December 3rd Select Board Newsletter

Dear Stratham Residents,

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

• Rescheduled Trail Management Advisory Committee Public Forum
• Holiday Traditions and Opportunities
  • Scouts BSA Wreath Fundraiser
  • Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Toy Drive by Seacoast Area Firefighters
  • Lights 4 Lives Fundraiser
• Town of Stratham Staff Updates
• Emergency Management Volunteers Needed
• Reminder: Future Elections Polling Locations Discussion
• Stratham to Become Purple Heart Community
• Library News

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

RESCHEDULED:  TRAIL MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC FORUM
Trail Management Advisory Committee (TMAC) Public Forum originally scheduled for this week has been rescheduled to December 15th at 6pm at the Stratham Municipal Center. The meeting was rescheduled due to a building closure stemming from a construction-related complication at the municipal center.  For more information about this public forum and the work of TMAC, please visit the TMAC website.

SCOUTS BSA WREATH FUNDRAISER
On Saturday, December 4th, Scouts BSA Troop 185 will be selling wreaths at the Fire Station from 8am to 1 pm (or until we sell out.)  Come by to purchase one and start your holiday decorating by supporting your local Scouts!  Pre-orders will also be taken through the Troop website at strathamtroop185.org after Thanksgiving.

ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Please join your friends and neighbors on Sunday, December 5th at the Stratham Fire Station from 5:00 - 7:00 pm for the annual tree lighting event.  There will be holiday music, hot chocolate, cookies and holiday cheer!

TOY DRIVE
Stratham Police are holding a toy drive to benefit the Seacoast Area Firefighters Toy Bank.  Please donate a new, unwrapped toy for ages newborn to 17 or a gift card to aid local mercants in purchasing items such as clothing and toys.  Please click here for details on drop off locations. 

LIGHTS 4 LIVES
Lights 4 Lives is back for its 8th year helping a family or charity in need in Stratham!  This year the Stratham Volunteer Fire Dept. Association is partnering with Gabriel Chambers and his family.  Gabriel is a loving and happy 9-year-old boy who was born with Angelman Syndrome (AS), a very rare neuro-genetic disorder.  Follow this link to learn how you can help.  The conclusion of the Lights 4 Lives fundraiser will be on December 18, with the raffle winners being drawn and a parade through town with special guest Santa Claus.  Click here to see the parade route. 

STAFF UPDATES
Regretfully, we share the news that our Code Enforcement/Building Inspector/Health Officer Shanti Wolph has accepted a new professional challenge in Portsmouth as its Chief Building Inspector.  Shanti’s contributions to the Town of Statham have been many since he started in October 2018.  He has earned the respect and appreciation of not only his fellow co-workers but homeowners, contractors and developers alike.  In addition, we especially recognize his service to the Town as Health Officer during this pandemic and his support of all of us in keeping safe and managing in the uncertain and evolving circumstances.  We wish him well in his new endeavor.  We are pleased to welcome Jim Marchese who will be stepping into the position as of December 6th; and recently shadowed Shanti to ensure a smooth handoff of responsibilities.  Jim is coming to us from the Town of Hampton where he currently serves as Building Inspector.  Jim has served in NH and Maine municipalities in the same role and was previously a licensed surveyor, who worked for engineering firms.  We are fortunate that Stratham attracted an experienced and well-regarded building inspector to serve here; please join us in welcoming Jim.

We are proud to announce that Town Planner Mark Connors has been accepted into the Leadership Seacoast Program.  This 6-month program is framed around regional issues that have a direct impact on the lives of Seacoast residents.  Some of the regional focus areas include the environment, health and human services, economic development, and criminal justice.  We look forward to Mark's participation and the contributions he will make to his LS class and our Town in the future.  For more information about Leadership Seacoast, please visit: https://www.leadershipseacoast.org/.

The Town has an employment opportunity for a part-time Accounting and Benefits Coordinator.  This is a 24-hour per week position within our Finance Office.  This position is responsible for the Town-wide payroll process, accounts payable and assists in the coordination of benefits administration and related duties.  Prospective candidates are requested to submit a Town of Stratham job application.  Find the job description here.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are looking for volunteers for the following positions in Emergency Operations:

• Deputy Emergency Management Director
• Radiation Officer
• Emergency Operation Center Communicator

If you have any interest in becoming part of this team, please e-mail our Emergency Management Director David Barr at dbarr@strathamnh.gov.  There some upcoming opportunities to sit in and see what these reponsibiltiies entail.  Please be in touch if you are interested.

FUTURE ELECTIONS POLLING LOCATIONS
At its November 15th  Select Board meeting, the Board reviewed a joint memo recommending polling locations for future elections.  Following the succesful usage of Stratham Memorial School for the 2020 elections, the Board is reviewing the locations for all future elections.  So far, through the report back, the Board has solicited the feedback of the Supervisors of the Checklist and the Town Moderator and Deputy Moderator.  The Board welcomes additional feedback from the community and plans to revisit this discussion at its December 6th meeting.  Please direct feedback concerning this issue to Town Administrator David Moore at dmoore@strathamnh.gov .

PURPLE HEART COMMUNITY DESIGNATION
At the December 6th Select Board meeting the Board will read a proclamation establishing Stratham as a Purple Heart Community, similar to other communities across the country. This is designed as a tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.  In addition to the proclamation, the Board intends to share word of the designation and erect a sign that Purple Heart Community organizers made available.  To learn more, reach out to Town Administrator David Moore at 603 772-7391 ext 187.

WIGGIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY NEWS
Are you subscribed to the library's newsletters? There's something for everyone! The library is open and awesome Mondays through Thursdays 10AM - 6PM, Fridays 10AM - 5PM, and Saturdays 10AM - 2PM.  Check out our brand-new catalog!