Friday Updates - May 21, 2021

Friday, May 21, 2021

Thompson Hall at commencement time. Courtesy Todd Selig

TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE OPENS TO THE PUBLIC ON TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021

The Town Clerk-Tax Collector’s office will open the interior office doors to the public on June 1, 2021. At this time, residents may conduct in-person transactions at a walk-up window in the Town Hall lobby. The window will close after June 1st and the public may enter the office to conduct business. 

Masks will still be required to enter the office and social distancing practices will be observed. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm, and 8:00am-6:00pm the first Monday of every month.  

UNH OUTDOOR POOL PANDEMIC PLANNING - The University is in discussions with Durham over how to possibly open the facility to the Durham community this summer, with appropriate Covid-19 protocols in place.

The University is working diligently to evaluate possible ways to open the UNH Outdoor Pool this summer, at first for UNH-only for a couple of weeks to fine tune operations and the implementation of appropriate Covid-19 protocols, and then potentially to open the facility more broadly to the Durham community.  

The Town Hall staff have been receiving ongoing inquiries concerning the UNH Outdoor Pool from residents. When UNH has fully developed a plan, we will work with UNH to inform the community. 

Please be patient. The pandemic has added numerous complications, logistical challenges, and added cost to everything Durham and UNH undertake.  

FDA AUTHORIZES COVID-19 VACCINE FOR KIDS, AGES 12+ - Here's how you can access vaccine for your family, assuming they qualify.

On May 13, 2021, the State of New Hampshire will open appointments in VINI, the state’s COVID-19 vaccine scheduling and appointment management website, for individuals 12 to 15 years of age.

Following FDA authorization and a vote by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for individuals between 12 and 15 years of age. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has previously been available to anyone 16 years of age and older.

Parents and guardians can register and schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for their children aged 12 to 15 years old. Same-day appointments are available at some vaccination clinics.

Anyone under 18 must have consent from a parent or guardian. This can be verbal consent from the parent or guardian onsite at the time of the vaccination, written consent that can be filled out by the parent or guardian in advance or while onsite, or an electronic consent form that can be signed by the parent or guardian at the time of registration.

Due to FDA emergency use authorization requirements, recipients under the age of 18 years old may only receive the Pfizer vaccine, which is available at the following locations:

All state-managed fixed sites and Walgreens locations

Androscoggin Valley Hospital (Berlin)

Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital (Colebrook)

Weeks Medical Center (Lancaster/Whitefield)

Littleton Regional Healthcare (Littleton)

Huggins Hospital (Wolfeboro)

Memorial Hospital (North Conway)

Concord Hospital – Laconia (Laconia)

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon)

There are more than 25,000 first dose appointments still available in VINI prior to Memorial Day.

DURHAM HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOPIC OF REPARATIONS

At its next meeting at 10 AM on June 24th via Zoom, the Human Rights Commission has invited representatives from the NH Commission on Native American Affairs and the NAACP Manchester, NH Branch to provide an overview on the topic of reparations. The City of Evanston, IL recently launched an initiative concerning this topic and Durham’s Human Rights Commission members were interested in learning more. There is no proposal on the table at this time. Commission members will simply be learning more about the topic and how/whether it might apply to a community such as Durham.  

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD UPDATE

As noted above, ORCSD will hold a forum on May 25 called “Diversity, Visibility, and Standing Together in Oyster River.” It will focus on Asian American History & Current Issues, with our district’s significant Asian population and with the recent increase in anti-Asian violence nationally -- but it’s really part of the district’s commitment to celebrating diversity and recognizing and dismantling systemic racism of all kinds. UNH Professor Monica Chiu, also a Durham resident and parent, will give a brief presentation, then we’ll hear about some Asian American family experiences and have an open community discussion. Everyone is encouraged to attend. This event will be Tuesday, May 25th, from 6-7:30 in the ORHS auditorium.

The Oyster River School Board recognized the contribution of Student Representative Megan Deane. Megan joined the board during the pandemic and has been an important part of discussion and decision making over the last year. She is graduating in June and will attend UNH in the fall. Thank you and Congratulations, Megan.

The Oyster River School District is recognizing 23 retirees who have dedicated a combined 560+ years of service to Oyster River students. These individuals have had direct impact on tens thousands of students over their careers and leave a lasting mark on our schools an community.

Director of Student Services Catherine Plourde and Director of Athletics Andy Lathrop are updating district mask and distancing requirements for middle/high school PE and athletics activities. Requirements for indoor class and school day activities are remaining unchanged through the end of the school year.

Framework for Fall 2021 school opening will be on the agenda for the School Board's June 2 meeting.

This week, the Town received the above beautiful watercolor painting of the Wagon Hill Farm gardens by Durham artist Julia Gittes where it will be hung in the Town Hall. The generous donor asked to remain anonymous. Photo of Image Courtesy Todd Selig

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATIONAL CHANGES DUE TO FLOW DECREASES WITH UNH COMMENCEMENT FOR THE SUMMER

With the upcoming UNH student and faculty departure for summer recess and decreases in wastewater flows, Wastewater Division staff have begun to take 50% of the process tanks offline. One primary clarifier has been drained and cleaned, aeration tanks #1 and #2, which comprises one aeration process train, has been drained and cleaned, one secondary clarifier has been pumped down and cleaned, and one chlorine contact tank has been pumped down and cleaned. These offline tanks will now undergo preventative and scheduled maintenance allowing the process tanks to be rotated to complete maintenance on the remaining tanks. This will take place through the summer months in advance of UNH coming back for the fall semester.

PART-TIME TRANSFER STATION ATTENDANT VACANCY

The Town of Durham is looking for a part time Transfer Station Attendant. The position is part time, non-benefits. Applicants must be comfortable dealing with public and have a Solid Waste Operators License, level 1 minimum or the ability to obtain license within 2 months of hire. Duties include checking in residents, ensuring materials are disposed of in proper locations, ability to operate a loader and skid steer, maintenance and cleaning of facility. Pay $14-$17/Hr based on experience. Hours will be Saturday from 7am-3:30pm, potential for more hours. Valid driver’s license, background check will be performed. Applications accepted until the position is filled.    

Applications are available at the Public Works Office, contact below:

Janice Richard

Assistant to the Director

100 Stone Quarry Drive

Durham, NH 03824

603-868-5578

LARGE CULVERT ASSESSMENT IN DURHAM - Many culverts installed years ago are reaching end of life and need replacement.

The Town of Durham has several large culverts which convey rivers and streams under major collector roadways such as Madbury Road, Pettee Brook and Edgewood Road. Many of these culverts were constructed decades ago using large granite stone slabs to construct stone box culverts. Over the years both the headwalls and stone box culverts themselves have deteriorated, resulting in deficiencies requiring repair and replacement.  

As large roadway reconstruction projects are undertaken such as Madbury Road, Durham Public Works includes this rehabilitation and/or replacement within the project scope. If a roadway project is not planned the culvert may be rehabilitated or replaced independent of any roadway work. Over the next several weeks, five culverts will be assessed for structural integrity using advanced CCTV inspection and on-site evaluation by structural engineers to develop preliminary cost evaluations of alternative repairs. In addition to future capital funding, Funding requests for these repairs have been included within recently submitted congressionally directed spending requests for fiscal year 2022 through the Honorable Senator Shaheen’s office.  

A female cardinal in her nest incubating her 4 eggs. Courtesy Bernie Casey

FRAUD FRIDAY ALERT - Family Member or Friend Allegedly in Trouble?

Problem:

• You get a telephone call from someone claiming to be a member of your family or friend and they tell you they were just arrested, or just got in a car accident, or stranded in another country….etc.
• The person or someone else on the phone asks you to send money via gift cards, bitcoin, Western Union, etc. to help them get out of trouble

Remedy:

• If you can, write down the details of what the person is saying
• Never offer the scammer information about the person or yourself
• Ask the person a question only the real family member or friend would know the answer to
• Fact Check: Hang up and call the person in question and ask them if they are okay.
• Notify the Durham Police Department at any time if you have questions/concerns at (603) 868-2324.

2021 SIDEWALK PROGRAM PROGRESSING NICELY - Current status of projects.

The Durham Public Works Department’s paving contractor, Continental Paving, continued construction on the Town’s sidewalk improvement program this past week. This year’s program includes the removal and in-kind replacement of the bituminous asphalt sidewalk along sections of Dover Road and Newmarket Road. The sidewalks in these areas were in extremely poor condition, with severe rutting, scabbing, and alligator cracking. Following a final grading last week, 2” of binder course and 1” of wearing course pavement were sequentially applied to 2,100’ of sidewalk. This project connects with Riverwood’s expansion of the Town’s sidewalk network from Old Piscataqua Road to Stone Quarry Drive currently under construction this summer which will result in full sidewalk connectively from Stone Quarry Drive to Main Street and downtown Durham. 

2021 ROAD PROGRAM UPDATE - Projects proceeding on schedule.

The Durham Public Works Department Road and Sidewalk Team and Paving contractor, Continental Paving, remain hard at work on the 2021 Road Program. Over the last few weeks, roadway shoulders and driveway aprons were graded flush with the new asphalt surface to help prevent premature raveling and assist in proper drainage and storm water flow patterns. A Cape Cod-style asphalt berm was applied to the perimeter of Sullivan Falls Road and sections of Foss Farm Road to minimize the possibility for ponding and direct storm water to catch basins.

DURHAM FARM DAY IS BACK!

Mark your calendars for the Saturday, August 21st. The Agricultural Commission is finalizing the agenda for this day-long celebration of Durham’s working landscape of farms, gardens, and woodlands. We’ll be offering contests and opportunities to learn farm and garden skills. Stay tuned!

Kit fox. Courtesy Carol Birch

DURHAM COMMUNITY CHURCH VOLUNTEERS ASSIST DPW WITH PLANTING FLOWERS AROUND DURHAM

Eight members the Durham Community Church’s congregation volunteered their time recently to assist the Public Works Department in planting flowers in Memorial Park and the Madbury Road/Main Street traffic island. The spring construction season has consumed many of the Department’s resources this year, making in-house beautification projects like this difficult to complete in a timely manner without assistance from volunteers. The group did a fantastic job and we sincerely appreciate their efforts! 

STORMWATER PROTECTION OUTREACH INFO. FLYER SOON TO BE MAILED TO DURHAM HOUSEHOLDS

In its ongoing effort to provide educational opportunities for residents, businesses and institutions in Durham, Durham Public Works has developed the stormwater messaging postcard below which will be sent to Durham resident’s to remind everyone of the important role they play in the protection of the Town’s water resources. Please contact Durham Public Works at 603 868-5578 with any questions. 

American flags were placed in the Durham cemetery this week by the the Scouts in Troop 154. Approximately 20 male and female Scouts along with 10 adults assisted in placing the 270 flags.  Courtesy Ken Mitchell, Scout Troop 154

NEW PETTEE BROOK FOOTBRIDGE READY FOR USE! - Privately funded collaboration with Durham a nice improvement.

The Durham Public Works Department completed the new Pettee Brook Footbridge located between the Pettee Brook Parking Lot and the properties owned by Dr. Andrew Rutter and Dr. Jason Lenk on Mathes Terrance this past week. Durham resident and retired DPW Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Raymond LaRoche performed much of the work and was pivotal in the timely completion of this project.

This project was made possible in part following a generous donation and cooperation from Dr. Rutter, Dr. Lenk, Dr. Dan Garcia de Paredesand. 

COMMUNITY GARDENS AT THE MEADOWS – Moving forward with drilling a new well.

The Meadows, the Town-owned parcel on Newmarket Road that was graciously donated to the community by Dr. Dennis Meadows for a variety of public purposes, will have a fresh water well drilled this summer for use of the new community gardens being developed there. It has unfortunately proven infeasible to utilize the historic well on the adjacent parcel as originally planned due to wetland crossing issues, modern electrical code issues, etc. The installation will take place in several weeks.

THE 2021 DURHAM DANDELION CONTEST HAS ENDED - Winners to be announced soon.

While the cool dry spring weather delayed a distinctive display of dazzling dandelions, there were 25 participants who submitted various photos of dandelions conforming to nine (9) categories of the contest. Following a somewhat subjective but otherwise impartial review by select members of the Bee Friendly Working Group of Durham Agricultural Commission, results of the contest will be announced within the next few weeks. The winners will each receive a 12oz bottle of “Lee’s Bees” honey. 

This watercolor painting by Riverwoods resident Ellie Lonske is a view of the Sullivan house from the Town Landing.

On Wednesday morning this week, UNH Marine Docent, Deb Byers, explained the nature of an estuary to rapt Dondero School (Portsmouth) fifth graders learning why Durham’s Shoreline Restoration project, now a successful model for similar projects up and down the eastern seaboard, holds such importance to their futures. Courtesy Wayne Burton

WASTEWATER DIVISION REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH ELIMINATING USE OF "FLUSHABLE WIPES"

The increased use of “flushable wipes” is posing significant challenges in wastewater collection for municipalities requiring costly resources to manage. Recent upgrades at the Dover Rd. Main sewage pumping station included the installation of a new channel grinder to shred incoming items that should not be disposed of down the toilet. This project has proven successful and has worked extremely well to minimize pump damage and plugging due to “flushable wipes”. 

The Old Concord Road sewage pumping station that serves the West end of Durham has seen an influx of undesirable materials that are being flushed. Prior to Covid, the two pumps required cleaning approximately once annually. Over this past year, the frequency of having to remove debris from the pumps has gone from once per month to currently, once per week. These unwanted “wipes” and other types of rags have caused excess wear and tear on the pumps as well as extra staff resources to clean them.  Durham Public Works requests that users refrain from flushing any debris, rags and “flushable” wipes.  

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PROCESS - Aeration Tank Membrane Diffusers require replacement.

Wastewater Division staff have coordinated the procurement of five hundred membrane diffusers to replace the older aeration membrane diffusers. The membranes are used for the oxygen transfer in the aeration tanks to properly maintain the health of the microbes that treat the wastewater by delivering the required amount of oxygen. The expected life of the diffusers is approximately five years before they begin to plug up, requiring the aeration blower to work harder to deliver the oxygen required. Once the diffusers arrive Division staff will begin replacing them.

2021 ROADWAY STRIPING PROGRAM - There's a whole lot of striping going on!

The Durham Public Works Department’s Traffic Control Division has performed exceptionally well over the last few weeks striping and symbol painting within the downtown corridor and surrounding major collector roads. The Department’s contractor, Industrial Traffic Lines, performed center and edge line painting, completing 9 miles of double yellow center and 5.5 miles of single white edge lines.