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December 31 Select Board Newsletter

Happy New Year
Posted on: January 4, 2021 - 8:32am

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Dear Stratham Residents,

We want to wish every resident a Happy New Year and once again thank you - and all of the Town's dedicated employees - for your patience and cooperation throughout the whole of 2020.

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

  • Filing Period for Elected Positions
  • Welcome New Town Planner
  • Budget Advisory Committee Appointed
  • Curbside Collection Reminder and Resources
  • Rockingham Planning Commission - Drinking Water Resources Protection Plan
  • Stratham Memorial School PTO Christmas Tree Pick-Up Fundraiser

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

Reminder: New Year’s Trash/Recycling Collections - Friday pickup will be on Saturday 1/2/21

2021 FILING INFORMATION AND POSITIONS OPEN FOR TOWN ELECTION:
The filing period for Town and School elected positions starts Wednesday, January 20, 2021 and ends Friday, January 29th, 2021.  Interested candidates will file at the Town Clerk’s Office at the Stratham Municipal Center, 10 Bunker Hill Ave. Stratham.  The hours are Mondays: 8:30 am to 7:00 pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. and Fridays 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. (Please note that on Friday, January 29, 2021 the Town Clerk’s office will be open from 3:00 - 5:00 PM as well, for filing purposes only.) Candidates must be registered voters in the Town of Stratham, and must either apply in person with a photo ID at the Town Clerk’s Office, or if filing by mail, we must have your filing papers in the office by 1/28/2021.

Town positions open for the March 9, 2021 Town Election are:

  • Select Board - 1 position, three year term
  • Library Trustee - 1 position, three year term
  • Trustee of the Trust Funds - 1 position, three year term
  • Cemetery Trustee - 1 position, three year term

Stratham School District elected positions open for the Town Election are:

  • School Board Member- 2 positions, each a three year term
  • School District Clerk - 1 position, three year term

Please note, open elected positions for the Exeter Regional Cooperative School District have also been posted.  Filing for the ERCSD positions is not done at the Stratham Town Offices, see link for more information on where to file).

BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTED
The Town Moderator has appointed a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) for 2021.  The group's purpose is to review budget submittals in preparation for advising the Select Board in its role in assembling a budget and related appropriations for Town meeting.  The BAC met jointly with the Select Board to begin reviewing preliminary budget materials on December 22nd.  For more information on the Committee, upcoming meeting dates, and preliminary budget materials, please visit the Committee website.

NEW TOWN PLANNER
The Select Board has selected Mark Connors, current Assistant Planning Director in Bedford NH, to be the next Town Planner for Stratham.  Mark is set to join the Town staff on Tuesday, January 11th.  Mark has served in Bedford for four years, and prior to that he worked in regional and transportation planning, including three years with the Nashua Regional Planning Commission.  Prior to that he worked in journalism.  We are excited about Mark putting his New Hampshire planning experience and others skills to work in Stratham. Welcome Mark, we look forward to working with you.

CURBSIDE COLLECTION AND RESOURCES REMINDER
The December 7th Select Board Newsletter included information about the 2021 automated curbside collection system.  Please take some time to read the introductory information and frequently asked questions that appear on Casella's website set up for the Town.  You will also find a brochure for the 2021 program that includes recycling information as well as information about the new four day collection schedule. See the listing of streets in the brochure to find out your collection day.  The new collection schedule begins January 12th (Carts are delivered the week of the 18th and the new automated collection begins the week of February 2nd).  We have added cart dimension information to the site.  The Town staff and Casella have been receiving and following-up with residents on questions; we will continue to support residents as they learn more about the program and share answers to common questions in subsequent updates.

CART DELIVERY REMINDER & STICKER PROGRAM DEADLINE - JAN. 5
Residents living in single-family homes will receive one 95 gallon cart for trash and one 95 gallon cart for recycling. Residents living in townhomes and condominiums will receive one 65 gallon cart for trash and one 65 gallon cart for recycling.  Residents do not need to take any action to receive these carts.  Residents who wish to utilize their own automation-compliant carts (including 32 gallon carts or other sized carts that meet standards for automated collection), can do so as long as they register those carts with the Town’s new “Sticker Program”.  Residents who register their own carts, will not be delivered new carts.  Deadline to register to use your own carts is January 5th.  Please visit Casella's website set up for the Town.   Click here for the Cart Sticker Program Instructions and Form.  Stickers will be mailed to residents in January (following the Jan. 5th date), if you haven't received yours, you haven't missed anything.   

ROCKINGHAM PLANNING COMMISSION - DRINKING WATER RESOURCES PROTECTION PLAN
The Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) will assist the Town of Stratham in developing a Drinking Water Resources Protection Plan that will help to ensure Stratham’s drinking water quality and quantity from current and potential future threats. This Plan will focus on assessing the current status of drinking water resources and protections in Stratham, developing recommendations, and an implementation strategy for actions the Town can take to protect water supplies, and providing outreach to help municipal boards and staff and residents understand the proactive steps Stratham can take to ensure clean drinking water. Note: The current PFOA investigation at the Stratham Town Center will not be the focus of this effort. This effort is intended to protect drinking water supplies from future threats and serve as a proactive planning activity.  This work is coordinated by the RPC and funded by a grant obtained by the RPC; we thank our Regional Planning Commission for bringing this opportunity forward.  If you have interest in supporting this effort, please reach out to Town Administrator David Moore by calling 603 772-7391 ext. 181 or dmoore@strathamnh.gov.

SMS PTO CHRISTMAS TREE PICK-UP FUNDRAISER
There will be no community bonfire this year, but Stratham Memorial School is continuing with their annual fundraiser of picking up your Christmas tree for $10.  Please follow this link for more information: