Friday Updates - October 18, 2024

Friday, October 18, 2024

Fall foliage at the Town Cemetery Courtesy, Jean McPeak

Durham residents are invited to join UNH in celebrating the University of New Hampshire Homecoming on campus and downtown this weekend, Oct. 18-20. To learn more about what’s in store, click HERE.

Durham's Linda H. Hollister Swap Shop was highlighted on NH Chronicle yesterday evening. To watch the program online, click HERE.

Durham Parks & Rec Downtown Trick-or-Treat is Saturday, October 26, from 2-4:00 p.m. See more info below.

DURHAM’S 2024 COMBINED FULL TAX RATE DECREASES BY 15 CENTS OR 0.73%.

Durham has received the finalized 2024 tax rate from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. The new combined full rate (Town, County, State School and Local School) for 2024 is $20.33, a decrease of $0.15 cents (or 0.73%) compared to the 2023 tax rate of $20.48. The decrease can be found in the State and Local School tax.

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, program fees, permits, etc.) and assessed valuation.

The tax warrant will be before the Town Council for approval on Monday evening, November 4. Once approved by the Town Council, the Town Clerk/Tax Collector’s office will begin preparing the tax bills to be mailed out.

FOLLOWING REVIEW AND APPROVAL FROM THE TOWN’S INSURER, DPW MOVES AHEAD WITH HIRING CONTRACTOR TO MAKE REPAIRS AT TOWN HALL FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER’S MAJOR WATER LEAK – Remediation/repairs to cost around $70,000, nearly all of which is covered by insurance.

Durham Public Works reports the following tentative work schedule relative to the water damage reconstruction project at Town Hall:

• 10/30-11/1 Subfloor Insulation, Plumbing Removal & Duct Insulation
• 10/30-11/6 Drywall and Subfloor Repairs
• 11/4-5 ACT Panels (ceiling tiles)
• 11/7-14 Carpet & Vinyl floor Tiles
• 11/15-20 Wall Paint

There is a lot of attention being paid to working closely with the Town Clerk’s Office so repairs do not logistically impact them during this busiest time of the year given the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

SPEAKING OF THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE -- THE OFFICE STAFF ARE SUPER BUSY AND ARE DOING A GREAT JOB!

The Town Clerk’s Office is just hopping with voter registration and absentee voting activity, among other things. They are working hard in sub-optimal conditions but are taking it in stride. Town Clerk/Tax Collector Rachel Deane noted this week that they had planned on (and ordered) something like 1,000 absentee ballots … but will need to order more.

A view of the fall colors from the Tecce Farmstand. Courtesy, Jean McPeak

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO IF YOU WANT TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Now is the time to consider registering to vote in Durham if you have not already done so. The lines will be quite long on November 5. You do NOT want to be stuck in the registration line! You may register at the Town Hall any time the Clerk’s office is open (8:00 – 4:30 M-F with a few exceptions). 

You may also change party any time between now and the next primary (2026). If you are not sure how you are registered, check HERE. All of those changes should be made by then. A person’s party is not important EXCEPT at a primary. 

There are 2 upcoming registration events:

Tuesday, October 22 Durham Town Hall 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Monday, October 28  Durham Town Hall 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

October 28 will be the final time to register to vote or make changes before November 5. You may register at the polls in the Multi-purpose Room of the high school and then vote in the Gym. The line for registration will be long.

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

FY 2023 AUDIT REPORT IS IN

Business Manager Gail Jablonski, Financial Analyst Deb Ahlstrom, and Admin. Selig met with our auditors from Plodzik & Sanderson Professional Association this week to go over the results of the FY 2023 year-end financial audit. 

The Town has received a clean audit. The auditors were basically glowing about the great work of the Durham financial team! 

There are a few minor items to work on (following up on older stale checks, finalizing an IT security policy, and reaffirming the Town’s existing investment policy for 2023 by the Trustees of Trust Funds). All of these issues will be outlined for the Town Council when the auditors provide their annual presentation and Q&A session at an upcoming Council meeting, likely Nov. 4, schedule permitting. 

The takeaway is the audit was positive, which is good news for us a Town!

Q3 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT – Everything is on track for 2024.

The Q3 Quarterly Financial Report from Business Manager Gail Jablonski will be presented to the Council on Monday evening. Everything is on track. No significant issues noted. 

Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing Park is now open for the 2024-2025 Skating Season. Dry and cool weather during the ice in process was a nice change from the usual. Please visit the rink website at https://www.churchillrink.org/ for scheduled public sessions, fees, information about skate sharpening, private ice rentals, and skating lessons. 

The Rink’s very popular Fun Skate sessions have already begun, and if you haven’t stopped in during one, it’s something you should see with your own eyes! Also, this year Skating Lessons will be managed by the rink. COME SKATE WITH US!

In light of declining market factors, baseline first-year UNH enrollments for Fall 2025 are projected to decline from Fall 2024, to around 2,500 students. At the same time, UNH is poised to graduate a relatively large cohort this year and next. This suggests the need to augment projected new student enrollment if the goal is to stay flat (new and continuing students).

Undergraduate enrollment at UNH has been trending down. Market factors continue to degrade within the NE region (see chart above). 

There are fewer students graduating from high school, more students foregoing higher education, and increased competition resulting in declining market share. 

Long-term, opportunities appear to exist at UNH in increasing enrollment of international students and transfer students. This option is not expected to bring UNH’s enrollment back to its prior levels, rather, it is expected to halt a downward trend. 

Active First-year UNH students as of August 27:

2018 – 3,083

2019 – 2,786

2020 – 2,692

2021 – 2,862

2022 – 2,993

2023 – 2,660

2024 – 2,648

As the Town of Durham discusses long-term strategies for increasing housing opportunities within the community, and given UNH’s policy change this year requiring that all sophomores now live on campus, it will be important to take into consideration the potential impact of a shrinking UNH off campus undergraduate student population.

UPDATE ON LAND USE BOARD ACTIVITIES

The Planning Board is holding a workshop next Wednesday. The board will be discussing a proposed new Planned Unit Development ordinance whose purpose is to accommodate innovative large-scale mixed-use projects like that likely to be brought forward by UNH in the near future for the Edge site. The board will also be reviewing an updated draft of the Definitions section in the Zoning Ordinance. 

The Housing Task Force at their meeting on Monday will talk about possible zoning changes to the core areas to strengthen the downtown. 

The Conservation Commission will continue its review of a proposed new wetland and shoreland protection ordinance at its meeting the following Monday, October 28. 

Last Thursday, the Historic District Commission proposed some minor changes to the purview of the commission, finalized the design for a new plaque for the Old Brick Town Hall and decided on a preferred location for the new Oyster River Marker (regarding the 1694 event that had been referred to as “The Oyster River Massacre”) that is being fabricated by the state to replace the old marker.

CURBSIDE FALL LEAF AND BRUSH COLLECTION BEGINS NOVEMBER 12 AT 7:00 AM

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.

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/Guardian to teach your kids about Fire Safety. The more they know the safer they will be.

WEEK #42

Smokey would like to pass along some more Family Fall Safety tips. Please click HERE for some helpful information.

On October 23 from 7-8:30 p.m., the New Hampshire Theatre Project's Elephant in the Room Series presents Aftermath which addresses PTSD and First Responders with a staged play reading followed by a facilitated discussion. The program will be held in the UNH Memorial Union Building, Theater II, and is being co-sponsored by the Durham Police Department and the UNH Police, with additional support from the Durham Fire Department.

While the issues discussed impact First Responders and their communities, everyone is invited. Tickets are free, but registration is required by clicking HERE. Due to difficult subject matter, this is not recommended for young children.

The Oyster River Folk Series is back and hosting Joyce Andersen & Harvey Reid on Saturday, October 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Durham Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 20 Madbury Road.

One of the most potent duo teams in acoustic music, they jump from showstopping jigs and fiddle tunes to house- shaking blues rockers, soaring gospel duets, and achingly beautiful ballads. Reid’s legendary acoustic and slide guitar work, autoharp, banjo and mandolins mesh with Andersen’s powerful fiddling, and they take turns on lead and harmony vocals to showcase a large and varied repertoire of original, traditional and contemporary Americana music. They will perform separately and together.

Tickets are $20 ($5 for Students) - Cash Only. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL NEWS

Fall ORCSD Community Dinner

The ORCSD Wellness Committee would like to thank everyone who attended the October 10 community dinner and our community partners for supporting the event. You may find additional information and photos HERE.

October 28 Internet and Digital Safety Presentation

This ORCSD free admission program is presented by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) at the Morse Recital Hall (Oyster River Middle School) from 6-7:30 p.m. This program is for adults only and not suitable for students. The program includes an introduction to ICAC, how predators use social media, digital safety for cell phone, personal devices and gaming systems, and a demonstration with K-9 Niko who is New Hampshire's first Electronic Storage Detection K-9. No registration required. For more information, click HERE.

Inclusive Connections: Support Spaces for Families and Community Members

The ORCSD is providing two new event series to offer support spaces for the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ and multicultural youth and community members. These support spaces are dedicated to offering a welcoming environment to share challenges and resources, celebrate successes, ask questions, and build a network of support. Additional information may be found HERE.

Inclusive Connections: Parents/Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Youth Support Space

• October 21, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm This meeting has been MOVED to ORMS Learning Commons
• December 9, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library

Inclusive Connections: Parents/Caregivers of Multicultural Youth Support Space

• October 22, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library
• December 11, 2024, 6:00-7:30 pm at the ORHS Library

Save the Date! November 8 Veteran's Day Breakfast

The Oyster River Middle School will be hosting its third annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Breakfast on November 8, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Additional details will be provided in the coming weeks.