Friday Updates - January 12, 2024

Friday, January 12, 2024

High tide flooding at the Town Landing from this past week's storm. Courtesy, Charlotte Hitchcock

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for racial equality, working classes, and the oppressed around the world. Commonly called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or MLK Day, the third Monday of January is a federal holiday to honor his life and legacy. 

In addition, a thank you is extended to Firefighter Rob Rosselli and the Durham Professional Firefighters Association for being part of organizing this year’s 2023 Seacoast Area Firefighter’s Toy Drive. The event with drop off locations at the Town Hall among others allowed the firefighters to provide holiday gifts to multiple families in Durham, Lee, Madbury, and throughout Stafford County. This year, the majority of the leftover toys were forwarded to the Somersworth Fire Department to aid with their toy drive as well.

TOWN OFFICES CLOSED FOR MLK DAY

The Town Hall and Durham Public Library will be closed on Monday, January 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There will be no change to the trash collection schedule.

DURHAM RECEIVES COMPETITIVE RATE ON THIS YEAR’S DEBT ISSUE

We went out to the bond market this year through the NH Municipal Bond Bank, bonding $1,497,618. Durham’s loan received an interest rate of 2.89%. Our Aa2 bond rating is a little stronger than the US cities median of Aa3.

Last week we provided a list outlining many of the ways Durham and UNH are joined at the hip! 

This week, Kimberly Sweetman, Interim Dean of the UNH Library, wrote to provide some extremely helpful clarifications. It’s not just Dimond Library that residents have access to, but all four libraries on campus: the Engineering, Math and Computer Science Library in Kingsbury Hall; the Physics Library in DeMeritt Hall; the Chemistry Library in Parsons Hall; as well as Dimond Library.

These libraries, collectively known as the UNH Library, also offer borrowing privileges free of charge to all adult residents of the State of New Hampshire. 

It's quite an asset in Durham's backyard.

YEAR END WRAP UP FOR 2023 – A glimpse into the life and times of Durham over the last twelve months.

2023 was a solid year for the Town of Durham. Town staff, elected, and appointed officials worked hard to address the community’s needs and maintain transparency, integrity, respect for one another, a welcoming atmosphere, a high quality of life for residents, outstanding service delivery, and improvement in sustainable practices across the organization. Despite competing pressures, we also managed to maintain the municipality’s fiscal position and ensure long-term resilience for the community. 

To view an extensive overview of activities and initiatives undertaken by the Town prepared by Admin. Selig, click HERE.

NHDOT bridge on Dover Road crossing Oyster River. Courtesy Todd Selig

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND TOWN ELECTION VOTING INFORMATION

The final date for voter registration for the Presidential Primary will be Tuesday January 16. New registrations will be accepted in the Town Clerk’s office any time up until closing on that day. Then the Supervisors will meet that evening from 7:00 – 7:30 PM for any final registrations.

Applicants for registration should bring with them proofs of identity, age, citizenship, and domicile (in Durham). Driver’s license and passport are very helpful. Affidavits may be signed under oath if proofs are lacking. However, a photo ID is essential. 

You may register at the polls on Election Day. However, there will likely be a long line, especially if you come in the afternoon. 

The filing period for Town offices and for School District offices is from January 24 till February 2. By law the Supervisors of the Checklist are required to meet from 7:00 - 7:30 PM the day before the filing period opens. Therefore, we will be available:

At Oyster River High School gymnasium

January 23, 2024, 7:00 - 7:30 PM

Anyone who registers during this time will be entered onto the Checklist the next day, but you will NOT be allowed to vote in the Primary because the polls will officially close at 7:00 PM.

POSITIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 12, 2024, TOWN AND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS - Filing period begins Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

The 2024 Town Election will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Oyster River High School, Multipurpose Room, Coe Drive, Durham, N.H. The polling hours are 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. 

The following open Town offices are:

• Three positions for Town Councilor (3-year term)
• One position for Town Councilor (1-year term to finish retiring member’s term)
• Two positions for Durham Public Library Board of Trustees (3-year term)
• One position for Town Moderator (2-year term)
• One position for Supervisor of the Checklist (6-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (3-year term)
• One position for Trustee of the Trust Funds (1-year term)

(Last week there was an incorrect position listed for Library Trustee for a 1-year term which has been removed from this list.)

Candidates interested in running for Town office should file their declaration at the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s Office starting on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, at 8:00 am, through Friday, February 2, 2024 until 5:00 pm. If you would like to learn more about any Town elective office, responsibilities, time commitments, etc. please give the Administrator's Office a call at (603) 858-5571 or write to kedwards@ci.durham.nh.us.

The following open Oyster River School Board offices are:

• One position for Moderator (1-year term)
• Three School Board Positions (3-year terms) - one position from Durham, Lee and Madbury each

The filing period starts on Wednesday, January 24, 2023, at 8:00 am, and ends on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 5:00pm. Individuals interested in a School Board position should contact School District Clerk Susan Caswell at 603-498-7054 to set up a time to file, or Wendy DiFruscio at the SAU 603-389-3286 to make an appointment. 

The Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission is hosting three roundtable discussions in early 2024 to talk about the Oyster River Massacre Marker and potential revised language for the marker. The marker was removed from its location on Newmarket Road several years ago by NH Historic Resources and NHDOT, along with numerous other signs statewide, pending a re-evaluation of the appropriateness of certain existing markers. See the picture of the former sign above. The roundtable discussions will be held on the following dates.  

• Thursday, January 18
• Thursday, February 15
• Thursday, March 21

These meetings will be held in Council Chambers in Durham Town Hall from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The Town of Durham has hired Charlotte Bacon and Barbara Will of Montgomery Will Consulting to facilitate a conversation about the sign, potential new language for the sign, and how the community might address broader related issues more effectively.  

The NH Division of Historical Resources had solicited feedback from several interested parties over the last year in working to formulate revised language for the marker, but no agreement has been reached among the parties. To view the various draft suggested language proposals received to date, click HERE.

In order to help address the issue, the Durham Historic District/Heritage Commission (HDC/HC) offered to host discussions among the stakeholders. NHDHR, in coordination with NHDOT, will make the final determination about how to handle the marker but they will likely defer to any consensus reached in these discussions.

Larry Brickner-Wood, chair of the HDC, will chair the meetings. Two representatives from the HDC, Human Rights Commission, District Historic Association, NH Division of Historical Resources, and NH DOT, along with the chair of the NH Commission on Native American Affairs and a representative of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook Abenaki People will participate.

These meetings will be open to the public, but due to limited time, there will probably not be an opportunity for members of the general public to share comments at the meetings. Any interested person is welcome to send a note to Town Planner, Michael Behrendt at mbehrendt@ci.durham.nh.us.

We have a significant amount of history and intriguing commentary about this issue on the Town’s website by clicking HERE.

Upon recommendation of the Energy Committee and Admin. Selig, at its November 6 meeting, Durham’s Town Council authorized Durham to launch and switch to Durham Community Power offered through the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) as the default power provider for the Town, starting in March 2024. By combining the purchasing power of over 50 cities, towns, and counties in New Hampshire, CPCNH is able to provide savings off the default utility rate from Eversource, and to provide an easy way for residents to optionally select greener energy sources at attractive rates. This is the culmination of three-years of work.

During the week of January 22, all residents will receive a letter from CPCNH with details of how the plan will work, what are the important dates, and where to go for more information. Also during that week, a new website to answer your questions and allow changes to your account will become active: https://CommunityPowerNH.gov/durham

The default Residential rate for Durham will take effect in March, and will be the Granite Basic rate from the table below:

Residents may choose one of the rate plans with higher green content, or choose Eversource, by going to the above website after January 22. There will be a Town Information Session on January 30, 2024, at 7 PM in Town Hall and on Zoom where more information will be presented, and questions can be answered. While most Eversource customers will be included in the plan by default, NH-Electric Co-op customers will have to "opt-in."

Another view of the high tide flooding at the Town Landing from this past week's storm. Courtesy, Charlotte Hitchcock

More and more Durham residents have made composting part of their daily routine. As a result, we have successfully kept an estimated 28 tons of organic matter out of our solid waste landfill in both 2022 and 2023. That’s a combined estimate of 56 tons over the two-year period. And those figures only cover the organic matter brought in person to the transfer station. Still more residents have chosen to compost in their own backyard compost bins, significantly adding to this important accomplishment.

Why is this such an important accomplishment?

Each season, millions of pounds of food get thrown away. If the waste is put in the trash rather than composted, it ends up in our landfill and produces methane gas emissions which are significantly more damaging to our environment than carbon emissions.  

Thank you to all of the Durham residents making such a powerful impact on our community!

If you would like to be a part of this positive change but have questions about composting, and how to begin, reach out to us anytime at: Durhamrecycles603@gmail.com

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Check here: www.Recyclesmartma.org

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MAJOR COMPONENT REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT

The WWTP was constructed in the 1960’s originally operating as a primary treatment facility. In 1977,the facility was upgraded to include secondary treatment processes, including new aeration and disinfection facilities. Since the 1977 upgrade, multiple facility improvement projects have been completed, including the modification of the aeration basins to the 4-Stage Bardenpho process between 2016 and 2017. This allows the plant to maintain compliance with extremely stringent discharge permits. 

In late 2022, Durham Public Works retained the services of Engineering Consultant Environmental Partners to evaluate the current condition of the plants process equipment, including the primary and secondary clarifiers, aeration basins and pipe gallery, retaining wall, and stormwater controls. Within the first phase, the assessment identified several mechanical systems nearing the end of their life expectancy including, the chain and flight sludge collection systems, motors and drives and all wetted parts within the primary and secondary clarifiers, along with air headers within the aeration basin. The improvements were designed, and the Department recently received bids for the project. Work is planned to take place over the 2024 and 2025 summer construction season when students are on break and wastewater flows decrease substantially. Bids were received on January 12, where five prospective contractors responded to the Town’s advertisement. Durham Public Works is pleased to report that the pricing received was favorable and within the project budget. A contract award is anticipated to be recommended to the Town Council at the February 2024 meeting.

The Durham Public Works Highway Division team successfully carried out a complex, emergency repair of a large sinkhole at the junction of Woodman Road and Madbury Road recently. During the excavation, it was determined that a 3-foot segment of a corrugated metal drainage pipe had collapsed due to rust corrosion. A further evaluation of the full 40’ pipe segment between catch basin structures during the excavation revealed several additional areas of corrosion. As a preventative measure, the team replaced the entire segment with new HDPE pipe. The drainage network in this area will be completely replaced as part of the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project.

MADBURY ROAD COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT - Phase 1 Utilities Project Out to Bid

Durham Public Works and the Madbury Road Complete Streets Project team recently posted the utility portion of the first phase of the project out to bid. During this phase, a structural liner will be applied to the wastewater collection system between Main Street and Mathes Terrace in addition to a complete replacement of the segment that connects Strafford Avenue to Madbury Road via Madbury Court. Furthermore, the water main on Madbury Road between Garrison Avenue and Woodside Drive will be replaced in addition to the segment on Madbury Court. Upon successful bidding and contract award, these construction improvements are planned to begin in early 2024. An alternating lane traffic pattern can be expected for this phase of the project on Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS WINTER MAINTENANCE UPDATE

The Durham Public Works Snow and Ice Control Team responded to two impactful winter weather events in the last week. The Team provided emergency snow and ice removal services for 30 consecutive hours beginning at 8:00 PM last Saturday evening. A classic Northeast Snowstorm (Nor’Easter) rotated multiple waves of heavy snow over the period which accumulated to 12”. New England sat in the warm sector of a second, more powerful inland runner type of storm system on Tuesday and Wednesday. Several rounds of heavy rainfall were pinwheeled through the region and an impressive 2.77” was recorded at the UNH weather station. Gravel based roadways quickly slickened up and required treatment due to a shallow layer of frost beneath them. Ponding occurred in several poor drainage areas and the Wednesday afternoon high tide resulted in tidal flooding on Cedar Point Road. 

2024 RAYMOND A. LaROCHE SR. TRANSFER STATION AND RECYCLING CENTER PASSES AVAILABLE

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that a yearly pass is required to access the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center at 100 Durham Point Road. 2024 passes are now available at the Durham Public Works main campus located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive or at the Durham Town Hall. This pass is free of charge and allows residents to dispose of municipal solid waste and recycling materials. The disposal of bulky waste and construction debris is not covered by this pass and requires separate coupons which are available for purchase at Durham Public Works or the Transfer Station.

In 2023, the Durham Police Department conducted two Internal Affairs Investigations. All complaints filed against officers are brought to the attention of the Chief of Police. The Chief then makes the determination as to the level of investigation necessary, based upon the severity of the complaint filed. 

Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley reviewed the two complaints and deemed both to be “Minor Complaints.” In each instance, after review, the officer(s) involved were exonerated. 

There was no pattern of misconduct by any one officer or group of officers. There was no indication of bias in either of the two investigations. 

Given the extraordinary number of contacts with citizens for a variety of law enforcement purposes, and the increase in calls our officers two which our officers respond, it is very impressive that there were just two complaints in 2023. This fact leads Chief Kelley to conclude that Durham officers are conducting themselves professionally, with the spirit and intent of the department’s mission and Durham values in mind. 

To review the full report, click HERE.

DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF GRIEVANCES - 2023

For the past 28 years, including the calendar year 2023, there have been no grievances filed by any member of the Durham Police Department.

While Police Chief Rene Kelley remains extremely proud of the fact that there have been no grievances, it is not the result of a passive management style at the Durham Police Department. It is directly attributable to the department’s collective commitment to sustain an atmosphere where management and staff work together resolving procedural acts and/or omissions before they became problematic. Additionally, Chief Kelley believes the department’s sound hiring processes and commitment to hold staff members accountable reflects that members of the Durham Police Department take seriously their oath and pledge to do the right things for the right reasons for the citizens of Durham.  

At a resent awards ceremony at the Department of Highway Safety, Durham Police Officer Chloe Robidas was one of five officers in the entire State of New Hampshire recognized for removing impaired drivers from the roadways of New Hampshire. Chloe was recognized in 2022 for her work on DWI enforcement from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS OPENINGS FOR THREE POLICE OFFICERS

The Durham, New Hampshire Police Department is seeking three Police Officer candidates. The applicants selected will provide law enforcement and community-oriented services to this diverse Seacoast/University community. The Durham Police Department is a Meritorious CALEA Accredited agency.

Patrol Officers work a 4-day-on 3-day-off schedule. 

Special assignments include:

• Problem Oriented Police (POP)
• Detective Division 
• Special Response Team (SRT)
• Evidence Collection Team
• Mountain Bike Patrol
• School Resource Officer (SRO)
• Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC)
• Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team (TAR)

Starting salary is between $59,441.11 and $75,510.34, depending on experience. This salary does not include holiday pay, educational incentive pay, dawning doffing pay, and if you choose, a generous insurance buyback option. Our 2023 community survey rated the Durham Police with a 97% approval rating, which is way above the national average.

Applicants must be 21 years old by the anticipated date of appointment and must be a high school graduate or hold a GED. A police exam is not a prerequisite to apply.

Females and Minorities are encouraged to apply. The Durham Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The job posting will remain open until the positions are filled. For more information, please click HERE.

Please send your cover letter and resume to Captain Jack Dalton at: jdalton@ci.durham.nh.us

GIVE BLOOD AND POSSIBLY ATTEND THE SUPERBOWL!

The American Red Cross is experiencing a blood shortage right now. Per an article in Fosters this week, the number of people donating blood has fallen about 40% over the last 20 years.

The article also states that the Red Cross and the NFL are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets. Those who give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For more information, click HERE.

Here in Durham you can donate blood on January 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or January 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Memorial Union Building on the UNH campus. You will need to visit www.redcrossblood.org and make an appointment.

To read the full article in Fosters with more locations listed to give blood, click HERE.

The Durham Fire Department is hiring for the position of Firefighter/AEMT. The full position posting may be found on the Town’s website HERE or by clicking on the QR code above.

Resumes will be reviewed as submitted. Position to remain open until filled.  

The Durham Professional Firefighters Local #2253 would like to introduce Smokey the Fire Dog. Smokey will give short tips on Fire Safety, weekly so Parents and guardians can generate conversation with their children about Fire Safety. Keep an eye out in the weekly updates These small questions and tips are a great way for you as a Parent to teach your kids about Fire Safety, the more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #2

In Week 1 we talked about

DIAL 911 FOR AN EMERGENCY!!!!

This week we want to ask?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR ADDRESS?

Your address is very important when you call 911. It helps the people that are responding know exactly where you live. Your address is a key element for responders to respond to your household. Does your mailbox and house have a number on it? Can it be seen from the road? Are there any key landmarks that would help describe where you live?

TOWN LAND QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES HAVE BEEN COMPILED - Findings will help in the future care of these recreational areas.

For the past two years, the Stewarding Our Lands Working Group - a subset of the Land Stewardship Subcommittee - has collected user information and comments on each of the Town Lands where public recreation is promoted. Thanks to all of you that responded to the Town Land Questionnaires!

The Working Group has (finally!) compiled and summarized the Questionnaire responses. Out of these responses, recommendations for improving user experience were made.

Please click HERE to view the Questionnaire findings and recommendations, and thank you again for helping to ensure our lands are well-cared for, for years to come. 

Land Stewardship Coordinator (and Durham resident) Sara Callaghan has provided a helpful list of activities over the course of the last month to include:

• Supported the Stewarding Our Lands Working Group by collecting trail use information from Longmarsh Preserve and attended the Working Group meeting;
• Continued coordination efforts with Charlie Moreno to update the forest management plan and with RCCD on invasive species management on behalf of the Trustees of Trust Funds;
• Attended Land Stewardship Subcommittee and Trustee of Trust Funds meetings;
• Completed site visits on the Fogg #2 Conservation Easement and Oyster River Forest as part of the required annual monitoring. Worked on written and mapping documentation of easement monitoring visits;
• Hosted The UNH Air Force ROTC at Longmarsh Preserve on a trails workday. Projects included re-routing three short sections of trail along the blue trail and one along the yellow trail to avoid wetland edges from recent beaver activity;
• Continued to review and plan updates to wetlands crossings at Longmarsh Preserve;
• Coordinated the replacement of the stream crossing that went missing on the Beaudette trail. The in-kind replacement was approved by Jim Oehler, NH Fish and Game, and installed by John Nachilly according to an agreed upon plan;
• Researched materials relative to potential new conservation projects and met with Duane Hyde, SELT NH Land Conservation Director, to discuss one of the properties.

CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPOSED FOR LANGLEY PROPERTY

Duane Hyde, Land Conservation Director for the Southeast Land Trust (and former Durham Planning Director), will present a plan to the Conservation Commission on January 22 requesting a letter of support for funding to acquire a significant new conservation easement. Duane has been working with the landowner for several years to allow for the protection of several parcels totaling 44.5 acres located near the mouth of the Oyster River and Little Bay. Support from the commission is helpful as the funding programs are competitive. 

These types of projects involve securing funding from numerous sources with different (and sometimes conflicting) requirements, negotiating a price with the landowner and addressing their various concerns, complying with complex law, obtaining Town approvals when needed, and keeping the deal moving forward over the course of several years as the details keep changing. 

To download a map showing the areas proposed for this easement, please click HERE.  

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS UNDER WAY - Upcoming Important Dates to Remember...

February 6, 2024, 7:00 p.m. - Deliberative Session on the proposed 2024-25 school budget at the Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall (Snow date: February 8)

March 12, 2024 - Voting Day on the proposed 2024-25 school budget at

• Oyster River High School - 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Lee Safety Complex - 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Madbury Town Hall - 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

To review a packet of information on the district's web site as part of the annual budget process, click HERE.

ORCSD KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION TO OPEN FEBRUARY 5-13

Oyster River kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be open February 5-13, 2024. 

Mast Way Elementary School

• For questions, please contact Christine Nelson by clicking HERE or phone (603) 659-3001, ext. 3300
• Mast Way registration packet is available HERE.

Moharimet Elementary School

• For questions, please contact Helen Holmes by clicking HERE or phone (603) 742-2900, ext. 4302
• Moharimet registration packet is available HERE.

In-person registration information is available on the district website HERE.

ORCSD TEACHER WORKSHOP DAY RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 15, 2024

On December 20, 2023, the ORCSD School Board voted to reschedule the February 13, 2024, Teacher Workshop Day to Friday, March 15, 2024. February 13, 2024, is now a regular school day. 

This decision was made by the School Board in consideration of the 2024 New Hampshire primary election having been scheduled for January instead of the anticipated February date, and with our students, staff, and families’ best interest in mind. The updated 2023-2024 printable calendar is available online HERE.

ORCSD will be hosting a free Internet and Digital Safety event for adults from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall, (1 Coe Dr., Durham, NH 03824). Presented by two experts from the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), this program will include important information about how predators use social media, how to better protect children when using personal devices and gaming systems, as well as a demonstration featuring Niko, the state's first electronic storage detection K-9. This event is for adults only and not suitable for children.

Additional information may be found on the district website HERE.