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June 4th Select Board Newsletter

Posted on: May 21, 2021 - 11:40am

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Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:

  • Curbside Collection Delay
  • Memorial Day Event Thank You
  • Update: Trail Management Advisory Committee
  • Police Department - CALEA Assessment Public Input
  • Pump Track Renovation
  • Paving Work 
  • Rain Barrels for Sale
  • Boards & Commissions Openings
  • Drought Management
  • Parks & Recreation Info
  • Power Line Work

Please remind your neighbors about this resource for keeping on top of information from the Town.  To sign-up for these updates and other notifications, please visit: https://www.strathamnh.gov/subscribe.

The Select Board
Michael Houghton, Chairman            Joe Lovejoy, Vice Chair            Allison Knab

CURBSIDE COLLECTION DELAY
Please note, due to the holiday, trash and recycling pick up has been delayed by one day this week.  Thank you for your understanding. The holiday impacts for all of 2021 are published here.

MEMORIAL DAY THANK YOU
A heartfelt thank you to Geri Denton and Jeff Gallagher for organizing this year's Memorial Day event as well as all members of our community who attended the ceremony and silent parade in honor of those who have fallen in service to this country.  We also thank the Stratham Department of Public Works staff, the Exeter Area Garden Club, and the Heritage Commission for their work in stewarding the Veterans Memorial Garden, not only for Memorial Day, but all year-round.  Thank you.  

TRAIL MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TMAC) UPDATE
The Trail Management Advisory Committee (TMAC) has met twice as the Committee starts the process of digging into the Trail Assessment Report that was adopted by the Town in January of this year. The first meeting of the TMAC took place on April 21st.  At this meeting, the Committee spent the meeting reviewing the Committee's charge in detail.  At the Committee's second meeting, on May 24th, Lew Shelley, the author of the Trail Assessment Report, met with the Committee to answer questions and provided additional information regarding his process of creating the report. 

The Committee will be meeting on Friday, June 4th at noon, to conduct a site walk of a few of the trails within the trail network.  For additional information on this site visit and the TMAC, please visit the Town website at https://www.strathamnh.gov/parks-recreation/stratham-hill-park-trail-management-advisory-committee.  On this page, you will find materials relating to the Committee's work. 

If you have questions or concerns, please send them to shickey@strathamnh.gov  

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POLICE DEPARTMENT - CALEA ASSESSMENT
As part of their Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Assessment (CALEA), the Stratham Police Department has issued this Public Notice, advising residents of an opportunity to offer comments on the Police Department during call-in hours and a video-conference public hearing (on June 7, 2021).  Our Police Department is pursuing CALEA accreditation, a process which assures communities that their agency complies with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.  Good luck to our Police Department in its pursuit of this nationally-respected designation.

PUMP TRACK RENOVATION
At their May 17th meeting, the Select Board agreed to a proposal from Seacoast Velo Kids for a renovation of the pump track at Stratham Hill Park.  In addition to other improvements, the newly designed track will accommodate both beginner and advanced riders.  The renovation will take place entirely within the existing footprint of the facility and will not require any funding from the Town.  SVK has proposed to raise the funds privately as part of their mission; a similar approach was successfully carried out for other pump track improvements in and outside of Stratham in the past.  A formal memorandum of agreement for the project is being drafted.  Read more here. 

PAVING WORK
Construction Notice: On June 1st contractors working for the State of New Hampshire began resurfacing work along Route 108 to the traffic circle and along College Road to the Squamscott River bridge. The work will take place over approximately three weeks.  This evening work will begin at 7:00 pm and end at 5:00 am Sunday through Thursday nights.

RAIN BARRELS FOR SALE
The Conservation Commission is still accepting orders for rain barrels.  Sales will continue until the barrels sell out.  They are offering this item at cost - $65.  Please see this flyer. If you are interested in placing an order, please fill out this order form. 

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS VACANCIES
Below is a listing of current open positions as well as an application form for interested applicants.  If you have any questions concerning the opportunities below, please reach out to Executive Assistant Karen Richard (603-772-7391 ext. 187) who will ensure you are connected with the department head or other representative to help answer your questions.

Following is a list of Boards and Committee openings:

  • Zoning Board of Adjustment - 2 alternate members
  • Recreation Commission—1 regular member
  • Rockingham Planning Commission—1 regular and 1 alternate representative
  • Southeast Watershed Alliance—1 regular representative
  • Exeter-Squamscott Rivers Local Advisory Committee—2 regular representative

Click here to apply for a Board or Committee opening:  Application

DROUGHT MANAGEMENT
For more information about the Town's approach to drought management, please see here (no change since April 23, 2021).

Meanwhile, at the request of a reader, we are providing more context about the importance of water conservation for property owners with private drinking water wells.
Why should I conserve water if I have a private well?  How much water you pump from your well can impact how much water is available in your neighbor’s well.  The reason for this is because you and your neighbor may share the same aquifer.  Aquifers are geological formations containing ground water.  Wells draw water from these aquifers.  The amount of water you utilize has a direct impact on the water aquifer you likely share with other private well owners.  The public policies urging conservation (and formal restrictions, when in place) are intended to protect you, your neighbors and everyone's access to water.  If you would like to read more, follow this link for an excellent article from the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. 

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PARKS & RECREATION INFO
Stratham Parks & Recreation Update as of 6/3
Learn more about Thursday Nights in the Park, Public Events at Stratham Hill Park, Mountain Bike Race Series, Basketball Board Meeting, Ultimate Frisbee for Adults 30+ and Tennis by clicking here. 

POWER LINE WORK
Eversource will be conducting work on existing transmission structures in Stratham.  Their crews will be repairing and replacing structure hardware, including lightning arresters.  They’ll be working on the following roads:  Raeder Drive, Doe Run Lane, Autumn Lane, Muirfield Drive, Smith Farm Road, Union Road, Winnicutt Road.  Work activities will be Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  The project is expected to be completed by July 2021. Please keep in mind that the schedule may change due to weather and other unexpected circumstances.