Friday Update November 10, 2011

... on
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Grange on the Move!
 On Wednesday and Thursday of this week,
the Grange was moved forward to a new
foundation adjacent to the sidewalk on Main
Street.  This section of Main Street now
has a whole new streetcape.
 

The Department of
Public Works has caluclated that the Town
incurred $66,724 in costs associated with the
Halloween Nor'easter which includes
preliminary numbers for the police, public
works, and fire departments.  We'll be
submitting for FEMA 75% reimbursement.
  

VETERAN’S DAY
HOLIDAY

All Town offices will
be closed in observance of Veteran's Day on
Friday, November 11, 2011. There will be NO
CHANGE TO THE REFUSE AND RECYCLING SCHEDULE.
All items should be out on their regular day
by 7:00
AM.

CONGRESS
CONSIDERS PROPOSALS THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL
TO AMTRAK DOWNEASTER RAIL SERVICE IN DURHAM,
DOVER, AND
EXETER

There are currently proposals before
the U.S. Congress that would substantially
reduce funding for Amtrak generally and
eliminate all funding for state-supported
Amtrak service, including the
Downeaster.

Since the return of passenger rail
service to Durham in 2001, the Amtrak
Downeaster has provided an important service
to Durham by allowing its citizens to use the
train as an alternative means of
transportation in place of the private
automobile, as well as bringing visitors to
the community and thereby enhancing our
efforts toward economic development and
sustainability.

Since 2001, a total of 406,328 riders
have used the train from Durham/UNH.
 Dover station ridership to date equals
394,642.  Exeter station ridership
totals 652,949.  Approximately 55,000
riders per year are now utilizing the
Durham/UNH station.

On November 7, 2011,
the Durham Town Council unanimously passed a
resolution seeking
support from the State of
New Hampshire Congressional Delegation and
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch in
preserving Durham as a stop on the Downeaster
route. To view the resolution, click
HERE.

CURBSIDE TRASH & RECYCLING
REGULATION
REMINDER
Please
note that except on the day of or the night
before scheduled curbside collection,
recyclable and non-recyclable waste
containers should be  stored on private
property in such a manner as to be screened
from any public way.  Concerns should be
reported to the Code Enforcement Office at
(603) 868-8064.
 

UPDATE ON ALPHA TAU OMEGA (ATO)
FRATERNITY FOLLOWING DRUG RAID AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT INCIDENT THIS PAST WEEKEND ON MAIN
STREET
This past weekend the
Durham Police Department investigated a
series of issues at the Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity house located at 66 Main
Street.  Foster's Daily
Democrat covered the story in an article
at http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111107/GJNEWS_01/711079939/-1/FOSNEWS0102&template=GreatBayRegion.

The Town was notified late this week by
the Gamma Theta Corporation (the ATO alumni
organization that holds the property) of the
following:

• All
  tenants have been evicted and the house is
  empty;
• There is a security officer on site
  24/7;
• Residents will be removing their
  possessions, with Friday, October 11th
  being a significant move-out
  day;
• The
  building will have the first floor and any
  easy access windows boarded
  up;
• Doors will either be boarded up or
  re-secured with
  padlocks;
• The
  leases for the parking spaces in the ATO
  lot have been terminated and all vehicles
  will be removed.

DURHAM’S TOWN TAX RATE TO
INCREASE BY 4
CENTS
There was
an article in this week’s
Foster’s Daily Democrat regarding the
proposed FY 2012 budget.  It can be
accessed at

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111102/GJNEWS_01/711029957/-1/FOSNEWS.

Copies of the
proposed Durham FY 2012 Budget and 2012-2021
CIP Plans are

available
for public viewing at the Durham Town
Office and at the Durham

Public
Library.

ADMINISTRATOR'S PROPOSED FY 2012 BUDGET
FOR DURHAM

This year’s budget cycle has
resulted in a proposed 2012 General Fund
budget totaling $11,257,284.00, an increase
of $258,612 or (2.35%) compared to FY
2011.  Of the $258,612 increase, a total
of $150,950 represents an appropriation from
the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG)
account to specifically support smart growth
central core redevelopment should a major
redevelopment project require public
partnership in order to come to fruition in
areas such as transitioning one-way to
two-way traffic, off site underground utility
infrastructure improvements, or economic
development consultative, engineering, or
staffing services. This
leaves a total increase of $107,622 coming
from General Fund tax dollars representing a
.97% change over FY 2011 budgeted
levels.

For comparative purposes, the
twelve-month September 2010 to September 2011
Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) numbers
are:  U.S. City Index – 3.9%,
Northeast Urban Index – 4.0%, and
Boston-Brocton-Nashua –
3.7%. 

To view the full 7 page transmittal
letter providing an overview of the FY 2012
Administrator's proposed budget, click
HERE. 

To view the entire budget, located on
the Town web site, click HERE. 

A public Hearing is
scheduled for November 14th to obtain
feedback from the
community. 

WINTER
PARKING BAN

The Winter Parking Ban commences
November 1st through April 1st   on
all roadways throughout Durham.  Any
vehicle parked on any street between the
hours of 1AM and 6AM are subject to being
ticketed and towed at the owner’s
expense. If your vehicle is towed due to the
need for snow removal, the vehicle owner/s is
required to pay all towing costs AND the fine
for the ticket issued before vehicle is
released.  Residents and visitors are
reminded that parking in any Town owned
parking lot and throughout the downtown Main
Street area between 1:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M.
is prohibited year-round.

PLANNING
BOARD
HAPPENINGS...

The Planning Board met on Wednesday,
November 9, 2011 and discussed the
following:

• Appointed Andrew Corrow as the
  Planning Board’s representative on
  the Economic Development Committee;
  postponed a public hearing on the proposed
  Zoning Map change in the Professional
  Office District.
• Rre-opened and continued a public
  hearing until December 14th on a site plan
  application for a doggie daycare building
  at Great Bay Kennel.
• Continued a discussion on a
  boundary line adjustment between Geoff
  Sawyer (Kennel property) and Great Bay
  Animal Hospital.
• Set
  a public hearing for December 14th on a
  citizen petition to amend the Table of Uses
  to make Eldercare Facilities a
  non-permitted use in the Residence A
  District. 

In addition, the Planning Board
discussed the request for rezoning of the
Beech Hill area from Rural to Office Research
Light Industry and decided not to initiate
amending the zoning map.  The rezoning
of this area could still be moved forward by
being initiated by the Town Council or by
citizen petition.

ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE

The Economic Development Committee will
meet on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. 
While the agenda has not been finalized, a
good portion of the meeting will be spent
discussing the updates to the Economic
Development Chapter and the Commercial Core
Chapter of the Master Plan.  The
Committee looks forward to a great
discussion.

ENERGY
COMMITTEE

The Energy Committee met on Tuesday,
November 8, 2011.  The main focus of the
meeting was a discussion on the new Energy
Chapter that will be part of the Master Plan
update.  The draft chapter will be
available on the Town’s website very
soon. To view the general schedule for the
Master Plan update, click HERE.

MASTER PLAN UPDATE SCHEDULE AVAILALBE
ON LINE

Residents who have an interest in
learning more about the planned schedule for
updating the 2000 Master Plan can view it on
line.  To view the general schedule for
the Master Plan update, click HERE.
 The schedule is a dynamic one in that
it necessarily must be regularly updated due
to the actual work flow of committees and
staff.  A link should be up on the
Town's home page this evening offering
residents a way to become more familiar with
the Master Plan update
process.

Jackson's Landing Playground located on
Old Piscataqua Road - Courtesy
DPW

JACKSON'S
LANDING PLAYGROUND
RENOVATIONS

The  Department of Public
Works recently completed renovations to
the Jackson’s Landing playground
entranceway.  The renovations were
generously funded with monies from the
Jackson’s Landing Playground
Committee. 

MORGAN WAY ROUTE 4 INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENTS

This week DPW finished up the safety
enhancement project at the intersection of
Morgan Way and Route 4 with the application
of final paving, pavement markings and
signage.  Punch list items left include
hydro-seeding within the disturbed soils
alongside the area this fall as well as in
spring 2012, and the installation of an
additional street light in the general
vicinity which has been initiated through a
work order with PSNH. 

Members of UNH's Circle K Club assist
with the clean up of the Smith Chapel area.
Courtesy DPW

CLEAN UP AT
SMITH CHAPEL AND
ROUNDABOUT

Two groups from UNH’s Circle K
Club completed a clean up of the Smith Chapel
and the Main Street roundabout, raking and
weeding. The UNH
Circle K is a community service, leadership
development, and friendship organization at
the University of New
Hampshire. We thank them for
their generous offering of
time.

ADDITIONAL
OPTIONS FOR DEBRIS
CLEANUP

Due to the Halloween nor’easter,
Public Works has decided to offer additional
accommodations for residents who are cleaning
up fallen limbs and yard debris from the
storm. 

The Packers Falls gravel pit will be
open to Town residents this Saturday and
next, November 5th & 12th, as well as
during the week of 11/7- 11/11, between 7:30
and 3pm.  Participants must show proof
of residency when coming into the
pit. 

If a landscaper is hauling debris on
your behalf, make sure they have information
for you including your phone number. 
Brush and limbs must be no greater than 5
feet in length and 5 inches in
diameter.  No stumps will be
accepted. 

We encourage the use of the Packers
Falls pit during this time since we will have
much more room for debris however, residents
may also bring debris up to the Transfer
Station with their regular permit on Tuesday
or Saturday from 7:30-3:00.   With
Fall Cleanup occurring next week as well,
folks may also stack debris on their curbside
to be picked up as long as it can be out on
time.     

Durham Book
Exchange won first place in the "business"
category during last year's lighting contest
held by the Durham Business Association.
Other first place winners were Kappa Delta,
"Sorority" category, and TKO, "Fraternity"
category. Courtesy Katie Muth,
DBA.

DURHAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION -
16TH ANNUAL LIGHT UP DURHAM LIGHTING
CONTEST
The Durham Business Association
presents the 16th Annual Light Up
Durham Lighting Contest. The DBA
is encouraging all businesses to light
their business fronts and share in spreading
the joy of the season.
  
This event is intended to benefit the entire
Durham community, which includes Durham
residents and businesses, as well as UNH
faculty, staff, and students. This is an
opportunity for everyone to get involved and
to encourage local support for Durham
businesses.
 
Judging will take place Thursday, December 1,
2011 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00
P.M.

The
Contest is open to all Durham Businesses and
recognized Greek fraternities and
sororities.
 

Guidelines for judging
include:

• The
  effectiveness of lights creating the
  display.
• The
  placement and uniformity of the
  lights.
• The
  use of design and color to create the
  decorations.
• The
  use of special lighted
  displays.
• The
  ingenuity, originality, and creativity
  exercised in the
  decorations.
• Holiday Lights are available for sale
  at Town & Campus and Rite Aid. Support
  Durham’s local
  businesses.

 For more information please
contact the Durham Business Association at
durhambusinessassociation@gmail.com.  

DURHAM BOOK EXCHANGE - THIS WEEK'S
FEATURED DOWNTOWN
BUSINESS

We would like to begin featuring a
downtown Durham business each week in the
"Friday Updates". Businesses interested in
participating 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.

This week's featured business is the
DURHAM BOOK EXCHANGE. The
Durham Book Exchange is located at 36 Main
Street and is managed by Lorraine Mechem. You
may contact the DBE at
603-868-1297, via email at orders@durhambook.com, or visit
their website at www.durhambook.com. Hours of
Operation are  Mon-Fri, 9-5,
closed weekends. Extended hours at the
beginning and end of semesters.
 
Durham Book Exchange is a New Hampshire
based, privately-owned, independent bookstore
serving the University community for 30
years, offering an alternative source for
textbooks. They carry a large selection
of used textbooks, as well as new books at
the lowest prices possible. DBE proudly
contributes a portion of its profits to many
local and national charities, as well as
student-based
organizations. They buy back
current edition textbooks all year round and
are happy to do special orders for books of
any kind. Textbooks for UNH classes can
be pre-ordered prior to each semester and
books will be held for student pick-up to
avoid the long lines.  DBE also
carries a wide range of school supplies,
UNH clothing, and the ever-popular DOLLAR
books.  Stop in and see for
yourself!

NEW BUSINESS ON JENKINS
COURT
The Simply
Lisa Salon has been opened on Jenkins Court
in the new building where Houghton's Hardware
used to be located.  The owner is Lisa
Young.   Ms. Young is open Tuesday
through Saturdays.  Appointments
available at (603)
590-HAIR.
 

Durham's
Churchill ice skating rink -
Courtesy
DPW

CHURCHILL RINK IS
OPEN!

The Churchill Rink at Jackson’s
Landing is open and ready for skaters! 
Season passes available at rink. 
2011-2012 Schedule listed
below: 

Public Skating:
     M,W,F-  2:00pm-
3:20pm   T, TH- 9:00am- 10:20am
& 2:00pm- 4:20pm
     SAT- 2:00pm-
3:50pm  SUN- 2:00pm- 3:50pm
Adults $5.00, Ages 6-16
$3.00

NHDES AND GREAT BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE
RESEARCH RESERVE PRESENTATION ON CHANGES TO
COMPREHENSIVE SHORELAND PROTECTION
ACT

A presentation regarding the changes to
the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act
will be held Friday, Nov 18, 2011 from
9:30-11:00 AM OR Tuesday, Dec 6, 2011 from
6:00-7:30 PM. Both presentation options will
take place at the Hugh Gregg Coastal
Conservation Center, Depot Road, Greenland,
NH. This presentation will provide an
overview of these changes and will also
include information on the permitting process
and the minimum standards relative to
impervious surface limitations and
maintaining levels of vegetation along the
shore. For more information,
click HERE.

RIGHT
TO KNOW LAW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE
FOR
VIEWING

On October 31, 2011,
a Right to Know Law presentation
was given by Local Government Center
attorney Christine Fillmore. To view the
PowerPoint presentation provided by attorney
Fillmore for this session,
click HERE.

TOWN OFFICES CLOSED FOR
THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY
All Town
Offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving
holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 24
and 25, 2011. All offices will reopen
for business on Monday, November 28th at 8:00
AM.

Refuse and Recycling
Schedule During
Thanksgiving:

Residents who normally have their
refuse and recycling picked up on a Thursday
will be defaulted to Friday of
Thanksgiving week. Please have all items
out by 7AM as always. There will be no
collection of the commercial recycling route
on Friday, November 25th.

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.

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://www.ci.durham.nh.us/ by
clicking the DCAT on demand logo, or directly
at http://dcat.pegcentral.com/.

Town
Council - Monday,
November 14, 2011. (Public Hearing on
Administrator's proposed budget and Council
budget work session). To view the
complete Council packet for this meeting,
click HERE.

Durham Agricultural
Commission - Tuesday, November
15, 2011 (Durham PD
Community Room, 7:00
PM)

Economic Development
Committee - Wednesday,
November 16, 2011

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.

OYSTER RIVER
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UNDERWAY – ALL
STAKEHOLDERS INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE
The
Oyster River Cooperative School Board has
engaged the New England School Development
Council (NESDEC) to assist it the search
process for a new Superintendent of
Schools.
 
An integral part of the process involves
parent, student, staff, and community
participation in focus groups. The groups are
designed to obtain participant input about
the attributes, experience, and knowledge
that the new superintendent should possess.
The groups also provide an opportunity for
participants to identify immediate tasks that
the new superintendent should address.
 
The following focus group session will
be held at the Oyster River High School
Multipurpose Room:

• Thursday, November 10th, 6:30 -
  8:00 PM:  Parents (including both
  current and future
  students).

NESDEC will conduct the focus group
session.  There is no limit to the
number of participants and no need to
register for the session of your choice.
Childcare will be available for the Nov.
10th, 6:30 PM parents’
session.

 
The School Board and NESDEC hope that all
stakeholders will be able to
participate.
 

DURHAM PARKS
& RECREATION PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS

NEW
PROGRAMS:

FREE Parents & Preschoolers
Exercise Class for Infants to 5 year olds
along with a parent. Class begins soon and
will be held on Thursdays 9am – 10am at
the Durham Parks & Recreation
Building.

Coyote Club Instilling a sense
of wonder, responsibility, and stewardship
for the natural world through exploration.
This Environmental program is for children in
grades 1st through 5th Activities are held at
Wagon Hill Farm. Begins Mon. Nov. 28th,
3:45-4:45pm. Cost is $60 for 6 weeks. To
register contact Sandy Devins at recreation@ci.durham.nh.us.

Kid’s Yoga has a new
session beginning  for ages 9 –
12. Class meets Wed. 4:30 – 5:30pm at
the Durham Parks & Recreation Building.
Cost is $40 for 8 weeks.

Think Snow! There is a new Snowshoe
Group being formed. This group will meet
on Wed. mid-morning (time to be announced)
for an hour to have fun in the
snow.

For more information on any of these
events, please contact P&R Director Sandy
Devins at 603-817-4074, sdevins@ci.durham.nh.us  Also
check out our Facebook account on
“Durham Rec”.

DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS

New Library
Campaign

The New Library Campaign goal is to
raise $900,000 in additional donations as the
private share of the public-private
partnership with the Town for a new facility.
To date, more than $720,930 of the $900,000
has been raised!  But we still need your
help to reach our goal.

We are
making all of our campaign information
available on our website http://durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/. 
Help make the long-awaited new library a
reality. Your donation will make a
difference!

The Library will be closed
Friday, Nov. 11th in honor of Veteran’s
Day.  The Library will re-open on
Saturday, Nov. 12th at 10:00
a.m.
 

________________________________

The Durham Public Library has a number
of exciting upcoming programs and events. To
view a list of these programs, click HERE. For more information,
visit the library's website at: http://durhampubliclibrary.org/durham/.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND
EVENTS

Meeting of
the Oyster River Taxpayers -
Tuesday, Nov 15, 2011, 7:00 PM, Durham Town
Hall Council
Chambers

The McQuade
Organ Concert, Tuesday, Nov 15,
2011, 7:30 PM, Community Church of Durham,
featuring organist Isabelle Demers from
Montreal, Canada. Free and open to the
public. For more information, contact Bryn
Burns, 603-743-1813, brynb07@comcast.net.

Oyster River High School Drama
Department performs “The
Importance of Being Earnest”, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday (Nov 17, 18, 19), 7:00 PM.
Tickets :$5.00/students, $8.00/
adults.

FREE Spaghetti Dinner,
Saturday, Nov 19, 2011, 7:00 PM, St. Thomas
More Parish, Durham. Event is being held
by the UNH Recreation Management and Policy
students of RMP557. Contact Brittany George,
bey25@unh.edu, for more
information.

Mast
Way School
4th Annual Holiday Shopping Bazaar,
Saturday, Nov 19, 2011, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM,
Mast Way School, Lee. Do you own a small home
business, are a demonstrator for a Direct
Sales Company, or a crafter looking for a way
to sell your wares? Contact Dianne,
603-659-2057, amberpuppy@aol.com, for more
information.

Lee Holiday
Festival, Saturday, Nov 19, 2011,
7:30 AM, Lee Safety Complex on George Bennett
Road. Will include a ride with Santa in a
horsedrawn wagon, homemade goodies, unique
crafts, and other items. For more
information, contact Marian, 603-659-3996 or
Barbara, 603-659-6428. See  
http://www.leechurch.org/ for
more details.

Durham
Church's Annual Christmas Fair,
Saturday, Dec 3, 2011, 9:00 AM - 2:00
PM. The tradition of the Christmas Fair
at The Community Church of Durham, The
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Thomas
More and St. George Episcopal Church is a
long one. For years, our Fair traditions have
taken root and
grown.

3rd Annual
Caution: Gingerbread House Construction
Event, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011, 11:00
AM - 4:00 PM, UNH MUB at the food
court. Come join other families and enter
your gingerbread house in the contest to win
fun prizes. All money raised goes to On
Belay a non-profit providing unique adventure
based programs for young people who have or
have had a family member with cancer. For
more information, click HERE.

Launching the New
Gundalow, Saturday, Dec 10, 2011,
Portsmouth, NH, Pierce Island. 10:30 AM:
Official remarks; 11:00 AM: Naming Ceremony
and launching from Pierce Island. For
more information visit http://www.gundalow.org/.

ECHO Community Thrift
Shop - Durham Community Church, 17
Main Street, Durham. The economical and
environmentally friendly way to shop. Hours:
Wednesday 10 am-5 pm, Thursday 10 am-7 pm,
Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-2 pm.
Offering clothing, accessories, small
household items, and vintage. Gladly
accepting donations of clean and gently used
items during hours of operation. For
more information contact: 603-868-1230 or
office@durhamcommunitychurch.org.
The Thrift Shop entrance is at the back of
the Church in the lower parking
lot.

WEEKLY ARREST
REPORT

*Academic year commences the third week
of August through graduation at UNH in
May.

Have a good 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?