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Friday, December 20, 2019
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ORMS Carolers at Town Hall this morning. Courtesy DCAT Studios
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The Town Hall, Police, and Fire Departments were all visited today by Oyster River Middle School carolers who provided staff, officers, and fire personnel with a wonderful array of holiday music. The students voices were complemented by their twinkling lights, colorful reindeer noses, and jingling bells. Thank you to all the carolers for sharing their beautiful holiday songs and spirit with us all!
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ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE CLOSED WEEK OF DECEMBER 23
Due to vacation schedules, the Administrator's Office will be closed the week of December 23, 2019. Business Manager Gail Jablonski will serve as Acting Administrator during that time.
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NO "FRIDAY UPDATES" ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019
Due to vacation schedules in the Administrator's Office, there will be no "Friday Updates" publication on Friday, December 27th.
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DURHAM TOWN OFFICES HOLIDAY CLOSING SCHEDULE
Below is the Holiday closing schedule for the Durham Town Offices for the remainder of 2019 and beginning of 2020.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - CLOSING AT 3PM
Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - CLOSED
Thursday, December 26, 2019 - CLOSED
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 - CLOSING AT 3PM
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Wednesday, January 1, 2020 - CLOSED
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TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IN JANUARY
There is currently only one (1) regular meeting of the Town Council scheduled in January for January 13, 2020.
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MAIN STREET SOUTH SIDEWALK PROJECT
The University of New Hampshire is building a new sidewalk on the southerly side of Main Street which will extend from Lundholm Gymnasium/the Fieldhouse to the roundabout. The sidewalk will be 8 feet wide and about 800 feet long. Completing this gap in the existing sidewalk is especially important with significantly increased pedestrian flow following the expansion of Cowell Stadium (which increased the capacity from 6,000 to 18,000 people). The project will include landscaping, lighting, a rail fence with granite posts, drainage structures, and a retaining wall in a section with a steep slope. The project is being funded with a federal grant for 80% of the project cost. UNH is covering the 20% match.
One unusual element involved special planning. There is a gravestone, flush to the ground, for Nancy Page situated near the path of the sidewalk. The stone reads, “Nancy Page, widow of John D. Page, died September 1, 1865 ae [at the age of] 72 yrs 4 mos.” The stone once marked her grave in the Clough-Thompson burial ground nearby. Those remains were disinterred in 1906 and reburied at the Old Parish Cemetery in Lee when the family sold its land to the college. However, the Nancy Page grave was not relocated because she was not related to the Clough-Thompson family. The University recognized from the beginning that this historic resource would require attention and care.
UNH established a working group, with both University and Town representatives, to oversee the sidewalk project including treatment of the grave marker. The University met with the Durham Heritage Commission several times and the Durham Historic Association to obtain comments. UNH hired Preservation Company to provide general preservation guidance and Independent Archaeological Consulting who conducted an archaeological investigation of the site utilizing historical data provided by the Durham Historic Association. The process was overseen by the New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources. UNH developed a plan for the site which has been endorsed by the Durham Heritage Commission and the Durham Historic Association. Click on “Relocation plan” HERE to see detailed renderings.
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2020 CENSUS - Census Takers sought for upcoming Census.
The United States Census Bureau is seeking to employee Census Takers for the upcoming 2020 Census.
The pay rate for Enumerators (Census Taker) is now $17.50 per hour and
mileage will be reimbursed at the rate of $0.58 per mile. We are looking for
people to work between 20 to 40 hours a week. Enumerators have a potential to earn $350 to $700 per week.
The State of NH has deemed "wages earned from the US Census Bureau are TEMPORARILY EXCLUDED from countable income through September 30, 2019 for SNAP, FANF, and NH Child Care Scholarship AND are PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED from countable income for non-MAGI categories and medical assistance."
The Census Bureau is especially looking for multi-lingual applicants.
Questions may be addressed to the Concord Census Bureau Recruiting Department at 603-369-5605.
Apply online HERE.
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SHORT-TERM RENTALS
At its meeting on December 11, the Planning Board endorsed a revised draft of the Short Term Rental ordinance. The Town Council had initiated a new ordinance for bed and breakfast-type establishments which it sent to the Planning Board in July. The board then made numerous changes to the council’s draft following public hearings on a few versions. This revised draft will be presented to the Town Council on January 13. The council will likely schedule a hearing for an upcoming meeting. You can see the revised draft (“Short Term Rental Draft Ordinance – For December 11, 2019 public hearing”) and related documents HERE.
Feel free to contact the Town Planner with any questions or comments at mailto:mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.
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Local Postal Carrier John Pacheco was delivering a package to a customer on Oyster River Road and came upon the basket shown above full of snacks that the homeowner left out for all the delivery people (USPS, UPS and FedEx) working in all weather conditions and working long hours to make sure every package is delivered before Christmas. A very kind gesture in the spirit of the season, which is most appreciated.
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USE COMMON SENSE - THE BEARS ARE BACK IN TOWN
And we don’t mean the Maine Black Bears. Over the past month the Durham Police have received several calls regarding a Black Bear roaming in the area of Bucks Hill and Emerson Road. On Thursday evening around 5PM there was a bear lying on the porch of a Bucks Hill residence feasting on seed from two bird feeders he had pulled to the ground. While the officer was able to scare the bear off, and he removed the bird feeders for the homeowner, Durham police understand that on nearby Emerson Road, several chickens were killed by a bear. As the bears contemplate hibernation, they are actively seeking any and all food sources. Residents are reminded to remain clear of the bears and notify Durham Police at 868-2324 if there are any concerns.
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CIAO ITALIA
Doug Clark, the developer of the upcoming new restaurant Ciao Italia, provided an update on the project. Renovations to the red brick building at the corner of Main Street and Jenkins Court are progressing but more slowly than hoped for. Mr. Clark noted some challenges including structural issues, asbestos, ledge, lead times in procuring materials, and the availability of subcontractors. There are often hurdles in redeveloping in a dense downtown setting including these kinds of issues with a structure from the early 20th century, older utilities, and construction in a tight, active area with the goal to minimize disruption to nearby businesses and the public. Mr. Clark is working to accelerate the progress. He appreciates everybody’s patience and looks forward to opening this exciting new restaurant early in the New Year.
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THE DURHAM AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION URGES YOU TO EAT FRESH ALL YEAR LONG!
The Durham Agricultural Commission encourages everyone to eat locally grown and produced food all year long. Winter Farmers’ Markets are bursting with fresh and local greens, meats, veggies, fruit, dairy and baked goods. Visit the Seacoast Eat Local website for a full list of markets HERE.
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PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO BE PLACED ON THE MARCH 10, 2020 TOWN ELECTION BALLOT
On Monday, December 2, 2019, the Durham Town Council held a public hearing at its regular meeting relative to various proposed amendments to the Durham Town Charter for placement on the March 10, 2020 Town Election ballot.
For the past several years, the Administrator’s Office has been accumulating various Charter amendments that have been identified as needing to be made. Amendments to the Town Charter were last made in March 2009. In addition, the town’s attorney, Laura Spector-Morgan, has also reviewed the Charter and has identified other areas within the Charter she felt could also be amended.
Below is a link to the draft language and format of amendments that are being recommended by unanimous vote of the Town Council for placement on the Town Election ballot for March 10, 2020. Explanations for each of the recommended changes are provided here for the Council’s information but cannot legally be placed on the election ballot itself.
The most significant change is an increase in the bond threshold requiring a referendum vote of the Town. The current cap of $1,000,000.00 has been in existence since the adoption of the Charter in 1987. One recommended amendment would raise the cap to reflect the rate of inflation since that time, which in today’s dollars would be $2,288,768.96. (Rounded to $2,300,000.00). In essence, $1 million today does not buy what it once did almost 33 years ago.
View the recommended Charter changes HERE.
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2020 TOP DOG CONTEST - Entries accepted after January 1, 2020
The Town of Durham is proud to announce its first annual Top Dog contest. This contest was created to motivate and remind dog owners to license their pets every year by April 30, as state law requires. You will automatically be registered for the Top Dog contest if you obtain a dog license from the Town Clerk’s office before April 30, 2020.
Rules and Regulations
- Contestants will automatically be entered into the contest when they register their dog(s) before April 30 (only open to Durham residents).
- Residents who DO NOT want to be included in the contest may opt out by writing, calling, or emailing the Durham Town Clerks office.
- Contestants must be 18 or older and be the owner of the dog on file with Town Clerk's Office.
- Durham employees are not eligible.
- The contestant must have a 2020 Town of Durham dog license by April 30.
- A current rabies vaccination will be required to obtain the license.
- The Top Dog winner may submit a digital photo and brief biography of their dog to the Town Clerk’s Office (OPTIONAL).
- Photos of the Top Dog winner may be displayed in the Town Hall, Town of Durham’s webpage, and the Durham Friday Updates.
- The winner will be drawn at random by the Town Council in May 2020.
- The winner of the Top Dog contest will receive a certificate and a gift basket of donated goods and services from local businesses.
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STEVENS WOODS
The Town acquired a 25-acre parcel on Orchard Drive from the school district on October 17th. Several activities have already begun to make the property more accessible and to connect it to downtown Durham, as well as to a larger network of trails. Volunteers helped build a 0.25-mile trail across the property from Orchard Drive to East Foss Farm. Next year the Town will build a parking area and install an informational kiosk. Dennis Meadows led the successful private-fundraising effort to acquire the property and is leading the pursuit of funding and a design for a pedestrian bridge that will cross the Oyster River, linking the land with the center of Durham. In December, the New Hampshire Recreational Trails Program announced that it will provide a grant of up to $80,000 to support the bridge construction. Additional private funds have already been raised toward this project. A Right-of-Way deed conveyed from the Town to UNH is nearly complete; this will provide UNH a formal access to the abutting MacDonald Lot and East Foss Farm for forest management and trail maintenance. The interim working name for the parcel, Orchard Drive Woods, will henceforth be changed to Stevens Woods to commemorate the original donor of the property.
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ALZHEIMER'S/DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP IN DURHAM
Staff at the Brookdale Spruce Wood, located at 25 Worthen Road, and Police Officer Holly Malasky who volunteered to facilitate, recently finished all that was required to have Brookdale Sprucewood's Alzheimer’s/dementia Caregiver Support Group be affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association. This means that the facility is now able to open it up to the public and they would love for those living in the town of Durham to be able to use this service.
Brookdale Sprucewood's caregiver support group creates a safe, confidential, and supportive environment. It gives a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. It also educates and informs participants about dementia and helps participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. This group encourages caregivers to maintain their own personal, physical and emotional health as well as optimally care for the persons with dementia.
The group takes place every second Wednesday of the Month from 6 - 7:30 PM in the UNH room at Brookdale Spruce Wood. Questions may be directed to Meghan Wentworth, Clare Bridge Program Manager, at 603-659-1100.
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DURHAM BUSINESS PARKING PERMITS TO GO ON SALE AT POLICE DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 23rd
Downtown businesses have the ability to purchase parking permits that allow them to park in locations that are peripheral to the core downtown. Each year a new color coded hanging permit is offered for sale. The 2020 Business Parking Permits will be going on sale Monday December 23rd and will be effective January 1st, 2020! All downtown businesses will be receiving a hand-delivered notice about next year’s regulations and procedures within the next few weeks.
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FREE HOLIDAY PARKING IN DOWNTOWN DURHAM
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 Wednesday December 18th and run through Saturday January 4th! Merry Christmas . . .
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SNOW FORTS AND CHILD SAFETY - Keep kids out of forts made in snow banks for their safety.
The safety of children is the top priority of snow plow drivers while clearing streets. Please educate children on the dangers of snow removal and make sure they play safely.
Please remind them to:
- Never build tunnels or snow forts in the snow banks near the street. The force and weight of the snow coming off the plows can collapse the tunnels or forts and harm the child.
- Keep sleds and toys out of the street and away from the edge of the road. Snow banks make it difficult for plow drivers to see children playing in these areas.
- Children should never play near the edge of the road.
- Stay away from the plow. If a plow is on your street, children should stay back at least 20 feet or more from the road. It is best to have children play near the house as the snowplow approaches and stay there until the plow has passed.
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NEW ARRIVAL AT DURHAM POLICE
Elowen Pearl Kilroy arrived on Wednesday December 18th at 7 lbs. 10 oz., 21” tall and is doing outstanding! Mother Erica is also doing as well as Dad, School Resource Officer Tom Kilroy, is learning the art of diaper changing and midnight feedings! Congratulations to first-time parents Tom and Erica!
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PARKING CONCERNS FOR FATHER LAWLESS FIELD BEING DISCUSSED
DPW Director Mike Lynch wanted to garner the opinions of the Town’s Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) regarding a concern expressed by the lone abutter to the Father Lawless playing fields that often parking was problematic during the baseball season. The Oyster River Youth Association (ORYA) often uses the field for baseball and other activities drawing many parents and their vehicles. Often both sides of the roadway are used for parking making the traverse of the clogged street very difficult. The same lone resident on this section of Fogg Drive is in favor of a review that considers one-way traffic, diagonal parking, or other solutions to this issue. The TSC discussed a number of suggestions and heard from Mike Lynch of the composition of the soils challenging off-street parking. The TSC has requested that Mike Lynch review options enabling the TSC to discuss more fully at the next meeting, a satisfactory remedy for parking at the Father Lawless fields.
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DUE TO ONE BAD APPLE, PATRON PARKING ONLY-LIBRARY RESTRICTIONS NEEDED
While not a daily occurrence, the Durham Library staff has noted that UNH students park their vehicles in the lot while they attend classes. This scheme consumes limited available parking for visitors/users of the library and while not in crisis mode, there is a desire not to have this become a daily and widespread strategy. Staff believes that an ordinance limiting parking to patrons of the library should be enacted. Dave Kurz to develop and present to the Town Council an ordinance amendment that would address this issue.
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19-21 MAIN STREET
The Planning Board held a public hearing on a preliminary application for a 167-space parking lot at 19-21 Main Street on December 11. The public hearing was continued to January 8. The 3.2 acre site encompasses four parcels near the top of Church Hill including the Red Tower. The applicant has been in discussions about leasing the lot to Colonial Durham Associates for use by prospective future residents at Mill Plaza should the plaza be redeveloped. However, the application for the parking lot is separate from and not dependent on the Mill Plaza project. The application is preliminary and therefore subject to change with additional information to be submitted with the formal application. You can see the plans and documents related to the application at this link. The applicant wishes to pursue Option 3 as shown on “Site Plan” HERE.
Feel free to contact the Town Planner with any comments or questions at mailto:mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.
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DURHAM AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION WINTER EMAIL GARDENING COURSE
The Durham Agricultural Commission encourages residents to participate in home food production and small scale farming. This winter our Food Friendly Yard program is offering an 8 week email course aimed at helping people to get started with gardening, edible landscaping, backyard livestock, and a variety of related topics. To participate, residents should send an email expressing interest to mailto:foodfriendlyyards@gmail.com. Email addresses will be collected and each week during the months of January and February members of this group will receive an email which includes a brief introductory paragraph introducing the topic of the week and links to 3-4 videos demonstrating techniques for site selection, building raised beds, beekeeping, backyard chickens etc. Links to articles will also be included. In March a meeting will be held at the Durham Public Library so participants can meet to discuss ideas and get questions answered. Spend the winter learning how to make your yard Food Friendly!
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MICROMOBILITY DEMONSTRATION FOR UNH & TOWN STAFF AND UNH STUDENTS POSTPONED UNTIL SPRING
UNH actively solicited vendor participants for a planned November Micromobility Day at the Whittemore Center this fall/winter. Unfortunately, only one firm confirmed with RSVP … so the event will be postponed until spring.
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UNH WINTER BREAK HAS ARRIVED!
UNH students are now in the midst of exams and presenting their research papers as classes ended on Monday December 9th with exams through Tuesday the 17th. Throughout this time span, students will begin gradually leaving Durham as they complete their tests and turn in their papers. The first day of the 2020 Spring semester is Tuesday January 21st. Enjoy . . .
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MAIN STREET TOWN CROSSWALK REPAIRS PLANNED BY UNH FOR 2020 THROUGH CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS
UNH Facilities is planning continued crosswalk repair and replacement work next summer. Current priorities include the Main/Depot Street and Main @ Lot A/Field House crossings.
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UNH WAYFINDING SIGNAGE WRAPS UP THIRD YEAR OF PHASED INSTALLATION - It's looking good so far.
UNH is wrapping up its third year of wayfinding signage installations. This year brought completion of vehicular wayfinding signage upgrades on the Main Street corridor and southern end of Edgewood Road. Signs are all coordinated between UNH and Durham. Town staff are very pleased with the work undertaken to date.
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CMAQ WILDCAT TRANSIT OBTAINS NEW CNG BUSSES
UNH has received its latest new Wildcat Transit buses – 2017 CMAQ funded Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses which are distinctively shrink wrapped and on the road – making our transit fleet now majority CNG powered.. UNH has been favorably ranked for 2019 funding for three more buses (2 CNG and what will likely be UNH’s last B20 diesel bus). The University’s future efforts are looking at all-electric buses as it transitions away from internal combustion engines within the transit fleet.
Did you know that the largest mass transit system in NH actually operates right here in Durham – Wildcat Transit! These busses are open to use by Town residents.
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RESIDENTIAL MAIL DELIVERY DURHAM WINTER MONTHS - Please be sure to shovel out around your mailbox as shown in the illustration above...
The US Postal Service asks residents to please shovel out access to their mailboxes, whether their mail delivery is curbside along the road or a pathway and up stairs to their house, so that letter carriers can deliver mail safely. In addition, mail carriers are out late after dark delivering packages so residents are asked to leave their porch lights on. I've attached the official postal form notice. Customers that don't clear out access to their mailboxes will not receive mail.
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REMEMBER, 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” by employees of Colonial Durham, the management company that oversees Mill Plaza. The Durham Police have been advised by Colonial Durham 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 from this privately owned lot. 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 uniquely a civil matter and cannot involve the Durham Police who do not 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 PUBLIC LIBRARY UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday December 30th, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
YA Compassion Project
Ages 10 and older
Please join us for a program connecting the library with the community. We will be brainstorming projects for 2020 and celebrating New Years Eve together. Pizza will be served.
Make-It-Take-It Craft
Make a Bear puppet to take home. Put on a puppet show in the puppet theater. Craft available all day in the Storytime room
Holiday Hours
Closed from 2:00 pm, December 24th through, December 26th
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*Academic year commences the third week of August 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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1948 - The Durham Trust Company was organized with a capital of $50,000 and a working surplus of $15,000. Now in a modern building, it has assets of $11,000,000. Founders were Messrs. P. Fitts, E. Huddleston, H. Iddles, G. McGregor, B. McIntire, C. Rice, A. Stewart and G. Barrett.
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Administrator Selig will be out of the office through December 29th. During his absence, Business Manager Gail Jablonski will serve as Acting Administrator.
Happy holidays and safe travels!
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Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA
t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us
He/him/his pronouns
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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