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Friday, December 14, 2018
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This beautiful Gingerbread house, created by Trudy Higgins Brown, will be on display at the Durham Public Library through the holidays.
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The new stop signs along Edgewood Road at Davis Avenue were operational as of noon today. They were in response to concerns expressed by residents on Edgewood Road concerning high rates of speed by traveling motorists. We hope the new stop signs, approved by the Town Council last month, will result in a safer, more neighborhood friendly experience on and around Edgewood Road.
We received a call from the mayor and a city council member from Fairfax, VA this week on a reference check on our experience with large, professionally managed student housing projects in Durham. Generally speaking, Durham police consistently find that on-site, professionally managed off campus student housing is the key to success versus non-owner occupied student rentals within residential neighborhoods.
A group of carolers from the Oyster River Middle School will stop by the Durham Town Hall lobby on Thursday, December 20th at 9 AM to do some singing to ring in the holidays. The public is most welcome to attend. Last year the Town Hall staff was quite impressed with the talent of these terrific young people and their teacher, Jarika Olberg, the ORMS Choral Director. They sing a collection of holiday songs.
ORCSD Superintendent Jim Morse and Admin. Selig traveled to Dover this week to meet with a group of interfaith leaders to talk about how to be more inclusive with recognizing/understanding the various religious and cultural holidays of families with kids in the school system as part of the school calendar and to obtain resources for planning next year's Tree Lighting celebration so it can be as welcoming as possible to all persons.
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WRAP FOR CHARITY
IS A NON PROFIT WRAPPING EVENT
BEING HELD AT DURHAM BIKE & SPORTS-64 Main St, Durham
Drop you gifts and they will be wrapped and decorated with bows, ribbons, tags……
Donations are welcome, Cash please.
The Non-Profits being represented include:
The Freedom Cafe
Waysmeet
Friends in Action
Growing Places
SPCA
Womenade
Dates and Times:
Fridays (12/7, 12/14, & 12/21) 3-8pm
Saturdays (12/8 & 12/15)
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EAT LOCAL ALL WINTER!
The Durham Agricultural Commission urges you to seek out locally grown and produced food this winter. Winter farmers’ markets in the region provide a sustainable source of income for more than 60 local farms and food businesses. Greens, such as lettuce and salad mixes, grown by these farmers travel an average of 25 miles to reach the winter farmers’ market, versus an average of nearly 900 miles for greens to reach the grocery store. A full list of winter farmers’ markets in our area is available on the Seacoast Eat Local website.
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HOLIDAY REFUSE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION SCHEDULE
The refuse and recycling collection will be altered for the following holidays:
NO COLLECTION on Tuesday, 12/25/18 (Christmas day), and Tuesday, 1/1/19 (New Years day). Day of collection will be pushed ahead one day for the rest of the week. There will be NO COMMERCIAL RECYCLING COLLECTION on Friday, 12/28/18 or Friday, 1/4/19. All items must be out by 7AM as always.
The Transfer Station will be CLOSED on Tuesday, 12/25/18 and Tuesday, 1/1/19 for the holidays. However, the Transfer Station will be open for shortened days on Wednesday, 12/26/18 and Wednesday, 1/2/19 from 7:30 AM to 12:00 Noon.
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Aerial view (via drone) of the town holiday tree located in the Memorial Park, downtown Durham. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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TOWN COUNCIL TAKES UP ISSUE OF DURHAM’S ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING AND CURRENT POLICY THAT PRECLUDES THE DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS ON TOWN PROPERTY
The Town Council held a special meeting on Monday evening, December 10th, concerning Durham's annual Tree Lighting ceremony organized by the Parks & Recreation Department, as well as the question of whether to change current Town policy that precludes the display of religious symbols on municipal property. Watch the very thoughtful discussion on DCAT on Demand.
In addition, there have been numerous articles and editorials concerning the topic over the course of the last week. Some of them are listed below.
Foster's Daily Democrat - Durham Holiday Debate is Complex
Various editorials regarding tree issue:
Union Leader – Cue the Grinch the Indignant Find a New Horror
Seacoast Online – Expect fairness in Durham holiday debate
Foster’s Daily Democrat – Praise for thoughtful and civil discourse
Concord Monitor – Trees that Stand for the Season - “The tree should stand alone."
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BUDGET UPDATES – Council decisions regarding ORYA funding, the Oyster River (Mill Pond) Dam, Outdoor Pool Subsidy, Tax Rates, and more...
After considerable discussion as part of the budget approval process for the FY 2019 budget, the Council ultimately came to consensus around an appropriation to the Oyster River Youth Association in the amount of $28,000 for 2019 (a reduction from ORYA’s budget request of $44,025), which will be contingent not only upon receipt of its IRS Form 990 submittals annually, but also the public release of audited financials and management letters for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2018 for the organization. While the Council had discussed either a further reduction for 2020 or possibly even removal of all future funding, that amount was not determined and will be up to subsequent Town Councils.
The Council also reinstated $12,000 in funding for a reduced subsidy for Durham residents who purchase pool passes for the UNH Outdoor Pool in 2019. The funding amount in 2018 had been set at $30,000.
After deliberation, the Council choose to include an appropriation of $300,000 in 2019 for feasibility and engineering moving towards removal of the historic Oyster River (Mill Pond) Dam. Dam repair/reconstruction has been estimated to be in the $1 - $5 million range. It is anticipated that the cost for dam removal and river/habitat restoration would be significantly offset with grant funding because the NHDES and environmental/ conservation organizations generally encourage river restoration and dam removal over dam repair/reconstruction for old dam structures that no longer serve an active purpose.
The Council reinstated the purchase in 2019 of a second police cruiser at $45,000. Mr. Selig had only recommended one cruiser in 2019 due to budget constraints.
The Council eliminated $19,100 in funding from the Assessing Department request to begin a cyclical measure and list of Durham properties; instead preferring a measure and list in 3-5 years’ time of all Durham properties in the same year.
Finally, with updated actual revenue figures versus those available from September when the budget was being finalized by staff, the Council was comfortable raising some revenue estimates, which when combined with the aforementioned reduction from the Assessing Department and spending increases, resulted in no net change to the budget tax rate impacts.
We therefore estimate an amount of $9,288,780 ($9,145,780 of general tax revenue and $143,000 of Tax Increment Financing District tax revenue) shall be raised by taxation which together with estimated operating revenues of $18,176,039 for the aggregate amount of $27,364,819 will be raised and appropriated for the use of the several departments of the town government for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019.
In total, next year’s budget is projected to increase the 2019 local municipal portion of the tax rate by 3.12% from $ 7.37 (formerly $8.48 but adjusted due to 2018 statistical revaluation update) to $7.60, an increase of 23 cents. The tax rate has remained at $7.37 for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The proposed increase would cost the average Durham property taxpayer with a home valued at $350,000 an additional $80.50 in taxes for 2019.
The proposed Sewer (Wastewater) Fund budget reflects a 2.73% decrease in user fees in 2019 (a rate of $8.71 per hundred cubic feet), while the proposed Water Fund budget carries an anticipated 16.9% increase in user fees (a rate of $7.08 per hundred cubic feet) for FY 2019.
The twelve-month July 2017 to July 2018 Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) numbers are: U.S. City Index – 2.9%, Northeast – Size Class B/C (Pop. 2.5 million or less) – 3.4%, and Boston-Brocton-Nashua-MA-NH-ME-CT – 3.4%.
In essence, the operation and management of local town government in Durham, NH represents a $30 million operation.
The Town Council is set to adopt Resolution 2018-23, Approval of the FY 2019 General Operating Budgets, Capital Fund Budget, and the 2019-2028 CIP on Monday evening, December 17th.
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KAPPA DELTA SORORITY APPLICATION FOR EXPANSION
The Planning Board is currently reviewing an application to expand the Kappa Delta Sorority building at 25 Madbury Road. The plans involve building out the third floor, adding a three story addition at the rear, and some minor site changes. According to the applicant there are presently 45 residents at Kappa Delta. The plans will actually not provide for an increase in occupancy but rather allow for more comfortable and up to date accommodations for the sorority sisters in smaller bedrooms rather than bunk rooms.
The size of the building will nearly double from 9,843 to 18,818 square feet. The application is for the site plan and a conditional use to expand the building, build within the wetland buffer, and increase the height above 30 feet. The board is holding a public hearing on January 9, 2019. Architect Art Guadano designed the building additions and renovations. Mike Sievert of MJS Engineering is the project engineer. The proposed new building elevations are shown HERE.
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RIVERWOODS HOLIDAY E-CARD FEATURES MANY FAMILIAR DURHAM LOCATIONS
Construction is ongoing for the new RiverWoods Durham campus on Stone Quarry Drive. RiverWoods went a little over the top and produced a parody of the song Uptown Funk, featuring original lyrics, vocals, and what the Riverwoods team describes as “dancing”. Durham residents may find of interest HERE.
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Illustration of route for $2.68 million Dover Road Force Main project between pump station on Dover Road and WWTP. Courtesy DPW
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$2.68 MILLION DOVER ROAD FORCE MAIN PROJECT PROPOSED REFERENDUM TO BE PLACED ON THE MARCH 12, 2019 TOWN ELECTION BALLOT
At the January 7, 2019 Town Council meeting, the Council will hold a public hearing as required by RSA 33:8-d II (a) on a referendum question to be placed on the March 12, 2019 Town Election Ballot to authorize the issuance of not more than $2,680,000 of bonds or notes, issued in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33), for the construction of a new Dover Road Pump Station force main.
A second Public Hearing will be held on the referendum question for Monday, February 4, 2019, per RSA 33:8-d II (b).
The Town of Durham owns, operates and maintains 17 miles of sanitary sewer, including the existing 3,000-foot Dover Road Pump Station force main. The 18-inch asbestos-cement (AC) force main was originally installed in 1967 and conveys all the Town’s wastewater flows to the Durham Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF). Because of the location and age of the force main, coupled with no immediate backup provisions, and the fact that it is a single point of failure, the existing force main was recommended for upgrade. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing force main with a new pipe located upland of the high tide line, along an accessible alignment.
The selected force main alignment will be routed along the shoulder of Route 108 (Dover Road) for approximately 400 linear feet, and then continue within the paved travel-way of Old Piscataqua Road. Old Piscataqua Road dead ends approximately 1,500 feet east of Dover Road. The sewer alignment will continue in an easterly direction through a short stretch of Town-owned property before entering NHDOT’s extended Route 4 road right-of-way. The force main alignment will parallel Route 4 and be approximately 100 feet south of the centerline of Route 4. West of the WWTF property, the force main alignment will turn and continue in a southerly direction. The force main alignment will cross a private property owned by UNH before entering the Town-owned WWTF property. The alignment ends at the southern side of the WWTF property where the force main will connect to the existing Headworks building.
The total anticipated length of the new future force main piping is approximately 3,400 linear feet of 20-inch HDPE.
The existing force main will remain in service to provide redundancy to the system. Following the completion of the construction of the new force main the Town will investigate the interior condition of the existing force main to determine if any modifications or improvements need to be made.
To take advantage of the cost-savings associated when combining projects, the proposed 2019 CIP also includes $350,000 to design and construct a replacement water main within the same contract as the force main replacement project. To design and construct the water main in a stand-alone project could cost the Town anywhere from $750,000 - $1M.
Town Engineer April Talon will provide an update regarding this project at the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, December 3rd.
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EVERSOURCE ROADSIDE TRIMMING/MAINTENANCE PLANNED FOR LATE-2018/EARLY-2019
Eversource’s Vegetation Management Division has provided us with the list of roads within the Town of Durham where line trimming is scheduled to be completed in December 2018 and January 2019. This trimming work is essential in keeping the lights on during storm events and as such, the Town actively encourages such activity by the utility. This work is not related to the proposed Seacoast Reliability Project. A list of roads where trimming is planned follows:
Adams Point Road, Bagdad Road, Bay Road, Beards Landing, Beech Hill Road, Bennett Road, Briarwood Lane, Church Hill, Coe Drive, Colony Cove Road, Constable Road, Cowell Park, Cutts , Dame, Davis, Deer Meadow, Denbow, Dennison, Durham Point, Edgerly Garrison Road, Edgewood Road, Emerson Road, Fairchild Drive, Falls Way, Ffrost Drive, Fox Hill Road, Garrison Avenue, Hampshire Avenue, Langley Road, Laurel Lane, Littlehale Road, Little John Road, Long Marsh Road, Lundy Lane, Maple Street, Marden Way, Mathes Terrace, Mathes Cove Road, Newmarket Road, Old Bagdad Road, Packers Falls Road, Palmer Drive, Pinecrest Lane, Quad Way, Rocky Lane, Sandy Brook Drive, Scotland Road, Strafford Avenue, Sunnyside Drive, Timberbrook Lane, Wiley Road, Willey Creek Road, Wood Road, and York Drive.
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DURHAM IT WORKS TO CURTAIL UNNECESSARY COSTS – A SAVINGS OF $8,300/YR
Durham IT Director Luke Vincent and IT Volunteer Jay Gooze report that following a review and elimination of older legacy and default electronic mailboxes within our Microsoft Exchange 2010 system, his department has eliminated unnecessary/unused electronic addresses, bringing the total number utilized by the Town down to 108 mailboxes. We started in with just over 150. Microsoft Office 365 costs around $199 per mailbox per year. So that represents around $8,300 savings in dead mailboxes we won't be bringing forward. Great job everyone, thank you all!
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FREE HOLIDAY PARKING IN THE DOWNTOWN
In coordination with the Durham Business Association, the parking kiosks in the immediate downtown business area will allow free parking to encourage residents and others to shop the downtown during the holidays. The screen on the applicable kiosks will inform parkers of the free parking and will not accept any payment. No receipts on your dashboard will be required during the Holiday Parking period! The grace period that allows for free parking for shoppers will commence Tuesday, December 18th, and run through Friday January 4th! Merry Christmas!
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UNH President James Dean and wife, Jan. Courtesy UNH
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HOLIDAY MESSAGE / VIDEO FROM THE DEANS
Happy Holidays
We’re so grateful and proud to be part of the Wildcat family, and want to share a holiday video that celebrates the tremendous success that the UNH community inspired in 2018.
Wishing you and your family peace and joy.
President Jim Dean and Jan Dean
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ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE CLOSED FROM DEC 24, 2018 THROUGH JAN 1, 2019
Due to vacation scheduling, the Administrator's Office will be closed beginning Monday, December 24, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The office will reopen on Wednesday, January 2, 2018.
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NO "FRIDAY UPDATES" ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018
Due to vacation schedules, there will be no "Friday Updates" published on December 28, 2018.
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UNH WINTER BREAK HAS ARRIVED
UNH students are in the midst of exams and presenting their research papers as classes ended on Monday December 10th with testing through Tuesday the 18th. Residents will have noted that students have been slowly leaving Durham as they complete their tests and turn in their papers. The first day of the 2019 Spring semester is Tuesday January 22nd. Enjoy!
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ANNUAL RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW INFORMATIONAL SESSION
Each year the Town of Durham organizes a Right-to-Know Informational Session for Durham’s elected officials, board/committee members, and Town staff. An invitation is also extended to the ORCSD School Board members and the Towns of Lee and Madbury.
This year the Right-to-Know Law presentation will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Council chambers at Durham Town Hall. It will also be shown live over DCAT, as well as taped for rebroadcast.
It is especially important that newly appointed Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Secretaries attend this session, as well as new members to the various town boards and committees.
Town attorney, Laura Spector-Morgan, will hold the session and has asked that we provide her with the number of anticipated attendees so that she can have an appropriate amount of handouts available. Please RSVP to mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us by Friday, January 11th.
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FY 2017 DURHAM FINANCIAL AUDIT RECEIVED - Town finances looking good
At the Town Council meeting on Monday evening, October 15, 2018, members of the Council received a presentation from the Town's auditing firm, Melanson Heath & Company, Nashua, NH, for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2017.
It was a clean audit in which the Town substantially increased undesignated fund balance per financial goals.
View the 2017 Audit documents HERE.
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On Wednesday evening this week, Planning Board Chair Paul Rasmussen (left) presented Planning Board member Bob Brown with a Certificate of Appreciation for his service to the board over the past few years. Bob also served as secretary of the board and chair of the Future Land Use Master Plan Committee, skillfully guiding that important chapter through to adoption. He will be missed for his wisdom, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor.
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DURHAM RECEIVES $26,575 FEMA GRANT FOR MARCH 2018 SNOW EVENT
On June 8, 2018 FEMA declared a major disaster for the State of New Hampshire due to severe storm and flooding which occurred on March 13, 2018 – March 14, 2018. This authorized the Public Assistance Grant Program for eligible communities within Rockingham, Strafford, and Carroll counties to apply for disaster assistance. The incident involved snow removal for 124 lane miles of roadway in Durham with up to 22 inches of snow, which created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public requiring emergency response and protective measures. The Town of Durham submitted an application under this disaster that has been deemed eligible for reimbursement.
Eligible expenses included:
• Labor Overtime- 11 Laborer(s) - 291 hours $15,496.78
• Equipment - 181 equipment hours $13,693.3
• Materials - $5,452.85
• Work Completed Total: $35,434.29
• Durham also submitted costs for gathering documentation and meetings with FEMA to discuss the project. $791.31
A payment will be sent in the near future for $26,575.72, representing the Federal share of the total approved eligible (75% reimbursement of local expenses) costs of our awarded projects. Kudos to Janice Richard at the Public Works Department as well as other Town staff for their hard work in pulling together this application. It was only possible because of the quality organizational cost tracking within the department.
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CHANGES TO DURHAM'S RECYCLING PROGRAM IN 2019
One of the goals of the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee and the Durham Town Council has been to encourage recycling.
In the past, we collected paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal, and used the revenue they generated to help offset the cost of Durham's solid waste program. It was cost-effective and good for our environment.
Unfortunately, the global markets for these materials have dramatically changed and have greatly reduced our revenue. This has forced Durham to ponder how to continue recycling in a cost-effective manner.
View more information on the Celebrate Durham website HERE.
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Dame Road resident, Mike Pazdon, captured this photograph of a bobcat behind his house which walked past his woodpile. He said that a chipmunk caught the cat's attention, so she sat down and watched it for a good 10 minutes!
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WINTER PARKING BAN - Nov. 1st thru April 1st
The Durham Winter Parking ban commences Thursday November 1st and will be in effect through April 1, 2016. As many know, parking on Main Street, Jenkins Court and any Town-owned parking lot is prohibited between 1:00AM and 6:00AM throughout the year. But, the Winter Parking Ban prohibits parking ON ANY STREET from November 1st to April 1st between 1:00AM and 6:00AM.
As the ordinance states: “Any vehicle so parked during the prohibited hours and dates shall be subject to being towed away at the owner’s risk. The owner or owners shall be required to pay all towing costs and a fine before the vehicle is released.”
For the first few weeks, the Durham Police will endeavor to issue warnings designed to remind everyone of the Winter ban but were a surprise snowstorm to occur during this period, there should be an awareness that vehicles may be towed to allow for Durham Public Works to more effectively plow the streets and roadways of Durham.
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WINTER FOOD BASKETS - The Waysmeet Center/Cornucopia Food Pantry
The Cornucopia Food Pantry of the Waysmeet Center is providing Winter Food Baskets again on December 17 and 18, 2018. We urgently need and welcome donations of food, paper supplies, personal items, monetary donations as well as volunteer efforts and time. We especially welcome donations of core items such as stuffing mix, pancake mix, gravy, cranberry sauce, muffin mix, rice, potatoes, onions, fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, milk, cereal and recipes you want to share. We are accepting donations right through December 19, and of course accept donations at any time for our weekly food pantry times. Last year, we provided almost 900 food baskets for Thanksgiving, winter and Earth Day, thanks to your help! Please help us out by donating food, funds or your time in helping organize and distribute the baskets. you can find more information in the attached packets and can also sign up on our Facebook site or directly at sign up genius HERE.
If you or someone you know needs a food basket they can fill out a simple request form for pick up or delivery. For more information call 603-862-1165 or email Larry Brickner-Wood at mailto:Larry.Brickner-Wood@unh.edu or Alissa Megee mailto:Alissawaysmeet@gmail.com. or http://www.waysmeetcenter.org.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPECIAL WINTER HOLIDAY OPENINGS OF THE CORNUCOPIA FOOD PANTRY
The Cornucopia Food Pantry at the Waysmeet Center needs your help to provide some special opening items to distribute food right before the upcoming winter holiday season. We need help on December 17 and 18 from 9-5 (or any portion thereof) as we organize and distribute our winter holiday food baskets. We also need volunteers from 11-1 p.m. on Friday December 21, and on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, from 10-12 noon to distribute food right before the Christmas holiday week. Our regular volunteer crew are not available on the 21st and 24th and we need 4-6 people to help serve our customers on those days. Please e-mail Alissa Megee at mailto:alissawaysmeet@gmail.com, Larry Brickner-Wood at mailto:Larry.Brickner-Wood@unh.edu or call 603-862-1165 if you can help at all! Thank you for helping to serve our community!
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On Tuesday this week, Town Clerk Lorrie Pitt swore in Durham's newest Police Officer, Chloe Robidas. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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DURHAM'S NEWEST POLICE OFFICER BEGINS HER CAREER
To replace the position vacated by Kathryn Mone when she accepted the Police Chief position with the town of North Hampton, New Hampshire, Chloe Robidas was chosen at the conclusion of a comprehensive selection process. Chloe, who grew up in Somersworth, NH, and attended Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, is a 2016 graduate of Colby Sawyer College with a BS degree in Healthcare Management. She is currently working for Strafford County Sheriff as a court security officer.
Chief Kurz wanted to publicly thank Durham residents Ann Welsh and Planning Board member, Lorne Parnell for their involvement in the oral board segment of the selection process that identified Ms. Robidas. The Durham Police remain committed to involving residents in the process of identifying those persons ideally suited to work for the community of Durham.
Chloe will attend the 178th New Hampshire Police Academy, commencing on January 7, 2019 with a graduation in April.
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Route of the proposed Eversource Seacoast Reliability Project. Courtesy Eversource
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SEACOAST RELIABILITY PROJECT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY NH SITE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
The Eversource Seacoast Reliability Project was unanimously approved by NH Site Evaluation Committee on Monday afternoon, December 10th.
At this point, we will await the final order from the SEC, send it to legal counsel to review when received, and obtain guidance from our attorneys as to whether or not there are possible grounds for an appeal. The Town of Newington, with which Durham has been in close contact throughout this process, will do the same. The Town Council and Newington Selectpersons will then need to decide whether to move forward with an appeal or not. Other intervenors, to include the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), will undertake the same process.
Between Durham and Newington, we’ve expended more than $500,000 on this issue in order to safeguard the Estuary and our local communities. Durham alone has expended more than $270,000 to date and countless staff and volunteer hours.
On a positive note, many of the conditions that NHDES included in the permit language for the proposed jet plow crossing of Little Bay, as well as numerous protections for historic and scenic resources, are a direct result of our collective (Durham/UNH) intervention, along with that of the Durham Historic Association. In particular, DHA members Janet Mackie and Nancy Sandberg have done yeoman’s work striving to protect our local historic resources.
It’s a significant project that will have an impact on the Great Bay Estuary and on Durham/UNH.
During the SEC process, both Durham/UNH and CLF highlighted the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP) State of the Estuaries Report, the data it contained, and its numerous recommendations to safeguard and enhance the health of the Great Bay Estuary.
Read more about the project and the SEC’s decision from reporting in Foster’s Daily Democrat HERE.
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MILL PLAZA IS A PRIVATE PARKING LOT
The Mill Plaza parking lot is not a public parking lot and if you are not shopping, dining or visiting one of the businesses in the Mill Plaza, your vehicle can be “booted”. The Durham Police have been advised by the complex management that parking lot attendants will be using a mechanical boot on cars that are parked illegally. As this is private property, the use of the mechanical boot is allowed under New Hampshire law, as is the towing of a vehicle. New signs have been placed prominently throughout the parking area advising persons of the booting and towing for those not legitimately using the parking lot to conduct business within the plaza. While the Durham Police have had several complaints from persons having their vehicle booted, it is purely a civil matter and does not involve the Durham Police who cannot intervene in this private/civil matter.
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TOWN OF DURHAM FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Did you know that the Town has a Facebook & Twitter account and frequently posts Durham & UNH news, happenings, and articles of interest in our area and the seacoast?
Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
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Durham Parks and Recreation, its Director and Committee, strive to offer a wide range of quality programs, parks, and facilities that encourage all community members to participate in healthy, fun, and enriching activities. Together, they celebrate the essential role public recreation plays in fostering a cohesive and vibrant community.
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DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE - VACANCIES
The Parks & Recreation Committee is seeking community members with a passion for recreation and an interest in helping to guide the P&R Department forward to fill two vacancies currently open. Interested members of the community should reach out to Rachel Gasowski mailto:rgasowski@ci.durham.nh.us.
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JOIN THE DURHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR:
YA Movie Monday - This weeks Movie: "ELF"
December 17th at 3:15-5:15 pm
AND . . .
Pre-School Explorers Group with ORPP - "Winter and Ice"
Thursday December 20th, at 6:00 pm
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*Academic year commenced August 24th and will be measured through graduation at UNH in May.
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HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)
Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."
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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.
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Have a very nice weekend. ORMS Ski Club should begin soon. The Winter Solstice is next Friday so get ready for the shortest days of the year.
Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
T: 603-868-5571
tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
https://www.ci.durham.nh.us
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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