s African Drumming;
32 for a cappella group Earreverence; 45 for
the Murray Irish Step Dancers; 47 for La
Madeleine Celtic and Folk Trio. If you missed
any these, watch for our slate of upcoming
fall programs on our website http://www.durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/.
You won’t want to miss
them.
“One World, Many
Stories” Summer Readers:
Summer Reading was a tremendous success once
again this year. The library registered 225
children who over the course of 5 weeks read
for a total 102,000 minutes, an average of 7
½ hours per child. Congratulations to all
participants. Come to the library to collect
your prize books, reading certificates, and
Bagelry prize. They are in the
Children’s Room for the month of
August.
Over 600 people attend a wide range of
Summer Reading programs that included
storytimes, teen blogs, game nights, wild
animals, music, and dance all built around an
international theme. Kudos to
Children’s Librarian Lisa Kleinmann and
the library staff for a job well
done.
The Fall Children’s Programs will
start in September. Check the
library calendar for details and
sign-ups in
mid-August.
Fall Children’s
Programs: Pre-School
Storytime, Monthly Pajama Storytime, Raccoon
Readers (1st-4th grade book group),
Bookeaters (Middle School Book Group), Tales
for Tails (Read to a therapy Dog), Seacoast
Reads (UNH student reading tutors), Young
Adult Writing Blog and we hope to be starting
a Thursday afternoon Lego
Club.
The Patch Program will begin on
Sep.1st.
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COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Great Bay
Rowing Youth Summer Camp -
Aug 8-12, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. Meet and row out
from Jackson's Landing. All are welcome
grades 7-9 (must be age 12 by June 1, 2011).
To print registration forms, click HERE.
Summer Art
Camp Classes for Children, Teens, and
Adults. The Museum of Art, UNH, is
offering week-long summer art classes during
the week of Aug 8-12, 2011. For a complete
description of the classes or to register on
line, visit the Museum of Art's website at
http://www.unh.edu/moa/ or
contact Catherine A. Mazur at catherine.mazur@unh.edu, 603-862-3713.
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FROM
“DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY
– 1900-1985”
Business (1900-1930): "There were
significant changes in the business district
in the early 1920s. New Hampshire College
became the University of New Hampshire in
1923, and in response to expected growth in
the student body, two new buildings were
erected on Main Street after Frank Morrison's
house and livery stable were moved to the
north along the west side of Madbury Road.
The Hardy-Philbrick Block, completed in 1923,
was a brick-faced structure that provided
three commercial spaces at street level, a
basement, and second-story apartments. The
first business tenants were The College Shop,
backed by the Farnhams of Dover and
managed by John W. McIntire, a tailor,
and father of 'Brad' McIntire, who assumed
ownership of the shop some years later; The
Durham Drug, advertised by owner, Ben Hill,
as 'more than a store, a N.H. institution';
and the Durham post office, by then in need
of more space to accommodate the demands of
the community. Students discovered that the
best bargain in town was sending the laundry
home to Mom for 15 cents a bag, and a horse
express wagon was required to haul the pile
of 'mail' to and from the railroad
station." Published in 1985 by the Durham
Historic
Association.
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