August 13th Select Board Newsletter

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

  • Some Important Scheduling Notes
  • Vaccinations Urged
  • Thank You and Update - Trail Management Advisory Committee Public Forum of August 4th
  • Police Dept. Integrated Tactics Training
  • First Responder Classic
  • Population Change - Stratham and the 2020 Census 
  • Get Pumped! Stratham - Septic Information
  • Gaga Pit Eagle Scout Project

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

Scheduling notes....

  • Please note next week’s Select Board meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m., instead of 7:00 p.m., to accommodate a scheduling conflict.
  • The Town Clerk/Tax Collector's Office will be closed on Thursday, September 9th for training.
  • A town-wide employee training on Sexual Harassment training by Primex will be held on Wednesday August 18th (two sessions); the Clerk's Office wil be staffed throughout, but we encourage appointments be made for other Town business that day to ensure we can assist you when you come in.
  • In the coming weeks, a roof repair project at the municipal center facility at 10 Bunker Hill Avenue will take place.  Please take care to follow-signs and thanks for your cooperation!

VACCINATIONS URGED
The Select Board encourages all eligible residents to get their Covid vaccination.  Vaccines are available in Stratham at Shaws-Osco and CVS Pharmacy.  Other available locations can be found at https://www.vaccines.gov/search/.

AUGUST 4TH LISTENING SESSION EVENT - SURVEY RESPONSES NEEDED
On August 4th, the TMAC (Trail Management Advisory Committee) held their first in a series of public listening sessions at the Stratham Municipal Center. 

There were twelve residents of Stratham that attended the two-hour event.  Kate Dardinski, Committee Chair, led the discussion with a presentation to those in attendance. The presentation material can be found here.

At conclusion of the presentation, attendees had opportunity to share what they appreciate about the trails as well as their concerns. From there small breakout sessions were formed to focus on Conservation, Usage and Maintenance. 

....Survey Reminder. Thank you to everyone that attended and participated in the productive conversation.  For those unable to attend the event on August 4th, they are encouraged to complete the online survey.  A link to that survey can be found here.

At the next TMAC meeting, August 16th at 6pm, the Committee will further synthesize the information collected during their first public forum.  To stay up to date on the meetings and events for the TMAC, please subscribe here and click Stratham Hill Park Trail Management Advisory Committee under News, Agendas and Minutes.

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OFFICERS TRAINED IN INTEGRATED TACTICS
Recently, Officers Brian Holbrook and Amanda Bibeau attended the ICAT Train-the-Trainer Session for Law Enforcement Agencies in New England at the Saco, ME Police Department.

ICAT stands for “Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics” and is a use of force training that teaches officers how to diffuse critical incidents involving persons in crisis and those who are unarmed, or armed with weapons other than firearms. The training gives officers some tools to deal with and safely defuse a range of critical incidents.  In light of the national and local increase of incidents involving those suffering from mental illness, this training is vital for our officers in order to provide tools to handle these situations, assist those in crisis and ultimately ensure they all go home safely at the end of their shifts.

In the next months, Officer Holbrook and Officer Bibeau will train the Stratham Police Department and will offer this training to other surrounding law enforcement agencies as well.

FIRST RESPONDER CLASSIC
The inaugural Fall Classic golf event will be held this October.  This event is being held at the Golf Club of New England on Monday, October 4, 2021 and is a fundraiser for our local first responder associations and will also be a lot of fun!  Click here for details.

POPULATION MOVES TO 7,669 - STRATHAM AND THE 2020 CENSUS
Stratham's population increased to 7,669 in 2020 according to official population counts released yesterday by the US Census Bureau. Stratham's population increased by 414 people, or 5.7 percent, since 2010. Stratham's growth exceeded the state's growth rate of 4.6 percent but tracked slightly below Rockingham County's growth rate of 6.4 percent. Rockingham and neighboring Strafford County recorded the highest rates of growth in the state. In the Seacoast Region, the Town of Exeter notched the highest rate of population growth, growing by more than 12 percent since 2010. The Census shows New Hampshire’s population continuing to age and diversify. Among the nation's oldest states, deaths currently exceed births in New Hampshire, and the state relies entirely on immigration and migration from other states to fuel its population growth. 

Nationwide, the United States continued to grow more diverse even as overall growth slowed. The country's Hispanic and Asian communities grew exponentially, while for the first time in history, the white population declined. The share of Americans identifying as of two or more races more than tripled. Americans continued to migrate from rural areas to more urban ones. Nationwide, a majority of counties (52 percent) experienced population declines, however metropolitan areas grew by approximately 9 percent. Both in Stratham and nationwide, growth slowed considerably. Not since the 1930s has the town or country experienced a lower rate of growth. 

The 2020 Census marks the 24th time that the nation has undertaken the decennial population count, which is required under the United States Constitution. The population counts will be used to reapportion congressional and state legislative districts and help direct government funds and resources. The 2020 Census, which measures the country's population at a specific date in time (April 1, 2020), was delayed considerably as its kickoff largely coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In the coming weeks, the Town will publish literature further exploring the 2020 Census data for Stratham and how the Town compares to neighboring communities. For more information, please contact the Planning Department at planning@strathamnh.gov.

GET PUMPED! STRATHAM
The Exeter-Squamscott River Local Advisory Committee, along with NH DES, would like to remind you about the proper maintenance of septic systems and the importance of regular pumping of septic systems to protect your property, your health, and water quality.  Regular maintenance will help prevent wastewater from backing up into your home, overwhelming your leach field, and polluting nearby waterbodies.  Home and septic inspections are a part of every real estate transaction in NH, so regular pumping of your septic tank will protect your property's value as well as your health and the environment.  Read more here.

EAGLE SCOUT GAGA PIT PROJECT
Eagle Scout Dante Mulcahy has completed his project of installing a Gaga Pit located behind the Wiggin Memorial Library.  If you are unfamiliar with what a gaga pit is, it is an enclosed octagon wooden pit where you play a mini version of dodgeball with your hands.  Please feel free to bring your own ball or come inside to Parks & Rec and ask to borrow one.  Thank you Dante and enjoy everyone!