Friday Update June 25, 2010

“FRIDAY
UPDATES”

Friday,
June 25, 2010

 

 

Town Council Chair, Diana Carroll,
says a few words before cutting the ribbon officially reopening the recently
reconstructed Wiswall Bridge. At right are Richard Lord of
Durham, and
Brian Giles of Lee, members of the Lamprey River Advisory Committee.
Courtesy
Todd
Selig

 

 

 

PETTEE
BROOK LANE
PILOT TRAFFIC CHANGE BEGINS JULY 1ST

A reminder that beginning next
Thursday, July 1^st, the traffic pattern change will begin on
Pettee Brook
Lane as part of a pilot/test program which will
include:

§        
17 new parking spaces all on the
southern side of Pettee Brook. 

§        
The roadway configuration will
consist of (south to north) parking spaces that will be 10’ wide with a single
12’ travel lane and finally a 6’ bicycle lane for a total of
28’.

§        
Signage at the intersection of
Madbury
Road will consist of a yield for vehicles entering
Pettee Brook from the north, a merge advisory sign, and a temporary electronic
billboard that will be placed on the Store-24 parking lot advising travelers of
the traffic pattern change.

§        
There will be no fees associated
with this trial parking period.  The immediate goal is to determine if this
pattern will function safely and appropriately.

 

  

 

Burglary
at PhiLlips 66

This photo taken by a security
camera is of the man who broke into the Phillips 66 gas station (formally Gibbs)
on Sunday night, June 20^th between midnight and 2:00 AM. 
Entrance was gained after he smashed through the front door and removed beer and
cigarettes.  Police officers detected that there had been attempts to enter
Campus Convenience and Scorpios Provisions without success.  Anyone having
any knowledge of the event and/or the identity of the person depicted in the
photograph/s is asked to contact Detective David Holmstock at 868-2324 or via
email at dholmstock@ci.durham.nh.us

 

TOWN
COUNCIL MEETINGS IN JULY

Due to the July 4^th
holiday, the Town Council meetings in July have been scheduled for Monday, July
12^th and Monday, July 26^th.

 

           
     Courtesy
Todd
Selig

 

PUBLIC
HEARING ON FUTURE SITE FOR THE DURHAM PUBLIC
LIBRARY

At the Town Council meeting on
Monday, July 12, 2010, the Council will hold a public hearing regarding the
purchase of a 3-acre parcel located at 49 Madbury Road, Durham,
NH, as the future site for the
Durham Public Library. 

 

The Public Library Trustees and the
Town Council are enthusiastic regarding the site, but are interested in hearing
from the public before moving forward with acquiring the
parcel.

 

Interested citizens are encouraged
to attend the public hearing and express their views.  Written comments
will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Friday, July 9, 2010, at the Town
Administrator’s office. Comments may
also be sent by electronic mail to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

 

WISWALL BRIDGE
REOPENS

On Tuesday, June 22, 2010, after
being closed for approximately eight months, the reconstructed Wiswall Bridge was reopened. Town Council Chair
Diana Carroll officiated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also in attendance were
members of the Lamprey River Advisory Committee which assisted the Town by
financing the stone for placement on three of the abutment faces of the bridge.
The LRAC’s generous contribution was instrumental in making the bridge a tribute
to this historic section of Durham.

 

 

Wiswall
Bridge
Danger Signage

The Town Administrator and the
Department of Public Works are soliciting input on how best to protect the
public from the danger/hazard associated with jumping or diving from the
Wiswall Bridge into the Lamprey River. This activity has been popular
since the time of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and concerns about the
associated risks are heightened with the new Wiswall Bridge being slightly higher than the
former bridge, and an additional underwater ledge is now exposed where the
former bridge’s center pier was located. The center pier was removed in
favor of constructing a single span bridge which provides greater flood capacity
and eliminated the problem of debris piling up on the
pier. However, a large ledge outcropping now extends
downstream of the new bridge where the old pier was located. This ledge
outcropping is hidden below about 2 or 3 feet of water which makes it almost
impossible to see when looking over the bridge railing. The Town is also
concerned about other areas around the bridge where rocks, submerged trees, or
other debris might be lodged and hidden from view. These hazards pose an
obvious risk to those who choose to recreate in the Lamprey River
near the Wiswall
Bridge.

 

A variety of options have been
considered over the last few months on how to reasonably protect the health and
welfare of the public and manage the Town’s own liability risk. These
options have ranged from doing nothing, to installing warning signage, or
prohibiting jumping or diving altogether through a new ordinance.  It was
decided that the “do nothing” option was not appropriate, and the concept of
prohibiting jumping or diving altogether seemed extreme especially since there
is no record of serious injury by a bridge jumper.  The police were also
concerned that prohibiting jumping or diving would require a No Jumping/Diving
Ordinance, and even if the Town Council approved such an ordinance it would be
almost impossible to enforce. 

 

The idea of installing a buoy(s) in
the general vicinity of the ledge outcropping as well as painting the rocks with
bright colored paint was also considered, however, a buoy would not be able to
identify the numerous underwater hazards in place and would serve to catch river
debris washing downstream. Buoys would likely provide a false sense of safety.
Paint on the bottom of the river would wear off, and it is important to remember
that the Lamprey
River is a
Federally-designated natural river.

 

Therefore, Administrative Selig felt
that the option of alerting the public about the dangers by installing warning
signage was the most prudent choice.  Signs have been posted on either end
of the bridge that read “SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK - This Location Contains
Underwater Hazards - The Town DOES NOT Provide Life Guards or Any Other Form of
Supervision.”  To more specifically warn people on the bridge, the
following message was stenciled at six locations on the bridge curbing in bold,
black print: “DANGER – SHALLOW ROCK AND
DEBRIS UNDERWATER”. 

 

Do you agree with this approach? Do
you think the Town should do more or less?  Please forward your comments
and suggestions to Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Opportunities
for Durham
Businesses

Are you looking to invest in and
expand your Durham business? Are you looking into
rehabilitating or replacing your place of business? Need some financial
incentives to move forward? There are programs available in Durham to help and your
business can benefit from these.  To view a variety of helpful resources
compiled by the Durham Economic Development Committee, go to:  http://edc-visitation-retention.googlegroups.com/web/6_Business_Resources.pdf?gda=B-FtTUsAAACfhKDxrXOEJ_ZMuQaqWmybtchwjdz5iwiPlc9RQR3SKGrgQcUYy6GhNxyOSpQJb3UwjBLXBoIZkmj3iqftTRlpBkXa90K8pT5MNmkW1w_4BQ

 

Orientation
Session for New Board Officers

On Tuesday, June 29, 2010, from
7:00-8:30 PM in the Council chambers at Town Hall, Administrator Todd Selig will hold an orientation session for
chairs and vice chairs (as well as any other officers or members who may
have an interest in attending) of the various Town boards, commissions, and
committees in an effort to provide information on the proper structure of
meetings, the role of the committee chair, vice chair, secretary, alternates,
and Council representatives, as well as outlining the basics of the
Right-to-Know Law including agenda preparation and posting, minutes of meetings,
and e-mail correspondence. The Town Council's 2010-2011 goals will also be
reviewed.  At the conclusion of the orientation, the administrator will
open the floor for a question and answer session.  Any and all members of
the public are welcome to attend.  This is the second year of the
orientation session for board officers.  It was found by many to be helpful
last year.

 

Town
Offices Closed for Independence Day

The Town Offices will be closed in
observance of the July 4^th holiday on Monday, July 5, 2010. All
offices will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 8:00
AM.

 

In addition, the Transfer Station
will be closed on Saturday, July 3^rd. The Transfer Station will
resume regular operating hours on Tuesday, July 6th, 7:30 AM – 3:15 PM. 

 

There will be NO
CHANGE to the regularly scheduled refuse and recycling pick
up. 
Please put your items out on your normal day for collection by 7:00 AM as
always.  

 

JULY
FOURTH CELEBRATION

The Durham-Great Bay Rotary Club and
the Town of Durham will be sponsoring a gala Independence
Day celebration with fireworks on Sunday, July 4^th with a rain date
of Monday, July 5^th to be held at Cowell Stadium on the UNH campus.
Activities will begin at 6:30 PM. In addition to music, activities are also
planned for children. The food court will also be open and serve great food
throughout the fireworks display. Donations will be accepted at the gate.
Fireworks will begin at dusk (9:00-9:15 PM). UNH provides this venue at no cost
to the community.

 

 

                                   
                       
Courtesy Katherine
Fiermonti

 

SENSORY
GARDENT RIBBON-CUTTING

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held
this afternoon at the Jackson Landing Playground to celebrate the Parks &
Recreation Committee’s creation of a new sensory garden at the playground.
Three committees
were formed to help with the installation of the garden, maintenance of the
garden beds, and provide educational tours each week to encourage participants
to use their five senses to investigate each plant. To view sensory garden bed examples,
click HERE

 

           
Courtesy Janice
Hoglund

 

ORPP
VISITS DPW

On June 13, the Oyster River Parents
of Preschoolers (ORPP) visited the Department of Public Works and got to see the
trucks and equipment used by the department.

 

PRIMARY ELECTION – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14^TH

The New Hampshire state
Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The following is a
list of candidates who have filed for office to represent District 7 within
the NH House of Representatives in Strafford County and District 21 within the NH Senate in
Strafford
County:

 

State
Representatives

Judith T. Spang

Jenna
Roberts

Timothy
Horrigan

Naida
Kaen

Amos
Townsend

Anne
Lane

Phil
Ginsburg

David
Childs

Janet
Wall

 

State
Senate

Peter
Angerhofer

Amanda
Merrill

 

Delegates to the Republican
Convention

Roger
Arnoldy

Pete
Chinburg

Charles
McLean

Warren W.
Smith

 

To view a complete listing
of candidates who have filed for the Primary Election, visit http://www.sos.nh.gov/filingperiod--2010.htm. 

 

Oyster
River Business
Administrator to Take Rochester Finance Director
Position

The City of Rochester announced this week the hiring of Blaine
Cox, the business administrator for the Oyster River
Cooperative School District, as its new finance
director. Mr. Cox has served with the ORCSD as business
administrator since 2001.  We wish Mr. Cox every success in his
next endeavor.  To view a recent Foster's article regarding this topic, go
to:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100621/GJNEWS_01/706219932/-1/FOSNEWS0102

 

Vacancies
on Various Town Boards

The Durham Town Council is seeking
interested residents of the Town of Durham who have the ability, desire, and time
needed to serve on the Town boards and/or committees listed below that currently
have vacancies. Citizens interested in board appointments should contact the
Town Administrator’s office at 868-5571, or email Jennie Berry at jberry@ci.durham.nh.us and request an
application form. Interested residents may also stop in at the Town Clerk’s
office located on the first floor of the Town Hall, 15 Newmarket Road,
and complete an application. Applications are also available on the Town’s
web site at: www.ci.durham.nh.us under the heading
“Features” at the bottom of the page. Completed applications may be mailed to
the Town Administrator’s office, or submitted via email to jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

Parks and Recreation Committee (1
alternate vacancy)

Rental Housing Commission (1 tenant
representative; 1 student organization
representative)

Durham Cable Access Television
(DCAT) Governance Committee (1 regular vacancy; 1 alternate
vacancy)

Durham Energy Committee (2
vacancies)

Strafford Regional Planning
Commission & MPO Policy Committee (1 vacancy)

 

PUBLIC
MEETING SCHEDULE

The following public meeting(s) is
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
meeting(s) listed below, please click HERE. 
All meetings recorded on DCAT are available on DVD at the Durham Public Library
for checkout and viewing. 

 

Economic Development Committee –
Monday, June 28, 2010

Town Administrator orientation for
new board, commission, and committee Chairs & Vice Chairs – Tuesday, June
22, 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 PARKS & REC NOW ON
FACEBOOK

Durham Parks and Recreation now has a Facebook page. Check it out
by searching “Town of Durham Parks”.

JULY
4^th UNCLE SAM BIKE/WALK PARADE AT FIREWORK
CELEBRATION

Join
Oyster River Parents of Preschoolers and Durham Parks & Rec for the July
4^th Uncle Sam Parade.  Children are encouraged to come to the
Durham-Great Bay Rotary July 4^th Celebration in their best Uncle Sam
costume and to bring their bike along too!  At the celebration visit the
Children’s Entertainment Area to decorate your bike in red, white and blue, get
your face painted or temporarily tattooed and make your own Uncle Sam top
hat.  The Parade begins at 8:15pm and will loop around the UNH track. 
Direct questions to Michael Mengers,
817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us.

 

PARKS
& REC IS LOOKING FOR PICKUP SPORT
COORDINATORS

Are
you crazy for Croquet?  Wishing for more wiffleball?  Looking for a
Ladderball club?  Missing your old mountain bike club?  If so, contact
Parks & Recreation Director Michael
Mengers (817-4074, mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us). 
He is currently looking for volunteers to help coordinate all types of summer
pickup sport clubs.

 

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Stay
current with all Durham P&R programs by viewing the June Recreation
Reminder, please click HERE. 
Also, visit our website at http://www.ci.durham.nh.us/COMMUNITY/recreation.html or on Facebook - search ‘Town of Durham
Parks.’ 

 

To register for any of the classes
below, please contact Durham P&R Director Michael
Mengers at 817-4074 or mmengers@ci.durham.nh.us or visit the
Town Clerk’s Office.

 

§        
Friday, June 25, 6:00 PM, ORMS
Field:  Pickup Ultimate
Frisbee

§        
Wednesday, June 30, Noon – 1:00
PM:  Free Yoga at Wagon Hill Farm  

§        
Saturday, July 10 - Children’s Summer Safari
begins!

§        
Thursday, July 15, 5:30 PM:  Thursday Evening
Yoga Begins – Preregistration
required

§        
Friday, July 23, 5:00 PM:  A Band by the
Bay. The Clearly Related String Band and a guided trail walk of
Wagon Hill Farm.

§        
Saturday, July 24, Churchill Rink: :  Puppy
Class (9:00 AM) and Dog Obedience Class (10:00 AM)
begins

 

COMMUNITY
EVENTS

§        
June 26, 11:30 AM, Portsmouth High School:  AmericaSpeaks in
partnership with the Carsey Institute at UNH and Portsmouth Listens announces a
town hall meeting event: Our Budget, Our
Economy. Register at:  www.USABudgetDiscussion.org.
Visit www.Americaspeaks.org for more
information.

§        
June 27 – July 1, 10:00 – 11:30 AM on Sunday and 9:00
AM – Noon, Monday-Thursday, Community
Church of Durham:  Vacation Bible
School. $20 for
first child, $15 for second, cap of $40 per family. For more information, please
contact Paula Norbert at 603-868-1230 or cedirector@durhamcommunitychurch.org. 

§        
July 5-9, 8:30 – Noon, UNH Paul Creative
Arts Center:  Music For Youth. Designed for band
students entering 5th and 6th grades in the fall. Daily instrumental lessons are
taught by experienced UNH music education majors. For more information, contact
Sarah DeTurk at sarah.deturk@gmail.com.

§        
August 2-6 and August 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.

 

Durham
Public Library Programs and Events

Visit our website at www.durhampubliclibrary.org for
more information.

§        
Sat., June 26, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM:  McGregor
Memorial EMS babysitting certification class. 

§        
Tue., June 29:  Summer Reading Program begins
for “Make a Splash, Read.  Make Waves At Your Library”, a fun 5-week
reading program for children and teens which begins on June 29^th
running through July 29th. 

§        
Tue., June 29, 10:30 AM:  Pre-school Storytime –
Fish/Ocean life

§        
Tue., June 29, 6:30 PM:  9-12 year old program –
Cinnamon Rainbow Surfer visit!

§        
Wed., June 30, 6:30 PM:  All ages – UNH Marine
Docent Rocky Shores Program!

§        
Thu., July 1, 3:00-4:00 PM:  6-8 yr. old program
– Sea life!

§        
Thu., July 1, 4:00-5:00 PM:  Young adult program
– YA author Megan Frazer visit.  Megan will start an on-line cultural
magazine with interested Young Adults.  Megan is an Oyster River Graduate
and author of the YA book “The Secrets of Truth & Beauty”.  New and
experienced writers welcome!

§        
Fri., July 2, 10:30 AM:  All ages Summer Reading
Kick-off Celebration with the Durham, Lee, and Madbury libraries featuring
the fun and rocking  Toe Jam Band!  Program is at the ORHS
multi-purpose room.

 

Weekly
Police Arrest Report

Week – 11	4 UNH (36%)	7 Other (74%)
*2009/10 Academic Year – 904	563 UNH (62%)	341 Other (38%)
Calendar Year – 380	232 UNH (61%)	148 Other (39%)

*Commenced September 1, 2009 

 

FROM
“DURHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE A HISTORY –
1900-1985”

“At the beginning of the twentieth
century, Durham
was governed by a board of three selectmen elected at the annual meeting. The
town meeting was, and has continued to be, the basis for action in town
affairs.” Published in 1985 by the Durham Historic
Association.

 

Have a good
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

 

The
Town of Durham
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