July 1st Select Board Newsletter
Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Delay in curbside collection pick up
- Summerfest - volunteers needed! and Summerfest info
- All staff meeting
- Join us in saying good-bye to Library Director Lesley Kimball
- Stratham prepares for Open Space & Connectivity Plan effort
- Temporary change to Jack Rabbit Lane parking lot
- Update on Gateway Development
- Reviewing success of Town solar investment
- Police offer training to Stratham businesses
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 this website and check the "Select Board" box under News and Announcements.
The Select Board
Michael Houghton, Chairman Allison Knab, Vice Chair Joe Anderson
DELAY IN CURBSIDE COLLECTION
Please note that because of the 4th of July holiday, all routes will incur a one day delay in their trash / recycling pick up. If you have any questions, please call 603-772-7391 x187.
SUMMERFEST - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Please review the available slots here and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
ALL STAFF MEETING HELD JUNE 22nd 
The Select Board held an all employee meeting on June 22nd at the Morgera Room. The employees from the various Town departments met and conversed over refreshments. The Board led a discussion about what is going well, what needs improvement and what are the big ideas. The theme was focused on the Employee Experience and was the first of these events held since the onset of the pandemic. The meeting was also an opportunity to introduce several employees who have joined the staff in the ensuing two-year period. We thank the employees for their active and thoughtful participation and look forward to working on the concerns and ideas raised in the discussion. 
JOIN US IN SAYING GOOD-BYE TO LIBRARY DIRECTOR LESLEY KIMBALL
Save the Date! Friday, July 8, 2pm - 4pm at the Wiggin Memorial Library: Join the Library Board of Trustees and the Library Staff in saying a fond farewell and great big thank you to Lesley Kimball. Lesley has been with the library for 23 years and we want to take this opportunity to wish her all the best in her future endeavors. (And, of course, we will do that with treats!) Please note that the library doors will be open for the event but the library will be suspending normal operations during that time.
Please read Lesley's Farewell to the community.
STRATHAM PREPARES FOR OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY PLAN
Stratham is preparing to advance a key recommendation of the 2019 Master Plan Update by launching the Town’s Open Space and Connectivity Plan effort. Funded through the Capital Improvement Plan, the Open Space and Connectivity Plan will provide a vision for open space and connectivity in Stratham and a roadmap for achieving that vision. The Open Space Plan effort has not yet formally kicked off; the Town anticipates the project will launch in September after a consultant has been selected.
On June 16, 2022 representatives from the Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Select Board, Recreation Commission, Heritage Commission, Trail Management Advisory Committee and Stratham Hill Park Association met to learn more about Open Space Plans, including examples from other communities, and to learn more about Stratham’s existing inventory of conserved lands. That meeting was recorded and is available for public viewing at Introduction to an Open Space Plan - YouTube. Since the 1980s, the Town has focused on open space preservation and today approximately 24 percent of Stratham’s land area is protected open space, including several agricultural properties. At this time, the Town staff is working to define a scope of work for an Open Space plan consulting engagement to work with Stratham stakeholders. Among the aspirations for the plan that have been articulated to date are better publicizing levels of public access permitted or not permitted on open space lands, encouraging better stewardship of open space properties (management recommendations), building connections between open space assets, and advancing pedestrian and bicycle connections where feasible.
Stratham residents are invited to provide their preliminary input by contacting the Planning Department at planning@strathamnh.gov. Residents can look forward to a formal launch of the Open Space & Connectivity planning effort in the early Fall. More information will be forthcoming in this newsletter and on the Town website.
JACK RABBIT LANE PARKING LOT CHANGES
At its June 20th meeting, following a recommendation from the Trail Management Advisory Committee (TMAC), the Select Board has authorized a temporary change to the parking regulations at the Jack Rabbit Lane parking area as a pilot. This recommendation from (TMAC) is an attempt to address two challenges identified over the course of the year long process the Committee carried out. First, the Jack Rabbit lot experiences a significant amount of traffic, especially on weekend days. Second, the Committee is seeking to improve adherence to regulations pertaining to dogs. At Jack Rabbit unleashed dogs are often permitted to run freely from their owners cars into the unleashed area; we are trying to cut down on this activity and encourage dogs to be leashed in the main parking lot where additional signage about this requirement will be placed.
Effective July 18th, 2022, this lot will be available to Stratham residents only and vehicles parked in the Jack Rabbit Lane parking area will require a Stratham Transfer Station sticker. This temporary program will remain in effect for at least 120 days. Residents of Stratham may purchase their Stratham Transfer Station stickers from the Town Clerks office. These stickers cost $5, please bring your vehicle registration paperwork in with you when you purchase your sticker. The main parking lot at Stratham Hill Park will remain open to everyone that wishes to visit Park and Town Forest. Please remember that dogs must be on leash when visiting the Park from the main parking lot. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these regulation changes. Relevant signage, posting and flyers will be dropped in the coming days in preparation for the 18th. Residents with questions can visit this site.
UPDATE ON GATEWAY DEVELOPMENT
A new 10,260 square-foot medical office building facility has broken ground at 23 Portsmouth Avenue in the Town’s Gateway District adjacent to the Stratham Market Basket. The project was approved by the Planning Board in January and Development Agreements were recently approved by the Select Board. Optima Dermatology, which provides a comprehensive suite of dermatology services including both medical exams and procedures and cosmetic services, will operate the new facility which is anticipated to open in early 2023.
FROM YOUR STRATHAM ENERGY COMMISSION:
Reviewing Success of Town Solar Investment
In 2018, the Energy Commission worked closely with town officials to coordinate the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) solar array on the roof of the Police Department. This renewable energy system generates electricity for use by the police building, reducing the amount of energy purchased from the electric grid. The goals of this project were to lower energy costs for the town and taxpayers, while increasing energy resilience of the police department and making a positive impact on the planet.
The 120 solar panels were projected to generate 43,985 kWh annually, offsetting police building electric purchases from the grid by 60%-70%. This system has averaged production of ~45,000 kWh each year over the past 3 years. These energy savings contribute to managing costs of the town, positioning Stratham for a strong and steady future.
Stratham invested in this project with no upfront costs through the use of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The PPA allows municipalities to participate in solar projects with financing from a third party that is able to leverage the associated tax benefits. Stratham purchases the solar power at a negotiated rate for the first several years of system operation, and will explore opportunities for fully owning the system in future years to receive the solar power at no cost. The Energy Commission will continue to work with the Town on identifying opportunities for energy projects that further strengthen Stratham’s financial outlook.
Stratham Police Department offering FREE Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Training to Stratham businesses. Visit our website to learn more and for contact information.