Friday Updates - September 23 2022

Friday, September 23, 2022

Yesterday was officially the first day of fall. The temperatures over the past week have definitely felt like fall.

PLANNING BOARD

This past Wednesday, the Planning Board approved a modification for Tideline Public House to allow for use of food carts and food booths along with food trucks. Councilor Jim Lawson gave a presentation about solar energy systems, the public provided numerous comments about the draft ordinance, and the Planning Board closed the public hearing and started its discussion about the proposal.

This coming Wednesday, September 28, the board will review an application for a two-lot subdivision on Adams Point Road, review a set of preliminary conditions of approval for the mixed-use building at 74 Main Street, and continue its discussion about the solar ordinance. The 18-unit Gerrish Drive subdivision will be presented to the Planning Board again on October 12 after it was remanded back to the board from superior court after a challenge from an abutter.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE DURHAM HISTORIC ASSOCIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

• For the month of September 2022, the Durham Historic Association will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Hannaford store located at 7 Mill Road, Durham NH. 
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• The Durham Historic Association's mission is:
• To preserve the memory of events connected with the history of the Town of Durham, or of individuals who may have resided there;
• To serve as guardian of the town's history;
• To preserve the artifacts of the town's history;
• To inform and educate the citizens of Durham and others of the history of the town and how contemporary Durham arises out of its past. 

ALCOHOL COMPLIANCE CHECK

On Thursday, September 22nd, 2022, the Durham Police Department, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Law Enforcement Division, conducted an alcohol compliance check at all vendors who are licensed to sell such products in Durham.

An underage volunteer, trained by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission to perform compliance checks, did attempt to purchase alcohol products from eighteen locations in Durham that are licensed to sell such products. The following two establishments failed:

• Hop & Grind – 17 Madbury Road
• Hannaford Supermarket – 7 Mill Road

As a result of the operation, the following individuals were each charged with:

• Samantha Beck of Durham, NH – Prohibited Sales of Alcohol
• Anthony Ciampo of Hudson, NH - Prohibited Sales of Alcohol

They are scheduled for arraignment on November 9th, 2022, at 8:30 AM, at the 7th Circuit Court, Dover District Division.

DURHAM RANKED AS THE SECOND SAFEST COLLEGE COMMUNITY IN AMERICA BY SAFEWISE

Safewise, an independent online resource that provides tools and information to help people make their life safer at home and in their community recently released their 5th Annual report of the safest college towns in America.

For the second straight year, the Town of Durham was ranked as the second safest college community in America.  Chief Kelley believes the focus on community safety would not be as successful if not for the valuable partnerships that have been forged over many years. Continuing those partnerships with the University of New Hampshire administration, University of New Hampshire Police, local businesses, landlords, and community groups will hopefully keep the Town of Durham at the top of the list for many years to come. 

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.

Two dancers admiring beautiful new floor at the Recreation Center. Courtesy Carol Birch

OYSTER RIVER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

September 23 marks the end of the first 5-day school week of this school year (due to Labor Day and the Primary Election). School Bus ridership has returned to pre-COVID levels, which improves traffic flows around schools. Student activities, arts, clubs, and athletics are in full swing. 

Oyster River Schools still need Bus Drivers, Custodians, Paraprofessionals, Substitute Teachers and Paraprofessionals, and more! Currently open positions are listed here. (https://www.applitrack.com/orcsd/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1)

Jasmine Daniels, ORCSD’s new director of facilities, provided an update on various construction projects across the district. Some of the highlights include:

• The 2nd phase of air conditioning for the High School is in progress and should be complete by October 15. 
• Addition of soft walls to make the High School multipurpose room more flexible will begin October 1.
• Tennis courts are still in progress due to contractor delays and are expected to be completed in October.
• Turf for the Middle School field has started to arrive and will be installed in October.

There is no school for students in Oyster River on Friday, October 7 or Monday, October 10.

The next school board meeting will be on Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 in the Middle School concert hall. This is a change from the usual schedule.

The following school board meeting on Wednesday, October 19 at 7:00 will be held at Mast Way School.

SCRAP METAL RECYCLING - A Reminder From Durham Public Works

The Durham Public Works Department would like to remind residents that items disposed of in the scrap metal pile at the Raymond A. LaRoche, Sr. Transfer Station and Recycling Center must be free of all fluids, i.e. petroleum products used in internal combustion engines. The Transfer Station accepts used oil year-round and gasoline/diesel/kerosene may be disposed of at the Durham Public Works Facility on Household Hazardous Waste Day in October. Additionally, televisions and other electronics are not accepted. Transfer Station staff recently removed four, mercury-containing cathode ray tubes from the scrap metal container.

PACKER'S FALLS - IMAGE #19

The beautiful poster “Icons of Durham” created by Ellie Lonske is now available. Just stop into the Town Clerk’s office to place an order. The historic marker at the corner of Bennett Road and Route 108 says, "These scenic falls, 1.6 miles west of here on the Lamprey River, once provided waterpower and industry for the early settlers. A deed dated April 11, 1694, shows that Capt. Packer, Jonathan Woodman, James Davis, Joseph Meder, and James Thomas were granted ‘the hole streame of Lamprele River for erecting a saw mill or mills." Thomas Packer of Portsmouth was a merchant, physician, judge, member of the King’s Council, and father of the famous Sheriff Thomas Packer."