“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

December
4, 2009

The former China Buffet Restaurant
in the Mill
Plaza Shopping
Center has been closed for renovations since late
August. It reopened on November 30 as the “Mei Wei Asian Cuisine Restaurant”
specializing in Japanese/Chinese cuisine. It has a new restaurant liquor license
with table service and a small cocktail bar area, a new Sushi bar, and the
always favorite buffet. A small “Tatami Room”  has been added as well as a
larger private Dining Room that seats approximately 25 for small parties. The
Main dining area now has booths. They have also added two completely new
ADA compliant
restrooms along with required kitchen upgrades. Courtesy Tom
Johnson.

FY
2011 Special
Budget Meetings

The ORCSD has scheduled three
sessions for public discussion on the FY2011 Budget with Superintendent, Howard
Colter and Business Administrator, Blaine Cox.  This is an opportunity to
ask general questions about the budget process, offer ideas or suggestions as
well as other comments.  Each session is open to all residents in
Durham, Lee, and
Madbury.

Solar
Panel Installation

On Saturday, December 5, 2009 from
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM, there will be a solar-panel installation at the Baldwin's home, 6 Fairchild Drive. The 12 panels are
already mounted on the roof and the wiring of the panels and installation of the
inverter box and other details will occur that morning.  Also to be
installed is an on-demand electrical generator.  Anyone who is interested
in seeing the installation of this green technology is welcome to stop by. 

Fire
Station Location & Design Analysis

On June 15, 2009, the Durham Town Council adopted Resolution
#2009-19 authorizing the additional appropriation of $40,000 within the FY 2009
Capital Fund Budget to engage an architectural consultant to conduct
a space needs assessment and to evaluate possible sites for
the future Fire Station.  On July
17, 2009, the Durham Fire Department received Statements of
Qualifications from 21 architectural firms. After careful consideration the
review committee selected four firms to proceed for final selection. 
Interviews were conducted.  Upon completion of the interviews and review of
the remaining proposals, the top firm was selected -- LeMay Erickson Willcox
Architects in the amount of $35,600 for the Feasibility Study of the selected
sites for location of a Fire Department.  On November 17,
2009, the Fire Department conducted a Charrette to receive public
input relative to a proposed new Fire Station.  This Monday evening, Fire
Chief Corey Landry and a representative from LeMay Erickson Willcox Architects
will provide the Council with findings, analysis, and recommendations to date
relative to this matter.  Citizens interested in this topic should tune
into the "Presentation" section of the Council meeting. To view the conceptual
drawings of potential fire designs at a Mill Road location, click HERE
and for the Madbury
Road location, click HERE.

A Reminder to Off Campus UNH Students to be Good
Neighbors

Residents may find the
following editorial submission of interest from UNH Dean of Students Anne
Lawing reminding students to be good neighbors when living within Durham's residential
neighborhoods.  http://www.tnhonline.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-11-17-09-1.932992

PSNH Home Energy Audit Program

This information may be of
interest to some of the residents in your community. Public Service of
New Hampshire
(PSNH) has expanded its Home Energy Audit program to include homes that use any
type of heating fuel.  PSNH’s Home Energy Audit program is now "fuel
neutral," meaning that homes using any type of heating fuel may be eligible for
the program.  By contributing $100, eligible participants can benefit from
a "whole house" energy audit (worth $450), including a blower-door-guided air
infiltration test, as well as a safety inspection of combustible appliances.
Once the audit is complete, you will receive an assessment of your home’s
energy-efficiency opportunities, along with a report outlining a list of
recommended improvements and their costs. Program participants are eligible for
up to $4,000 in rebates to help pay for recommended efficiency measures. 
Opportunities for improvement often include adding additional insulation to the
basement or attic; air sealing; improving lighting and water savings; and
upgrading heating and cooling equipment.  If Durham residents
are interested in lowering their energy bill this winter, please
visit the PSNH website at www.psnh.com and click on the "Home
Energy Audit" link, or call PSNH at
1-800-662-7764.

2008
Audit Report for
Town of Durham

Members of the Town Council have
been provided with copies of the Independent Auditor’s Report for the year
ending December 31, 2008 submitted by Plodzik & Sanderson. Greg Colby,
Partner, will be present at Monday evening’s meeting to provide a brief
presentation and to answer any questions Councilors may have relative to the
audit report.

One item to be noted is the decrease
in the unreserved, undesignated fund balance from $1,408,445 to $952,075. The
reasons for this decrease are:

o                  
$114,000 in
funds used to reduce 2008 tax rate

o                  
$116,727 revenue
shortfall

o                  
$225,643
overdraft of appropriations

The revenue shortfall is largely due
to a decrease in motor vehicle permit fees, interest on investments and court
fines.

Several factors contributed to the
overdraft of appropriations including the ice storm of December 2008 where over
$80,000 was expended in overtime hours, opening of a shelter and removal of
debris. In addition, there were increased wage and benefits costs associated
with the three unforeseen retirements at the Fire Department, costs relating to
the transition to the Strafford County dispatch center, increased costs for
heating fuel and gasoline and approximately $80,000 applied to the closing out
of capital related projects.

New
Police Officer Hired

With Sergeant Ed Lévesque’s
retirement effective in November, a vacancy existed in the staff of 18 police
officers comprising the Durham Police. Sergeant Levesque gave ample notice of
his pending retirement to allow Chief Kurz and his staff to begin the process of
hiring a replacement several months ago. The selection process for the Durham
Police is extensive and lengthy.  Beginning with written examinations,
applications, and resumes, qualified candidates are invited to participate in a
physical agility process that requires a variety of performance measures; all of
which are necessary to gain entrance into the New Hampshire Police Academy.  Those successful candidates
are invited to an oral examination conducted by two citizens and three police
officers of varying ranks. A “thank you” is extended to John Wiswell and Kim
Clark for their commitment of several days from their busy schedules to offer
invaluable insight as to an appropriate new officer for the Durham community. 

The applicant pool was been reduced
from 171 to 4 candidates.  The remaining four applicants were subjected to
extensive medical, psychological, and background examinations with a concluding
polygraph examination used to verify the findings.  At the conclusion of
this process, Chief Kurz recommended to Administrator Selig hiring Matthew F.
Brown of Stratham for appointment as a new Durham Police Officer. Mr. Brown is
scheduled to attend the NH Police Academy commencing January 4^th
which will graduate April 9, 2010.  Upon graduation, he will enter the
Field Training phase of his instruction and anticipate that he will be fully
trained by September. 

Work
schedule adjusted at the police department

With staff shortages at the Durham
Police, Chief Kurz has readjusted patrol work schedules from a 4:00 PM to 2:00
AM and work shift to 5:00 PM to 3:00 AM. While one hour may not seem
significant, that one hour from 2:00 to 3:00 AM is very challenging for the
police as they attempt to respond to noise complaints, fights in progress, and
other disorderly actions.  With more staff retained during this one hour,
police may be able to be more proactive in patrolling the community. 

Police work schedules are critical
to providing services where the work force is required 24-hours per day, seven
days a week.  While work schedules vary in appearance to meet a community’s
needs, a universally-implemented schedule is comprised of three shifts: 
7:00 AM to 3:00 PM; 3:00 to 11:00 PM; and 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. While there are a
host of variables that comprise an eight-hour schedule, the common theme is that
when those on a shift come to work, others are leaving. In Durham, where the policing
environment is especially challenged during late-night hours (specifically due
to the high density of young college students), there is a compelling need to
maximize the efficiency of existing personnel.  Consequently, Chief Kurz
has implemented a 10-hour work schedule designed to place as many officers on
“the street” during statistically busy periods without hiring additional
personnel. This scheduling format results in the “overlapping” of an employee’s
work schedule rather than the “typical” schedule explained above where employees
arrive while others are leaving.  Under his scheduling strategy, the patrol
shifts overlap by design during the busy hours of 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM allowing
six officers to be on duty rather than three officers. 

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are
scheduled for the coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town
Office and will begin at 7:00 PM 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, December 7,
2009

Durham Energy Committee – Monday, December
7, 2009 (4:30
PM)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee – Tuesday, December 8, 2009 (7:30
AM)

Rental Housing Commission – Tuesday,
December 8, 2009 (4:00
PM)

Zoning Board of Adjustment –
Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Planning Board – Wednesday, December
9, 2009

DCAT Governance Committee –
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 (ORHS, 7:00
PM)

Conservation Commission – Thursday,
December 10, 2009

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

Turkey Trot held at
Wagon Hill Farm on

Thanksgiving
morning.

§        
Saturday, December 12, 2009, 7:00 – 8:30 PM,
Churchill Rink:  Holiday
Carol Free Skate. Bring the entire family for a free skating
event featuring sounds of favorite holiday carols and free
refreshments.

§        
Monday, January 11, 2010:  Monday Evening
Yoga.  Preregistration is required for this 8-week yoga
session taught by Ruth Abelmann.

§        
Thursday, January 14, 2010:  Thursday Evening
Yoga. Preregistration is required for this 8-week yoga session
taught by Judy George.

§        
Zumba – Pilates –
Bootcamp.  Durham Parks & Recreation Department is now
offering classes taught by Kathy Kerrigan. 

You can sign up for P&R classes
at the P&R office, 2 Dover
Road, or at the Town Clerk’s Office located in Town
Hall. Contact Michael Mengers at
817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, for more
information or to register. Follow the Town of Durham Parks & Recreation Department on
Facebook. Search “Town of Durham Parks”. 

Display Your Art
at Parks & Rec:  The new P&R Activities Room has bare
walls!  If you would like to display your art work, photography or other
art medium on the walls, please contact P&R Director Michael Mengers at 817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us. Art work
can be returned to the owner at their request. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§        
Friday, December 4 & Saturday, December 5, 2009:
Annual “Light Up
Durham” events schedule.

§        
Friday, December 4, 2009, 4:00 – 5:30 PM: 
“Light Up Durham” Huddleston Hall
Events.  A visit with Mrs. Claus. Holiday Storytime with Durham
Public Librarian Lisa Kleinmann, music by Wayne
from Maine.

§        
Friday, December 4, 2009, 4:00 – 6:00 PM: 
“Light Up Durham” Wine & Cheese Reception at Three
Chimneys Inn. Durham residents: 3-course Prix-Fixe dinner,
$15.95. Starter, entrée, & dessert offered from 5:00 – 9:00
PM.

§        
Three Chimneys
Inn is collecting new mittens, gloves, or hats for
children and adults that will be donated to local families in
need.  Bring in items now until December 22, 2009 and place them on our
Mitten Tree in the Ffrost Sawyer Tavern.  Warm up a pair of hands, and we
will warm up yours with a coffee, hot chocolate, or soup as our thank you for
your kind donation!

§        
Fresh Cut Local Christmas
Trees.
Durham Boy Scout Troop 154 will again be selling fresh-cut local Christmas
trees.  Trees will be on sale each Saturday & Sunday throughout
December until they sell out.  All trees come from a farm in Farmington NH, loaded with the assistance of the
Scouts. 

§        
Saturday, December 5, 2009, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: 
Annual Christmas Fair Day -
Community Church of Durham, St. Thomas More, St. George’s Episcopal Church, and the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will participate.

§        
Sunday, December 6, 2009, 4:30 PM, Community Church
of Durham: Resources and
Support for Parents Caring for Teens, sponsored by Oyster River
Teen Initiative (ORTI). For more information, contact ORTI Chair, Mary Westfall,
868-1230.

§        
Sunday, December 6, 2009, 4:00 – 7:00 PM,
Mill Pond Center
for the Arts:  Seacoast Repertory
Theatre Grand Opening Holiday Festival.
A shuttle will run from the Town Hall Parking lot to the
Mill
Pond Center throughout the day. For more
information, visit www.seacoastrep.org or email info@seacoastrep.org.

§        
Thursday, December 8, 2009, 7:00 – 8:00 PM, Durham
Public Library:  Ruth Moore will demonstrate how to
make a beautiful evergreen swag to decorate for the holidays.

§        
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 6:30 PM, Durham Public
Library:  Jane Cowen-Fletcher: A Visit
With a Children’s Author/Illustrator.

§        
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 7:00 PM, Whittemore Center Arena:  UNH Holiday Skating Party. Join in a fun night of free food,
skating (bring your own skates), cookie decorating, photos with Santa, and much
more. For more information, visit http://www.unh.edu/holidayparty/.

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

*Commenced September 1, 2009 

Historical data
for the same week

This data represents the 2009/10
Academic year report which begins anew each August

when UNH students begin arriving in
Durham.

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1965 – A 7’ x 6’ topographical map
of the Town made and donated by John Hatch. Encased by Batchelder and Chase, it
is in the Town Office. A work of art, it includes in color all buildings, types
of roads, sewer and electrical lines, woods, streams and swamps. It is
periodically updated.”

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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Town of Durham
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