August 30th Select Board Newsletter

August 30, 2019

Dear Stratham Residents,

Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham.  In this edition:  No Change  in Trash and Recycling Pick-up Schedule for Labor Day week, PFAS Information Night Announced, Senior News, Paving Update, Input Requested by State on Bike Ped. Issues, Adoption of new building codes, Mosquitos and more

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, Selectwoman

TRASH/RECYCLING PICK UP
There will be NO change in the trash/recycling pick up due to the Labor Day holiday.  Please have it curbside by 7:00 am.

PFAS IN TOWN CENTER INFORMATION NIGHT
The Town is hosting a PFAS in Town Center Informational Night on Tuesday September 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the Hutton Room at the Municipal Center.  This event is open to all members of the public.  Residents and business owners in Town Center are invited and encouraged to attend.  Town staff and the Town’s consulting environmental engineer from Wilcox & Barton will present background information on the drinking water contamination discovered this late spring in Town Center and the steps taken since that time to investigate the source and extent of the contamination.  In addition, the presentation will provide some context for this issue statewide and the impacts of regulatory changes in drinking water standards recently adopted by the State.  This work has been carried out at the direction of and in coordination with NH DES which, based on data they have collected, has required a site investigation focused on the Town’s Fire Station at 4 Winnicutt Road. 

ATTENTION STRATHAM SENIORS:  AN INVITATION FROM PARKS & REC, THE LIBRARY AND STRATHAM FIRE
Please join us in an open dialogue to discuss current and future programming ideas for residents of the Stratham Senior population.  This will be a brainstorming session to develop near-term and future events and activities for those looking to live an active and healthy lifestyle here in Stratham.  Details are below.

Wednesday, September 25th
9 AM- 11 AM
Wiggin Memorial Library Meeting Room
Refreshments will be served
Hosted by Stratham Parks and Recreation, Wiggin Memorial Library and Stratham Fire Department

MASTER PLAN
The Planning Board convened on August 21, to continue its review of the draft Master Plan. The Board discussed several edits and improvement to the 7/26 draft plan ultimately moved to set a public hearing date for October 16, 2019 at 7 PM.  A new illustrated draft of the plan will be available prior to the October 16th public hearing (the availability of which will be advertised widely via this newsletter and other modes); meanwhile the most current draft of the plan’s written content is available at Strathamplan.com and the Town’s website.   The Planning Board encourages the public’s review of the draft plan and attendance at the upcoming public hearing.  Participation is also welcome via written submission through the comment form at the website.

ANNUAL PAVING UPDATE FROM DPW
The annual paving and roadway reconstruction work is ongoing in Town.  By the end of this week Muirfield Drive, Barnes Drive and Shannon Drive will be have been paved.  Shouldering of Guinea Road, Drury Plains is expected to start next week and then Tall Pines, Brown Ave., Muirfield, Shannon and Barnes will receive shoulder gravels.  Perth and Chapman both will be reclaimed likely next week and receive binder course of asphalt this year. In the next few weeks Coach, Merle’s and Humes will be top-coated.  Many thanks for your patience and attention on and around the roads as from Stratham’s DPW crew and contractor Bell & Flynn work on these projects.

EDIT THE MAP: NHDOT STATEWIDE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST TRANSPORTATION
The Town’s Pedestrian & Cyclist Advocacy Committee is encouraging all Stratham residents to participate in data collection effort sponsored by the State of NH.   As the state moves forward with infrastructure projects on the many state–owned roadways in Town, we have the opportunity to better ensure all modes of transport figure in to their designs.  Would you like to see a better connection to Stratham Hill Park from the neighborhoods north of 33?  Do you think Bunker Hill Road could better accommodate pedestrians and bikes to access civic uses such as Stevens Park and our Municipal Center, including our Library?  Is the traffic circle configuration an impediment to your consideration of traveling on NH 33 or Rt. 108 via bicycle?

Please take time to explore the following link

https://nhpedbikeplan.altaplanning.cloud

Save the Date: Public meeting/Outreach event on NHDOT Statewide Pedestrian and Bicyclist Transportation Plan OCT 2, 6.30-8.30 Portsmouth Public Library. 

https://nhpedbikeplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/8_Oct-2_NH-Meeting-...

UPDATED BUILDING CODES
Ever-changing construction technologies, new techniques, and processes result in regular updates building codes.  New Hampshire has adopted the 2015 International Code Council Codes (along with State amendments. House Bill 562, which updates the State Building Code, was signed into law in July of 2019, and is set to go into effect September 15, 2019.

Several codes have amendments to address specific New Hampshire concerns; many have been carried-over from the previous codes. Building amendments can be found on the NH Building Code Review Board (BCRB) website. Fire amendments can be found in Saf-C 6000 administrative Rules and the Board of Fire Control.

For the complete list of updated New Hampshire State Building Codes please visit https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/firesafety/documents/NHCodeChangesTo2015Edition.pdf 

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Stratham Building Department at 772-7391 ext. 182 should you have any specific questions or concerns. 

2019 Revaluation Update
On August 20th, the commercial “Notice of Preliminary Assessment Values” were mailed.  Commercial property owners are currently setting up appointments that will take place September 10th and 11th.  As with the residential properties, any items brought to our attention will be reviewed.  In addition, any changes made will generate a response back to the property owner reflecting the updated assessment. 

By now, any residential property owner that met with the Assessors in late July early August that had a “change” to their assessment, should have received a follow-up letter.  However, letters were not sent if there was no change.

What’s next?  Currently the Assessors are preparing the 2019 Revaluation Manual.  Upon completion, the manual will be given to the NH Department of Revenue Property Appraisal Division.  Pursuant to RSA 21-J: 14-b, I(c), the Department in its assessment review process shall review all mass appraisals to ensure compliance with USPAP and applicable laws and regulations.  The purpose of this appraisal review is to advance the legislative objective of bringing greater credibility, uniformity, transparency, and accountability to statewide assessment practices.  In so doing, this document serves as an analytical tool for identifying and documenting compliance with recognized assessment methods and techniques.  This document also provides a mechanism for communicating the results of the review to the appropriate municipalities, assessors, and contractors. 

So in other words, the manual of 150 + pages provides the details of how the Town determined the updated assessments.  The DRA Property Division will review the manual as a checks and balance tool to grade the quality of the job.  Upon completion of the review, a letter will be sent to the Select Board stating their findings. 

RESIDENTS ADVISED TO BE VIGILANT DURING MOSQUITO SEASON
Mosquitoes carrying equine encephalitis (EEE) have been found in Department of Health and Human Services test samples throughout NH. Residents are advised to take precautions to reduce their exposure.  According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan, “All the mosquito-borne pathogens, EEE, Jamestown Canyon and West Nile virus present similar flu-like symptoms with fever, chills and general weakness. They can all lead to nervous system infections.”

For further information on personal protection and protecting your property, please visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/prevention/index.html

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/arboviral/index.htm

Dragon Mosquito maintains a No-Spray Registry for residents who do not want their property treated and also provides a no-cost service to survey wetlands on private property for mosquito activity.