Friday Updates - October14, 2022

Friday, October 14, 2022

Xanthi Russell from Durham is the current Miss Auburn, NH and attended the Sandwich Fair this past weekend to talk with families about the leadership benefits of 4-H. As a 4-H participant herself, she developed skills in leadership at the county and state level starting at 14 years old. Xanthi is a graduate of Oyster River High School and is now taking advantage of the opportunity to be one of the volunteers helping the next generation of Strafford County Youth Leadership Team members as an advisor for 4-H. She is also pursuing her paralegal degree at New Hampshire Technical Institute. Well done, Xanthi!

Trick-or-Treating in Durham is on Sunday, October 30, 2022 from 5 - 7:30 PM.

NOTICE FROM FORD MOTORS TO DURHAM: The 2 hybrid Ford Explorer police vehicles ordered in January will not arrive until 2023 and will be $9,000 more, each.

The team at the Durham Police Department unfortunately received notification last Friday evening from the Commercial Sales Division at Ford Motors that the two police hybrid Explorer vehicles that we ordered in January of this year were not produced and will not be available until 2023 – with a price increase of $9,000, each!

Ford writes, in part:  “We have always tried to place our government partners first in all our decision making. As you know, this past year has presented an extremely challenging environment for the global automotive industry due to the continuing global microchip shortage, major disruptions in the supply chain due to the war in Eastern Europe and other factors and the lingering impact of Covid. This unprecedented combination of events has contributed to logistical challenges and unpredictable manufacturing plant downtime. Given the high order submissions and unforeseen plant downtime, we will not be able to build all the unscheduled 2022 MY vehicles currently in the Government order bank. We will be prioritizing all 2022 MY vehicles that have been Purchase Order verified and re-submitted as a 2023. . . . Compounding matters, we are experiencing record inflation, greater than at any time in the last forty years. Inflation, as well as significant impacts on raw material costs are affecting new vehicle pricing. Given these circumstances, we will not guarantee price protection on unscheduled 2022 MY orders that are re-entered into the 2023 MY order bank.” To emphasize, the price increase is $9,000 per vehicle.  

As part of our budget development efforts for FY 2023, we are being confronted at every turn with price increases ranging from vehicles to professional services to telephone lines to energy/fuel pricing that will make it functionally impossible to hold the tax rate at a 0% increase given very little new assessed valuation coming on line and declining revenues across Town operations. Short of cutting services, it’s going to be a hard budget year for Durham, not to mention the rest of the country.

A prelude to what one might expect in this high inflationary environment as part of the upcoming FY 2023 budget development process

SIGNIFICANT BREAKDOWN AT CHURCHILL RINK DELAYS START OF SKATING SEASON BY AT LEAST ONE WEEK – Emergency repair/expense likely needed.

Durham’s rink manager, Bill Page, reports that due to a major component failure in our refrigeration system, the scheduled opening day for the 2022-23 season at the Churchill Rink at Jackson’s Landing of Tuesday October 18th is no longer achievable. Bill has been working diligently with many resources in the ice rink industry to determine how to resolve this situation as soon as possible.

At this time, the rink has announced a one week delay to our scheduled opening until Tuesday October 25th.  

The refrigeration package at the Churchill Rink was manufactured in the mid 90’s and installed within our facility as a “used” package in 2015.  

During start-up last week under the care of our refrigeration company it was discovered our primary refrigerant (ammonia) was leaking into the secondary refrigerant (brine) within the chiller barrel. (A large pressure vessel with many small pipes inside of it – it’s the heart of a refrigeration system and not easy to replace or repair for many reasons.)  

In response to this discovery, the chiller barrel end caps were removed to test for and locate the source of the leaking. After pressure testing, it was determined five tubes were leaking and those tubes were plugged. The vessel is currently holding pressure but there is also much potential for other leaks to develop at any time if staff were to simply close it up and start running.  

Through visual inspection, it’s apparent there is much pitting and corrosion in the tubes, which will inevitably lead to more leaks. Unless addressed, the rink staff would risk causing more damage and creating a potentially unsafe situation, which is not acceptable.  

For these reasons the staff at the rink is attempting to facilitate the removal and replacement of all the tubes with new ones on site.  

DURHAM TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR RECEIVES LONGEVITY AWARD

This week the Durham Town Clerk-Tax Collector, Lorrie Pitt, celebrated a career milestone. Lorrie was honored at the NH City and Town Clerk Association’s (NHCTCA) annual conference with a 30-years of service longevity award. She was the only person at the conference to receive 30-year longevity award this year. Lorrie is a member of the NH City and Town Clerk’s Association, the NH Tax Collector’s Association (where she currently serves as the Seacoast Regional Chair) and has been a devoted public servant in Durham since 1992. 

Congratulations to Lorrie!

TWO QUESTIONS WILL BE ON UPCOMING NH GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Two questions will be on the November 8, 2022 ballot statewide and the League of Women Voters New Hampshire, a non-partisan grassroots organization, offers this explanation to help voters understand the questions and decide how to vote.

Neither the League of Women Voters nor the Town of Durham take a position on either question.

Question 1:

The intent of this question is to amend the New Hampshire constitution to delete references to registers of probate, thus eliminating this county office.

The bill to put this on the ballot passed the NH House 294 to 43 and passed the NH Senate 21 to 3.

Why this amendment is proposed: In New Hampshire, prior to 2011, the Register of Probate office in each county handled simple wills. But after 2011, when the New Hampshire state legislature approved a reorganization of the court system, many of the official duties of the Register of Probate office were stripped. After 2011, the primary job of the Register of Probate is to preserve files that have “the potential for historical significance.” --from Ballotpedia.org

To help voters understand the text of this question, League of Women Voters has shown the references to Registers of Probate currently in the NH constitution as struck-thru. No struck-thru phrases appear in the question on your ballot, which makes understanding the question harder than it needs to be. (By law, the question must be shown on the ballot as it will appear if passed.)

Text of the question:

Are you in favor of amending articles 71 and 81 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:

[Art.] 71. [County Treasurers, Registers of Probate, County Attorneys, Sheriffs, and Registers of Deeds Elected.] The county treasurers, Registers of Probate, county attorneys, sheriffs and registers of deeds, shall be elected by the inhabitants of the several towns, in the several counties in the State, according to the method now practiced, and the laws of the state, provided nevertheless the legislature shall have authority to alter the manner of certifying the votes, and the mode of electing those officers; but not so as to deprive the people of the right they now have of electing them.



[Art.] 81. [Judges and Registers of Probate Not to Act as Counsel.] No judge or Register of Probate shall be of counsel, act as advocate, or receive any fees as advocate or counsel, in any probate business which is pending, or may be brought into any court of probate in the county of which he or she is judge or register .”

Voters may select “yes” or “no” or leave the question blank.

A “yes” vote is to eliminate the office of Register of Probate.

A “no” vote is to keep the office of Register of Probate in each county.

What happens next: If the proposed amendment is approved by two-thirds of those voting on the amendment, it takes effect, thus eliminating the office of Register of Probate from each county.

Question 2:

Text of the question: Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?

Voters may select “yes” or “no” or leave the question blank.

A “yes” vote is to hold a constitutional convention. 

A “no” vote is to do nothing at this time.

Background: In New Hampshire, a state constitutional convention question appears on the ballot every 10 years. A constitutional convention consists of elected delegates that propose changes to the state's constitution. Any proposed changes, including a rewritten constitution, must then be approved by voters to take effect.

New Hampshire’s last such convention was in 1984. In 2012 NH voters rejected the question by a margin of 64% to 36%.

In New Hampshire a majority vote of both houses of the legislature is needed to place the following question on the ballot: "Shall there be a convention to amend or revise the constitution?" If no such question has not been submitted to the people by the legislature in ten years, the Secretary of State is required by Pt. II, Art. 100 to place the question on the ballot. That is what is happening in 2022.

In other words, this question is appearing now because it has not been on the ballot for ten years.

What happens next: If the proposed amendment is approved by a majority of those voting on the amendment, it takes effect.

If the majority of voters vote Yes, voters will choose delegates to the convention at the next election.

At the convention itself, a three-fifths vote of the delegates is required to send a proposed constitutional amendment to ratification. Nothing becomes law at the convention itself.

Any amendment approved by the convention would be sent to the people at the next biennial November election as a ballot question. A two-thirds vote of those voting on the proposed amendment would be required to ratify the amendment. 

If the amendment does not receive a two-thirds vote, it does not take effect.

If the majority of voters vote No, there will be no constitutional convention for at least the next four years, though the Legislature could vote to put the convention question on the ballot again.

Additional Information:  

New Hampshire voters do not have the power to make or repeal laws through referendum. 

NOTE: If you choose not to vote on a question, that will not affect the outcome. Only the ballots with either Yes or No marked will be considered when determining the number of Yes votes needed to take effect.

UPDATES FROM THIS WEEK'S PLANNING BOARD MEETING

This past Wednesday the Planning Board accepted the application for the 18-unit subdivision at Gerrish Drive as complete. The public hearing will be held on October 26. The board is almost finished reviewing the proposed Solar Energy Systems ordinance and is expected to complete its recommendations on October 26. The board will also consider final action on the mixed-use building at 74 Main Street (next to Aroma Joe’s) that evening.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY EVENT - Pre-registration required – October 22nd at Durham Public Works

Durham Public Works would like to remind residents that the annual Household Hazardous Waste Day Event will be held on October 22nd. This collection event provides an opportunity for residents to properly dispose of certain common household hazardous wastes free of charge while protecting the environment. Please call Durham Public Works at 603-868-5578 for additional details. Pre-registration is required!

A tree blew down onto a transformer on Mill Pond Road near the Town Hall during today's storms causing the Town Hall to lose power. Courtesy Audrey Cline

SUPERVISORS OF THE CHECKLIST will hold the following sessions for the purpose of accepting new registrations.

Tue, Oct 18, 2022 / 11AM - 2PM / Holloway Commons

Tue, Oct 25, 2022 / 11AM - 2PM / Philbrook Dining Hall

Mon, Oct 31, 2022 / 4 - 5PM / Durham Town Hall

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

Please note that anyone who will have turned 18 by November 8, 2022 (born on or before 11/08/2004) may register at this time, or with the Town Clerk at the Town Hall any time before the October 31 session. New Hampshire also allows voter registration at the polls. However, there will likely be a line.  

DPW COMPLETES MAJOR EQUIPMENT REPAIRS - Trash/recycling vehicle & bucket truck both were out of service this week requiring repairs.

The Durham Public Works Fleet Services Division Completed major repairs on two of the Department’s front-line pieces of equipment this week. A coolant leak on one of the curbside solid waste and recycling collection vehicles required the complete replacement of the engine’s radiator. This equipment operates 40 hours per week and is integral in the success of the Department’s curbside collection program. The location of this part in the engine compartment made for a challenging repair as the removal of several components was required for access.

Additionally, the aerial bucket truck vehicle was placed out-of-service for a broken rear leaf spring. Fleet Services Supervisor, Mike McCrillis and mechanic Alan Clement performed exceptionally well, completing these repairs in short time with minimal service interruption. Durham Public Works continues to navigate significant supply chain constraints which have led to extended lead times on many mechanical components, further complicating these repairs.

OYSTER RIVER COOPERATIVE SCHOOL BOARD NEWS

Middle School PE teacher Alida Carter has been named New Hampshire Physical Education Teacher of the Year! Congratulations Ms. Carter!

Installation on the turf field at the Middle School is in progress. The tennis courts at the high school are complete except for landscaping around the courts.

The School Board requested the Administration draft budgets for the 2023-2024 school year representing 3.00%, 3.65%, and 4.32% increases compared with 2022-2023 budget. The school board holds a budget workshop on October 27 and will continue working on the budget throughout November. The 2023-2024 budget that the school board adopts in December will be presented at a Public Hearing in January, the Deliberative Session in February, and then will be on the ballot for voters in March 2023.

Homecoming returns to Oyster River High School on October 21.

The ORCSD Sustainability Advisory Committee is developing goals for Sustainability work in the school district. The areas of focus are expected to be Reducing Waste, Reducing Carbon Footprint, Surveying Sustainability in Classrooms, and restarting Community Dinners (some with a Sustainability focus).

The next school board meeting will be October 19, 2022, 7:00 pm at Mast Way School in Lee.

SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING DISPOSAL PROCEDURES - A Reminder to Residents

The Durham Public Works Department would like to kindly remind residents of the following: 

1. Solid waste collected curbside must be in a tied bag and preferably placed into a lock-on style container for ease of disposal. The collection vehicles are operated by a single employee who on average handles between 10,000 – 14,000 pounds of solid waste per day. 
2. Commingled and mixed paper recycling are collected on alternate weeks. A container which includes a mixture of these materials will not be collected. Please refer to the information graphic below which illustrates common commingled contaminates.
3. Our collection vehicles do not handle large boxes well. They get caught at the top of the compaction hopper, causing other materials to back-up and eventually overflow. This is particularly dangerous when the truck is driving down the road, as the cardboard is prone to flying out of the hopper. We kindly ask that all cardboard be cut into 2’x2’ pieces before being placed in your blue bin or other recycling container and when disposing of at the Transfer Station. We also ask that loose cardboard left beside containers be tied with string for ease of handling. Please refer to the informational graphic below which illustrates common cardboard contaminates. It is important to note that when disposing of cardboard curbside, it may be commingled with mixed paper products.

DATA VERIFICATION FOR 2023 REVALUATION IS UNDERWAY BY THE DURHAM ASSESSING OFFICE AS PART OF TWO-YEAR REVALUATION PROCESS FOR DURHAM

As you may be aware, the State of New Hampshire requires all real estate within the municipality to be reappraised at least every five years (per RSA 75:8-a) so property tax assessments are at their full and true value. To keep in compliance with this law, the Town of Durham has contracted with Municipal Resources, Inc. to reappraise all residential and commercial properties in Durham for TY 2023.

Staff members from MRI have started the process of measuring the exterior and inspecting the interior all structures in Durham to make sure the data regarding each property is accurate. Post card notifications will be mailed to residents letting them know they will be working in specific neighborhoods during the next few weeks. If, for any reason you are not comfortable allowing an interior inspection, we kindly ask you to verify information at the door. If you are not home, a notification will be mailed to you requesting an inspection or to verify information by phone. If you do not wish to have a representative from MRI visit your property, please notify the Durham Assessor’s Office as soon as possible. All MRI representatives will have a photo ID and a Municipal Letter of Introduction.  

Any questions regarding the project should be directed to the Durham Assessor’s Office at 603-868-8064. Updates regarding the project will be posted in the Friday Updates newsletter and through mailings. We greatly appreciate your cooperation throughout this project.

DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION HOSTS FALL PROGRAM

The Durham Historic Association will host its fall program on Sunday, November 6 at 2 p.m. in the Durham Town Hall Council Chambers. Presenters will examine the history of six diverse objects from our collection, two of which were recently gifted to the museum. These items include the return to Durham of an extraordinary portrait, pest remedies, a 19th century musical instrument, an ingenious, low-tech communications device, and more. Something of interest to all! 

This event is open to the general public. Refreshments will be served. 

PUBLIC WORKS WINTER MAINTENANCE PREPARATIONS BEGIN

With the approaching winter season, Durham Public Works staff are beginning to transition from construction and maintenance operations to winter operations. The first deliveries of de-icing materials are expected within the next week. Following completion of the brush and yard waste collection early next 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 to ensure proper material application rates, reviewing policies and performing a dry run of routes with assigned equipment.

2022 ROAD PROGRAM UPDATE

Durham Public Works and its paving contractor, Continental Paving, have been hard at work over the last few weeks on the final stages of the 2022 Road Program. Existing binder course asphalt on Mast Road, Wednesday Hill Road, Pendexter Road, and Timberbrook Lane was topped with a 1.5” wearing course of asphalt. The binder course pavement was installed in April and remained in place for the last several months to allow for proper compaction and field verification of storm water flow patterns before applying the final wearing course. Gravel will be added to the shoulders of each roadway and driveway apron pavement will be installed over the next few weeks, completing this year’s program. Additionally, pavement markings were applied this week on Road Program roadways.

OLD TOWN HALL/COURTHOUSE LIFE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS UNDERTAKEN

Durham Public Works continues to progress on several improvements to the Old Town Hall / Courthouse Facility. Facilities and Grounds Supervisor Nick Bennion and contractor Norris/Minuteman Security completed the replacement of the 25-year-old smoke/heat devices and emergency pull stations this week. This project dovetails on the fire alarm control panel replacement project from earlier this year. The components within the processing and transmitting portions of the 25-year-old fire alarm system were antiquated and obsolete, posing a significant risk to the facility, employees, and first responders if a malfunction were to occur. Additional upgrades this year will include the replacement of the existing emergency overhead lighting. 

DURHAM PUBLIC WORKS COMPLETES UTILITY POLE LIGHTING REPAIRS

Durham Public Works’ Traffic Control Division is responsible for the maintenance of ~350 LED cobra-head style utility pole lights scattered throughout Town. This week, repairs were completed on several lights which were not functioning on Bagdad Road and within the Bucks Hill Road subdivision.