Friday Update January 06, 2012

Friday,
January 6, 2012

Contractors prepare to place a roof
truss on the rear of the Grange building
located on Main Street.  The Mill Plaza
can be seen in the
foreground.

Courtesy
Robin Mower

Hopefully everyone had a nice New
Year's celebration as we move into
2012.

PRIMARY ELECTION IS ON TUESDAY, JAN
10TH

New Hampshire is
going to be buzzing with politicians this
weekend as we approach the Primary
Election next Tuesday.  Remember, voting
in Durham is held at the Oyster River High
School located at 55 Coe Drive, Durham.
 The polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM.
 Primary ballots are availalbe for
preview on the Durham home page.
 

YEAR END WRAP
UP FOR 2011
On May 2, 2011, the Town
Council adopted its goals for 2011/12. 
In order to measure the progress of the goals
adopted by Council, the Administrator has
prepared a year-end report (attached)
intended to provide a snapshot of activity
for the last year.  To view the 13 page
report, click HERE. 

TWO NH HOUSE BILLS IMPACT
POWERS OF CONSERVATIONS COMMISSIONS AND THE
USE OF THE LAND USE CHANGE TAX FOR
CONSERVATION
PURPOSES
Recently
the Town of Durham was made aware of two
House Bills (HB 1215-FN and HB 1515-FN) that
would negatively impact conservation
commissions across New Hampshire by reducing
the ability of conservation commissions to
accept monetary proprietary gifts and acquire
and manage land for conservation purposes, as
well as eliminating the existing local option
of transferring proceeds from the Land Use
Change Tax (derived when land is removed from
Current Use) to the Conservation Fund for
conservation purposes.
 
HB 1512-FN would:
Prohibit town conservation commissions from
acquiring, conveying, or contracting to
manage land for conservation purposes.
 
Require the local governing body to hold a
public hearing before acquiring, conveying,
or contracting to manage land for
conservation purposes.
 
Remove the option for a conservation fund
funded by the Land Use Change Tax.
 
HB 1515-FN would:
Change the tax collection procedures for the
Current Use LUCT.
 
Add failure to pay property taxes and failure
to notify of a qualifying use change to the
actions which trigger the LUCT.
Require all municipal LUCT revenues to be
recognized as general fund revenue.
 
The Town of Durham and numerous other
communities across New Hampshire utilize
proceeds from the Land Use Change Tax to put
money aside for conservation purposes. While
the question of whether or not to use Land
Use Change Tax proceeds for conservation
purposes can be a hotly debated topic and has
been in Durham on and off for many years, it
is a local option for communities. HB 1512-FN
would strip this local option away
entirely.
 
On Monday evening, the Council will take up a
draft resolution expressing the Town of
Durham’s opposition to the passage of
HB 1512-FN and HB 1215-FN and requesting that
the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated
be left intact with existing language
ensuring appropriate local control.
 
To view the draft resolution, click HERE.

PSNH PROVIDES INFORMATION ON
RECENT POWER
OUTAGES
With
three extended power outages in 2011, many
residents have asked why we are seemingly
experiencing more power outages today than in
past years.  A web site link from
PSNH has been provided to help answer this
question: 

http://www.psnhnews.com/pdfs/Oct_Snowstorm_What_Changed.pdf

  
Additionally, PSNH representatives will be in
attendance at the January 23, 2012 Town
Council meeting to provide an overview and
answer questions from the Council on recent
power outages impacting Durham and the entire
Seacoast area. 
 

WAGON HILL FARM – DOGS
MUST BE ON LEASH PER TOWN
ORDINANCE
In
response to a recent request from a resident
who had a difficult time walking the family
dog at Wagon Hill Farm due to dogs running
loose that were not under the control of
their owners,  we have directed our
part-time Animal Control Officer/Parking
Enforcement Officer, Ed Levesque, to conduct
several daily patrols of the Wagon Hill
property and to be vigilant for violations of
the ordinance there requiring dogs to be on
leash.  We have asked that he issue
warnings for the first offense and to issue
citations for any repeat violations.  We
have also asked the weekend day-shift
officers to conduct directed patrols, as time
allows, of the property.

TOWN OFFICES CLOSED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
DAY HOLIDAY

The Town offices will be closed on
Monday, January 16th, for Civil Rights
Day.  Although the Town offices are
closed, there will be NO CHANGE to the
regularly scheduled refuse and recycling
routes.  Please have all items out by
7am on your collection day as
always. 

HOLIDAY
SCHEDULE RUBBISH PICKUP
CONFUSION

This week, due to the New Year’s
Holiday on Monday, the residential refuse and
recycling schedule was pushed forward one
day- meaning Monday’s collection was on
Tuesday, Tuesday’s on Wednesday,
etc.  Additionally, there was no
collection of the commercial recycling route
this Friday.  This was indicated
previously on Friday updates, mailed out in
the annual newsletter to each resident, and
described on the DPW answering
machine. As residents can
imagine, every year the Department of
Public Works must work around holidays
falling on different days, ensuring staff get
a much deserved Holiday, residents are
still serviced and not inconvenienced,
commercial recycling routes are covered, and
overtime budgets stay at
bay. 

The Department of Public Works
staff  appreciates the patience of
residents and apologizes for any
confusion.  Please review your annual
newsletter for the Holiday schedule to know
what, if any, changes will happen on holidays
for the rest of the year.  Feel free to
call the DPW and ask before a holiday comes
up if you are unsure, or view the Town web
site at at www.ci.durham.nh.us. The schedule
may be also viewed by clicking HERE.

CHRISTMAS TREE
COLLECTION

The Department of Public
Works will be begin picking up Christmas
trees on Monday, January 9th at 7am. 
Please put it out on time if you intend on
having us collect it for you.  If you
put your tree out after we have passed your
neighborhood, unfortunately we are unable to
come back to collect it.  You may bring
it up to the Transfer Station with your
regular permit on Tuesdays or Saturdays from
7:30am- 3pm as well. 

2012 ROAD
PROGRAM

The 2012 Road Program Bid package (RFP
2012-01) was mailed out last week to
prospective bidders and advertised in the
Fosters Daily Democrat.  The bid opening
is scheduled for Thursday, January 19th at
2pm.  The scope of work for this year is
as follows: 

• Application of a 1/2” shim,
  1” overlay and shoulder gravel
  back-up where applicable on the following
  Town roads;  The east end of Bagdad
  Road (3,322 ft), Oyster River Road (2,217
  ft), Pettee Brook Lane (1,100 ft),
  Valentine Hill Road (729 ft). This project
  includes cold planing of joints on all side
  roads, start and stop points/ Tack coat
  prior to all pavement installations in this
  RFP.
• Full depth reclamation, grading,
  compaction, 2” base, 1” wearing
  coarse, shoulder gravel backup, lower and
  adjust all basins/manholes for Magrath Road
  (1,980 SY), Sunnyside Drive (5,160 SY),
  Willey Road (3,825 SY) and  one half
  of Wiswall Road (4,525
  SY).
• Parking Lots:
  • Tedeschi Parking Lot -
    Application of shim and 1”
    overlay (340 Tons).
  • Pettee Brook Lane Permit Parking
    Lot – Full depth reclamation,
    grading, compaction, 2”
    base,1” wearing coarse, shoulder
    gravel back up, lower and adjust all
    basins/manholes (1,585
    SY).
• Adjust all stormwater catch basins
  and sewer manholes (50) per NHDOT
  specifications.  

Request for Bid Proposal package
2012-01 is available Monday through Friday
between the hours of 8 AM – 12 Noon and
12:30 PM – 4:30 PM at the Department of
Public Works, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham
NH  03824, (603)
868-5578.
 

A
flock of Romney sheep from Great Bay Wool
Works

Courtesy Theresa
Walker

GREAT
BAY WOOL WORKS - THIS WEEK'S FEATURED
BUSINESS

Knit Local - Lovely, soft knitting yarn
from Durham sheep! 

Great Bay Wool Works was started by
15-year old Durham resident Tim Walker. 
Tim raises a flock of Romney sheep on his
family's farm on Bennett Road.  He shows
his sheep at 4-H fairs and agricultural fairs
across New England.  The sheep are
sheared twice a year and the fleece is sent
to Good Karma Spinning Company in Belfast,
Maine for spinning into knitting yarn.
 
The yarn is not dyed and is the color of the
animal's fleece.  The colors range from
warm chocolate brown and creamy white to
tweedy gray.  Yarn from Romney sheep is
a top choice for hand knitters because of the
yarn's luster and soft, fine fiber. 
Yarn is for sale from the farm and at area
farmers' markets. 

Please call Theresa Walker at
603-534-3913 for more information, theresawalker@comcast.net. 

http://www.greatbaywoolworks.com/.

TOWN OFFICE FILING PERIOD FOR
MARCH 13, 2012 TOWN
ELECTION
The
filing period for Town offices for the March
Town Election is Wednesday, January 25, 2012
through 5:00 PM, Friday, February 3,
2012. 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, 2 positions
(3-year terms)

Library Board of Trustee, 1 position
(2-year term)

Moderator, 1 position (2-year
term)

Supervisors of the Checklist, 1
position (6-year term)

Trustees of the Trust Funds, 1 position
(3-year term)

PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED $2,700,000
LIBRARY BOND
REFERENDUM

At the Town Council meeting scheduled
for Monday, January 9, 2012, beginning at
7:00 PM, Doug Bencks, Chair of the
Library Board of Trustees, will provide an
overview of the project and an update on the
library trustees' fund-raising efforts to
date. After the presentation, the Council
will hold a public hearing (required by RSA
33-8:d, II) on a proposed library
referendum question to be placed on the March
13, 2012 Town Election ballot which would
authorize the issuance of up to
$2,700,000 in long-term debt for constructing
and equipping a new library. After
holding the Public Hearing, the Council will
then vote to order placement of the
referendum language below on the Town
Election ballot.

“Are you in
favor of authorizing the issuance of up to
$2,700,000 in bonds or notes, issued in
accordance with the provisions of the
Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33), in order to
fund a portion of the cost of constructing
and equipping a new
library?”

The Public Hearing will be held in the
Council chambers at the Durham Town Hall.
Members of the public are invited to attend
and express their views. Questions concerning
the proposed library and bond referendum
should be directed to Douglas Bencks, Chair,
Durham Library Board of Trustees at
603-868-6559, dbencks@comcast.net.
Written comments for submission to Town
Council members may be sent to the
Administrator's Office. Comments may also be
sent by electronic mail to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

2011-2012
CHANGEOVER

The end of one year and beginning of
another is always a busy time for Town
staff.  The DPW administrative staff has
been busy closing out 2011 and preparing for
2012, working on bid packages for approved
equipment purchases, finalizing prior year
reports and deposits, initiating new current
year reports and logs, etc. REMINDER- it
is also time for residents to get their new
DURHAM RESIDENT/TAXPAYER PERMIT for accessing
the Transfer Station and Recycling Center
updated- 2012 permits are available at the
DPW, M-F, 8am-4:30pm (closed for lunch
12-12:30), or at the Town Clerks office
at  Town Hall, M-F
8am-5pm. 

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.

Town
Council - Monday, January 9,
2012. To view the complete packet of
information for this meeting, click HERE.

Zoning
Board of Adjustment - Tuesday,
January 10, 2012

Durham
Energy Committee - Tuesday,
January 10, 2012 (7:00 PM at the ORHS
Library)

Planning
Board - Wednesday, January 11,
2012

Conservation
Commission - Thursday, January
12, 2012

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/  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. To
view flyer, click HERE.

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.

Happy New Year! Stay healthy this year
by taking part in one of our fitness classes.
For more information, click HERE.

The Museum of Art at UNH provides a
Cultural Excursion on Feb. 2nd to the Boston
Symphony Orchestra's open rehearsals. To view
flyer, click HERE.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS

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.

Durham Newcomers Unlimited
Monthly Meeting, Friday, January 20,
2012, 9:00 AM, Fellowship Hall, Durham
Community Church. For more information,
contact D. Ramey, President, at 603-868-1219
during normal business
hours.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS

Library Fund Raising
Success:  The Library Trustees
have surpassed their fund-raising goal of
$900,000.  As of January 5, 2012, they
have raised $1,029,880.50 for the new
library.  All told, the Trustees and
donors will contribute at least $2.2 million
as the private portion of the project costs.
The Library’s Board of Trustees and
campaign volunteers are still continuing to
fund-raise with the intent of surpassing the
goal and bringing down the bond as much
possible.   A thank you is extended to
all who have contributed to the building
campaign.

Durham Businesses Support the
New Library Campaign: The business
community is 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 follow on January 7 with an offer to
contribute $1 for every order of the
chef’s popular potato-crusted haddock
entrée through January 21st. We encourage you
to support our community-minded businesses
during these special
promotions.

Community Initiative to Get Out
the Vote for DPL
Residents interested in joining the effort to
help get out the vote for the new library are
invited to join a community initiative to Get
Out the Vote for DPL.

Interested residents can mark their
calendar and plan to attend one of the
meeting dates for new volunteers: 
Monday, January 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the
Durham Public Library and Sunday,
January 22nd at 3:00 p.m. at the Durham
Public Library.

__________________________

Pre-school Storytimes Tues. Jan. 10th
and Thurs. Jan. 12th at 10:30 a.m. –
This week: Moose!  Join us for stories,
songs, fingerplays,  feltboard and a
craft.  All are
welcome!

Sustainability and Your New
Library, Tues. Jan. 17th at 7:00
p.m. - Join Library Trustee Chair Doug Bencks
and the Durham Energy Committee for a lively
evening of discussion about the energy
efficiency and conservation measures built
into the plans for the new Durham Public
Library. Bring your questions, contribute
your expertise, or come to listen. Save room
for light refreshments. Click HERE to view flyer.
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.

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

Everyone can
tackle climate change. How can you reduce
your carbon
footprint?