Friday Update January 16, 2009

¡°FRIDAY
UPDATES¡±

January
16, 2009

Ice fishing huts on the Oyster River below the dam and bridge on Route
108

Courtesy Frank
Pilar

The talk for today has been centered
around the very frigid weather. Temperatures in the area early this morning
varied, but it appeared that between -16¢ª and -17¢ª below Fahrenheit was fairly
common.

Martin
Luther King Civil Rights Day Holiday

A final reminder that 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.

NOTICE
OF MEETING POSTPONEMENTS - Main
Street West
End and Oyster
River Dam Public
Informational Meetings

In consideration of the large amount
of public interest anticipated for viewing the Presidential Inauguration
festivities on Tuesday, January 20^th, the Public Informational
meetings relative to the Main Street West End project and the Oyster River Dam
issue, originally scheduled for that same evening, have been postponed and will
be rescheduled in the near future.

Library
Site Selection Discussions Progressing

On Thursday of this week, 1/15/09,
Library Board of Trustee Chair Douglas Bencks, Administrator Selig, and Mr.
David Arthur representing Varsity Durham LLC, met to discuss the Board of
Trustee's interest in acquiring 2
Mill Pond Road as a future public library site. 
The 2 Mill Pond
Road property is owned by Varsity Durham LLC and
consists of a seven-unit apartment building on approximately 1.05 acres of land
across from the Mill Pond.  It is located directly behind the Ocean
National Bank (across from the Town Office).  In August 2008, the Town had
the parcel professionally appraised with a value of $900,000.  It is
presently assessed by the Town at a value of $898,500.  The discussion that
took place on Thursday was open and productive.  However, it does not
appear that the Town will be able to acquire the parcel within a range
approximating the appraised value.  An alternative and potentially more
economical approach that was discussed included the Town purchasing only a
portion of the parcel leaving the apartment complex with Varsity Durham. 
On Thursday evening, the Library Board of Trustees met and authorized continued
discussions with Mr. Arthur concerning this alternative approach.  Funds
utilized for any acquisition at this juncture would be derived through monies
already held by the Library Trustees and would not have a tax rate
impact.  In the event the ongoing discussions come to fruition, the Town
Council would have to ultimately determine whether to authorize the
acquisition. 

Meeting
with the N.H. Commissioners of Revenue and
Transportation

On Friday
afternoon, Administrator Selig participated in a luncheon
meeting sponsored by the N.H. Municipal Managers
Association which included N.H. Department of Transportation
Commissioner George Campbell and N.H. Department of Revenue Administration
Commissioner Kevin Clougherty.  Interestingly, Commissioner Campbell comes
from a public administration background and served as a Town Manager in a number
of Maine
communities.  Commissioner Clougherty previously served for many years as
the Finance Director for the City of Manchester and most recently as the CEO of
Primex where Mr. Selig serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 
The meeting focused upon initiatives underway at these two state agencies which
may impact local communities such as Durham.  Of particular interest were
efforts by the N.H. Department of Transportation to anticipate Federal stimulus
monies which may become available to the state and how these funds would be
allocated.  Substantial discussion focused around the State of New Hampshire's own
significant budget challenges. 

DCAT
Program Schedule Change

Due to taping of the Planning Board
Meeting on January 14, 2009, DCAT has changed the standard Sunday schedule, and
an additional Town Council and Planning Board Meeting have been added for your
viewing convenience.

Sunday, January
18

9:00 AM Town Council Meeting
1/12

1:00 PM ZBA Meeting
1/13

3:00 PM Town Council Meeting
1/12

7:00 PM Planning Board Meeting
1/14

ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SEEKING ALTERNATE MEMBERS

At the Town Council meeting on
January 12, 2009, the Council adopted Ordinance #2008-20 amending the Town¡¯s
Administrative Code to allow for two alternate members on the Economic
Development Committee. This change was requested by members of the EDC in the
hope that adding alternate members would help the committee meet quorum
requirements for meetings as on occasion the committee has had to cancel
scheduled meetings due to lack of a quorum. The EDC meets the second and fourth
Friday¡¯s of each month at 7:30 AM in the Council chambers at Town Hall. The
committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Town Council to
foster the stabilization of the residential tax burden through economic
development that encourages diverse business, commercial office and research
activities, maintain and create jobs, create a good mix of uses, and maintain
the rural character of Durham. Residents interested in being appointed
to this committee may obtain an application form by clicking HERE. 
Applications are also available at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector¡¯s Office.
Completed applications may be submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us, or mailed to
Jennie Berry, Town of Durham, 15 Newmarket Road. Questions regarding the
EDC may be directed to Town Planner Jim Campbell at
868-8064.

VACANCIES
ON TOWN BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES

There are still a number of
vacancies remaining to be filled on various Town boards, commissions, and
committees. Residents interested in being appointed to any of the boards,
commissions, or committees listed below may obtain an application form by
clicking HERE. 
Applications are also available at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector¡¯s Office.
Completed applications may be submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us, or mailed to
Jennie Berry, Town of Durham, 15 Newmarket Road. To view the
charges/responsibilities for the various Town boards, commissions, and
committees, click HERE.

Conservation Commission – (1 regular
member vacancy)

Economic Development Committee – (2
alternate member vacancies)

Planning Board – (1 alternate member
vacancy)

Zoning Board of Adjustment - (1
alternate member vacancy)

Durham Energy Committee – (1
vacancy)

Integrated Waste Management Advisory
Committee - (2 vacancies)

Strafford Regional Planning
Commission (MPO Policy) - (2 vacancies)

Representative to the Strafford
Regional Community Health Coalition

Town
Election, March 10, 2009    

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.  

Town
Office Filing Period for March Elections

The filing period for Town offices
for the March Town Election is Wednesday,
January 23, 2008 through Friday, February 1, 2008.  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)

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

For more information, please contact
the Durham Town Clerk's Office at 868-5577 or the Town Administrator's Office at
868-5571.

In addition
to elected offices, there are also two proposed Charter amendment changes
included on this year¡¯s ballot.

The first
amendment, pertaining to Article 7 ¡°Conduct of Officials¡±, Section 7.1 (C),
proposes to strike current language that requires an elected official who is
presently holding another elected or appointed position to immediately forfeit
the office he/she held prior to such election. New Hampshire Supreme Court case
Town of Hooksett v. Baines, 148 N.H. 625 (2002) precludes communities from
imposing term limits on elected offices or imposing qualifications for elected
offices.  Since the language in Section 7.1(C) of the Durham Town Charter
is not enforceable and has not been practiced, it should be removed to avoid
confusion in the future.

The second
amendment, pertaining to Article 9 ¡°Town Report¡±, Section 9.1, proposes to
strike the current word ¡°delivered¡± and replace it with the word ¡°available¡±. In
doing so, this will eliminate the current process of mailing annual Town Reports
to individual property owners, resulting in a cost-savings to the Town. Instead,
copies of annual Town Reports would be available at the Town Offices and the
Durham Public Library as well as on the Town web site. The two amendments, as
they will appear on the March 10, 2009 Town Election ballot, are as
follows:

Strikethrough: Indicates language to be removed
from the Charter.

Underline:        Indicates
language to be added to the Charter.

Article 7
¡°Conduct of Officials¡±, Section 7.1 (C)

Sec. 7.1.
Conditions for holding office.

A.   Any person while in
town office convicted of a Class A felony in New Hampshire or its equivalent under the law
of any other state or federal law shall forfeit such office.

B.   No full-time or
regular employee of the town shall be eligible to serve as a Councilor.

C.  Any
person elected to a town office or trusteeship while presently holding another
such town office, board membership, commission membership or trusteeship shall
immediately forfeit the office he held prior to such election.

 
C.D.    Except as otherwise provided by
this Charter, no department head nor regular employee of the town shall be
appointed to a town office, board, membership, commission membership or
trusteeship. They may, however, serve as advisors to such boards, committees or
commissions.

 
D.E. The Zoning Board of Adjustment shall not have any
members who also serve on the Planning Board, Conservation Commission or
Historic District Commission.

Reason for
proposed change: New Hampshire Supreme Court case Town of Hooksett
V. Baines, 148 N.H. 625 (2002) precludes communities from imposing term limits
on elected offices or imposing qualifications for elected offices.  Since
the language in Section 7.1 (C) of the Durham Town Charter is not enforceable
and has not been practiced; it should be removed to avoid confusion in the
future.

_______________________________

Article 9
¡°Town Report¡±, Section 9.1

Sec. 9.1. 
Town Report.
Each year, the Town Administrator shall prepare a Town Report which shall
include:  (1) a statement of the past year's financial activities and a
comparative statement of the previous and present budget; and (2) a review of
all major Council actions, including a summary of ordinances enacted; and (3)
Town vital statistics. There shall be a section which presents any actions which
are in progress or pending before town boards or departments and the Town
Council. The effective date of the Report shall be the end of the fiscal year,
and the Report shall be delivered available to the
voters of the town not later than February 15 of each year.

Reason for
proposed change: To eliminate the process of mailing annual Town
Reports to individual property owners, resulting in a cost-savings to the Town.
Instead, copies of annual Town Reports would be available at the Town Offices
and the Durham Public Library as well as on the Town web site.

Recycling
Marketing Update

On Thursday of this week the
Department of Public Works was able to once again market two loads of co-mingled
recyclables.  These materials were transported back to Turnkey in
Rochester after
an agreement was reached between the Northeast Resource Recovery Association
(NRRA) and Waste Management.  In addition, the department has found a
vendor for the Town¡¯s mixed paper and will begin transporting these materials
next week to the new vendor.  The department is glad to have things back on
track for the time being. 

2009
Road Program Bid Results

Last Friday, the Department of
Public Works opened the 2009 road paving bids.  The lowest bid amount
was $82/ton and was submitted by Pike Industries of Portsmouth, NH.  Last
year¡¯s price was $57.98/ton, having increased $24.02/ton this year. This
increase in price will require DPW to adjust the scope of work due to the very
large increase in the paving costs this year. 

TOWN-WIDE
BRUSH PICK UP

This week, Town staff met with
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials who have agreed to pay for
the Town to do a town- wide curbside brush pick up in the spring to
help residents that had brush left over from the December 11th and 12th ice
storm.  The cleanup is anticipated to be sometime in April. As the spring
approaches, more information will be provided.

Digital
Television Transition

On Thursday, January 22, 2009,
beginning at 7:00 PM in the Council chambers at the Durham Town
Hall, the Town of Durham, WMUR,
New Hampshire Public Television, and Comcast will host a free information
session in Durham to discuss the change in the way
television viewers will receive over-the-air (broadcast) TV signals beginning
February 17, 2009.  Attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the
federally-mandated digital broadcast transition and understand their options
associated with the discontinuation of analog broadcasting.  Note: Televisions connected to cable or satellite
service will not be affected by the digital broadcast transition.  Only
older TV sets relying on antennas will be affected. This meeting will
be broadcast live over the Town¡¯s cable channel, Channel 22, as well as taped
for future re-broadcast.

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. This meeting will be broadcast
live over the Town¡¯s cable channel, Channel 22, as well as taped for future
re-broadcast. Please call Town Engineer David Cedarholm at (603) 868-5578 with
any questions regarding this project.

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.

Digital Television Transition
Informational Meeting – Thursday, January 22, 2009

Economic Development Committee –
Friday, January 23, 2009 (7:30
AM)

Wiswall Fish Passage Project –
Friday, January 23, 2009

To view an agenda for the Economic
Development Committee meeting 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.

Churchill
Rink

January
Events

Dad and Daughter
Skate:    Saturday, January 17, 2009, 7:30-9:00 PM. Free for all
ages!

Adult only Skate
Night:         Saturday, January 24,
2009, 7:30-9:00 PM, Cost:  $5.00

Public skating - times offered every
day

Stick and Puck – Monday – Friday and
Sunday

Pick Up Hockey – Monday – Friday and
Sunday

For more information, call the rink
at 868-3907, or visit our website at www.churchillrink.org

UNH
19^th ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR. CELEBRATION

The University of New Hampshire¡¯s 19^th annual
Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, January 22 – February 5, 2009, will
highlight King¡¯s struggle to create a community where social, political, and
economic justice are the norm. This year¡¯s celebration, ¡°One in 100: Dismantling
a Prison Nation,¡± is based on the steady growth of the United
States¡¯ prison system. Internationally known
civil rights activist Angela
Davis will deliver the keynote address. All events
are free and open to the public. Parking is free after 6:00 PM. Events honoring
Martin Luther King, Jr. at UNH
include:                               
                                             

Seacoast
Reads Reading Tutor Registration

The Durham Public Library had a
successful fall
semester partnering with the University of New
Hampshire's Seacoast Reads Tutoring program. 
If you would like to participate again this spring semester, please call the
Library at 868-6699 by January 30th to register.  These individual tutoring
sessions are held at the Durham Public Library and meeting times are scheduled
between the parent and the tutor.  When you register, please let the
library know if you would like to keep your fall
tutor.

FROM
HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL – 1600 – 1976

¡°1875 – Voted to buy a hearse for
$400 (plus $250 voted in 1874). Shipped from Worcester, Massachusetts
to Rochester,
the express charges were $10. It was a one-horse vehicle equipped with wheels
and runners. It was kept in a special shed on Schoolhouse Lane, and was in use until
1905.¡±

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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