Friday Updates - October 9, 2020

Friday, October 9, 2020

Fall at Adams Point. Courtesy Bill Doucet

IN RECOGNITION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY ON OCT. 12TH, TOWN COUNCIL RECEIVES PRESENTATION – Contemporary issues surrounding indigenous peoples.  

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day this Monday, Oct. 12th, the Town Council received a very interesting presentation from Garrett Chapman, member of the NH Commission for Native American Affairs. Mr. Chapman spoke of contemporary issues surrounding indigenous peoples. After hearing the presentation, one resident wrote:

"Mr. Chapman's presentation was impressive and heartfelt. He provided a look at the history of his ancestors that was both illuminating and so sad. Because he spoke of his ancestors the history he spoke of came alive. Thanks for inviting him to speak. This was a great service to the Town."  

Listen to Mr. Chapman’s comments on DCAT On Demand HERE.

REMINDER- NO BRUSH ACCEPTED AT THE TRANSFER STATION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE (for the same reason as outlined above)

As residents know, it has not rained in quite some time. As of the 16th of September, the State of New Hampshire has posted a high fire danger condition and the Durham FD has stopped issuing burn permits. BRUSH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED at the Town Transfer Station until there is a change in the fire conditions. Although currently we are not allowed to burn or collect the material at the Transfer Station, DPW still plans on conducting Fall Cleanup of brush and leaves in November, more details to follow on those dates in the coming weeks.  

ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR UPCOMING NOV. 3 ELECTION – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What is the last day I can request an absentee ballot?

A: The day before the election, if you request in person. You will be given the ballot to mark and return right then. If not in person, you need to allow mailing time to get the ballot to you and for you to return it to us. If returned in person, the day before election day; if by mail, at 5:00pm on election day. 

Q: What ward am I in?

A:  There are no wards in Durham, simply leave blank or put an X.

Q: What should I use to mark the ballot?

A: A regular pen will be fine. Do not use markers, they tend to bleed through.

Q: I used a marker and it bled through to the back of the ballot, what do I do?

A: The voting machine is programmed to read only the “ovals” that are filled in. The bleed through will not affect the ovals.

Q: Are all absentee ballots counted?

A: Yes, in New Hampshire all absentee ballots are counted at the polls.

Q: What happens to my ballot when I turn it in?

A: Once the clerk accepts your ballot, it is matched up with the absentee ballot request you submitted to receive the ballot.  The ballot is then entered into HAVA the statewide Election Program. Once entered into the system it is filed and placed into the vault at the Town Hall (yes, we have a vault, the building was previously a bank) until election day when it is transported to the polls. Beginning at 8:00am, the absentee ballots will begin to be processed. They will be opened by an election official who will then carry the ballot through the regular check-in table. Your name will be announced, just as you would have to state your name, and you will be checked off on the checklist. It will then be put into the election box and counted.

Q: I have my ballot, what do I do with all the envelopes?

A: Ballots that are mailed to you come in a large envelope. Inside the envelope are two other envelopes, instructions and a ballot. The smallest of the envelopes is the “Affidavit“ envelope. This is a very important part of absentee voting and you must sign one of these statements. There are two statements on the envelope: the statement on the left side of the envelope says you are going to be out of town during regular polling hours on election day; the statement on the right says you will be unavailable due to religious observance or you have a physical disability. This side also covers if you have concerns about voting in person due to COVID 19. Mark your ballot and seal it into the affidavit envelope. Then seal the affidavit envelope into the return envelope even if you are not going to mail it in.

Q: I requested and received an absentee ballot but I think I want to vote in person, what do I do?

A: If you change your mind and want to vote in person, don’t return the absentee ballot. Processing of absentee ballots begins at 8:00 am, and if your absentee ballot has been processed before you come in to vote in person, you will not be able to. To vote in person at the polls, bring your absentee ballot with you, report to the Moderator, inform him you requested an absentee ballot but are there to vote in person. Give him your absentee ballot and proceed as instructed.

Q: Where do I return my ballot?

A:  You can return your ballot through the mail (to be received by 5:00pm Election Day). You can bring your ballot to the Town Clerk’s Office (up to the day before the Election). Drop boxes cannot be used for ballots. 

FIRE DEPARTMENT 3RD QUARTER INCIDENT REPORTS

FALL LEAF AND BRUSH CURBSIDE COLLECTION BEGINS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2020. All items must be out by 7am! 

During Fall Cleanup, Public Works picks up brush (natural material from trees) first followed by the collection of leaves. Fall Cleanup is separate from your regular curbside collection!

Leaves should be placed in paper leaf bags (remember, 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 Transfer Station & Recycling Center on Durham Point Road.

• 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.

Stormy sunset on Great Bay. Courtesy Francoise Meissner

TOWN COUNCIL VOTES TO NAME NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER OYSTER RIVER AT ORCHARD DRIVE AFTER KENNY ROTNER

In 2002 the Town received several requests to name Town facilities in honor of Town residents. In response the Town Council passed Resolution #2002-13, which establishes a policy for the naming of public facilities as noted below. 

Process 

The name of the individual and designated facility must be submitted by a citizen, local organization, or Town Department to the Department of Public Works for review. The Department of Public Works reviews the request, make comments, and then forwards the proposal to the Town Council for consideration. A 2/3 vote of the Council is required for approval, following the close of a duly noticed public hearing.

Criteria 

Qualifying facilities must be under the ownership of, and be funded through, the Town of Durham. The criteria for naming items after an individual requires that at least one of the following requirements be fulfilled as determined solely by the Council. 

1. A well-known community leader, either elected, appointed, or a volunteer; 
2. A person who has positively influenced a large population within the Town through significant contribution of money, time, material or land; 
3. A person who has received national recognition for personal service and accomplishment above and beyond the call of duty with respect to the public good; 
4. An individual who had a major involvement in the acquisition or development of the facility;
5. An individual whose civic leadership or volunteerism clearly contributed to the betterment of the Town; 
6. An individual who is deceased and whose personal attributes symbolized the principles and standards of a community organization. 

The Public Works Department received a letter from Dennis Meadows requesting formal approval of the proposal to use the Thompson Lane bridge for acknowledging Kenny Rotner’s many contributions to the town. The Department reviewed the criteria within Resolution #2002-13 and found that five of the six criteria (excluding only #3) apply to Mr. Rotner as justifications for him to receive this honor. This proposal had the support of Kenny’s family.

About Kenny Rotner 

Kenny lived in Durham for 30 years and worked here as a beloved and esteemed family doctor. In addition he devoted enormous amounts of time to service in many public capacities - Town Councilor, member of the board of the Oyster River Cooperative School District, Chair of the Land Stewardship Committee, and Chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee. He was involved in most aspects of the two-year effort by Durham to construct a pedestrian bridge from Thompson Lane to Stevens Woods. The Department of Public Works is pleased and honored to recommend to the Durham Town Council that they consider naming the Thompson Lane Bridge in honor of Doctor Kenny Rotner.

Following a public hearing this past Monday evening, Oct. 5th, the Town Council unanimously voted to name the new bridge after the late Kenny Rotner. Once complete, the bridge will have a quote from The Grateful Dead, Kenny’s favorite musical group. Dr. Meadows suggested, 

“Walk in the sunshine

Be all those things you're able to be—"

We are in the final phase of fund-raising for the project. To pay for the bridge over 195 donors have contributed more than $140,000 in amounts ranging from $25 to $30,000. We need only $55,000 more to complete the effort. Please consider helping us. More information is available at: https://cutt.ly/oysterbridgedonate.

PAINSTAKING FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES – With very limited additional tax base coming on line due to restrictive zoning, a highly discerning community, and declining general revenues as a result of the pandemic, it's stacking up to be difficult budget development cycle.

As noted last week, Business Manager Gail Jablonski and Administrator Selig are drilling down into the budget and so far (recognizing there is a great deal more work to do in evaluating and analyzing figures/requests/assessments/revenues/estimates over the next 4 weeks) some concerns/issues have been identified on the horizon. Here are some early challenges we are collectively facing…

Challenge 1. The pandemic is slowing down the entire process! With remote working for some staff at different times/days of the week, the inability to meet in person as we have traditionally done, and numerous pandemic-related big issues pulling at everyone’s time, etc. things are simply moving slowly. 

Challenge 2. There is just not a lot in the hopper in terms of big ticket development projects for next year to add to the tax base over the next 12 months (and unfortunately beyond at this point in time). We’re realistically looking at somewhere between $8 – $12 million in increased assessed valuation (though we are still drilling down on this number). For the second year in a row, the only significant potential addition to the Durham tax base would be as a result of the Eversource Seacoast Reliability Project, projected by Eversource in 2016 of having an investment value in Durham of around $43 million ($84.3 total investment value across 4 towns) as part of the NH Site Evaluation Committee process, yet we will not have a clear idea of how much the Durham infrastructure will be valued at and attributed to 2021 until our contract utility appraiser provides additional information. As you know, Eversource property assessments in Durham (and in municipalities across much of NH) dating back several years are under appeal by the utility. 

Challenge 3. General Fund projected revenues for 2020 (our current fiscal year) are down at this point by about 1% or ($115,000) mainly due to a loss of revenue when we shut the parking kiosks down for a few months at the start of the coronavirus (and continued weak demand for downtown parking during the pandemic). We are projecting for 2021 that our revenues will remain at this lower amount.

Challenge 4. Expenditure requests are for 2021 are up by about. $800,000 over 2020 (versus $1.4 million requested by departments at this time last year). Expenditure requests from departments and boards/committees/external entities can be categorized as generally reasonable requests and represent good initiatives that ideally we would undertake as a Town if resources were not a factor – but of course available resources are a factor – and it’s a pandemic. 

Challenge 5. With our best information to date (realizing this could change based on further evaluation/analysis/review), even if we kept spending constant with FY 2020, in essence cutting all $800,000 requested, with a weakening projected assessed valuation and estimated revenues, we’d still see a 1.11% increase in the tax rate for FY 2021. Not good. 

Challenge 6. About $600,000 of our cost increase is contractually driven by collective bargaining agreements or required by other factors generally outside of our control (increase in insurance costs, service contracts, etc.). This would put us at about a 7.33% increase in next year’s tax rate alone.

Mr. Selig and Ms. Jablonski don't yet have firm solutions at this time. Departments are actively in the process of prioritizing budget requests, and we continue to evaluate, problem solve, and whittle down requests. More to come...

UNH OFFERS “HOT LINE” TO REPORT CONCERNS AROUND PANDEMIC – Available for use by community members as well.

The University is very concerned about student behavior that may affect the health, safety and welfare of the Durham and UNH community, specifically as it relates to COVID-19. An on-line reporting form is where UNH students, staff, and faculty, as well as members of the Durham community, can report the following concerns: 

Students not wearing masks. 

Students not properly social distancing. 

Parties or large gatherings where students are not wearing masks and/or social distancing. 

Students who refuse to put on mask or properly social distance after being asked. 

This form is not for reporting emergencies or reporting incidents to the police. If there is an emergency or you want to report an incident/issue to the police, please call 911 or Durham Police at 603-868-2324.

Access the form HERE.

Dam at Mill Pond. Courtesy Betsy Sandberg

“POOPER SCOOPER” REGULATIONS IN EFFECT IN DURHAM

The Durham Town Council passed regulations regarding the need for owners to “clean-up” after their pet. The ordinance requires that any person having custody of a dog cannot be on any public property without having in their possession a device such as a mechanical device such as a pooper scooper, a trowel, a shovel, a plastic bag or other appropriate container to remove excrement/feces and to subsequently dispose of the waste in a trash receptacle. 

As the Durham Police patrol the community they have been monitoring if the dog walker is observed with such devices. If not they have been provided with a warning of the ordinance and encouraged to abide by the new law with the knowledge that we seek compliance, not the issuance of a summons.  

The importance of such an ordinance is to keep sidewalks, playgrounds, and other public areas free of such debris. 

Additionally many people may not be aware that dog feces contain zoonotic pathogens that endanger human health and pathogens that endanger the health of other pets including E.coli and Salmonella bacteria, Hookworm, Roundworm and Whipworm. 

Additionally dog (animal) feces is a leading cause of stormwater pollution, and the Town of Durham’s 2017 MS4 Stormwater Permit requires that the community be informed of the proper management of pet waste, including citing existing ordinances where appropriate.

UPATES FROM THE OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD – 638 kW solar array on new Middle School approved, laptops for ORHS students, Barrington tuition agreement, remote/in-person learning discussion continues.

The Oyster River and Barrington School Boards held a joint meeting on October 7 to review the effectiveness of the Barrington-Oyster River high school tuition agreement. Students from Barrington make up about 20% of the ORHS student body.  The current 10-year agreement runs through the 2024-2025 school year.

A School Board Workshop (no decisions made) has been added for October 14 focused exclusively on the fall hybrid and remote school models and potential changes. This discussion will continue at the board's October 21 regular meeting.

Oyster River High School sports teams will be allowed to play in state tournaments, beginning with golf and cross country starting the week of October 12. The Athletic Director is closely tracking the precautions NHIAA is implementing. Go Bobcats!

Laptops for the full roll-out of the high school 1:1 device plan have been received and the IT department is working to configure them as quickly as possible so they can be issued to high school students who have not already received one.

ORCSD will enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with ReVision Energy to construct a 638 kW solar array on the new Middle School site. The array will be on the roof of the building and on a canopy that will partially shade the drop-off loop. The PPA gives Oyster River the option to purchase the system from ReVision in 2027. This investment will enable the new ORMS to generate at least 98% as much energy as it uses, and will generate a long-term utility cost savings for Oyster River taxpayers. 

TOWN COUNCIL APPROVES 3-YEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (CBA) WITH DURHAM PROFESSIONAL MID MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (DPMMA)

The Town officially began contract negotiations with the DPMMA in the fall of 2019. The last contract between the Town and the DPMMA expired on 12/31/19. The Town’s bargaining team was comprised of the Town’s Labor Attorney, the Business Manager, the Fire Chief, and the Administrator. The DPMMA bargaining team was comprised of the team’s Labor Attorney, the Police Captain, the Town Engineer, one Fire Department Captain, and the Fire Department Administrative Assistant. Topics discussed as part of the negotiations included salaries and various language changes.

Generally speaking, the new CBA extends from 1/1/20-12/31/22 with a cost of living adjustment to the wage scale of 2% in 2020, 2021, and 2022. A few targeted pay increases are included for individual positions, which were lagging when compared to the broader labor market. The new CBA also creates a new Fire Lt. position that will be able to fill/supplement Captains shifts at the DFD to both round out demand on existing supervisory staff and provide a pathway for firefighters interested in moving over time in to a middle management role within the organization. Projected cost impacts for the Town were $40,084 in 2020, $17,411 in 2021, and $17,759 for 2022.  

The Town and the Durham Professional Firefighers Association will kick off negotiations for a successor bargaining agreement this fall.  

DURHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM NOTICE - Citizen Assistance Request Program during Covid-19 Pandemic

Chief Kelley would like to remind our citizens that the Citizen Assist Request Program remains active during the duration of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The purpose of this program is to provide assistance to elderly members of the community and other members that may be in need obtaining food or medication due to illness, medical condition or other needs not readily identifiable. Due to the nature of the Covid-19 Pandemic, private citizens and Durham Police Officers will coordinate efforts to procure and deliver needed services to community members.  

Citizen Requesting Services

1. Call the Durham Police Department at 603-868-2324 between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm. 
2. Provide your name, address and phone number, location of item to be picked up and indicate if it has already been paid for. 
3. Wait for a volunteer or Durham Police Department member to contact you. Officers have been instructed to wait no longer than 30 minutes to contact a volunteer before calling you back and providing you direct assistance.

Beautiful colors at Mill Pond. Courtesy Carol Birch

 “DRUG TAKE BACK" PROGRAM AT DURHAM POLICE UNDER WAY - A great way to safely dispose of old drugs/medicine.

Just a friendly reminder that Durham residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions at the Durham Police Station Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM for no cost and it’s all anonymous. Doing so prevents prescription drug abuse as six out of ten teenagers who have taken prescription narcotics state that they get them from their parents or relative’s medicine cabinets. Additionally, using this service keeps trace drugs out of our lakes, streams and estuaries as wastewater treatment plants cannot remove many of the compounds found in medications; so when flushed or put in a landfill, drugs are discharged into our surface and ground water and consumed by fish and wildlife. If you have a question about this service that is provided to Durham residents only, please call the Durham Police during business hours Monday through Friday at 603-868-2324.