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Friday, February 21, 2020
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The Wildcat sculpture is a bronze statue located on the street side of Memorial Field. It was unveiled during the 2006 Homecoming Weekend. Pictured above, the light hit the Wildcat just so early this morning. Courtesy Todd Selig
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Next week is school vacation week for the Oyster River Cooperative School District. Be on the lookout for kids around snowdrifts!
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2020 MARCH TOWN ELECTION - CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING
To view the questionnaires completed by the candidates running for Town elected offices at the March 10, 2020 Elections, click HERE.
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2020 MARCH TOWN ELECTION – ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Durham residents that cannot attend the town election on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 may still vote absentee. Registered voters must complete an absentee ballot application in order to receive an absentee ballot. Please visit or call the Town Clerk’s Office at 603-868-5577 for more information.
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WHAT ARE CORONAVIRUSES AND HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES?
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in China, and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China, including the United States. At this time, however, this virus is NOT currently spreading in communities in the United States. Right now, the greatest risk of infection is for people in China or people who have traveled to China. Risk of infection is dependent on exposure. Close contacts of people who are infected are at greater risk of exposure, for example health care workers and close contacts of people who are infected with the virus. CDC continues to closely monitor the situation.
Some additional information that may be of interest follows.
- Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses named for the crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus.
- COVID-19 is spread by close person-to-person contact from droplets from a cough or sneeze, which can get into your mouth, nose, or lungs.
- There aren’t many cases in the U.S., so the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low.
- Based on what we know now, the people most likely to get seriously ill from this virus are people over 60 and those with pre-existing health conditions.
- Health officials in the U.S. do not recommend the use of masks among the general public because risk of infection is low and limited to close contacts.
- You are at a greater risk of getting seriously ill from the influenza virus than COVID-19. Get a flu shot if you haven’t already.
There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
To learn more about COVID-19, check out a flyer HERE.
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FROM THE SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST
The Durham Supervisors of the Checklist will meet at the Durham Town Hall on Saturday February 29, 2020, from 3:30 – 4:00 PM to make corrections to the checklist and to accept new voter registrations. Changes in party registration CAN be made at this time. June 2 will be the last day party changes can be made until after the September 8 State Primary.
Prospective voters will be asked to show proofs of Identity, Age (18 by March 10), Domicile/residence in Durham, and U.S. Citizenship. A driver’s license and a birth certificate or passport are useful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if any proofs are lacking.
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DURHAM FIREFIGHTER DAVID BLATCHFORD RECEIVES HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPACT AWARD
The Durham Fire Department is pleased to congratulate Firefighter David Blatchford on receiving the Health and Safety Impact Award at the Annual Fraternity and Sorority Award Ceremony on February 7, 2020 at the University of New Hampshire.
Firefighter Blatchford was instrumental in moving forward a multi-year project to ensure that each Greek house would have an automated external defibrillator (AED) installed on the premises. The initiative began when a UNH student suffered a cardiac event at her sorority house and a need was identified to have an AED installed in each of the Greek houses. Firefighter Blatchford, with the support of the Durham Professional Firefighters Association, the Durham Fire Department, the University Police Department, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNH, and countless fraternity and sorority members, achieved this impressive goal by recently installing an AED machine in the last Greek house.
In recognition of Firefighter Blatchford’s efforts, the Fraternity and Sorority Life recently renamed this prestigious award the Blatchford Health and Safety Impact Award.
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ANNUAL EVALUATION FOR ADMIN. SELIG PUBLICLY DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL MONDAY EVENING
The Town Council completed Administrator Selig’s Annual Evaluation on Monday evening, 2/17/20, in public session. As has been Mr. Selig’s practice, the consolidated Council evaluation document as well as individual Councilor evaluations and discussion have been made public at his option and are currently posted on the Town web site at https://www.ci.durham.nh.us/administration/administrator-annual-evaluations. Mr. Selig has made his annual evaluation public since he began working for the Town in 2001 as its manager.
On January 13, 2020, the Council began the process for conducting Administrator Selig’s annual performance evaluation. Councilors decided to continue with the same process used in recent years in which the Council utilizes a one-page evaluation form/matrix outlining key elements of importance and ranking the administrator’s performance (on a scale of 1 to 5) for each element, which includes five categories:
- Ability to maintain or improve strong relationships;
- Financial oversight;
- Leadership;Initiative; and
- Other.
Rankings included: 5=Excellent, 4=Very Good, 3=Good, 2=Acceptable, 1=Unacceptable.
Mr. Selig’s average consolidated scores over the past nine years, with the addition of this year’s results for 2019 follow: 2010 - 4.3; 2011 - 4.4; 2012 - 4.5; 2013 - 4.0; 2014 - 4.3; 2015 - 4.4; 2016 - 4.5; 2017 - 4.8; 2018 - 4.6; 2019 - 4.65.
Mr. Selig is currently under a 9-year employment contract with the Town of Durham through December 31, 2025.
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PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR VACANCY - Please pass the word that we have a terrific opportunity for the right person here in Durham.
The Town of Durham, NH (Census Pop. 16,439) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Public Works Director. Durham encompasses 25.5 square miles (124 local lane miles) in New Hampshire's seacoast region, one of the most beautiful and desired locations in the state, and is home to the University of New Hampshire with an enrollment of 16,000 students. Durham is located just one hour north of Boston, MA and one hour south of Portland, ME.
The Durham Public Works Department is a highly trained, cutting edge professional
organization made up of twenty-three full time, two part-time, and six seasonal employees. It is comprised of twenty-six individual operational budgets and at present nineteen Capital Improvements Projects. The DPW budget also supports the operational needs of all other Town departments. Operating under a Town Charter with a Council/Manager form of government, the DPW Director reports directly to the Town Administrator.
View the complete job description with information on how to apply and deadline, along with the DPW Recruitment Profile HERE.
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OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO WALK THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO LEARN ABOUT EXISTING CONDITIONS - Learn firsthand why a new school is being recommended by the School Board and the Deliberative Session of School District Meeting
The Oyster River Cooperative Middle School will be open for public viewing from Monday, March 2nd through Friday, March 6th and again on Monday, March 9th from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.
For those interested in viewing the current condition of the middle school before the March 10th vote, please RSVP to Jay Richard, Principal ORMS at mailto:jrichard@orcsd.org to schedule this tour.
Please plan on starting this tour using the Dennison Road entrance.
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NEWS FROM THE OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD
The Middle School will be open for all to visit and see the limitations of the current building each day March 2-6 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm and again on March 9 from 4-7. Members of the staff will be available to answer questions about the current building. This invitation is open to everybody. Please RSVP Principal Jay Richard at jrichard@orcsd.org if you would like a tour.
Swimming and Indoor Track teams at ORHS have concluded successful seasons, winning Division 2 State Championships in boys' swimming and indoor track. The girls' indoor track team are runners up and girls' swimming placed 3rd in the state. Congratulations Bobcats!
The ORCSD and Durham Parks & Recreation Department are teaming up again this summer to offer REACH day camps, with programs at ORMS in the morning and DPR in the afternoon. Full program and registration information will be available in March. These programs are open to children from any town.
The next school board meeting is March 4 in the High School library.
Voting for school board members, moderator, the 2020-2021 school budget, 5-year teachers' guild contract, and the proposed middle school bond is March 10.
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MICROMOBILITY – Council passes new ordinance working to be proactive in light of emerging trends
Following 2019 discussions and a UNH spring community forum, UNH staff, student, and administration leadership met with Town and UNH Traffic Safety Committees to discuss opportunities and concerns. On February 3rd, the Town Council passed Ordinance 2020-04 governing the use of motorized devices/electric scooters within the Town of Durham.
View the final approved document HERE.
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Cover of the 2019 Annual Town Report, "The Durham Town Landing". Photo courtesy Bernie Casey
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PRINTED AND ONLINE VERSIONS OF 2019 DURHAM ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
The printed version of the 2018 Town of Durham Annual Report is ready to be picked up by interested residents/taxpayers at the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office. Copies will also available at the Durham Public Library.
The report is also available on the Town website HERE.
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BUSINESS MANAGER GAIL JABLONSKI SUBMITS END OF YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2019
This report indicates:
The total general fund for the Fiscal Year 2019 was $16,121,310. The General Fund information is broken down by function as follows:
The Town’s revenue as of December 31, 2019, is estimated to be $16,270,576, which is comprised of property taxes, permit fees, department income, fire and police special details, and miscellanies revenue. The Town collected 99.4% of all taxes owed.
The Parks & Recreation Department collected $93,687 in revenue, which exceeded their projection of $80,000. (Thank you to Town Councilor Carden Welsh for challenging the department, to P&R Director Rachel Gasowski for doing a phenomenal job in managing this department, to Town Councilor Kenny Rotner who serves as the Council rep. to the P&R Committee, and of course to all of the members of the P&R Committee.)
In addition, the Town received $120,000 from Eversource for rental of laydown areas for the Seacoast Reliability Project. The town also earned additional interest on its funds through Citizens Bank and received reimbursements from our health insurance provider.
Durham’s unaudited expenditures as of December 31, 2019, indicate a total expenditure of $15,882,730 of the total approved budget amount of $16,121,310.
The expenditures included the Town Council where the Contingency fund was originally budgeted with $155,850. $50,000 was earmarked for inspections of the Eversource Reliability Project to be offset with revenues. We have transferred the $50,000 to the Public Works Engineering budget which has reduced the Contingency Fund to $105,850. The other expenses included the town administration, tax collector/town clerk and accounting functions, building inspection, police department, police department special details, public works administration, public works equipment maintenance, sanitation and transfer to fire capital reserve fund. In 2019, there were no expenditures or contributions to the Parking Impact Fees.
There were also no expenditures and three contributions contributing totaling $11,097 to the School Impact Fees as a result of very modest new residential housing development.
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DISCOVER DURHAM TRAILS IN 2020
Durham Conservation Commission, Land Stewardship and Parks & Recreation, and Oyster River Cycle & Sport are offering once-a-month outings for community members to get outside and learn about and experience the trails and recreation spaces in Durham. Events include bird and nature walks, bike rides, astronomy night, and more. Participation is free. All ages welcome. You can find the event flyer HERE.
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HELP BUILD A NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ON THE MERRICK EASEMENT - $1,000 Raised so far!
Tom and Mary Merrick conveyed a conservation easement on their 23-acre property to the Town of Durham in 2006. The Merrick family continues to own and manage their property, while the easement protects their land in perpetuity from further development. A network of public trails connects the entrance off Bagdad Road, near the Oyster River High School, with an entrance and small parking area off Canney Road, close to the new Riverwoods complex. The trail entrance off Bagdad Road runs through a wet section of the property and despite several attempts to cross this wet section with wood bridges or stepping stones in the past, they have not lasted. Our plan is to build a solid, decked bridge that would allow water to flow underneath and cross the wet, muddy stretch of trail. Our goal is to raise $2,500 for the cost of materials by May 1, 2020 so that we can complete the project with volunteers by September 1st. You can read more about the project HERE and find a pledge form HERE.
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DURHAM PARKS & RECREATION DEPT. TRIP TO STATE HOUSE AND NH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Parks & Rec. Dept. had a great trip this week and the highlight was definitely the tour at the NH State House.
Despite the great day, there was unfortunately an incident/accident right at the end of the day. One of our participants missed a step coming down the stairs and fell at the NH Historical Society. An ambulance was called and this person was taken to Concord Hospital. Thankfully the person’s spouse was on the trip as well and was able to accompany the partner to the hospital.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT PRODUCES ANNUAL VEHICLE PURSUIT ANALYSIS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM REPORTS - National accreditation is not just a snazzy catchphrase; it comes with meaningful standards and requirements.
As many residents are aware, the Durham Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency through CALEA. The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Program is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by maintaining a body of standards and then demonstrating the department’s adherence to these best practices. To demonstrate that adherence, Chief Kurz and his staff complete a host of annual reviews of activities throughout the previous year. While many are managerial oversight reviews, others may be of interest to the Durham community as the department delivers these services in a transparent manner.
This week Chief Kurz is offering links to three of these reports including a Vehicle Pursuit Analysis, which discusses one of the more highly risky police behaviors. The “Early Warning System” is a program that is used in concert with the Performance Evaluation System for each individual officer and is designed to identify those employees who may need some level of departmental intervention before potential problems arise. Each year an analysis of the system is accomplished to ensure that identification will occur if necessary. Finally the 2020 Annual Review of Goals by Chief Kurz, and in this transition year, Chief Kelley who will assume oversight of the Durham Police in July, is prepared for me as the Town Administrator.
As the Durham Police accomplish these reports, they are demonstrating a best practice approach to providing law enforcement services that also attempts to manage risk associated with the police authority that the Town Code bestows upon the agency. Because the department is nationally accredited, the Town’s liability insurance provider, Primex, reduces the annual cost of that insurance by 10% for the Durham Police.
View the Vehicle Pursuit Analysis,and the Early Warning System reports HERE.
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DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STRATEGIC PLAN
The Durham Police have updated their 2020 Strategic Plan with their most recent SWOT exercise. Chief Kurz led discussions with the entire staff in January to identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats that the department faces in the future. Much of this insightful discussion may ultimately impact the police but the community as well. The SWOT is discussed at the end of the Strategic Plan. The plan may be viewed HERE.
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ZIPCAR
A new ZipCar pod is coming to Lot B on the UNH campus this spring. Student, faculty, staff, and Durham resident plan memberships start at $15/yr and cars at $7.50/hr. Monthly options also available. UNH has extended the ZipCar contract through July 2020.
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LEE TRAFFIC CIRCLE WATER LINE STATUS UPDATE – A project that will extend the Durham/UNH water system to the Lee Traffic Circle to bring potable water to MBTE contaminated properties.
A brief update on the Lee Traffic Circle Waterline project since it has been a while since we have communicated on the progress of the work. The final design phase began in December 2019. Below is a summary of work completed to date and a list of key milestones going forward:
Work Completed to Date – Final Design Phase:6
- Permanent Easements Secured, 3 Permanent Easements pending final review
- NHDES Wetland Permit Application (DRAFT) and Coordination Meeting
- NHDOT District 6 Design Review – Submitted 1/29/20
Schedule Milestones:
- NHDOT Approvals – Spring 2020
- NHDES Wetlands Summer 2020
- Final Design and Bid Documents – Fall 2020
- Bidding – December 2020C4
- Construction Notice to Proceed – Spring 2021
- Construction Substantial Completion – September 2021
For reference, a copy of the NHDOT submittal is provided in the following link: http://gofile.me/2RfIJ/AgoSGcR0q. Note that only the Route 4 alignment has changed since the preliminary design submission in May 2019.
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STRAFFORD COUNTY FARM BUREAU 7TH ANNUAL BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER - Sunday, March 15, 2020
This event, co-sponsored by the Lee and Durham Agricultural Commissions, will be held from 7:30AM to 12:00 noon at the Jeremiah Smith Grange Hall, 1 Lee Hook Rd Lee NH. Proceeds benefit agricultural outreach and youth grant programs. Tickets $10/adult, $7/children 14 and under. Purchase tickets at the door. Call Matt Scruton, 941-4956, or Laura Gund, 659-2044, or Erick Sawtelle, 659-8106, for more information.
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LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR ELLEN SNYDER WORKS WITH SRPC AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO DEVELOP STANDARDIZED TRAIL MAPS FOR DURHAM’S CONSERVATION AREAS
The Town is finalizing an agreement between Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) and the Town whereby SRPC will provide professional mapping and planning services to create standardized trail maps for the Town’s conservation areas for the Durham Conservation Commission utilizing funds in the Town’s Conservation Fund. The general scope of services is as follows:
Task 1: Create Geodatabase and Map Layout ($540.00)
- Set up geodatabase to include Town of Durham’s GIS data (trail locations and other points of interest),
- Develop base map, map layout/template, symbology, unique icons, labeling, etc.
Task 2: Produce Eight Individual Maps ($480.00)
- Re-center the base map template to the extent of each trail, which will include: the Oyster River Forest/Spruce Hole Bog; Doe Farm; Thompson Forest; Wagon Hill Farm; Jackson Landing; Stevens Woods (formerly Orchard Woods, which Durham recently purchased from the ORCSD utilizing privately raised donations); Longmarsh Preserve; and Oyster River Greenway: Town Landing, Mill Pond Park, Milne Nature Sanctuary, and the Meadows.
Task 3: Project Administration, Meetings, Revisions, and Final Maps ($980.00)
- Kickoff meeting with Land Stewardship Coordinator and Durham Conservation Commission
- Incorporate any feedback and suggested revisions.
- Produce two final map sets; the first will be 8.5 x 11, and the second with be 36 x 36. Both map sets will be converted to PDFs so they can be sent electronically and uploaded to the Town’s website. The large-scale maps can be printed upon request.
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PHONE SCAM USING THE DURHAM POLICE
A Durham resident reported that he received a phone call from a person who identified himself as a member of the Durham Police Department. The scammer started the conversation by asking questions for a “survey” about where the resident has noticed texting and driving in town. Then the scammer steered the call towards donations for the State Police and drug assistance programs.
These are terribly devious people who hope to pull on the “heart-strings” of our older residents! Please understand that the Durham Police will NEVER call for donations of any kind. Additionally there are no companies and/or organizations that are authorized to represent the department. If you get such a telephone call, please hang-up and contact the Durham Police at 868-2324.
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THE UNH CARDIAC REHABILITATION AND CARDIAC PREVENTION PROGRAMS CELEBRATE HEART MONTH AND CARDIAC REHABILITATION WEEK
The long-standing University of New Hampshire’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and Cardiac Prevention Program were created to help individuals who are managing known cardiovascular disease as well as those who would like to prevent cardiac disease from developing. This program focuses on reducing an individual’s risk for cardiac disease and related events through exercise, education and lifestyle changes.
The programs are designed for any individual over the age of 45 that has one or more risk factors, which may include elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking and/or sedentary lifestyles. This program presently has room to accept more participants, and you can enroll at any time.
Each participant begins the program with an initial health and fitness assessment of blood pressure, blood lipids, heart rate/rhythm, aerobic capacity, body composition, muscular strength, flexibility and balance tests. Each participant engages in exercise on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:20-7:40 am. The program provides individualized exercise plans designed to improve cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, balance and overall health with the participants personal abilities and goals in mind.
Both programs are run out of the UNH Field House at 145 Main Street in Durham, NH. Facilities include the UNH indoor and outdoor track, gymnasium, and the Employee Fitness Center, which has a variety of machines and exercise equipment. All activities are individually prescribed and supervised by our staff of exercise science faculty and students. The Cardiac Prevention Program costs $240 for the initial assessment, 24 supervised exercise sessions, the re-assessment, on-campus parking pass during program hours and a program t-shirt. For those participating in the USNH Cigna Wellness Program, the program can be covered if the participant attends the program eight times per month. If participants would like to continue with the prevention program beyond the 24 sessions, or for participation in the Phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, each exercise session is only $7.
Initial assessments can be scheduled anytime once medical clearance is obtained from your physician. For more information or to register for this program please contact Deborah Feairheller at 603-862-3282 or mailto:deborah.feairheller@unh.edu.
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The new interpretative signage at the Wagon Hill Farm kiosk is now in place. Courtesy Mike Lynch
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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
Thursday, February 27th at 10:30 am
Toe Jam Puppet Band!
Joint Library School Vacation Performance, with Durham, Lee & Madbury Libraries at Durham Public Library Community Room. This interactive musical performance will keep your child entertained and moving. It is a is fun show for the whole family. All are welcome.
Thursday, February 27th at 5:50 pm
Garden For Wildlife, Natural landscaping for a better backyard
Do you want to attract butterflies, birds, bees and other wildlife to your backyard? Did you know that the landscaping in your yard could be habitat for wildlife? Join us and learn how to help pollinators and other wildlife by making some simple adjustments to your landscaping and gardening practices. In this hour-long presentation, NH Natural Resources Steward Vicki J. Brown, will provide insights on ways to attract wildlife to your yard and will include interactive Q&A and other helpful materials. No registration is necessary. Open to all.
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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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1961 - The selectmen offered the vacant Town Hall to the Durham Historic Association for a museum. Durham artifacts now crowd the room and it attracts visitors from far and near when open in July and August. The Hall also serves as a meeting place for the DHA and other groups.
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Have a very nice weekend.
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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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