Friday Updates - November 3, 2023

Friday, November 3, 2023

Courtesy, Todd Selig

Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour this Saturday evening or Sunday morning as Daylight Savings Time ends!

A reminder that the Town Hall will close on Tuesday, November 7, at 3:00 p.m. for Active Shooter Training for the Town Hall employees. All Town Offices will also be closed Friday, November 10 in observance of Veteran's Day. Friday Updates will be published on Thursday, November 9.

There will be no changes to collection of commercial recycling on Friday, November 10th.

All Oyster River schools will be closed Tuesday, November 7, for a Teacher Workshop Day (parent/teacher conferences grades K-8). All Oyster River schools and the district office will be closed Friday, November 10, in observance of Veteran's Day.

Just a reminder that Durham does NOT have an election this coming Tuesday, November 7. Durham town elections are in March.

In case you did not know, all three employees in the Town Clerk's Office are Notaries and Justices of the Peace. Notary services are free for Durham residents. For non-residents there is a charge of $5 per document. No appointment is required for notary services.

DURHAM RESIDENT SENDS NOTE OF APPRECIATION FOR DURHAM'S EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

As a proud Durham resident for over four decades, I have always respected the professionalism and kindness of our emergency responders. Never did I imagine I would be the one in need. While visiting the Durham Swap Shop on Saturday, I was stung by a single bee. Within 5 minutes I had stopped breathing, was unconscious and in anaphylactic shock. To my great fortune, I was not only accompanied by my daughter, Anne, but Swap Shop volunteers Beth Pescisolidi, RN and Joanna Wicklein, EMT (a friend) who were volunteering at the location. While Beth and Joanna attended to my immediate needs and called 911, Durham’s DPW employee John Baker directed traffic and instructed patrons to move their vehicles in order to make room for the McGregor ambulance, as well as Durham Police Officers, Rob Keith and Jasdeep Kaur and Fire Captain Jason Best, Firefighters Steve Jautaikis, Andrew Davis, Dan Brothwell, Kyle Kustra, and their vehicles. I was treated onsite by McGregor Paramedic Isaiah Foss and EMTs Brenden Lewis, John Harber, and Sam Kucal, then transferred by ambulance to the hospital. I name them here because they are often unnamed yet go about their work with skill and grace.

We live in a responsible and organized community. Tim and I hope you will take a moment to join us in extending sincere gratitude and respect to all whose professionalism and kindness assisted me and are ever ready to assist all of us, through every unexpected event, shepherding us to safety and health. They are truly our community heroes! - Diane Tregea

FALL LEAF AND BRUSH CURBSIDE COLLECTION - Begins Monday, November 6th at 7:00 am

The annual curbside Fall leaf and brush collection begins on Monday, November 6th at 7:00am. During this curbside collection program, Durham Public Works crews collect brush (natural material from trees) first followed by the collection of leaves. It is important to note that this program runs independently from the regular curbside solid waste and recycling collection.

Leaves must be placed in paper leaf bags (plastic bags are not recyclable and will not be picked up). Paper bags may be purchased at Aubuchon Hardware and stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot. Loose leaves will not be accepted but may be brought to the Raymond A. LaRoche Sr. Transfer Station & Recycling Center on Durham Point Road during public open hours.

• Brush should be placed in one direction, bundled and tied with string (no wire please). 
• Brush and limbs must be no greater than 5 feet in length and 5 inches in diameter. No stumps will be accepted.
• The amount of brush and limbs is limited to ONE TRUCKLOAD PER HOUSEHOLD.
• Cutting off small limbs from branches will help maximize each load.
• Remember, backyard composting of your leaves and brush reduces the flow of waste, while at the same time, produces valuable organic matter for the soil. It improves your soil and the plants growing in it.

In accordance with the Town Charter, Administrator Selig has provided to the Town Council for review and consideration by Councilors the Administrator’s proposed 2024 Budget, which includes the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer (Wastewater) Fund, Library Fund, Parking Fund, Depot Road Lot Fund, Churchill Rink Fund, and Downtown TIF Fund budgets, as well as the Administrator’s proposed 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Plan incorporating the FY 2024 Capital Fund budget utilizing a ten-year time horizon. 

The proposed budget allocates limited resources and supports funding for targeted initiatives consistent with Town Council goals, to the extent it has been possible to do so responsibly while still meeting the budgetary needs of departments in order to safely and reliably meet the basic needs of the Durham community based on historical levels of service delivery and evolving challenges/opportunities. In light of general U.S. inflationary pressures, increasing healthcare and energy costs, and increases in McGregor Memorial EMS service costs based upon critical staffing needs and calls for service, this is generally intended to be a steady state budget, taking into consideration the reality that Durham hosts UNH, the State of New Hampshire’s flagship public university. Yet, we have been able to incorporate a handful of important and impactful initiatives for 2024 (see below), which Admin. Selig believes will serve the community well in the years ahead. 

At this time, we’re projecting an increase in the overall assessed valuation of Durham in 2024 of approximately 1%, a positive increase of $19,917,133. Mr. Selig notes for the record once again this year that without meaningful future tax base growth generated from new construction, it is extraordinarily challenging to maintain a flat (or reduced) tax rate for Durham. 

Projected non-tax General Fund revenues are up by $865,955 (or 11.1%) in 2024, representing a positive impact to the Town’s bottom line. Interest on investments, motor vehicle registrations, NH Meals and Room tax distribution, offsetting the cost of future abatements through unassigned fund balance versus the General Fund, payment in lieu of taxes proceeds, and increases in Parks & Recreation revenues comprise the lion’s share of this revenue growth. Revenue projections continue to include an annual approx. $150,000 payment from UNH to compensate the community for the University’s financial impact upon the Town in the area of policing services, plus certain actual roadway costs associated with the upkeep and maintenance/resurfacing of Main Street running through the UNH campus between Pettee Brook Lane and the Rt. 155A intersection. UNH also supports 50% of the Fire Department operational and capital budgets, 2/3 of the cost of joint water and wastewater capital projects, and a pro rata (rolling 36 mo. average) share of the water and wastewater operating budgets for Durham and UNH (currently at 51.4% UNH and 48.6% Durham [a change from 52.4% UNH and 47.6% Durham in 2023] for Water; and 49.9% UNH and 50.1% Durham for Wastewater [a change from 51.1% UNH and 48.9% Durham in 2023] for Wastewater). 

A primary driver within Durham’s municipal budget are personnel-related costs that account for 61.9% of total spending as part of the proposed 2023 budget.

Fiscal Year 2024 Budgetary Proposal

This year’s budget cycle has resulted in a proposed 2024 General Fund budget totaling $19,315,015 -- a spending increase of $1,058,766 or 5.8% compared to FY 2023. [Note: Spending increases proposed by the Administrator for 2023 were 2.31% and 5.8% for 2024, respectively, totaling an increase over two years of 8.11% versus a combined 2023/24 CPI increase of 11.9% (U.S. CPI of 8.2% in 2023 and 3.7% in 2024).] Increases are due to required wages and benefits as a result of recently ratified collective bargaining contracts, a 3% COLA for non-union personnel, insurance increases, energy/fuel costs, steep increases in various supplies, materials, and construction services, and other miscellaneous requests that will be discussed as part of the upcoming budget process.

In total, this year’s budgetary proposal is projected to maintain the 2024 local municipal portion of the tax rate with a 0.00% increase -- the same level as proposed in 2023 at $5.75 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. For comparative purposes, the tax rate had remained at $7.37 (formerly $8.48 but adjusted due to 2018 statistical revaluation update) for 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. The proposed budget would therefore cost the average Durham property taxpayer with a home valued at $450,000 an additional $0.00 in taxes for 2024 for the municipal portion of the tax rate.  This budget proposal is consistent with Town Council goals. 

The proposed Water Fund budget carries an anticipated 1.9% increase in user fees (a rate of $10.61 per hundred cubic feet) for FY 2024. 

The proposed Sewer (Wastewater) Fund budget reflects a 7.69% increase in user fees in 2024 (a rate of $10.31 per hundred cubic feet). 

Some budget highlights include the following:

1. The FY 2024 budget includes $1,937,600 (offset with $723,681 in external grant funding) to replace the Town’s two existing refuse/recycling collection trucks with two EV collection vehicles and the purchase of standardized fixed size toter bins, enabling Durham to forge ahead in 2024/25 with a new volume-based collection system intended to further incentivize the Town’s recycling and sustainability goals through the use of new standardized toter bins that will be required for MSW and recycling curbside collection.
2. The proposed budget allocates $350,000 for improvement measures at the Raymond A. LaRoche Transfer Station and Recycling Center intended to optimize traffic flow, increase public safety and user convenience along the saw-tooth wall through the incorporation of protective barriers, improved signage, and elevated MSW and recycling disposal locations. The proposal also integrates ground-mounted MSW and single stream recycling stationary compactors with standard detachable roll-off containers that will significantly streamline waste handling and reduce long-term costs of operation. 
3. The proposed budget includes a significant planned policy change for 2024 that will move forward at long last with aligning Durham’s MSW and recycling practices with its sustainability goals by permanently discontinuing the annual spring bulky waste collection cleanup. This will free up 4-6 weeks of valuable DPW staff time every springtime to address an ever-expanding list of expectations/responsibilities for the department. The Town will open the Transfer Station for two or three days during an identified period of time for residents to transport their own bulky waste materials to the facility for disposal at no cost – during this finite identified time. 
4. An additional $1,500 is allocated to the Integrated Waste Management Advisory Committee to assist with educating the public concerning the previously described array of solid waste and recycling changes for Durham.
5. $2,500 is allocated to support the Revolution 1774 event co-sponsored by the Historic District Commission/Heritage Commission and scheduled for 6/15/24 to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of Day II of the raid on Fort William and Mary in Newcastle, NH, including General Sullivan and others from Durham and Newmarket, which occurred on December 14 and 15, 1774. Funds to be utilized on public property and for publicly facing elements of the planning/celebration.
6. The Health Agencies and Hospitals budget will remain essentially unchanged for 2024 at $12,300. The Town has generally adopted a policy of not accepting new requests for donation and holding existing contributions more or less at the status quo.
7. The Direct Assistance/Welfare Budget has been increased by $10,000 to a total of $40,000 to address increased caseloads supported by the Town’s general assistance policies that are based upon documented need.
8. Debt service payments for 2024 based upon previously approved capital projects will increase by $166,610 to $1,370,010.
9. The Information Technology/MIS budget supports aspects of Town operations in a behind the scenes capacity. An increase of around $57,000 is attributed to a variety of factors including increasing licensing levels moving from Office365 G3 to Microsoft365 G5 (adding in defender, phone, and logging capabilities), implementing a cloud-based Identity and Access Management System with shims for existing services, building additional external controls, and links for HR purposes, establishing new and improved paths to backup on-premises and for cloud data, and scalable event monitoring capability to provide detailed log analysis and retrieval. This year’s budget increases are flagged as critical to the security and resilience of the Town’s IT infrastructure, and as an added benefit provide the potential for future cost reductions in the area of telephone service costs.
10. The Durham Community Access Television (DCAT) budget carries an increase of around $42,350 due to a planned full upgrade to the Town’s back end Castus system, which is the platform utilized to operate our broadcasting capabilities. The current system is at end of life and is limited in terms of storage capacity and equipment reliability, making it essential for replacement in 2024 to ensure seamless broadcasting. In pursuit of our goals to be a welcoming community, the new system will at long last allow for livestream closed captioning (CC) broadcasting of all Durham public meetings as well as the potential to translate CC to one or more alternative languages.  The system will also enable Durham to post our DCAT broadcast on a wide variety of social media engines utilized more and more by citizens. The most common disability accommodation request we receive is from individuals with hearing impairments who struggle to hear/understand local public meetings. This enhancement therefore directly addresses this deficiency and represents a meaningful step forward in transparency for a large subsection of the Durham community.
11. More community members are using the Durham Public Library (DPL) as they navigate their post-pandemic work environments. Attendance is up as well for programs serving both children and adults. Use of technology and print and digital resources are steady. To support the DPL’s efforts, additional funds are proposed for the procurement and replacement of books and to meet the costs of maintaining DPL’s digital and technological resources. In addition, a staffing reorganization at the DPL has combined the job responsibilities of two positions formerly known as the Library Technologist and the head of Adult Services into an Assistant Director position. Including the technology responsibilities into the full-time position improves prospects for employee retention and addresses a critical staffing area. All in all, these increases total around $50,000. Note the Library Trustees supplement the budget allocation by contributing $20,000 annually from outside fund raising. 
12. Parks & Recreation (P&R) has been instrumental in the development of new community events and activities that bring people together downtown, on our trails, and to our various recreational facilities and park spaces. Summer camps and after school programs have been expanded to help meet the demand in registrations. The addition of a full-time Assistant Director position in 2022 has been an important asset, allowing P&R to grow and develop programs and offer new community events like the Durham Day Dash 5k. Overall, the P&R budget is up $44,362 or 11.55% over FY 2023 due largely to part-time wage increases for staff involved with summer camp programs necessary to stay competitive with other area departments and recreation agencies, as well as with the private market such as McDonald's. Contracted Services is up. Due to a steady increased demand in participation for these programs and camps, registrations are up, as will be additional offsetting revenues totaling around $30,000. Professional/Staff Development is needed for select staff to receive additional training.
13. A fourth full-time staff position, Staff Accountant, is proposed within the Business Office starting 7/1/24 (the individual has begun working with us in a part-time temporary capacity) in order to keep up with daily workload and for longer-term succession planning given the likelihood of upcoming retirements over the course of the next 4-5 years. The cost for salary/benefits is roughly $50,000 for 2024.
14. The FY 2024 proposed budget includes approximately $18,000 in funding to continue to partner with the UNH Sustainability Fellowship Office to bring on a Graduate Student for the spring ($4,500)/summer ($9,000)/fall ($4,500) 2024 semesters to continue/drive forward our sustainability efforts in Durham in support of the Energy Committee and Council goals, as well as our commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate Action and Energy initiative. 
15. $3,500 is once again included in 2024 to support the planting of 6-10 shade trees as part of our Tree City efforts. Durham is the longest running Tree City municipality in NH.
16. $32,000 once again included within the Conservation Commission budget to support the part-time/contract Land Stewardship Coordinator position. In addition, $15,000 is included for survey work on town-owned lands to determine boundary points, $4,500 for field mowing, $2,500 for trail mowing, and $2,000 to address trails and invasives management.
17. McGregor Memorial EMS support for 2024 is up by more than $100,000 to reflect the cost of operations and a reallocation of costs across the four served communities (Durham, UNH, Madbury, and Lee) on a three-year rolling average basis. Staff from Durham and McGregor have met and cost increases are justified given modern ambulance transport constraints.  
18. $30,000 was included in FY 2023 to support the Parks & Recreation Committee/Department undertaking a strategic and master plan around Jackson’s Landing and Woodridge Park for 2023. That review is ongoing and will inform future efforts at these two important parks for FY 2025.
19. $75,000 has been included at the Durham Police Department to cover the cost of one replacement police vehicle (hybrid) in 2024. (Note, two were originally budgeted but one was cut for cost savings.) This purchase will complete the transition of our entire cruiser fleet to hybrid vehicles. Such vehicles are ultimately downshifted to DPW and the Town Hall for use as staffing cars. 
20. Phase I of the Madbury Road roadway Complete Streets ($2,286,000) and water/sewer/stormwater project along this central corridor is funded for FY 2024 extending from Main Street to Garrison for roadway work and farther for water line replacement ($1,980,000). This investment represents a significant, multi-million-dollar phased capital undertaking for the Town in the coming years. It is recommended that Councilors and the community review this project closely in the attached CIP plan. Over four years (and four separate finite phases), the project cost, undertaken as multiple separate and distinct projects, and allocated across different funds as appropriate, is around $13 million.
21. $259,000 is allocated to replace one of DPW’s six 35,000 LB GVW front line dump trucks (a 2013 Peterbilt) per our normal replacement schedule. These vehicles assume a crucial role in DPW’s Snow and Ice Control Program.
22. $45,000 is budgeted to support DPW’s continued efforts to increase cost efficiency and employ improved sustainable practices in the Town’s snow fighting program through the use of treated salt and Organic Based Performance Enhanced Liquids in our winter maintenance operations through the use of salt brine application and associated storage tank apparatus. 
23. $150,000 is allocated to move forward with the replacement of the apparatus bay overhead doors at the Fire Department, which have reached end of life.
24. $91,000 is allocated for the rehabilitation and replacement of existing sidewalks including curb ramps as crucial components of the Town’s multi-modal transportation network. Targeted sidewalk sections include: the Northern side of Dover Road from Young Drive to Bayview Road, the Southern side of Bagdad Road from #57-#66, and the Northern side of Bagdad Road from Strout Lane to 57 Bagdad Road. The existing asphalt sidewalks will be replaced, granite curbing reset, and ADA compliant ramps installed. 
25. $72,000 is allocated to install Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) devices at four Durham crosswalk locations (Newmarket Road in front of the Town Hall, Church Hill by the Community Church of Durham, Dover Road at Bayview Road, and Mill Road by Hetzel Hall) upon the recommendation of a collaborative UNH/Durham pedestrian safety analysis conducted in 2023. DPW will meet with the Historic District Commission to discuss the Church Hill and Newmarket Road proposed locations prior to any construction in order to mitigate potential impacts to the district.
26. $864,250 is included to address drainage system rehabilitation, undersized culverts, substandard non-complaint outfalls, and deteriorating drainage structures to ensure Durham is sustainably managing its stormwater infrastructure in the face of climate change and increasingly severe precipitation events. The Town is responsible for managing 70 culverts, 30 drainage manholes, 525 catch basins, 10 miles of drain lines, 4 bioretention areas, and 5 rain gardens. These funds will be combined with a Congressionally Directed Funding allocation of $2,040,000 plus additional external funds received including a $250,000 ARPA allocation to address deficiencies at a variety of locations including a large culvert on Ross Road, three culverts along Bennett Road, and large culverts along Madbury and Edgewood Roads. 
27. While $500,000 is allocated to support the 2024 Road Program (compared to $490,000 in 2023) in FY 2024, a total of $564,300 was requested by DPW to address Dennison Road (between Woodman Road and Bagdad Road), Worthen Road, Britton Lane, and Spruce Wood Lane. The reduction was made solely to achieve a 0% tax rate increase or better. The Council will want to discuss with staff the potential implications of this reduction. 
28. The Budget for the Supervisors of the Checklist has been increased by roughly $14,000 in anticipate of four elections in 2024 – Presidential Primary, Town Election, State Primary, General Election. 
29. The budget does NOT include $12,000 to fund the acquisition of two modern replacement voting machines for the 2024 election cycle. We prefer to wait to see how the new machines recently approved by NH perform in the field and are hopeful the state may provide direct funding for such machine replacements in future years.
30. The legal budget for FY 2024 has been REDUCED by $5,000 to $80,000 based upon the cost effectiveness and success of our legal representation over the last several years.
31. The budget did NOT include the purchase of a second police department hybrid cruiser versus the two scheduled for 2024. The additional vehicle had a cost of $75,000.
32. The budget does NOT include $15,000 to install a second two-handle EV charging station next to the existing array within the Pettee Brook metered lot. Although fully consistent with Council goals, I was unable to fund the investment while maintaining a 0% tax rate increase.
33. The budget does NOT include funding for a part-time 16 hrs/wk Economic Development Director position. This had been unfunded in 2023 as well. We would utilize contracted service funds if bringing on board professional assistance was deemed beneficial in 2024 for specific initiatives. 
34. The budget does NOT include an annual $100,000 contribution (funded 50/50) between Durham/UNH to replenish our Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund intended to cover the cost of expensive equipment items at the DFD in a predictable, sustainable manner over time to avoid peaks and valleys in our funding reserve. We believe current funding within the reserve to be adequate for the time being.

The FY 2024 budget is largely business as usual yet includes some thoughtful tactical investments to ensure the operation remains solid yet agile in the face of a changing world and consistent with Town Council goals. Details associated with the budget can be found within this FY 2024 budget book, the 2024-2033 Capital Improvement Program document, or within a separate informational booklet being prepared by the Business Office that will offer some high-level analysis concerning the proposal for Town Council and community information.  

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on November 13th at 7 PM at a special budget work session scheduled by the Town Council. You can provide feedback at council@ci.durham.nh.us.

Below are the links for the 2024 Proposed Budget, 2024-2033 Proposed CIP and the 2024 Proposed Information Booklet. If anyone would like to view a hard copy of these documents, they can be viewed in the foyer at the Town Hall or at the Durham Public Library.

Proposed 2024 Budget HERE.

Proposed 2024-2033 CIP HERE.

Proposed Budget Information Booklet HERE.

A great white heron appears to be stalking a blue heron at the marsh near the Raymond LaRoche Transfer Center. Courtesy, Bernie Casey

Durham has received the finalized 2023 tax rate from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. 

The new combined full rate (Town, County, State School, Local School) for 2023 is $20.48, a decrease of $8.56 cents (or 29.47%) compared to the 2022 rate of $29.04. The decrease is due to the full revaluation conducted in Durham this past year. 

In terms of allocation of the different portions of the tax rate, the Town portion of the rate represents 28.1% of the total Durham property tax bill. The County portion represents 8.6% of the bill. The School portion represents 63.3% of the bill (56.5% Local School and 6.8% State School).

Each of the levels of government, Durham Town Council, ORCSD School Board, and Strafford County Commissioners, work diligently to keep spending to a minimum while still endeavoring to meet the ever-changing demands of the community.

In the end, three factors impact the tax rate: spending (intended to meet goals/community programming expectations), revenue (user fees, grants, motor vehicle registrations, permits, etc.), and assessed valuation.

The Tax Warrant will be before the Town Council for approval on Monday evening, November 6. Once approved by the Council, the Town Clerk/Tax Collector's Office will begin preparing the tax bills to be mailed out.

AS PART OF PROPOSED FY 2024 BUDGET, DURHAM’S ANNUAL SPRING BULKY WASTE COLLECTION CLEANUP WOULD END

The Administrator’s proposed budget includes a significant planned policy change for 2024 that will move forward with aligning Durham’s MSW and recycling practices with its sustainability goals by permanently discontinuing the annual spring bulky waste collection cleanup program. This will free up 4-6 weeks of valuable DPW staff time every springtime to address an ever-expanding list of expectations/responsibilities for the department. The Town will open the Transfer Station for two or three days during an identified period of time for residents to transport their own bulky waste materials to the facility for disposal at no cost during this finite identified time period.

To provide feedback on this proposal as part of the FY 2024 budget process, residents can write to council@ci.durham.nh.us.  

Currently, about 430 million tons of plastic is produced every year. One-third of this total takes the form of single-use plastics, which humans interact with for seconds or minutes before discarding. 

Most of the plastic we make, 72%, ends up in landfills or the environment, according to a 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (See report HERE). Only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and 19% has been incinerated. Some of it reaches the sea; estimates suggest that between 8 million and 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year. According to the National Academy of Sciences, that’s the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute.

It may appear that buying single-use plastic items is the cheapest, easiest way to go, but the toll on our health and the health of our environment leads to a very costly outcome indeed.

Solutions such as recycling cannot deal with this much waste. Instead, we need to find alternatives to buying single-use plastics in the first place. Only then, will plastic production be reduced.

Although daunting, there are many things we can do to help turn the tide on the damage single-use plastics leave behind. As part of IWMAC’s on-going education campaign, we will share with you some simple changes you can make for positive change.

START NOW!

1. Get in the habit of using a water bottle for your beverages and frequent businesses that will re-fill your reusable coffee cup.
2. When you order take-out, tell the restaurant you don’t need the plastic cutlery. Ask for your food order to not be put in plastic bags for pick-up.
3. If you forget your reusable grocery bags, ask for paper bags and reduce our dependence on plastic.

Source: MIT Technology Review

Brought to you by the IWMAC Committee 

Questions about recycling or composting? Email us at DurhamRecycles603@gmail.com

Not sure if an item can be recycled? Click HERE.

Want to know more about the Swap Shop?  Click HERE.

SWAP SHOP CLOSING FOR THE SEASON ON DECEMBER 16

The Linda Hollister Swap Shop at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center will be closing for the season on Saturday, December 16th. Bulky items will not be accepted on December 16th. The Swap Shop will re-open at a to-be-determined date in the Spring of 2024.

On Sunday, November 12, at 2:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers the Durham Historic Association is sponsoring a special presentation by Pamela Weeks on Civil War Soldiers’ Quilts. Pamela Weeks is the Binney Family Curator of the New England Quilt Museum. She is the author of the book Civil War Quilts, as well as numerous articles on quilt history. She lectures nationally on quilt-making and quilt history, using quilts to tell stories of the Civil War, women’s history, and industrial history. Weeks is a former resident of Durham and previously served as a Director for the Durham Historic Association.

Quilts made for use by soldiers during the Civil War are very rare--only twenty are known to exist, and Ms. Weeks has studied most of them in person. Ms. Weeks’ illustrated lecture will outline the origins of the U.S. Sanitary Commission at the beginning of the Civil War and will examine the roles women played on the home front, and as nurses. The stories of fourteen actual Civil War soldiers' quilts will be highlighted in this program.

This event is sponsored by the Durham Historic Association and provided by New Hampshire Humanities. This event is open to the general public. Refreshments will be served.

An article, "New Hampshire sees steady enrollment drop, part of regional trend" appeared in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Bulletin. The author Ethan DeWitt states, “The number of students enrolled full time in the state’s public colleges and universities dropped 13.6 percent from 2019 to the 2022-2023 school year, according to a University of System of New Hampshire annual board report released last month. Nationally, enrollment dropped 8 percent. As high school enrollment levels in the state of New Hampshire have declined over the past decade and a half, USNH has seen similar declines in in-state enrollment…In New Hampshire, the drops are not uniform. Attendance at Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and Granite State College has dropped by higher percentages than at the University of New Hampshire...At UNH, the number of applicants has increased since 2019, from 18,474 for the 2019-2020 school year to 21,016 in the 2022-2023 school year. But the number of students who have actually attended after being accepted has dropped from 20 percent to 16 percent.”  

You can read the entire article HERE.

Durham Public Works, working with their contractor, Apex Construction, continues to make steady progress on the construction of the new water booster pump station located on Technology Drive. This week, a crucial phase of the project was completed with the successful installation of the new pump station facility. Over the new few weeks, the team will complete utility tie-ins, architectural building treatments and the installation of a stand-by generator.

WINTER MAINTENANCE PREPARATIONS BEGIN

Durham Public Works staff are beginning to transition from construction and maintenance operations to winter operations in preparation for the first El Nino driven Winter in four years. A procurement contract for de-icing materials was recently signed with Morton Salt, Inc. and anti-icing liquids from Innovative Solutions. Following completion of the brush and yard waste collection this month, the primary focus will be winter maintenance emergency response. Pre-planning activities include setting up plows and deicing equipment, inspecting equipment, reviewing treatment and plow routes while identifying potential hazards, coordinating weather forecast monitoring, and ensuring sufficient supplies and contractor commitments. Durham Public Works has planned a winter operation meeting which will include calibration of deicing material spreaders, reviewing policies and performing a dry run of routes with assigned equipment.

FIRE HYDRANT WINTERIZATION

Durham Public Works Water Division staff began winterizing fire hydrants within the UNH/Durham Water System this week. This includes inspection and draining of the hydrant barrel to prevent freezing during inclement conditions. The UNH and Town of Durham Water System is responsible for the operation and maintenance of over 300 hydrants across the Town and UNH campus.

COLLINS AEROSPACE SITE VISIT

Team members from Durham Public Works along with the Town’s wastewater engineering consultant, GeoSyntec, visited the Collins Aerospace facility in Hampton, NH today in advance of the company’s relocation to their new facility located within the R.J. Kelly complex at 121 Technology Drive. The visit provided an opportunity to view the facility, manufacturing  and treatment process firsthand, meet with project managers, EHS staff and engineers as the industrial wastewater discharge and permit approval process begins. The Town, working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) will issue a permit to Collins Aerospace which will require testing, reporting, and pretreatment so that all wastewater discharge limits are met, ensuring compliant operation of the treatment plant and collection system along with protection of all receiving waters.  

REGULAR PART-TIME MECHANIC POSITION OPEN

The Department of Public Works is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Regular Part-Time Equipment Mechanic.

The successful candidate will assist the Fleet Services Supervisor in the maintenance, repair, and installation of a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment within the Public Works Fleet. Responsibilities include diagnosing and troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, performing regular preventative maintenance on equipment, ensuring equipment is operating safely and efficiently, and keeping accurate and detailed maintenance records. In this versatile and exciting role, you will report to the Fleet Services Supervisor and Operations Manager.

The salary for this position is $23.00 - $25.00/hr, depending upon qualifications. Flexible scheduling is available for this 24 hour per week position, with normal work hours from 7:00am – 3:30pm Monday – Friday.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of (1) year of experience or formal training in the maintenance of fleet vehicles and heavy equipment. Possession of a Class B Commercial Driver’s License and State Inspection Certification desired.

Applications are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

Please send resume and cover letter to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us.

PART-TIME TRANSFER STATION ATTENDANT OPENING

The Department of Public Works is seeking a highly qualified team member to join an exceptional team of Public Works professionals to serve in the role of Transfer Station Attendant.

The successful candidate will assist in the operation of the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center during public open hours on Saturdays. The Transfer Station Attendant will frequently interact with residents to ensure that materials are placed in the proper receptacles and answers questions regarding solid waste and recycling. Additionally, the Attendant will perform general facility maintenance and cleaning as well as operates a skid steer and backhoe to transport/consolidate materials.

The salary for this part-time position is $17/hr.

The successful candidate will possess an NHDES Solid Waste Operator License or the ability to obtain within (6) months of hire.

Applications are available at the Department of Public Works Main office or online at www.ci.durham.nh.us/jobs.

Please send resume and completed application to Town of Durham, Department of Public Works, Attn: Shannon Shaw, Assistant to the Public Works Director, 100 Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, NH 03824 or by email to sshaw@ci.durham.nh.us.

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 #43

It’s that time of year again to set the clocks back. When you change your clocks, it's also a great time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Oyster River Parents and Preschoolers (ORPP) is a 501(c)3 non-profit preschooler activity group open to all families in the Oyster River school district (the towns of Durham, Madbury, and Lee) with at least one child not yet in kindergarten.  

Throughout the school year, ORPP members organize community tours, playground meetups, farm visits and nature hikes for children and their caregivers on weekdays, parents gathering in the evenings/weekends, and whole family get-togethers on the weekends. Some examples of past activities include apple picking at Butternut Farm, touring the Durham fire station, a flower planting workshop at Wentworth Greenhouse, exploring the insect collection at UNH, holiday sleigh rides at Coppal House, and countless playground meetups and local hikes in the area. Members volunteer their time and knowledge to introduce children and families to the wonders of the Oyster River area and beyond. Each year the group also makes a rotating donation to one of the three towns - past donations include an adaptive swing for Woodridge playground in Durham, a feature in the Madbury Library nature playground, and a rink liner for the Lee ice skating rink. 

For a nominal annual membership fee, families may join online HERE.  

PARKING RESTRICTIONS AT THE ORCSD DISTRICT OFFICE

This is a friendly reminder that parking at the SAU and Service Building during business hours is by permit only (36 Coe Dr). Vehicles parked during business hours that are not displaying a valid SAU parking permit will be ticketed by the Town of Durham. 

OYSTER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT GRADUATION: COMMUNITY SUPPORT NEEDED!

This annual all-night event promotes a safe, substance-free evening for graduating seniors. It is the most inclusive night of the year, as it is free to all seniors! This event is not sponsored/paid for by the school and organizers need to raise funds to pay for all 216 students to attend, at a cost of around $150 per student. This event is especially important for this senior class, whose 8th grade milestones (i.e., DC trip, dance, graduation) were entirely canceled due to COVID.

There are THREE ways community members can support Project Graduation:

PURCHASE A HOLIDAY WREATH

LOCALS get FREE DELIVERY to your house ALL Thanksgiving week this year (except on Thanksgiving day). So if family is coming to visit, they TOO can buy their wreaths and take them home with them! Some big gun designer decorators have been lined up, so expectations are high on design! All proceeds go to the ORHS Senior Class 2024 Project Graduation. Learn more and purchase wreaths HERE.

DONATE USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

Through a partnership with the Savers FUNDrive Program, Project Graduation will receive money for every pound of clothing and household items donated. We are asking the community to bag up all coats, clothes, shoes, books, magazines - any household items you don’t use - and let the members of Project Graduation 2024 come take everything away before December 1!  There will also be times to drop off items on October 30 and November 13. Click HERE for further information on drop off times and what items can be donated.

MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION HERE.  Own a business? Contact us about how to become a corporate sponsor.    

ORCSD SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE SPECIAL EVENT

On November 6, 2023, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. the ORCSD Sustainability Committee invites Oyster River students, parents, caregivers, and community members to a unique event hosted in the concert hall of the Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Drive). Join in to view the abridged 45-minutes long version of the acclaimed documentary "Kiss the Ground" (winner of 25 awards). The movie will be followed by student presentations about their school's sustainability practices and a panel conversation. 

PLASTIC-FREE LUNCH DAY

On Wednesday November 8, Oyster River school lunches will be served with limited single-use plastic foodware and packaging. Oyster River students, the ORCSD Sustainability Committee and our cafeterias have been planning for this opportunity and the reduction and elimination of single-use plastics during lunch. Students who bring their own lunch to school are also invited to participate by bringing a lunch free of single-use plastic packaging. For additional information on Plastic-Free Lunch Day, please click HERE.

OYSTER RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HOST VETERAN'S DAY BREAKFAST

Oyster River Middle School Principal Bill Sullivan invites veterans, active military, and service providers from Durham, Lee, and Madbury to attend a celebration in honor of Veteran's Day on Thursday, November 9, 2023, starting at 9:00 a.m. with a breakfast provided by the Oyster River Middle School PTO and Culinary Team at the Oyster River Middle School (1 Coe Drive).

Please RSVP for this event by clicking HERE.

On December 9th, On Belay will be hosting the 15th Annual Gingerbread Build Fundraiser. Teams of up to six can enter and prizes will be awarded for a number of categories. Each participating team helps us provide our free adventure programs for kids impacted by a loved one’s cancer. This year's event will take place at Oyster River High School. Please see https://www.on-belay.org/events for more information.

On Belay programs encourage participants to uncover their inner resilience, create community, and connect with other children experiencing the impact of having a loved one with cancer.