|
|
|
 NEWS AND HAPPENINGS ...
|
|
|
|
|
Poster hanging on the wall at Ritzman
Lab. The "conductor" is Steve Pesci, Special
Projects Director, UNH Campus
Planning
Courtesy
Todd Selig
|
|
Durham has been advised by the New
Hampshire Office of Homeland Security
and Emergency Management (NHOEM) that parts
of New Hampshire, including Strafford
County, will experience increasingly gusty
winds as well as a fresh glaze of ice on
trees which may cause some downed limbs this
afternoon and
evening.
NHOEM indicates that Strafford
County will likely experience peak
wind gusts in the 30 to 40 MPH
range. Affected areas will see the winds
start around 3:00 PM and end an hour or so
later with a lull before a fresh batch of
wind begins at approximately 5:00 PM. These
winds should end sometime around 10:00 PM
this evening.
|
|
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.
|
|
LAND USE CHANGE TAX PROGRAM UNDER
THREAT IN CONCORD -- DURHAM
RESPONDS
House Bill 1515, which proposes major
changes to the assessment and use of the land
use change tax (LUCT), is scheduled for a
hearing before the House Municipal and County
Government Committee on Tuesday, January 17,
2012 at 10:00 a.m. in LOB Room 301. This bill
raises significant concerns on several
levels.
First, the bill provides that the
failure to pay all property taxes on current
use land within 30 days after the date of
notice of tax will constitute a change of
use, triggering payment of the LUCT. This is
an extremely harsh penalty that, to our
knowledge, municipalities are not
seeking. The bill also provides that
land will be considered changed in use and
subject to the LUCT if the landowner does not
notify the local assessing officials within
30 days that the land has changed from one
qualifying use to another. That also seems
unnecessary and extremely
harsh.
Second, the bill provides that if any
LUCT assessment is not paid within 30 days
after the due date, the property
shall be deeded to the municipality.
Again, this is extremely harsh, and does not
seem to be in the interest of either the
property owner or the municipality.
Municipalities generally do not want to
acquire land because of unpaid taxes; they
just want the taxes paid.
Next, the bill repeals the provisions
of RSA 79-A:25 that, upon majority vote of
the legislative body, allow placement of a
portion of any LUCT revenues into the
conservation fund. This is a tool that many
municipalities, such as Durham, have used
very successfully to fund acquisition of land
or conservation easements. It is an important
element of local control and represents an
option that should not be taken away from
municipalities.
Finally, the bill repeals RSA 79-A:25-a
and 25-b, which authorize the establishment
of the LUCT fund – an accounting
mechanism that allows LUCT revenues to be
segregated from the general fund until the
legislative body within a traditional Town
Meeting setting addresses the use of that
revenue at the next annual meeting. This
provision does not impact Durham as we are
one of only two municipalities in the state
(the other being Derry, NH) with a Town
Charter granting the Town Council both
legislative and budgetary authority enabling
Durham to operate as a small city in every
way. However, there is absolutely no
reason to remove this option for the vast
majority of muncipalities in
NH.
The Town Council unanimously adopted
Resolution 2012-01 on Monday evening opposing
any changes to the existing LUCT statutory
framework. Chair Pro-Tem Jay Gooze
plans to testify on behalf of the community
before the House Municipal and County
Government Committee on Tuesday
morning.
|
|
LIBRARY BOND REFERENDUM
INFORMATION
On Monday evening, January 9th the Town
Council held a public hearing on placing a
bond referendum on the March 13, 2012
election ballot for the construction and
equipping of a new public library for
Durham.
The total cost to build and outfit the
library is $4.2 million plus the $600,000 in
non-tax dollars spent to date provided by the
Library Board of Trustees to buy the land
(the former Arthur DiMambro homestead located
at 49 Madbury Road), resulting in a total
project cost of $4.8
million.
The Library Trustees received $1.2
million of funds prior to March 2011 and have
been committed to raising at least another
$900,000 since that time. The Library
Trustees shared good news Monday that their
fund raising had exceeded the $1 million mark
and therefore the remaining (up to) $2.6
million, rather than the $2.7 million
originally contemplated, will need to be
approved by a bond referendum in March
2012.
The Council opened the hearing and took
testimony from residents in attendance that
filled the Council chambers. No
testimony was provided against the project at
the hearing.
After closing the hearing, the Council
unanimously ordered the following question to
be placed on the March 13th
ballot:
“Are you in favor of authorizing
the issuance of up to $2,600,000 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?”
To view a Foster’s Daily Democrat
article on the Public Hearing, go
to:
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120110/GJNEWS_01/701109895/-1/fosnews
On Monday, February 6, 2012, the Town
Council will hold a second Public Hearing
on the library referendum to provide an
additional opportunity for members of the
community to become familiar with the
project, ask questions,
etc.
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.
|
|
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)
|
|
WORKFORCE
HOUSING APARTMENTS AT GRANGE PROPERTY NOW
AVAILABLE – PLEASE PASS THE
WORD
As noted many times over the course of
the last year, the Town sold the former
Grange property to Mr. Peter Murphy to be
redeveloped in the following
manner:
- 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.
The Town Council received a report from
Mr. Murphy on the project on January 9th and
we are pleased to report that the project is
moving forward nicely and that Mr. Murphy is
now seeking eligible tenants for the
workforce housing component of the
project.
If you are interested in this workforce
housing opportunity, or if you know of
someone who may be interested, please contact
Nikki Douglass at The Douglass Group at (603)
610-8900.
|
|
A new
pay and display parking meter on Pettee
Brook Lane powered by a solar
panel.
Courtesy
Todd Selig
|
|
Front view of
a newly installed pay and display parking
meter on Pettee Brook Lane.
Courtesy
Todd Selig
NEW "Pay and Display" PARKING METERS
DOWNTOWN
The
Public Works Department and Police Department
this week installed the three new Pay and
Display parking meters along Pettee Brook
Lane to regulate parking within that
corridor. What we hope will be
immediately apparent is that these machines
are powered by solar panels consistent with
Council goals to implement sustainability
measures where
possible.
The new Pay and Display system accepts
both cash and credit cards and will
officially be put into service beginning
Tuesday morning, January 17,
2012.
The Pay and Display meters provide 15
free minutes for downtown patrons who desire
to quickly run in to grab a coffee, drop off
a package, or collect a soup or sandwich to
go. Beyond the first 15 minutes, the
cost is $1.00 per hour which is consistent
with the old fashioned analog meters that
presently exist in downtown
Durham.
An additional innovation is that the
new Pay and Display meters will operate from
8 AM to 6 PM, weekends and holidays
excepted. This allows early morning
patrons of downtown establishments such as
Young’s and Breaking New Grounds to
park at no cost while downtown usage is less
intense.
As residents begin to utilize the new
meters, please do not hesitate to send along
feedback so that we can work to ensure the
program operates as seamlessly as
possible.
This is a pilot project for the Town
consistent with our Kaizen approach and we
plan to work out glitches as part of this
small-scale implementation prior to expanding
the program.
Emails may be sent to Jennie Berry at
jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
|
|
TOWN OFFICES CLOSED FOR MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR. CIVIL RIGHTS
DAY HOLIDAY
The Town offices will be closed on
Monday, January 16th, for Martin Luther King,
Jr. 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.
Please note that during a snow
storm, the Department of Public Works
does not change its collection
schedule unless there is no way to get
to the property, the storm is excessively
severe, or equipment is down, etc.
During snow storms, items must still be
placed out on time (by 7am according to
ordinance) in order to service the routes. If
items are not out curbside on time
and DPW staff has already passed your
street, they will not be able to return and
pick up the rubbish or
recycling.
|
|
MASTER PLAN SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE
FOR REVIEW
A reminer to residents that the Master Plan
Survey results are available. Charlie French,
a staff member of the UNH Cooperative
Extension, worked closely with the Survey
Subcommittee of the Master Plan Advisory
Committee to create the survey which was
released to the public in May 2012 and closed
in June 2011. Mr. French then tabulated the
results of the survey in June 2011 with final
edits made over the summer
months.
The tabulated results consist of four
documents: A brief summary booklet document;
a summary overview of the findings including
basic frequency statistics; a question by
question summary with bar charts and
frequencies; and a summary of the responses
to the open ended questions. They can
all be viewed on line at the Town’s
home page at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ under
“News”.
A total of 467 individuals responded to the
survey (397 full responses and 70 partial
responses). 52% of respondents were
female; 48% were male.
MAJOR
FINDINGS:
- Protecting
Durham’s natural amenities and water
resources, including Great Bay, is a high
priority for
respondents.
- 93%
of respondents indicated that having an
attractive natural setting was very
important or somewhat important to making
Durham a place where they want to
live.
- At
the same time, respondents support policies
to stabilize or reduce the property tax
rate, including expanding commercial
development outside of the downtown
core.
- 61%
strongly disagree or somewhat disagree that
a tax rate with similar rates as the past
is acceptable.
- 92%
indicated that access to the Seacoast was
very important or somewhat
important.
- Respondents overall support policies
to make the downtown more
pedestrian-friendly, including improving
bike lanes, sidewalks, and
crosswalks.
- 55
respondents identified the intersection of
Madbury Road and Main St. as a hazard to
pedestrian safety, and 31 identified the
intersection of Main St. and Mill Rd. as a
hazard.
- 74%, 73% and 68%, respectively,
strongly agree or somewhat agree that
improving bike lanes, sidewalks, and
crosswalks are important to improving the
downtown.
- Overall, respondents support a
diverse mix of housing, to include
affordable options for working individuals
and families, young families and
seniors.
- 84%
strongly agree or somewhat agree the town
should do more to preserve historic
structures, but only 41% want to see the
Historic District Boundary
expanded.
- 83%
of respondents indicated that the quality
of Oyster River schools is very important
or somewhat important to making Durham a
place where they want to
live.
- 91%
of respondents indicated that they strongly
agree or somewhat agree that joint
UNH-Durham projects to promote economic
Development should be
pursued.
- 69%
indicated that a recreational center for
people of all ages would enhance Durham
residents' quality of
life.
- 91%
strongly agree or somewhat agree that they
would spend more money downtown if more
retail and professional services were
available.
- 89%
strongly agree or somewhat agree that
Durham should continue to facilitate the
re-development of existing structures, and
85% strongly or somewhat agreed that Durham
should facilitate new
construction.
- 84%
strongly agree or somewhat agree that
economic development options outside of the
downtown should be pursued (e.g., office
parks, light industry,
etc.).
- 71%
strongly support or somewhat support making
more land available for commercial
development.
- 71%
strongly agree or somewhat agree that a
downtown performing arts center would
benefit economic
development.
- 96%
of respondents indicated protecting
drinking water sources was very important
or somewhat important.
- 96%
indicated that protecting coastal streams
and water bodies leading to Great Bay was
very important or somewhat important, while
over 90% indicated that protecting the
watershed for recreational and ecological
purposes was very important to somewhat
important.
- 92%
of respondents strongly agree or somewhat
agree that the Town should take action to
implement additional energy conservation
measures for municipal facilities and 85%
said the Town should develop alternative
energy sources for municipal
facilities.
- 88%
strongly agree or somewhat agree the town
should support the production and sale of
local agricultural products while 82% feel
the town should adopt policies to protect
ag lands for current or future food
production.
|
|
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
GRANT
Ten New
Hampshire communities are expected to receive
almost $1 million to encourage children to
walk and ride their bicycles to and from
school.
The money comes from the N.H. Safe Routes to
School Program and will be used for sidewalk
construction, traffic calming measures, and
education programs.
Durham was one of the communities selected by
the NH Department of Transportation for a
grant award in 2011.
Durham will receive approximately $30,000 to
create bicycle lanes, slow traffic near the
middle and high school, add speed tables, and
encourage a safer environment for children
around the schools.
Tentative speed tables and/or raised
crosswalk locations are being considered for
Coe Drive in the vicinity of the High School
and Coe Drive between the SAU and the Middle
School. Up to two additional speed
table locations are yet to be
determined.
|
|
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.
On January 20th, Public Works Director
Mike Lynch and Administrator Selig will walk
the Madbury Road corridor with PSNH reps. to
discuss tree and limb growth that has caused
power loss problems over the last few years.
Our intent is to initiate a PSNH
trimming program to mitigate future power
loss in this part of the Durham
grid.
|
|
2011-2012
FISCAL YEAR
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.
|
|
|
|
PORTSMOUTH ATLANTIC
INSURANCE - THIS WEEK'S FEATURED
BUSINESS
This week's featured business is
PORTSMOUTH ATLANTIC INSURANCE. Located at 7
Jenkins Court, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
is a local, family-owned independent
insurance agency that sells and services
personal lines (auto, home, boat, motorcycle,
rental property, condo, umbrella, and more)
and business insurance. It also specializes
in life, health, and financial planning
services.
Owner/manager Jon Merwin can be
contacted at 603-431-4020 or email
jmerwin@portsmouthatlanticinc.com. Web
site: http://www.portsmouthatlanticins.com/home.html. Hours
of operation are Monday through
Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00
PM.
_______________________
Businesses interested in participating in
this weekly feature should send their
information, including location, contact
information, web site, hours of operation,
and a brief description of the business, to
jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
Photographs of the business would also be
welcomed.
|
|
OYSTER RIVER COOPERATIVE SCHOOL
DISTRICT -- IMPORTANT DATES TO
REMEMBER
January 17th - Budget Public Hearing
(ORHS Auditorium 7 PM)
January 25th
through 4 PM February 3rd - Filing Period for
School District
Elective
Positions
February 7th Deliberative Session (ORHS
Auditorium 7 PM)
February 21st Candidates' Night (ORHS
Location TBD 7 PM)
Snow Date: February
22nd
March 13th Voting Day -- Session II --
Vote in Town of Residence
For more information contact the SAU
Office at 868-5100 X2002.
|
|
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.
Durham
Energy Committee - Tuesday,
January 17, 2012 (ORHS Library, 7:00
PM). 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
Planning
Board - Wednesday, January 18,
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 UNH MUSEUM OF ART
OFFERS CULTURAL EXCURSION OPPORTUNITY TO
DURHAM
RESIDENTS
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
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.
Cafeteria Man Movie,
Monday, January 30, 2012,
ORHS Auditorium, 7-8:30 PM. Find out how
NH native, Tony Geraci, started a positive
food movement one school district at a time.
Learn more about how locally grown foods can
increase the nutritional value of
ORCSD’s food and contribute to
sustainability. Free and all are welcome.
Please direct questions via email
to cdolcino@orcsd.org or call
742-2900. For more information
visit http://www.cafeteriaman.com/ .
|
|
DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS
Restaurants Rally - A
Restaurants Rally in support of the Durham
Public Library's New Library Campaign will be
held on Saturday, January 21,
2012. For more information
about the Restaurant Rally, Click HERE.
Wonderful news:
The Library Board of Trustees have surpassed
their fund-raising goal of $900,000. As
of January 5, 2012, the Trustees have raised
$1,029,880.50 for the new library. A
thank you is extended to all donors!
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.
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.
Restaurants Rally - Saturday, January
21, 2012
New at the
Library! There is now have a
Lighted Magnifier in the Reading Area thanks
to a grant from Walmart.
Special Pre-school
Storytimes with local guest author
Clare Righini, Tues. Jan. 17th and Thurs.
Jan. 19th at 10:30 a.m. – This week:
Feelings/Moving. Clare will read her
new book "I Think I Lost My Smile". We
will read stories about moving and feelings
do some fingerplays, feltboard, songs and a
craft. All are welcome! Clare
will sign and sell her books after
storytime.
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.
Bookeaters, Middle School Book
Group, Weds. Jan. 18th, 2:45-4:00
p.m. - Join us for this Middle School Book
Group. Pizza is
served.
Ebook Reader Support
Group, Weds. Jan. 18th, 7:00-8:00
p.m. - Come with your Kindle, your Nook, or
whatever devise you want to read books on...
we also want your expertise or lack thereof.
We will discuss how to find the information
you need to access the free library
downloads. All are
welcome.
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.
|
|
FROM
“DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY
–
1900-1985”
Business (1960-1985): "The
developments of the 1960s precipitated
further changes in the 1970s, some of them
painful to longtime residents of the town. On
Ballard Street, Jess Gangwer built a
restaurant next door to the
Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship (formerly
Charlie Wentworth's home). He called it
Ballard's. Within the next year, the
Unitarians bought Dr. George McGregor's home
and office on Madbury Road, and the vacated
house was used for office space until
Norman's Beauty Shop took over the main sloor
in th mid-1970s." Published
in 1985 by the Durham Historic
Association.
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
