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January 12th Select Board Newsletter

Posted on: January 12, 2024 - 3:11pm

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

  • Public Works First Storm Thank You
  • Clerk's Corner
  • Stratham Community Power - Public Information Session
  • Martin Luther King Day Events
  • Transfer Station - Note about January 6th delay
  • Casella Pick Up Calendar for 2024
  • SAU16 Communication Survey and Upcoming Meeting Dates
  • Open Space and Connectivity Plan - Public Outreach Event
  • Budget and Town Meeting Season Preparations Continue
  • Reservations for Stratham Hill Park Pavilions
  • Results of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

To sign-up for these updates and other notifications, please visit this section on our website and check the "Select Board" box under News and Announcements.

The Select Board
Michael Houghton, Chair                   Allison Knab, Vice-Chair                   Joe Anderson

Please note:  Town offices will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King day.

FIRST SNOW STORM OF THE YEAR
We want to thank Stratham's public works crew for their hard work through, during (and after) our first snow storm of the year.  Our DPW crew - including our full-time and part-time seasonal employees - made us all proud, not only in delivering throughout the long duration event, but ensuring all of our equipment was prepared and ready to go.  Our department like many others is short-handed, which made their accomplishment even more appreciated.  We thank you Trevor, Chuck, Kirk, Mike, John, Jim and Jason.

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CLERK'S CORNER

  • Presidential Primary Election will be held at the Stratham Memorial School on January 23rd.  The polls will be open from 7am-7pm.  Please bring your driver’s license or other federally issued identification.
  • The Supervisors of the Checklist will be in session at the Stratham Municipal Center in the Land Use Room on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 10:30am-11:00am to accept voter registrations and name changes or address changes to the checklist.  No Party Affiliation changes can be made at this time; the Party Affiliation change deadline was October 6th for the Presidential Primary.  This will be the last day to make any changes prior to the Presidential Primary to be held on January 23, 2024.
    If registering to vote, residents will be asked provide a photo ID (ex. driver’s license), proof of residency (ex. piece of mail or signed lease), and proof of citizenship (ex. birth certificate or US passport).  If you do not have acceptable documentation, you will be provided with affidavits attesting to all of the above.

  • The testing of the AccuVote Machine for the January 23rd Presidential Primary will take place on Monday, January 15th at 7:00am at the Stratham Municipal Center in the vestibule located at 10 Bunker Hill Ave.  The testing of the AccuVote Machine is open to the public for viewing.

  • The filing period for March elections to town, local school, and regional school district offices is January 24 - February 2.

Please visit the Town Clerk's website for filing information and important details about where to file.  In addition to the school offices, the town openings are: 

  • Select Board - 1 position, 3 year term 
  • Town Moderator - 1 position, 2 year term
  • Supervisor of the Checklist - 1 position, 6 year term
  • Cemetery Trustee – 1 position, 3 year term
  • Trustees of the Trust Funds - 1 position, 3 year term
  • Library Trustee - 2 positions, 3 year term

STRATHAM COMMUNITY POWER - PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION
CPCNH PUBLIC EVENT

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENTS
The federal holiday and state observance of King’s birthday is an opportunity to remember his contributions, including his dedication to the fundamentals of vibrant community connections.  Upcoming events include the SVFD Association Breakfast and MLK Performance on Saturday January 13th and book discussions (adult and youth) and crafts at the Wiggin Memorial Library.  For more about the this work, see this news release from the partnering Stratham organizations.
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TRANSFER STATION 
We've heard you!  The Select Board and staff have learned of the inconvenience experienced by visitors to the Transfer Station due to long delays on the first Saturday of this year.  The beginning of winter hours, additional volume due to the holidays and the annual expiration of the stickers all contributed toward delays.  We appreciate your patience and we will be addressing this situation for the future.  Meanwhile, we appreciate the work and dedication to the Transfer Station by Bob Jackson and the DPW team.  Thank you.

CASELLA PICK UP CALENDAR FOR 2024
New calendars will be mailed to residents in the coming week.  The current calendar runs through the end of this month, January.

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SAU16 COMMUNICATION SURVEY
The Joint School Board is pleased to offer you an opportunity to share your thoughts on all aspects of communication with SAU 16.  As a family member, staff member, or student of SAU 16 your voice matters.  Please take 5-minutes to share your feedback on the SAU 16 website and other District communications, preferences for receiving important information, engaging in conversation, and suggestions for improvement. To access this survey click here  SURVEY LINK  or scan the barcode below to fill out on your phone.

Thank you for taking this brief survey to help guide our steps in meeting your communication needs!

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UPCOMING STRATHAM MEMORIAL SCHOOL MEETING DATES
All meetings will be held at 39 Gifford Farm Road.

  • January Financial Advisory Committee - Wednesday January 17, 2024 at 6 pm.  Snow date: January 18th.
  • February School Board Meeting - Wednesday February 14, 2024 at 6 pm.
  • Stratham School District Meeting - Tuesday March 5, 2024 at 6 pm.  Snow date: March 8th.

OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY PLAN - PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENT
OPEN SPACE

BUDGET AND TOWN MEETING SEASON PREPARATIONS CONTINUE
In addition to the school districts' preparations, the Select Board has began the Town's Select Board - Budget Advisory Committee joint meetings this week.  Meeting materials are posted at the Town Meeting 2024 webpage as will additional updates as the process continues.

RESERVATIONS FOR STRATHAM HILL PARK PAVILIONS
Requests for reservations for any of the Stratham Hill Park pavilions (Front, Scamman or 4-H) will open on Friday, January 19th.  Requests are accepted for reservations beginning May 1st.  

RESULTS OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY
Once again this year, Stratham led the way in per capital participation in Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.  This regional cooperation coordinated by the Rockingham Planning Commission and hosted in Exeter, is a significant effort at properly disposing of contaminates and other waste that could otherwise threaten our drinking water and surface water bodies.  Read the report from the October 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day here.