Friday Update July 30, 2010


Message

“Friday
Updates”

July
30, 2010

 

Daisy’s in Bloom on Nobel K. Peterson Drive, Durham

 

Today is Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry's 20th
anniversary with the Town of Durham.  If you have an opportunity, please don't hesitate
to congratulate her and wish her well at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

How Will Downtown Durham Develop? - Thoughts
On the Future from Administrator Selig

Downtown commercial
cores within communities, as opposed to the suburbs, are becoming increasing
popular across the United States.  Both
young workers and retiring Baby Boomers are actively seeking to live in densely
packed, mixed-use communities that do not require cars – that is, town centers
in which residences, shops, schools, parks, colleges, and other amenities (such as the Amtrak
Downeaster) exist close together.  In
the 1950’s, the suburbs were all the rage.  Today, urban neighborhoods that are exciting
and diverse are increasingly thriving with growth and activity.  This trend
will continue and it is amidst this
changing environment that Durham must work to competitively position itself
and its downtown to attract the kind of investment we desire over the long term. 
In many ways, as host to the University of New Hampshire, we have advantages
over other areas in the Seacoast. 

 

With these changing demographics in mind, a thoughtful
discussion should be held around
eliminating the need to have non-residential uses on any but the first floor
as part of a four-story structure within our Central Business District (CBD) per Section 175-41
F(8) of the Durham Zoning Ordinance. Downtown property owners regularly
report that the viability of two stories of non-residential is questionable
at best and economically risky at this point in time. In order to encourage
increased investment and interest within Durham’s CBD and provide viable alternatives for professionally-managed
student housing out of our traditional single-family neighborhoods surrounding
the downtown, to discourage sprawl, and to intensify our central core to promote
mass transportation alternatives to the automobile, this zoning
ordinance modification is warranted for further consideration. 
As part of a possible framework, the additional floor of housing could
potentially be utilized as a carrot so long as a certain percentage of the property
contains workforce or affordable housing.  The maximum permissible height
of downtown structures should also be revisited to ensure that Durham is satisfied
with the new construction we have recently experienced, and if so, whether consideration
should also be given to higher structures to leverage the kind of long-term
uses Durham desires while also adhering to critical elements of community character
and new urbanist design. 

 

As the downtown
becomes revitalized in the future and commercial/office space becomes more economically
viable and in higher demand, the upper stories of new construction would be
converted to more profitable non-residential use, thereby achieving the Town’s
long-term goals of enhanced mixed uses within the downtown core. The
key, however, is to leverage new investment and the redevelopment of many well
worn downtown Central Business District structures in the not too distant future
so that alternatives to purely college student residential use can be realized
when market conditions warrant.  (See Page C.18 of Durham Commercial
Core Strategic Plan prepared by B. Dennis Town Design.)

 

PACE, PART
2: DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE? – GAUGING INTEREST IN DURHAM  -- A Reminder

Last week the Friday Updates alerted readers to the
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which allows property owners
to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements using low‐interest bonds arranged by the municipality.



Durham is not there yet, but the Energy Committee is
working with the Town Administrator to make it happen.



This is how it works: Residential and commercial property owners may opt in
to the program to receive long-term financing (up to 20 years) for improvements.
They then repay the loan through a separate property tax assessment. This arrangement
spreads the cost of clean energy improvements – such as energy-efficient boilers,
upgraded insulation, new windows, solar installations, etc. – over the expected
life of the improvement. The program also allows for the repayment obligation
to transfer automatically to the next property owner if the property is sold.



Here's an example of how this would work. Let’s say a homeowner receives PACE
funding for a solar photovoltaic installation. For a typical system of 3 kW,
the net cost would be on the order of $8,400 (assuming $6/watt installed, a
$6,000 rebate from NH, and a 30% tax incentive from the federal government).
This system would be expected to produce approximately 4,800 kW-h per year --
or about $720 of electricity per year, assuming a constant electricity cost
of 15 cents per kW-h. (This example uses a 3 kW system that produces about 13
kW-h per day, which is enough to run an energy efficient house.) The loan repayment
over 20 years would amount to approximately $610 per year, depending on the
interest rate on the loan. 

 

You do the planning and the math for your property
under PACE. We would do the setting up of the program for the town. 

Interested in participating? Please send a brief note to the Chair of the
Energy Committee via this link dec@ci.durham.nh.us. Describe what kind
of energy efficient improvement you are considering. (Note: This is just a feeler,
to get a sense of community interest. Details on your anticipated installation
cost will be required before we proceed to the next step of setting up such
a fund.)  

 

Responses must be received by August 25, 2010
for this first round.

 

 

Sigma Beta Alumni Assoc.
– 26 Madbury Rd.

 

Town
Council Approves 5 Year Tax Exemption on Improvements for Sigma Beta
Property at 26
Madbury Road
Under RSA 79-E

On July 26, 2010, the Town Council granted tax relief
pertaining only to assessment increases attributable to the substantial rehabilitization
performed and approved for a period of five (5) years at 26 Madbury Road pursuant
to RSA 79-E.  It is estimated that
the 2009 pre-substantial rehabilitization value of the parcel was $1,204,900
and the post-substantial rehabilitization value of the parcel will be approximately
$1,649,600, a difference of $444,700 of assessed valuation.  ($444,700 x 2009 tax rate of $27.00 =
$12,006 per year in tax exemption)

 

The Town Council was able to grant the tax relief,
provided:

 

1.         The
governing body finds a public benefit under RSA 79-E:7.

2.         The
specific public benefit is preserved through a covenant under RSA 79-E:8.

3.         The
governing body finds that the proposed use is consistent with the municipality's
master plan or development regulations. 

 

           
In order to qualify for tax relief under RSA 79-E, a proposed substantial
rehabilitation must provide at least one of the public benefits, and the proposed
replacement must provide one or more of the public benefits to a greater degree
than would a substantial rehabilitation of the same qualifying structure, as
follows:

 

I.         
It enhances the economic vitality of the downtown;

II.         
It enhances and improves a structure that is culturally or historically
important on a local, regional, state, or national level, either independently
or within the context of an historic district, town center, or village center
in which the building is located;

III.         It
promotes development of municipal centers, providing for efficiency, safety,
and a greater sense of community, consistent with RSA 9-B; or

IV. It increases residential housing in urban or town
centers.

 

The Town encourages property owners within Durham’s central core to learn more about the Community Investment
Tax Relief Program under RSA 79-E.  Please contact Director and Planning and
Community Development Jim Campbell at jcampbell@ci.durham.nh.us or at (603)
868-8064.

 

New Multi-Story Construction on Jenkins Court (courtesy T. Selig)

 

Zoning
Change Approved by Town Council to Support Central Business District (CBD)
Redevelopment

On Monday evening, July 26^th, the Town Council
adopted a zoning change to Section 175-41 F(8) of the Zoning Ordinance intended
to support downtown redevelopment within the CBD and flexibility for property owners envisioning new
construction to allow the first floor and one additional floor (other than only
the second floor) to be non-residential as part of a four story apartment building. 
This change was originally suggested by the Economic Development Committee
after downtown property owners reported challenges associated with limiting
the non-residential requirement exclusively to the first and second floors.

 

With the change approved by the Council on Monday evening,
Section 175-41 F(8) now reads:

 

Maximum Height of Mixed-Use Buildings – The height
of a new mixed use building that provides both residential and nonresidential
space shall be a maximum of three stories notwithstanding other height limitations. 
The first floor shall be nonresidential. 
However, if the building contains nonresidential uses on the first floor and one additional story of nonresidential
two floors, the maximum permitted height will shall be four (4)
stories except on the south side of Main Street.  If the proposal is for a four (4) story
building, the first floor shall be nonresidential and the remaining three floors
shall consist of two residential and one nonresidential.

 

 New
and
Improved Building Permit Applications on Line
– Kaizen!

The most recent process improvement
associated with the Town’s Kaizen total quality improvement initiative is the
result of work by our Building Permit Review Team, comprised of Zoning and Code
Enforcement Officer Tom Johnson and Administrative Assistant Karen
Edwards. Durham resident Jerry Gottsacker and Administrator Selig
also participated throughout the process.

 

This team has recently completed
its work to simplify, standardize, and consolidate the Town’s various building
permits for easier completion and processing.  For example, the building permit application
has been reduced from 12 to 4 pages and now includes an example of a plot plan
and space to draw one which had been an area of confusion for applications.
 A “FAQ” sheet was also developed
to answer frequently asked questions for applicants to make the process more
understandable/user-friendly.

The Building Department’s web page (http://ci.durham.nh.us/DEPARTMENTS/building/building.htm)
has been updated with a section dedicated to providing more information about
the building permit process in the Town of Durham. For additional assistance in with building permits
and applications contact Karen Edwards
in the Planning/Zoning/Assessing office at (603) 868-8064.

Durham’s
First Roundabout

As a follow up from last week’s Friday update regarding
the new roundabout on Main St., the Public Works Department would like to invite
residents to visit the following link to learn more about roundabouts and how
vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists can maneuver them safely: http://www.nh.gov/dot/org/projectdevelopment/highwaydesign/roundabouts/index.htm

 

In addition, Foster’s had a nice story this week on
Durham’s first roundabout at http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100729/GJNEWS_01/707309999/-1/FOSNEWS0102&template=GreatBayRegion
. 

 

New
England
Center Items for Sale
for Durham
Residents

The New England Center still has items for sale, many of which are things
which would be available at a yard or garage sale.  Starting Monday August
2 through Saturday August 7 the New England Center will be open from 8am to 4pm each day.  First come, first served. All
items must be taken at time of sale. 

 

The
Amtrak Downeaster Services Durham

Amtrak Downeaster service in Durham began 2001 and serves the communities of Old Orchard Beach, Saco/Biddeford, and Wells in Maine; Dover, Durham, and Exeter in New Hampshire; and Haverhill and Woburn in Massachusetts. With five roundtrips a day originating in Portland, Maine and terminating at North Station in Boston, Mass, the service regularly rates well for on-time
service and customer satisfaction.

 

Find the schedule that works for you at http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/ and
park for free during the summer months at the Depot Road Parking Lot. 

 

Pilot Traffic Configuration
on Pettee Brook Lane (Courtesy T. Selig)

 

Pettee
Brook Lane
Pilot Traffic Reconfiguration Update

Over the last two weeks, a number of refinements have
been made to the pilot/test traffic configuration along Pettee
Brook Lane.  These have included:

 

1. Improving the sight distance
   when exiting Jenkins Court onto Pettee Brook Lane by designating three spaces
   for “compact vehicles only” by placing signs and by changing the parking space
   size from 22’ x 12’ to 18’ x 9’. 
   
2. Improving the visibility of
   the second pedestrian crosswalk by removing one parking space and painting
   diagonal yellow lines thereby prohibiting parking and creating a space for
   pedestrians to be observed and to observe.
   
3. Improving street markings when
   exiting the Store 24 Parking Lot by adding directional arrows and a dividing
   line to delineate where vehicles should be to enter and exit this parking
   area safely.
   
4. The Public Works Department
   was been charged with designing and determining the feasibility of adding
   five to seven additional parking spaces farther along Pettee Brook Lane after
   the curve toward Main Street which would have a further calming impact upon
   traffic through the corridor and would also mirror the opposite end of Pettee
   Brook Lane’s two lane to one convergence but opposite with one lane widening
   back to two lanes allowing westbound traffic to stay in its lane while eastbound
   downtown traffic would traverse to the left lane.  The target date for this additional
   enhancement is before Monday August 2nd. (See revised image of streetscape
   above.) 

 

Downtown
Bus Service to Be Extended Along Madbury and Edgewood
Roads – Service Available and Free for Durham
Residents

The Town has long held
a desire to take steps to lessen use
of vehicles while keeping an eye on sustainability.  These goals are supported by the Durham
Energy Committee and B. Dennis Town Design, the consultant team that had been
retained by the Town to focus on revitalizing downtown.  An energy-efficient, quiet, small bus
connecting neighborhoods and the University can be one of those steps.  With these thoughts in mind, the Town
initiated discussions with UNH to explore the possibility of expanding bus routes
that would address these concerns and lessen traffic pressures on many of Durham’s neighborhood streets, as well as offer alternative
means of transportation for Durham residents. 

 

To this end, the Town Administrator has requested that
UNH reroute the existing UNH Woodside’s Campus Connector to include Madbury and
Edgewood Roads with the small CNG buses.

 

Durham Public Works has one bus shelter and it is planned
that UNH and DPW coordinate the placement on some portion of the new
route along Madbury Road.

 

Former Don
Thompson Real Estate Building Approved for Redevelopment

 

Planning
Board Happenings – Major Redevelopment of Former
Don
Thompson
Real
Estate
Building
Approved on
Pettee Brook Lane

The Planning Board met on Wednesday, July 28, 2010,
and took the following actions:  Continued a public hearing and conditionally
approved a Boundary Line Adjustment application, Site Plan application, and
a Conditional Use application for Ionian Properties, LLC to redevelop the property
located at 10 Pettee Brook Road into a four-story mixed use building with commercial
use and two ADA accessible apartments on the first two stories and apartments
on the top two stories; continued a public hearing until the August 11, 2010,
meeting for Peter Andersen for the subdivision of a parcel of land located at
260 Durham Point Road; approved a Conditional Use permit application for Michael
and Tammy Keegan on behalf of Chester Tecce to expand the Tecce Farm Stand to
include a mobile kitchen for the sale of freshly baked goods, subs, and prepared
meals; set a public hearing date of August 11, 2010, for public hearings on
two proposed Zoning ordinance amendments.  The first proposed amendment
would add the ORLI and MUDOR Districts to the applicability section of the Conservation
Subdivision Ordinance and the second proposed amendment is to the Table of Uses
and would remove Convenience Store with Gasoline Sales from the ORLUI District;
and discussed the Commercial Core Strategic Plan. 

 

Economic
Development Committee Efforts

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) met on Monday, July 26, 2010 at the Old Courthouse Building that now houses the Parks & Recreation Department
and the ORYA.  The EDC discussed the Durham Commercial Core Strategic Plan
and the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Grange Hall property. 
The EDC also were given an update on the proposal for the Town-Wide Market Analysis,
the Business Visitation Program, and the Pettee
Brook Road
reconfiguration. 

 

Downtown
Parking Strategy to be Revisited – Free
v. Metered parking Downtown

The downtown Durham parking program along Main Street,
Madbury Road, the Store 24 Lot, the Pettee Brook Lot, and along Pettee Brook
Lane consisting of parking meters, one-hour spaces (two hours with a Durham
resident sticker), and business permits will be revisited over the next several
weeks to evaluate whether an alternative strategy would be more effective. 
The B. Dennis Strategic Plan for our downtown core suggested a tiered
pay for parking approach with premium parking along Main Street in the most
desirable locations costing more and parking spaces farther from the Main Street
businesses costing less. As this process progresses, we will keep the community
informed.

 

A
Structured Parking Idea for Downtown Durham
– Combined Fire Department/Structured Parking/Affordable Housing Feasibility
Study Underway

The Town has once again engaged the services of LeMay Erickson Wilcox
Architects, the company which has evaluated various locations to date (B-Lot/Mill
Road, “the Greens” on Madbury Road, and Stone Quarry Drive) for a future Fire
Department location, to investigate on behalf of Durham and UNH
whether C-Lot located across from the Mill Plaza on Mill Road would be a viable
location for a combination Fire Department/Structured Parking/Affordable or
Graduate-Faculty Housing structure. 

 

RFP
for the Grange (H.A.
Davis
Building)
Under Review

The Grange (H.A. Davis Building) is located within the heart of downtown Durham on the southerly side of Main
Street at
the Madbury
Road intersection
directly across from the U.S. Post Office. 

 

The main level of the Grange
includes a large open area, rear stage, kitchen with sink and older style cabinetry,
and ½ bath.  A steep front stairway
and rear spiral staircase provide access to the second floor. 
A stairway accesses the basement. 
The second level includes an open landing area, two small offices, a
large open area, ½ bath, and rear storage.

 

To gauge continued interest expressed
by potential purchasers/lessors, the Town Administrator intends to reissue a
Request for Proposal (RFP) for the structure in the near future.  An RFP was issued in June 2009 but the
single individual who submitted a response has not been able to move forward
with the envisioned project to date.  This
week the Economic Development Committee reviewed the RFP draft and will provide
feedback relative to the document before it is issued.

 

Durham Rental Housing
Commission Discussing Impact of Student Housing within Durham’s Residential
Neighborhoods

The Union Leader reported on
this week’s meeting of the Durham Rental Housing Commission.  To view the article, go to: http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=50de59a2-a32c-456d-8662-34183be24ac2

 

Nomination
of the Oyster
River
into the New
Hampshire
Rivers Management and Protection Program

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services will hold a public hearing in Madbury, N.H., on Tuesday, August
17, 2010, from 6:30 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m. at the Madbury Town Hall to accept public comments on the nomination
of the Oyster River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management
and Protection Program. The Oyster River Watershed Association and the Strafford
Regional Planning Commission submitted a nomination application to DES on June 1, 2010.
The application is available for review on the DES Rivers Management and Protection Program
website at http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/rivers/nominations.htm.

The DES rivers coordinator has determined the
application meets state requirements, making the river eligible for consideration
during the next legislative session into the Rivers Management and Protection
Program. Following the public hearing, the DES rivers coordinator and the Rivers Management
Advisory Committee will make their respective recommendations to the DES commissioner by October. The commissioner
will review the nomination and make a determination whether to forward the nomination
to the General Court for legislative approval by November 2010.

 

Build
your own solar hot water heater: Tomorrow (7/31)!

Peter Ejarque, the newest member of the Durham Energy
Committee, will be holding a free solar water heater class at his home tomorrow,
July 31, at 10am. He will demonstrate how to build a heater from reused
materials such as those found at the Durham Swap Shop and Transfer Station. This
will be the first in a series of "how to" classes he plans to hold. For more
information, visit  www.meetup.com/oilawareness-286
or call 603-509-2907.

 

The Wire profiled Peter in Monday's edition, describing
how he built his energy-efficient house near Madbury Road this past year --
virtually all by himself. Next year he will be adding a geodesic dome to expand
living quarters. Peter is more than happy to show visitors around the house.
You can read all about it at <http://www.wirenh.com/News/News_-_general/Living_renewably_201007264297.htm>
 (We are aware that there are a few typos and  errors in this article.
For example, the home is NOT 45,000 square feet, and it will be the Town Council
that must approve a PACE program for Durham.)

 

ORCSD
Strategic Plan
Update

The Strategic Oversight Planning Committee will be
continuing its work throughout the summer and into the fall. Thanks to the work
of many volunteers including staff representing each school and community members
from all three towns, the committee has compiled an impressive amount of research
regarding our district and educational trends.

 

The three working groups (including Operations, Student
Achievement and Community) have completed their work and have presented their 
findings to the Oversight Committee. Three rounds of surveys have also been
conducted including a staff survey, a student survey and most recently, a community
survey. These findings will be used in the analysis phase of the strategic planning
process this fall.

 

The committee has decided to enlist the help of an
experienced K-12 strategic planning facilitator in analyzing this data. The
result of this analysis phase will be a list of potential strategic areas of
focus.

 

Following the development of strategic areas of focus,
the committee will hold a series of engagement evenings for staff, students
and community this fall to review these findings and provide feedback. Based
on this feedback, a final strategic plan will be developed and presented to
the School Board for approval by January 2011. As always, if you are interested
in providing feedback to the Oversight Committee, please contact us at stratplan@orcsd.org

 

Updates will be available on the Strategic Planning
Website at: http://orcsdstrategicplan.wetpaint.com/

 

Thank you to all the volunteers who have generously
contributed their time and energy to this exciting process. Jocelyn O’Quinn,
co-chair, Strategic Planning Oversight Committee and Paula Roy, co-chair, Strategic
Planning Oversight Committee

 

Town Kicks
Off 2011 Budget Development Process

Section 5.2. of the Durham
Town Charter states: “At such
time as may be requested by the Administrator . . . each officer or
director of a department shall submit an itemized estimate of the expenditures
for the next fiscal year for the departments or activities under his control
to the Administrator. The Administrator shall, based on these estimates and
other data, prepare a recommended budget which he shall, together with these
department estimates, submit to the Council no later than the last workday prior
to November 1 of the current year. The Council shall review the budget for the
following fiscal year and make such modifications and amendments as it desires.”

 

In preparation for the upcoming FY 2011
budget process, the Town’s department heads have been sent correspondence requesting
that they provide the Administrator with three different budget scenarios: 
A three percent (3%) decrease, a level funded (0%) and a three percent
(3%) increase in hopes that these scenarios will assist the administration in
making more informed decisions throughout the process as part of preparing a
budget proposal for the Council by November 1^st.

 

Budget requests from department heads
are due to the Business Office no later than Friday, August 20^th
and appointments to review the budgets will begin in early September.

 

The 2011/2020 Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) requests are due to the Business Office no later than Friday, August 6^th. 
The Administrator and Business Manager will be presenting the proposed
CIP to the Planning Board in September.

 

Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Mr.
Selig met with the Town Council on Monday evening, July 26^th, to
discuss budget goals for the upcoming year.  Councilors expressed a strong desire to
ensure the Town budget process was reflective both of the economic realities
of the day and the high taxes that Durham property owners already pay, and also
stressed the need to ensure proposals were sustainable over the long-term.

 

Per Section  5.4 of the Town Charter: “The budget shall be adopted not later than the last
workday of the preceding fiscal year. Failure by the Council to adopt a budget
by the deadline established in this section will establish the budget as recommended
by the Administrator as the adopted budget.”

 

Gray Fox Courtesy Wikipedia

 

Foxes
Seen In and
Around Durham

Over the past two weeks, we have had three gray fox
sightings in the Canney Road area, one gray fox sighting in the Faculty
Road area,
and one red fox sighting in the Cowell Drive area.  Foxes are solitary hunters and are largely omnivorous.  They readily catch rabbits, voles, shrews,
and birds. Foxes supplements their diet with fruits, nuts, and worms and other
foods readily available.

 

Durham’s
Newest Police Officers Graduating from Police
Academy

Three of our newest police officers will be graduating
from the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council today at 7PM in Concord. The academy provides intensive on-site training intended
to give officers the core knowledge necessary, and required, to work as a police
officer in New Hampshire. The police academy is 14 weeks long and requires
the recruits to live on-site, except for weekends.

 

While the environment is paramilitary in nature requiring
significant discipline, the academic portion of their experience is very collegiate
in nature with lectures, papers and examinations they must successfully pass. 
The recruit’s day begins at 5:30 am, with an exercise program to strengthen the body and
improve endurance. After breakfast and lunch, the cadets receive classroom training
in laws, ethics, report writing, human relations, first aid, and a variety of
other topics.

 

Upon their return to Durham, the graduates will be assigned to our in-house field
training program. So that we ensure that all Durham officers are highly trained and positively motivated
each will be assigned to work with certified Field Training Officers, of which
we have three!  The Field Training
Program has been developed to provide equal and standardized training to all
newly hired police officers with the curriculum focusing upon tasks that have
been identified as the most frequent accomplished by Durham Police.  This includes a comprehensive exposure
and review of all agency policies, procedures, rules and regulations as well
as the nuances of determining the shortest route to various locations in Durham. 

 

Our Field Training Officer’s (FTO’s) have a special responsibility to help develop new
officers into the best law enforcement officers possible so they may better
serve the Town of Durham.

 

New
Police Officer Hired in Durham

While three officers return, a vacancy existed with
the resignation of Officer Joe Gagnon who accepted employment in Maine.  To fill
that void, Thomas Kilroy of Hampton, NH has accepted employment as our newest police officer
commencing August 16^th.  Mr.
Kilroy graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and recently graduated
Summa Cum Laude from Marist College with a degree in Criminal Justice. 

 

After completing Durham’s arduous selection process that included written
exams, exercises, medical, psychological and a polygraph examination, he was
chosen from an applicant pool of over one-hundred persons.  Special thanks go out to Kitty Marple
and Bill Cote who represented the community as oral board participants offering
invaluable insight to the process ensuring that the person selected would be
a good match for the Durham community. 

 

Mr. Kilroy will begin his recruit training at the New
Hampshire Police Academy August 30^th with graduation occurring in
early December.

 

Cable
Franchise Agreement Renewal Process – An Update

The Town of Durham is currently in
the process of negotiating a renewal of its cable franchise agreement with Comcast,
the incumbent cable operator. The renewal process is an opportunity for the
Town to ascertain the future cable-related needs and interests of the community
and to negotiate with Comcast to meet these needs in the renewal franchise agreement.
As part of the process, the Town will be holding a public hearing a public hearing
to ascertain the future cable-related needs and interests of the community on
Tuesday, September
21, 2010 beginning at 7:00 P.M. The hearing will
be held in the Town Council Chambers at the Durham Town Hall located at 15 Newmarket Road.

 

AUGUST
2^ND TOWN COUNCIL MEETING - CANCELLED

The regular Town Council meeting scheduled for Monday,
August 2, 2010 has been cancelled as a number of Council members will not be
available that evening, resulting in a lack of a quorum.  The next regularly
scheduled meeting of the Town Council will be on Monday, August
16, 2010.

 

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meetings are scheduled for the
coming week in the Town Council chambers at the Durham Town Office. All meetings
begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Council chambers at the Town Hall
unless otherwise indicated below. To view the agenda for the meetings listed
below, please click HERE. 
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library for checkout and viewing. 

 

Town Council – CANCELLED for August 2nd

Historic District Commission – Monday, August
3, 2010

 

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 DAY 2010

The date for Durham Day 2010 has been set for Sunday,
September 26^th from 12:30 – 4:00 PM at Wagon Hill Farm. All Durham based Committees, Commissions or non-profit groups
are encouraged to setup their own individual table display at the event. 
If you are interested in securing a table display area or are a resident interested
in volunteering at Durham Day please contact P&R Director Michael Mengers
at mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074.

 

Reggae
Night at Wagon Hill Farm – Friday, August 20^th – 6:00pm
to 7:30pm

Join Roots, Rhythm & Dub and the Parks & Recreation
Department for Reggae Night at Wagon Hill Farm on Friday, August 20^th
from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  Roots, Rhythm & Dub is reggae band from Southern
Maine.  Their music
touches on Jazz, Blues, Latin Rock, R&B and folk all the while staying true
to their Reggae roots.  Bring a picnic, blanket and lawn chair and be prepared
to enjoy beautiful views of the Little Bay, great music and the company of family
and friends.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

 

Sound
Beginnings – Youth music program offered at Parks & Rec

Sound Beginnings is a unique and affordable music and
movement enrichment program for parents and their children between the ages
of 6 months and 6 years.  Instructor Maria Isaak will focus on nurturing
the joys of early childhood musical development. Using traditional children's
folk songs, nursery rhymes and games, parents and their children build a repertoire
of joyful musical experiences.  The 8 week program is $75.  Class
will meet on Wednesdays from September 15^th through November 3^rd. 
There are two time sessions to choose from, 5:00pm
to 5:45pm or 6:00pm to 6:45pm. 
All classes are held at the Durham Parks & Recreation Department. 
To register contact P&R Director Michael Mengers at mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us, 817-4074
or visit the Clerk’s Desk. For more information, please click HERE. 

 

The
Parks & Recreation Nature Note – Longmarsh Trail

The Longmarsh Trail is one of Durham’s many amazing natural areas. 
Offering views of the Colby Marsh, access to the Sweet Trail and a fabulous
boardwalk directly next to a beaver dam, the Longmarsh Trail is a can’t miss
spot for locals and visitors alike.

 

The trail, which is just under a mile
in length, connects Longmarsh Road (via 108) with Longmarsh Road (via Durham Point Road).  The dirt trail is well maintained
and has only a few very minor elevation changes.  Follow yellow arrow markers
to make sure you stay on course.  On the south side of the trail there
are many smaller, unmaintained trails that lead out to fabulous views of the
Colby Marsh.  Also on the south side of the trail you will find a connection
with the Sweet Trail (white trail markers).  The Sweet Trail runs south
to Dame Road, Newmarket, and finally the Great Bay.  Perhaps the most spectacular
site on Longmarsh is the wooden boardwalk on the easterly end of the trail that
was completed by Public Works and the Durham Trail Committee. The boardwalk
leads you right by an amazing beaver dam. 

 

Getting there:  You can access Longmarsh
Trail via Route 108.  Take Longmarsh Road to its dead end where you will see a
small dirt parking area on your left-hand side.  You can also access the
Trail via Durham Point Road.  On Longmarsh Road you will see a small dirt turnout on
your right-hand side that can be used for parking.  On both ends of the
trail you will see large red gates signifying the start of the Trail. To access
the trail map, go to: http://ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/recreation/longmarsh.pdf.

 

(Every week in the Friday Updates the
Parks & Recreation Department will be highlighting a Durham natural area to make residents aware
of all of the great natural areas right here in Town.  If you have a spot
that you think should be highlighted email mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us with your location.)

 

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

·       
Monday,
August 2^nd – Adult/Teen Pickup Field Hockey – ORHS Field 6:00pm

·       
Wednesday,
August 4^th – Free Yoga at Wagon Hill Farm – Noon to 1:00pm

·       
Friday,
August 20^th – Reggae Night at Wagon Hill – Roots, Rhythm & Dub
– 6:00pm

·       
Sunday,
September 26^th – Durham Day – 12:30pm to 4:00pm
– Wagon Hill Farm

 

UNH
Outdoor Pool
– Ice Cream Social & Night Under the Lights

Durham residents are cordially invited to an Ice Cream Social
at the UNH Outdoor Pool on Wednesday, August 4^th at
2pm.  Come and enjoy ice cream and toppings, $2/bowl. 
In addition, residents are invited to an End of summer Night Under the
Lights on Wednesday, August 11^th from 7-9pm.  Swim under the lights at the UNH Outdoor Pool and enjoy some BBQ.  Seasonal pall or day pass required. 
Hamburgers, chips, and soda will be available for purchase.

 

Pool hours change to Noon-6pm on Monday, August 16^th
until September 1^st.  The pool will have modified hours after
September 2^nd.

 

Durham
Public Library Programs and Events

Congratulations to the Durham Public
Library’s summer readers!  The
Library’s 200 registered summer readers (aged 12 and under) read approximately
101,498 minutes during the 5 week program.  Great job!  Readers filled both sides of the Library’s
skim board with stickers!  We hope
they will continue reading and visiting the library!   Participants can pick up your prize
certificates and prize books in the children’s room for the next week or two.

 

Weds. Aug. 4^th 10:15 am
-12:00 pm
- Embroidery Stitch-In. 
Join the Library for a morning of embroidering at the library.  All are welcome.  Bring your latest project to this monthly
meeting.  For more information,
contact Sally Hochgraf, 868-2796.

 

Storytime, the patch program,
rat readers (our 2^nd-4^th grade book group), tales for
tails, seacoast reads, pajama storytime and the middle school book group bookeaters
will start again Sept. 7th and after.  Check the Library’s calendar and website
for details coming soon.

 

Young
adults interested in writing a review of a book, play, movie, event?  Email the children’s librarian at ekleinmann@ci.durham.nh.us  or stop by the circulation desk and we’ll
put you in contact with the Library’s partner, YA author Megan Frazer, who is
helping the Library with this blog. Visit the Durham Public Library’s website
at www.durhampubliclibrary.org
for more information.

 

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§        
Aug. 2-6 and Aug. 9-13,
Museum of Art, UNH Paul Creative Arts Center:  Summer Art
Camp. For complete description of classes or to register on-line, visit
www.unh.edu/moa or contact Catherine A. Mazur
at Catherine.mazur@unh.edu, 862-3713.

§        
MUB Summer Series 2010
begins July 7^th. Everything is FREE and OPEN to all! For more information and to view
schedule of events, go to www.unhmub.com or call Dave at 862-1586.

 

Downtown Main Street on 7/31/10 (Courtesy T. Selig)

 

From
Durham,
NH
A History 1900-1985

“Main Street, about 1914, must have appeared a barren scene to
a newcomer even though the Village Improvement Society had, that year, set out
over forty trees and arranged for rubbish collection.  It had also considered the need for a
sidewalk because “the town was becoming famous for its mud.”  Even with only ten resident-owned automobiles,
dirt and cinder roads were a messy ordeal for the “machine” as well as for the
pedestrian.”

 

Please have a good
weekend.

 

Todd

The Town of Durham list server, including the weekly
“Friday Updates” newsletter, provides information and announcements
concerning the community for interested individuals.  It is now even easier
to subscribe.  Please visit this link and fill out
our new form to sign up.

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