Friday Update January 09, 2009

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

January
9, 2009

Red-tailed Hawk -
courtesy Matthew
Carter

While it is certainly frigid in
Durham today, even on the coldest nights in central Germany, new energy
efficient “passive houses” and others of this design get all the heat and hot
water they need from the amount of energy that would be needed to run a hair
dryer. For information on this interesting design, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/world/europe/27house.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1.

Martin
Luther King Civil Rights Day Holiday

The Durham Town Offices will be
closed for business on Monday, January 19, 2009, in observance of the Martin
Luther King Civil Rights Day holiday. All offices will reopen for regular
business on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at 8:00 AM. There will be NO CHANGE to the recycling and refuse
collection schedule. All items must be out by 7:00 AM to be
collected.

A Nubanusit
Development Approach for the Durham Business Park?

The Town of Durham presently has a purchase and sale agreement in place
with Durham-based Chinburg Builders for the development of the Durham Business Park located on W. Arthur Grant
Drive off of Route 4.  Chinburg has found it
challenging to market the property and recently approached the Economic
Development Committee with the idea of developing a residential community
tailored after the Nubanusit Neighborhood and Farm located in Peterborough, NH.  Nubanusit consists of
environmentally designed homes, a Common House, office/studio space, a working
farm, and woodlands with walking trails.  To learn more about the Nubanusit
model, go to http://www.peterboroughcohousing.org/. 
A residential development at the Durham Business Park would require a zoning change. 
No specific proposal is on the table at this time.  The Nubanusit concept
is simply an idea which Chinburg is interesting in exploring with the Town at
this time. 

Oyster River Cooperative School
District Public Budget
Hearing

The Oyster River
Cooperative School District will hold a public hearing on its
proposed 2009-2010 school budget in room C124 at Oyster River High
School on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, beginning at
7:00 p.m.  Snow date is Thursday, January 15th, in the same
location.

New
Police
Officers at N.H.
Police Academy; 1 Reserve Officer
Hired

Durham's two new full time police
officers, Stephen Misek and Michelle Montville, began their training at the 14
week N.H.
Police Academy on Monday of this week.  In
addition, the Police Department was able to hire Mr. Brandon Drysdale as a
part-time, reserve officer.  Mr. Drysdale is a full time Deputy Sheriff
with the Strafford County Sheriff's Department and resides in Durham.

2008 Property
Taxes Collected to Date

While the due date for 2008 property
taxes in Durham
was January 5th, as of 12/31/08, 83% of property taxes had been collected. 
This collection rate is strong and is consistent with past years.  As of
January 5, 2009, 85% had been collected.  Typically, we are at 90%
collected by the due date so this statistic is low for Durham and is likely a sign
of the economic climate.

Durham Fire
Chief Selection Process

Durham Fire Chief Peter O'Leary
will conclude his service with the Town at the close of business on January 15,
2009, to take a position as Fire Chief in the City of Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin.  Based upon the strength of the management team in place at the
Durham Fire Department, which also services the University of New Hampshire, a decision was
made to move ahead with an internal posting for the Durham Fire Chief position
on December 9, 2008.  The sole applicant was Division Chief for Operations
Corey J. Landry. 

Division Chief Landry was hired by
the Town on June 11, 2007.  In his present capacity he serves as second in
command of the Durham Fire Department and is involved in planning and managing
all aspects of operations, assuring an immediate response to emergencies and
fostering teamwork among firefighters and the staff at the department.  He
conducts background investigations on job applicants, heads internal
investigations, and maintains discipline among staff.  He also collaborates
with the Fire Chief on developing and controlling budgets, scheduling, and
administrative activities, as well as works closely with various other Town and
University of New Hampshire officials in coordinating efforts
relative to public safety issues impacting Durham and the UNH campus.   

Prior to working in Durham in his present capacity, Mr. Landry worked as Deputy
Fire Chief for the Town of North Hampton
(2000-2007), as Fire Captain for the Town of Hooksett (1998-2000), as firefighter for the City of
Rochester (1990-1995), and as a firefighter for
the Town of Durham (1988-1990).  Division Chief Landry
also worked for a period of time as a police officer.  Mr. Landry holds an
Associate of Criminal Justice degree from McIntosh College, a Bachelor of Public Safety Management degree
from UNH-Granite State College, and he completed the prestigious Executive Fire
Officer program through the National Fire
Academy.  On December
10, 2008, he was also designated as a “Chief Fire Officer” by the Commission on
Professional Credentialing. 

Business Manager Gail Jablonski
and the Administrator conducted a lengthy personal interview with
Division Chief Landry on December 30, 2008.  Based upon our experience
working with Division Chief Landry since his arrival in Durham in 2007,
conversations with members of the Fire Department, and feedback received from
the Town’s department heads and others within the community, the
Administrator is moving forward with the appointment of Division Chief Landry to
the position of Fire Chief at this time and will seek the “advice and consent”
of the Durham Town Council for his appointment pursuant to the Town
Charter on Monday evening, January 12, 2009.

Have You Seen
that Doggy in the (Library) Window?

Congratulations are in order for
Durham Library Director Tom Madden and his wife who have adopted a new
puppy.  The puppy was spotted by several residents last week who mistakenly
thought the dog was trapped inside the Durham Public Library after closing hours
resulting in calls to the Police Department for assistance.  The dog was
actually keeping Tom company.

Houghton's
Hardware Changes Hands

This week, long-time business and
property owner Dick Houghton sold his property located on Jenkins Court to Mr.
Matthew Crape. Mr. Crape is contemplating replacing the existing structure with
a mixed use retail/residential structure on the
site.

Cumberland
Farms

There has been interest expressed by
a local Thai restaurant in acquiring the former Cumberland Farms property
located on Dover
Road between the Holiday Day Inn Express and Gibbs
for development as a Thai restaurant. 

Tax
Collection Billing Outsourcing

In an effort to enhance efficiencies
within the Town Clerk/Tax Collector's Office, evaluation is being given to
outsourcing billing for water, sewer, and property tax collection. 

"Single
Stream" Recycling

Durham's Integrated Waste Management
Advisory Committee and the Public Works Department are evaluating the
possibility of "single stream" recycling.  At the present time, the Public
Works Department provides alternating cardboard/paper and glass/plastics/cans
curbside collection each week.  Under a "singe stream" program, all
materials are intermixed and picked up on a weekly basis, transported to a
Single Stream Recycling Facility, and separated on site.  The program tends
to make recycling easier and thereby promotes increased recycling
participation.  The Concord Regional Solid Waste/Resource Recovery
Cooperative is at this time moving forward with the development of "single
stream" program and we are evaluating whether this would be a viable alternative
for Durham.

Energy
Efficient Lighting Initiative at Churchill Rink

The Public Works Department is
considering moving forward with the installation of energy efficient lighting at
the Churchill Rink at Jackson's Landing.  Over the next week,
the Administrator will consider a proposal offered through the Public Service of
New Hampshire Smart Start program for this lighting overhaul.  Last year,
Durham took
advantage of the program to install energy efficient lighting in each of our
Town-owned municipal buildings. 

2009
MARCH
TOWN ELECTION WARRANT AND
OFFICE FILING PERIOD

The 2009 Town Election will be held
on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at the Oyster River
High School.  Polling
hours are from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.  Individuals interested in running for
positions within Town government may do so during the filling period beginning
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 and ending at 5:00 PM on Friday, January 30, 2009.
To view the Election Warrant listing the positions available, as well as two
proposed Charter amendment changes that will be included on this year’s ballot,
click HERE. 
For more information, please contact the Durham Town Clerk's Office at 868-5577
or the Town Administrator's Office at 868-5571.

PROSPECTIVE
TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Citizens who may be considering
running for the three Town Council seats in March are invited to contact any of
the current Town Council members or the Town Administrator to obtain information
about and discuss what serving as a Councilor involves. Telephone numbers for
the current Council members are listed on the Town’s web site at www.ci.durham.nh.us.  Just click on
“Meeting dates, Minutes and Agendas” and then click on “Town
Council.”

Durham
Energy Committee Newsletter, The
Alternative

In an effort to inform, update, and
generally spread the word about the current state of the environment the Durham
Energy Committee has developed a newsletter, The Alternative.   The committee hopes to
provide residents with up-to-date information and entertainment with its
articles. To view the latest edition of The
Alternative, click HERE.

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.

Town Council – Monday, January 12,
2009

Zoning Board of Adjustment –
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Planning Board – Wednesday, January
14, 2009

To view an agenda for the meetings
listed above, please click HERE. 
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing. 

To view the Oyster River School Board
meeting schedule, click HERE. 

To view the Durham Public Library Board of
Trustees meeting schedule, click HERE.

West
End Road
Project

The Town of Durham and University of New
Hampshire, with support and funding from the NHDOT
and the USDOT Federal Highway Administration Transportation Enhancement program,
will hold a public informational meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:00 PM
at the Durham Town Office in the Council meeting room. The project, named Main
Street West, includes development of sidewalks, a multi-use path, and bicycle
shoulders and roadway reconstruction along Main Street (west of rail tracks) and
NH 155A approaching the UNH campus and downtown.  The project will create
safe bike and walking routes from UNH core campus to West Edge
neighborhood.  Construction for this project is scheduled to commence in
late May 2009 and be completed by early fall 2009.  Please call the
Department of Public Works at (603) 868-5578 with any questions regarding this
project.

Wiswall
Fish Passage Project

On Friday, January 23, 2009
beginning at 7:00 PM at the Durham
Town Hall, the Department of Public
Works will hold a scoping meeting for the proposed Wiswall Fish Passage project
on Lamprey
River.  The purpose of
the meeting is to present information about the proposed site, discuss
ecological benefits, review technical and other issues associated with various
fish passage options, and to solicit individuals and parties interested in
participating in the project’s development.  Please call Town Engineer
David Cedarholm at (603) 868-5578 with any questions regarding this project.

Oyster
River
Mill Pond Dam

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8:00
PM in the Council chambers at the Durham Town
Hall, the Department of Public Works will hold a
public informational meeting about the Oyster River Mill Pond Dam near Route
108. The focus of the meeting will be to present the preliminary findings of the
recent engineer’s inspection of the dam and to hear public comment on the
options relative to repair, replacement, or removal of the dam.  Please
call the Department of Public Works at (603) 868-5578 with any questions
regarding this issue.  For more information about the available solutions,
dam repair, replacement, removal, and costs, please click HERE.

Curbside
Recycling Collection

On Tuesday morning, January 6, 2008,
the Town was informed by its major marketer of materials, the Northeast Resource
Recovery Association (NRRA), that the Waste Management Turnkey facility was no
longer accepting recyclable materials.  This information came as a complete
surprise to us as there was no prior warning.  As a result, DPW was forced
to collect both recyclables and trash in the same load.  Although this is
against the Town’s mission with regards to recycling, there was no other
recourse since there were no other options available at that particular
time.  DPW has no storage facility available for these materials. Public
Works personnel are currently investigating other options with other recycling
brokers to market the materials and are hoping to have regular collection of
materials back on track by next week.  This challenge has been caused due
to the current economic downturn which has seriously impacted the recycling
markets worldwide. 

2009
TRANSfer Station Permitting

Residents can now acquire their 2009
permit (sticker) at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office OR at the Public Works Office with proof of
residency.  If you still have a blue sticker from 2008, you do not need a
new sticker as it is marked 2008/2009.  However, we are aware that the 2008
stickers did not stick that well to windshields and welcome anyone who
experienced this to stop in at either location and pick up a replacement
sticker.  Office hours for the Town
Clerk-Tax Collector’s office are 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, M-F at the Town Hall. 
The Public Works office is located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive and is open from
8:00 AM-4:30 PM; closed for lunch from 12:00-12:30 PM, M-F.  When needed,
permit holders will have to purchase bulky waste coupons which will allow them
to drop off one item or up to a pickup truck load of non-recyclable bulky waste
items per coupon.  Examples: demolition
debris, stuffed furniture, insulation, and mattresses. 
Bulky waste coupons will only be sold at the Public Works facility as
follows: $10 for the first coupon, $15 for the second coupon and $65 for any
additional coupons purchased after the initial two.  Check or cash only, no credit cards.  Bulky
Waste coupons are also available by mail when requested. Please contact the
Department of Public Works at 868-5578 with any questions.  

2009
Road Program

The bid
opening for the 2009 Road Program was conducted at 2:00 PM this afternoon. 
Results will be reported from the opening next week. 

Churchill
Rink AT JACKSON’S LANDING PUBLIC
SCHEDULE

Public skating - times offered every
day

Stick and Puck – Monday – Friday and
Sunday

Pick Up Hockey – Monday – Friday and
Sunday

Call the rink for times: 
868-3907, or visit our new website at www.churchillrink.org

FREE
Standard Aptitude Practice Test

On Saturday, January 10, 2009, from
7:45 AM to 1:00 PM, the Oyster River High School and Durham Public Library are
offering a FREE Practice Standard Aptitude Test (SAT), presented by Sylvan
Learning. If you are a Junior who wants to perform your best on the SAT and gain
valuable insight into what to expect on this test, call the Library at 868-6699
to reserve a seat, or pick up a registration form and return it to your Guidance
Office. This event will be at the Oyster River
High School; bring a pen,
pencil, calculator, and snacks.  Score review for students and parents
provided on Wednesday, January 14 at 6:30 pm at the Durham Public
Library.

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

“1861 – According to a detailed
report, compiled by Lucien Thompson, there were 86 citizens who served in the
Civil War. Enlistees from other towns or Durham men who joined elsewhere are not
included in this count. There were 7 fatalities, but many were
wounded.”

Have a nice
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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