Friday Update December 25, 2009

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

(on
Wednesday, December 23, 2009)

Town Landing during
the first snowfall of 2009

Courtesy Katie
Paine

Please have a happy, healthy, and
safe holiday season!

2010
Town Budget Process Concludes

The Town Council approved a budget
for FY 2010 late Monday evening. The approved 2010 budget is quite similar to
that which was proposed by Administrator Todd Selig, with the exception of the
restoration of a 19th police officer position which the council voted 5-3
to add to the budget, as well as the addition of $30,000 for master
plan/zoning revision work within the Planning Department budget which will be
paid for with UDAG economic development designated funds.  The Council
ultimately opted not to add $200,000 to the budge to increase the
undesignated fund balance or an additional $200,000 (paid for 50% by
UNH) as a contribution to the Fire Department Equipment Capital Reserve
Fund -- both of which had been informally added in to the budget by
the Council at the Council's last
meeting.  

During the budget deliberations and
after considerable discussion, the Town Council did not vote to include $4,500
for the Household Hazardous Waste Day program in the 2010 budget (Mr. Selig had
recommended moving it to an every other year program as a cost savings measure)
-- BUT there is an alternative that was discussed and around which general
consensus was reached. Mr. Selig will work with the Public Works Department and
the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee to find a way to deal with
hazardous household waste this year -- and in the future. Perhaps $4,500
will be found once the year gets under way if there are ultimately under
expenditures within other areas of the Public Works budget or maybe another
workable strategy will by identified and implemented in order to make the
present program more user friendly.  For example, one point that came up
for discussion is that our current program of dealing with household hazardous
waste may be inadequate (i.e., only once a year, and not available
when people are moving, etc.).

A thank you is extended to members
of Durham's
staff, committee members, and department heads for working hard once
again to control municipal costs.  Special recognition is extended to
Business Manager Gail Jablonski for her outstanding work as part of the
process.  To view the Foster's article covering the approved budget, which
includes projected tax rate implications, go to http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091223/GJNEWS_01/712239926/-1/FOSNEWS. 

Feedback
on Recent Durham
Planning Charrette

During the November 5-9, 2009
timeframe, residents of the Town of Durham had a unique opportunity to plan
for the future as part of a collaborative multi-day
“charrette” intended to assist in developing a collective vision
for our future.  The design team was lead by B. Dennis Town Design who
facilitated the process and is now working to translate the
community’s goals and interests into an action plan to be presented to the Town
Council in the New Year.  We have received some very positive feedback
concerning the charrette process including a letter from Durham resident and
Rochester City Planner Michael Behrendt. To view Mr. Behrendt’s letter, please
click HERE.

Town
Office Filing Period for March 9, 2010 Town
Election

The filing period for Town offices
for the March Town Election is Wednesday, January 20, 2010 through 5:00 PM,
January 29, 2010. The following positions will be available for citizens who
might choose to become involved in Durham Town government: 

Town Council
                       
- 3 positions (3-year terms)

Library Board of Trustees
   - 3 positions (3-year terms)

Town
Moderator                   
- 1 position (2-year term)

Supervisor of the Checklist - 1
position (6-year term)

Trustee of Trust
Funds          - 1 position (3-year
term)

TOWN
OFFICES HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE

Thursday, Dec 24^th,
Christmas Eve           
-          
Closed

Friday, Dec 25^th,
Christmas
Day               
-          
Closed

Thursday, Dec 31^st, New
Years Eve          
-           Early closing at
3:00 PM

All Town offices will reopen for
regular business on Monday, January 4, 2010.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
HOLIDAY CLOSING
SCHEDULE

Thursday, Dec 24^th,
Christmas Eve           
-          
Closed

Friday, Dec 25^th,
Christmas
Day               
-          
Closed

Saturday, Dec
26^th                                                    
-          
Closed

Friday, Jan1st, New Years
Day                  
-          
Closed

Christmas
Holiday Recycling and Refuse Collection

The Public Works office will be
closed on Thursday, December 24^th and Friday, December
25^th for the Christmas Holiday.  There will be NO CHANGE TO THE
REFUSE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION ON THURSDAY; however, there will be no
commercial recycling collection on Friday, December 25^th.  The
TRANSFER STATION WILL BE CLOSED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26^TH. 

PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT SEEKING PART-TIME HELP

Public Works is looking for
part-time help on weekends (approximately 6 hours).  If interested, stop by
the Public Works Department at 100
Stone Quarry Drive or contact Doug Bullen at
868-5578.

Surplus
vehicle/equipment bids

The Department of Public Works will
be holding a closed bid for surplus vehicles/equipment this year for the items
listed below. These vehicles/equipment are to be sold as
is.

1999 Ford Crown Victoria -VIN#
2FAFP71W5XX174388

1987 Blanchet Snow Blower Model A90
– previously mounted on a John Deere
544     

Interested parties must submit a
sealed bid to the Town of Durham, Department of Public Works no later
than 2:00 PM, Wednesday, January 6, 2010.  The envelope must be clearly
marked “SURPLUS VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT BID, VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT #” indicating the
corresponding number, above, for each bid.  Use only one envelope for each
vehicle/equipment item and each corresponding bid.  All items can be viewed
at the Department of Public Works, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, M-F 8AM- 3:30PM. Bids must be at
least $100 to be considered.  The Town of Durham reserves the right to reject any and all
bids, to investigate the qualifications of any bidder, and to waive or not waive
any and all informalities in any bid when making an
award.

TOWN
COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE IN JANUARY

The Durham Town Council will hold
only one regular meeting in January on Monday, January 11, 2010. The Council will
resume its regular first and third Monday meetings in
February.

DURHAM PARKS AND
RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

§        
Monday January 4^th, 6:00 PM, Durham Parks
& Recreation Department:  Free Tai
Chi. Back by popular demand in 2010.  Join Lin Lin Choy for a
free introductory Tai Chi class. 

§        
Wednesday, January 13^th, 12:45 PM, Durham
Parks & Recreation Department:  Free
Early Release Movie: Imagine That,
rated PG, starring Eddie Murphy, runtime 107
minutes.  Free popcorn provided.

§        
Saturday, January 16^th, 7:00 – 8:30 PM,
Churchill Rink:  January Free Skate.
Bring the entire family for free ice
skating.

§        
Saturday, February 6^th, 10:00 AM – 2:00
PM, Mill Pond & Smith Chapel:  Winter
Carnival and Chili Cookoff. Mill Pond will be turned into a
winter wonderland.  There will be free ice skate and snowshoe rentals,
pickup hockey and family skating areas, a community bonfire with smores, free
hot chocolate, winter arts and crafts and much more.

The Chili Cookoff will be held at
Smith Chapel from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM.  For a $5 donation you get an
opportunity to sample the best chili that Durham has to offer and you get to judge which
is best!  Get a chance to tour Smith Chapel, one of Durham’s oldest and most
historic landmarks.  All proceeds of this event go directly to renovating
the Chapel.

If you would like to donate a chili,
volunteer at the event or if you would like more information, contact Michael
Mengers at mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074. 

New
Churchill Rink Program

Beginner Youth
Hockey Stick Hour. Starting Sunday January 10^th, Churchill
Rink will be offering a Beginner Youth Skill Hour Sunday mornings from 10:00 -
10:50 AM.

This skill hour is to give
children 8 and under and their parents an opportunity to practice hockey
skills in a low-key pond hockey-type environment.  It is specifically for
beginners and younger kids that may be uncomfortable with older hockey
players.

Children must be accompanied by a skating adult and helmets are
required.  The fee is $5 for an adult and child. 
Additional children are $3 each.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

§        
Three Chimneys Inn, New Year’s Eve Overnight Celebration. Click
HERE to
view menu. Packages start at $220. Stay two or more nights and enjoy a lower
rate.

§        
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. 

§        
Thursday, February 11 and Thursday, April 8, 2010:
Cultural Excursions to the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Open Rehearsals. Sponsored by the UNH University Office of Sustainability. The cost of $48 per person per performance includes one
BSO performance ticket and round trip bus transportation from Durham to Boston. All performances will be at 10:30
AM. The bus departs from the Community Church of Durham at 7:00 AM. Following
the performance, the bus drops participants off at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)
and departs the MFA at 3:30 PM. The bus arrives back in Durham at approximately
5:00 PM. For program details, and online registration please go to:  https://www.events.unh.edu/RegistrationForm.pm?event_id=6253.
For more information, please call Kate Donald, UOS Cultural Excursions
Coordinator, (603) 862-1634.

Holiday
and Bobcat Invitational swim meet fund-raiser

The ORHS swimming and diving team is
selling ads for its Holiday and Bobcat
Invitational swim meet programs as a fund-raiser. The meets will be held on
January 2 and January 31. The ads are selling for $25 for a quarter page, $50
dollars for a half page, and $100 dollars for a whole page. This is for putting
an ad in both programs.  If you are interested in purchasing an ad, contact
Kenny Rotner at tlsinnh@aol.com.

“1975– Spruce Hole was purchased by
the Conservation Commission for the Town. This fine example of a glacial pot
hole was formed when a huge block of ice was covered by sand and gravel. When
the ice melted the hole remained, and its biologically unique environment will
be protected.”

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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