Friday Updates - May 5, 2017

                    NEWS & HAPPENINGS...

Friday, May 5, 2017

Veterans holding American flags lined the walkway along the Great Lawn in front of UNH's DeMeritt Hall on Thursday this week for the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, which will be on display 24/7 through May 8, 2017. Courtesy Todd Selig

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The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall arrived at the UNH campus on Thursday this week. "The Moving Wall" is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for thirty plus years. When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of "The Wall." He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington.

John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984. Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site.

A Sponsor is any organization or group of individuals that wants The Moving Wall to visit their area and is willing to do the work to make the local arrangements as described in "Scheduling a Visit of The Moving Wall." Sponsors are frequently civic groups, schools, or veterans' organizations (by michael). Sponsoring normally requires months of planning by dozens of local volunteers.

TOWN COUNCIL APPROVES RESOLUTION AFFIRMING DURHAM AS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES ALL PEOPLE
On Monday evening, the Town Council approved Resolution #2017-19, affirming the Town of Durham as a welcoming community that embraces all people and their inherent inalienable right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, a premise fundamental to our nation. The resolution follows:

WHEREAS, the Town of Durham, as a diverse community within New Hampshire’s seacoast region, and host to the University of New Hampshire, embraces residents and visitors of various cultural and ethnic identities from across the country and around the world; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council hereby declares that the policy of the Town of Durham is that all people are valued and should be accorded dignity and respect; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council values equity and diversity, and acknowledges and affirms that the Town’s greatest strength is realized as a multicultural and inclusive community in which discrimination of any form is not tolerated; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council acknowledges that while many legislation reforms, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, have been adopted banning discrimination because of a person's color, race, national origin, religion, or s-x, more needs to be accomplished on the local and interpersonal level to eliminate all vestiges of discrimination; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Durham therefore believes that it is essential to denounce all forms of discrimination by adopting inclusive policies; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council established a Human Rights Commission in 2013, with the purpose to help address and eliminate discrimination of any type and in any form that might be exposed in our community; and

WHEREAS, the Town Council understands that the denial or deprivation of any aspect of the fundamental Right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the Durham community; and

WHEREAS, although throughout history there has always been varying levels of discrimination against certain populations, it is imperative to remain vigilant in protecting the rights of all individuals,

WHEREAS, that the Durham Town Council, the governing and legislative body of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire does hereby adopt Resolution #2017-19 affirming the community's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Durham Town Council, the governing and legislative body of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire does hereby adopt Resolution #2017-19 affirming the community's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

DURHAM POLICE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEEKEND - Cinco de Mayo

Today is Cinco de Mayo which has evolved into a celebration for UNH students as it is the last full weekend of the UNH Academic Year before exams begin and papers are due! Shortly after this weekend, the UNH students begin the exodus back home for the summer.

While in recent years Cinco de Mayo has fallen on “reading days” where classes have ended and there is an expectation of studying in preparation for final exams, this year classes will in fact be held on Friday. Unfortunately, there are not many classes held Friday afternoon.

Chief Kurz and his staff anticipate a very active weekend and are planning for significant activity during the day today (which has proven accurate despite the rain) and into the weekend.

The Durham Police have been monitoring the public domains associated with the more popular social media sites and there are significant indications that there will be substantial activity occurring. While the Durham Police are fully prepared and can routinely address busy weekend nights and even the occasional challenge of a celebratory riot, this “day drinking” phenomenon is a significant challenge to the agency and to the UNH Police Department.

There is no singular attraction other than it’s a Mexican holiday, which by the way Cinco de Mayo literally means “May 5th” and is a Mexican holiday almost exclusive to the Mexican State of Puebla which commemorates the Mexican army’s improbable victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla that occurred on May 5, 1862.  

Nationally, it has become a feebile excuse to party for college students as classes wind down and undergraduates gear up for final exams.  

There have been a host of discussions, planning, and formulating alternative scenarios by Chief Kurz and his staff. The challenge with the “day drinking” phenomenon is that there is no focus or triggering point that draws the students and visitors to Durham so the police must remain flexible and react to whatever percolates into an event, at whatever time and at whatever location.

With these unknowns in play, the police have met several times with Superintendent Jim Morse and his administrative staff at the Oyster River Middle School formulating plans and alternatives that will ensure that students leaving school do not interact inadvertently with partying UNH students.

Additionally letters have been sent to all downtown businesses regarding the potential for throngs of partying students ascending into the downtown. Our Problem Oriented Police (POP) officer, Greg Ruby has met with a number of landlords and discussed lease occupancy limitations, reinforced that large gathering of persons on their lawns and public intoxication, even on private property will result in police intervention!

UNH has taken a number of assertive and proactive steps including sending emails to parents of UNH students as well as the students themselves, reinforcing that off-campus conduct can impact a student’s ability to continue attending UNH as well as scholarships and study abroad opportunities.

Chief Kurz wishes to remind residents that if they hear disruptive or loud activity this weekend, or any other time, they are encouraged to contact the Durham Police at 603-868-2324 or 911 if the situation warrants an emergency response.

                   UNH Police Chief Paul Dean                              Durham Police Chief David Kurz

CHIEF KURZ AND UNH POLICE CHIEF DEAN CO-AUTHOR AN ARTICLE

The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) asked Chief Kurz and Chief Dean to write an article about how their two agencies co-exist in a singular community. Across the County the positive relationship that exists with our two agencies is sadly not always the norm.

View the article published by the IACLEA HERE.

WEEKEND WALKER PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING

One of the more novel ideas that has resulted from discussions with UNH officials to assist in curbing student challenges in the downtown area on Friday and Saturday nights is the concept of “Weekend Walkers”!

Two UNH staff members wear jackets identifying them as “UNH Student Affairs” and walk in downtown areas from 10PM until around 2AM assisting students and ensuring that they are safe and not being disruptive. Different UNH officials are walking about every weekend through now until graduation May 20th!

FUTURE LAND USE COMMUNITY FORUM - SATURDAY, MAY 13

The public is invited to a Community Future Land Use Forum on Saturday, May 13, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at UNH.

What kind of development do you want to see and where should it be located? Topics for discussion include:

• Commercial uses
• Residential uses
• Open space
• Agricultural uses
• Recreational areas

This should be a fun and stimulating event. Help plan the future of our great community!

RSVP at durhamnhforum@gmail.com including your name and if you have any dietary restrictions.

The forum will be held in the Piscataqua Room on the second floor of Holloway Commons.

There is free parking all day in the Town’s lot on Pettee Brook Lane and in the Mill Road Visitor Lot on Mill Road (formerly C Lot).

For answers some of your questions about the forum, click HERE.

We hope to see you there!

ARCHIVED ORHS MOUTH OF THE RIVER NEWSPAPERS NOW AVAILABLE ON LINE DATING TO 1981
We were contacted this week by Oyster River High School student journalist and archivist Timothy Bartos with the Mouth of the River (MOR for short) school newspaper. As of today, May 5, 2017, MOR archives will be available on line at the MOR website, and their archives page. Just go to the MORgue section! It’s a great way to learn about the history of Durham, Lee, and Madbury.

Pictured left to right: Geoffrey Clark, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, Rep. Michael Cahill from Newmarket, Town Engineer April Talon, Todd Selig, Tim Vadney of Wright-Pierce Engineering, WWTP Supt. Dan Peterson, and Great Bay Waterkeeper Jeff Barnum.

LEGISLATORS TOUR DURHAM AND NEWMARKET WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS
This morning, Great Bay Waterkeeper Jeff Barnum organized a site visit to the Durham Wastewater Treatment Plant for area legislators to get a better understanding of the processes and treatments necessary for the processing of wastewater. The tour was led by Durham Wastewater Superintendent Dan Peterson. Dan was the 2012 Regional EPA Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year in acknowledgement of his and the staff’s outstanding work operating and maintaining the Durham Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The treatment plant serves both the Town of Durham and the University of New Hampshire and is funded proportionally by Durham/UNH on a 1/3 – 2/3 bases, based upon flow from each entity.

As many towns in the Great Bay watershed have struggled with how to reduce nitrogen discharge from their waste water treatment plants, Durham's plant has already been discharging at levels below 8 milligrams per liter, a limit other communities will be required to meet in the coming years.

The group made a visit to the new Newmarket WWTP following their stop/tour of Durham’s facility.

PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING BOARD MINIMUM APPLICATION FEES REVISED

On Monday, May 1, 2017, the Town Council adopted a resolution updating the Minimum Application Fees for the Planning Board and The Zoning Board of Adjustment within the Town-wide Master Fees Schedule. Fees for these two boards had not been adjusted since 2007.

View the revised Planning Board fees HERE.

View the revised Zoning Board of Adjustment fees HERE.

A Ewe and her lambs at Emery Farm. Courtesy Mary Downes

EMERY FARM OPENS ITS FARM STAND FOR THE SEASON!
On Thursday this week, Emery Farm, located at 135 Piscataqua Road, opened its farm stand for the season.

Emery Farm is one of the oldest farms in the country, having been in the same family since 1660 with over 350 years of experience. Its connection to the land runs deep and its owners are committed to keeping Emery Farm a working farm for generations to come. Emery Farm provides its customers with its own fresh fruits and vegetables. Emery Farm also serves Annabelle’s Ice Cream and White Heron - coffee, cold brew, Chai, and teas.

On Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 11AM to 4PM, Emery Farm will hold a spring festival that will feature local music and local food, and fun for the whole family.

RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY AS "BUILDING SAFETY MONTH"

In April, 2017, the Town Council adopted Resolution #2017-15 proclaiming the month of May as "Building Safety Month". Building Safety Month (BSM), founded by the International Code Council (ICC), is celebrated by jurisdictions worldwide during the month of May. Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign to help individuals, families, and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.

The campaign is presented by the ICC and its 57,000 members worldwide along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community. Corporations, government agencies, professional associations, nonprofits, and more come together to support Building Safety Month because they understand the need for safe and sustainable structures where people live, work, and play.

View the resolution HERE.

UNH WATER TREATMENT PLANT
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on May 10 on plans by UNH to build a new water treatment plant.

View the letter which explains the project HERE.

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FROM RIVERWOODS

The Planning Office received a preliminary application from Riverwoods for a continuing care retirement facility that would be located at the Stone Quarry site northwest of the Route 108 and Route 4 interchange.  The project will be presented to the Planning Board on May 10.  The board will set a public hearing most likely for June 14. 

View the application materials and plans HERE.

MUSEUM OPENING: “Everything Old Is New Again!” at the Durham Historic Association Museum

For the first time in many years the DHA Museum will be open from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Memorial Day Monday May 29th, before, during and after the Memorial Day Parade. The museum is located on the second floor of the old brick Town Hall/District Court building at the traffic light on the corner.  Come visit the new exhibit of Durham’s 400 year history.  The DHA plans to host “Summer Saturdays at the Museum”, where every Saturday afternoon throughout the summer residents may explore Durham’s history in eight chronological periods from the 17th century to the present in air-conditioned comfort.

PROPOSAL TO COME BEFORE PLANNING BOARD TO CONSIDER REZONING OF FIVE LOTS ALONG AND NEAR NEWMARKET ROAD

The Planning Board will consider a proposal to rezone five lots along and near Newmarket Road (by the Oyster River) on May 10. At its meeting on April 6, the Historic District Commission voted to recommend that the Planning Board initiate a rezoning of these lots from Residence A to Church Hill. If the Planning Board wishes to explore the proposal further it will schedule a public hearing, likely for June 14. The board could then, at its option, initiate an amendment –as is or with changes - to go to Town Council for review.

The impetus for the recommendation from the HDC is the desire to preserve the significant property at 10 Newmarket Road (opposite from Town Hall across Mill Pond Road), and to recognize the commercial/institutional nature of the immediate area. JP Morgan Chase bank foreclosed on 10 Newmarket Road a while ago and it is now for sale. The most interest in the property is for some kind of commercial use or a more intensive use than for a single family house, which could be appropriate depending on the particular plan. The Church Hill zone could accommodate these uses. Three of the lots are owned by the Town of Durham and development of those lots would thus be extremely unlikely, but the HDC concluded it made sense to rezone all five lots to form a cohesive boundary to the district.

View the Zoning and Tax Maps of the proposed area HERE.

BUSINESS MGR. GAIL JABLONSKI GIVES QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT TO COUNCIL
At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Business Manager Gail Jablonski provided the Council with a quarterly financial report in accordance with section 5.6 of the Durham Town Charter for 2017 through March 31, 2017. The Town’s expenditures as of March 31, 2017 show a total expenditure of $2,941,980 or 20.3% of the total approved budget amount of $14,458,900. To compare, the amount expended as of March 31, 2016 was 19.6%. 74.7% of the snow budget has been expended which is where we normally expect to be after the first few months of the year. The remainder of the budget is falling in line with previous years and there are no areas of concern at this point.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, Durham Police Captain David Holmstock spoke to the State Senate Finance Committee in support of increased funding for New Hampshire’s 13 non-profit crisis centers. The State Finance Committee was hearing testimony at the State House in Concord concerning funding proposals in the Governor’s Budget.
 

“IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING ... SAY SOMETHING” - Call Durham Police if you experience noise concerns, or any concerns, at 868-2324 or 911.

The Durham Police are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to any of your concerns. In our community there are many off-campus rental properties where some of the residents are outstanding examples of the students who attend UNH. Sadly there are others who are not so considerate of their neighbors and the noise they create is a challenge for the entire neighborhood.

Chief Kurz urges residents to contact the department if there are concerns about noise, behavior or other issues related to these problematic properties. Believing that the issue is not important enough to contact the police is an error. Feeling that you are bothering the police is an error. The reality is that if there is no call to the police which creates a history of problems that we can track, this equates to “there is no problem” and complicates the Town taking affirmative actions! For instance, if the Durham Police research calls to a specific property and there are none, then it is very difficult to validate a concern and work collaboratively with UNH or through the court system. While frustration with a difficult property is not pleasant, to remain silent simply does not offer a resolution.

Chief Kurz urges residents that if you hear disruptive or loud activity this weekend, or any other time, you are encouraged to contact the Durham Police via 868-2324 or 911 if the situation warrants an emergency response. Calling 868-2324 for this type of activity may be the preferred manner!

DURHAM/UNH TO EXPLORE FORMING WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS IMPACT OF CONCERNING STUDENT ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN AND WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS
At the April 17, 2017 Town Council meeting, during the Councilor and Administrator Roundtable discussion, Council Chair Pro Tem Kenny Rotner raised the subject of the large number of UNH students that have been congregating in the downtown area. He indicated that with the warm weather recently experienced, residents in abutting neighborhoods have felt the surge of student activity. He noted that students are walking up to the rental properties on Madbury Road from the Davis Court apartments to congregate and party and that this type of activity has become an ongoing occurrence on weekdays during good weather, not just the weekends or with events such as Cinco de Mayo. Disruptive student behavior including day drinking, beer tables, large gatherings of loud students, trash, and parking issues has also impacted other neighborhoods and is of concern to those residents as well as to parents whose grade school age children witness and experience it.

This item was placed on the Council’s agenda for last Monday evening for further discussion. There is the thought of working collaboratively with UNH to form a working group to analyze this situation and look at all types of possible solutions (i.e., a change in policing, a change in current regulations pertaining to rental properties, or having UNH offer opportunities on campus for its students that would have an appeal and lure them to campus rather than to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, etc.) so that these activities do not continue to disrupt residential neighborhoods. Chair Pro Tem Rotner volunteered to serve on such a working group.

The Town reached out to UNH regarding this matter and asked if it would consider providing representation to participate as part of such an effort. UNH has indicated that it would be very willing to participate as part of this important effort.

Administrator Selig will be reaching out to Dean of Students Ted Kirkpatrick, and then conferring with Councilor Rotner, to develop an approach moving forward.

EVERSOURCE BEGINS INSTALLATION OF PROTECTED HENDRIX CABLE ON MILL ROAD
At the request of the Town, Eversource has initiated a project to retire the Durham electric substation located on Mill Road at the railroad tracks and provide more reliability to the Faculty Neighborhood and downtown area. The circuit that feeds down Mill Road will be rebuilt and the existing 35 – 40 foot poles will be replaced with new 50 foot poles and wires with spacer cable (“Hendrix” wire). Hendrix cable is significantly more resilient than older existing technology in withstanding strikes from tree branches. Durham has requested that Eversource install Hendrix wire where possible in town for this reason. The project will enhance reliability to the Mill Road area and enable continued improvement to the Eversource system in town. In addition, much of the very old (and ugly) infrastructure at the existing Mill Road substation will be removed as part of the project, including the old fenced enclosure area. All told, the project may take up to a year or two to fully decommission the old electric substation once the new lines are installed. In the end, the change should be an improvement, along with increased reliability during storm events, which are becoming ever more frequent as a result of climate change.

DURHAM LAND STEWARDSHIP SUBCOMMITTEE WEEKLY REPORT -  Volunteers Needed for Oyster River Forest

Volunteers are needed to help finish the Oyster River Trail on Friday, May 26th and Saturday, May 27th from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm.

Learn trail building skills from trails consultant Lew Shelley and take pride in helping to complete the trail from the Oyster River Forest to College Woods.

• Help build 3-4 foot bridges along the Oyster River
• Paint new trail blazes
• Re-route several sections of trail
• Brush and clear sections of trail
• Build and install "Leopold Benches"

Sign up through The Stewardship Network: New England HERE.

Questions may be directed to Ellen Snyder at ellensnyder1@gmail.com.

PART-TIME SEASONAL SUMMER WORK AT PUBLIC WORKS

Seasonal summer help wanted for the Department of Public Works- mowing, general landscaping and facility maintenance, support to other DPW staff, etc. If interested, please feel free to fill out an application at the Public Works office located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive. Pay will start at $11/HR or more depending on experience. All applicants must be 18 years of age and have a valid driver’s license to apply.

Applications may also be requested via e-mail at publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us or by calling 603-868-5578. Application and copy of valid driver’s license to be submitted to the Public Works Department no later than 4:00 PM, Friday, May 12, 2017.

MORE SCAMS

Two residents reported having their AT&T cell phone accounts hacked. While the Durham Police are unsure if the focus is exclusively to AT&T, at this point only customers of this carrier have reported the identical scam. Apparently when the accounts were hacked, the hackers changed the PIN locking the customer out of the account. What they both discovered however was that each account had two (2) IPhone 7Plus ordered and shipped to a neighboring community. While it is unknown precisely how the accounts were hacked, residents with AT&T should monitor their accounts regularly as it is only due to the diligence of the two customers that they detected the scam in time to cancel the IPhone order.

SEACOAST BIKE MONTH AND BIKE/WALK TO WORK DAY

National Bike Month is coming up in May, with a whole slate of activities around the seacoast. This year seacoast residents have more ways than ever to join the healthy, dollar-saving, congestion reducing, breeze-in-your-face fun. SABR is again partnering with two regional planning commissions, commuteSMART seacoast, local bike shops, and other businesses to sponsor ten free alternative commuter breakfasts in communities all around the seacoast.

Durham Bike & Sports will provide breakfast on Bike/Walk to Work Day, Friday, May 19th from 7 - 9AM.  More information can be found HERE.

BEE FRIENDLY, JOIN THE PARADE!

To raise awareness about the importance of protecting pollinators in our community, the Agricultural Commission invites young residents to dress in bee costumes and march with them in the May 29th Memorial Day parade.

Every youngster wearing a BEE costume and joining the commission in the parade will receive a jar of honey from Durham beekeepers. For more information, please contact Theresa Walker at theresawalker@comcast.net, or 603-659-7226.

LAMPREY RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SPRING NEWSLETTER
The Lamprey River Advisory Committee has published its 2017 spring newsletter which is available for viewing HERE.

New Hampshire VFW State Commander Shannon Brown speaks to a large crowd that turned out for the opening ceremony for the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall on Thursday afternoon this week at the UNH campus. Courtesy Todd Selig