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March 25th Select Board Newsletter

Posted on: March 25, 2022 - 3:07pm

town seal
Dear Stratham Residents,

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

  • Select Board Update
  • For Your Tax Returns - Property Taxes / Car Registrations
  • Town Clerk Office -  Upcoming Closures
  • Relaunch of Senior Gathering Room
  • Public Works and Springtime
  • Boards & Commissions - Open Positions
  • Planning Board Volunteer Opportunity Highlight
  • Assessing Office Out in the Field
  • Reminder - Historic Demolition Ordinance

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.

REMINDER: Please take our Age Friendly Community Survey. 

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

SELECT BOARD UPDATE
At the first meeting of the Select Board following Town Meeting, the Board adopts its rules, readopts policies, and chooses officers.  Mike Houghton was elected Chair.  Allison Knab was elected Vice-Chair.  The Board and staff welcome Joe Anderson to the Select Board and all look forward to serving the Town in the year ahead!  Thank you for your support.

FILING YOUR TAX RETURNS?
Do you have questions about what you paid for your car registrations or property taxes last year?  Due to the privacy laws we are unable to give out your past motor vehicles fees over the phone.  However, there are a few ways we can help you.  For motor vehicle fees, click here.  For property tax info, click here.

TOWN CLERK OFFICE CLOSURES
The Town Clerk’s Office will be closed on Wednesday, April 20th and Wednesday, May 11th so that the clerks can attend a Tax Collector’s Workshop.   We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

PARKS AND REC
RELAUNCH:  SENIOR GATHERING ROOM
Parks & Recreation will be re-launching the Senior Gathering Room at the Municipal Center starting in April. We filled the calendar with senior activities here in the building, the track out back and over at Stratham Hill Park. We even scheduled some special events like Coffee with a Cop, lunchtime Cribbage with our very own Town Administrator and tech help. 

Here is the April calendar for your reference.  If you have any suggestions or ideas please reach out to cforest@strathamnh.gov or shickey@strathamnh.gov. 

BOARDS & COMMITTEES:  OPEN POSITIONS - HIGHLIGHT - PLANNING BOARD
Board, Committee, and Commission terms expire with each Town Meeting, we have several regular and alternate seats on many Boards and Commissions that are up for appointment.  Please take a look at the list and consider lending your time and talent to the Town in these ways.  Please also read through the Select Board Policy on Boards and Commissions Appointments at the landing page above, which also includes a link to our application.

Planning Board Highlight: If you would like to help plan for Stratham’s future, including planning related to housing supply and affordability, transportation, environmental sustainability, the balance of preservation and development pressures, and promoting community vitality, consider submitting an application to serve on the Planning Board. Interested residents are encouraged to contact the Planning Department to learn more about the Board’s current initiatives at planning@strathamnh.gov.

PUBLIC WORKS SPRING UPDATE
Spring is here!  No one is more excited to put away winter than your local DPW crew!  As we transition into spring, crews will be cultivating landscapes at our facilities, parks and cemeteries.  Parking lots and roadways will be mechanically swept during the month of April.  Patrons enjoying Stratham Hill Park during rainy spring conditions are encouraged to park within the main paved lot and not the gravel areas.  Town Cemeteries reopen for interments on April 15th, burial arrangements can be made by contacting the Department of Public Works at 603-772-5550.

Our Transfer Station will be transitioning to summer operations at the start of April.  April 2nd kicks off the first Saturday 9AM – 4PM and April 7th 2PM – 6PM will be the kick off to our Thursday evening operations.  Please remember that Transfer Station payment may only be made via properly written checks.  Transfer Station fee schedule can be viewed here. 

ASSESSING OUT IN THE FIELD
As readers will recall, we contracted with Murdough Assessing Services to do our annual assessing duties for the Town of Stratham.  As part of the annual updates, Assessor Christina Murdough will be out in the field reviewing properties throughout town that have/had building permits and any property flagged for review/follow-up.  We encourage all taxpayers to assist by letting Ms. Murdough access your property.  Please note that Ms. Murdough will have photo ID, as well as a vehicle clearly marked "Municpal Assessor".  If you have any questions regarding this process, you may contact the Town Office during normal business hours at 603-772-4741. 

REMINDER: HISTORIC DEMOLITION REVIEW
An important part of what gives Stratham character and a sense of community is its history.  One way of acknowledging this history is by preserving or at least documenting historic buildings and structures.  Several important buildings in Stratham represent excellent examples of particular styles of architecture, or represent a significant era, or a milestone in Stratham’s history.  These historic buildings are worth preserving or documenting for a number of reasons. 

To further this end, Stratham voters have passed a Historic Demolition Review process.  Prior to the Town granting a demolition permit in order to raze a structure or a substantial portion of a structure that is more than fifty (50) years old, the Demolition Review Committee must make a determination if the building is historically significant or not.  If the Committee determines a building is not significant, demolition may proceed.  If a structure is determined to be significant, a maximum 60-day waiting period is required during which the Committee will conduct a more thorough investigation and work with the property owner to explore potential alternatives to demolition.  If no resolution is reached during this process, a property may move forward with demolition if a permit is issued.  It is the Town’s hope that by working collaboratively with property owners, more historic structures can be preserved in Stratham for future generations to enjoy.  If you have questions about this process, please contact the Planning or Building Departments at planning@strathamnh.gov.