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May 21st Select Board Newsletter

Posted on: May 21, 2021 - 2:29pm

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

  • Stratham's Memorial Day Event
  • Vaccination Thank Yous
  • Remember Stratham Farms this Planting Season!
  • Congratulations to our New Town Clerk/Tax Collector and her Deputy!
  • Thank You to Residents who Participated in Route 33 Planning Events
  • DPW - Operator / Laborer Position
  • State Park License Plates
  • Dog Fines Begin June 1st - Please License

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


memorial day
STRATHAM'S MEMORIAL DAY EVENT
On Monday, May 31, 2021, at 1:30 pm, Stratham will honor Memorial Day and those who have fallen with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park, followed by a silent procession of Stratham Fire apparatuses and police vehicles throughout the town. The public is invited to attend the ceremony while maintaining social distance from one another (and wearing masks when distancing is not possible). In addition, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the Town's Facebook page.

The ceremony will include an Invocation, the Raising of the Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, a keynote speech, honoring NH Military members who have died in service, placing a memorial wreath, an SVFDA Honor Guard rifle salute, Benediction and closing remarks.

Following the ceremony, at 2:00 pm, the Fire and Police departments will ride through town with lights on but with sirens silent, in respect for those who have fallen.  Click this link for the silent procession route and approximate times.  The public is invited to watch from the sides of the streets closest to their homes.

VACCINATION THANK YOUS
Did you know that our Stratham Fire Department Volunteers have been answering the call in the unprecedented national vaccination effort?  We would like to recognize and thank the members of the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department who have participated in the State's vaccination clinics.  A heartfelt thank you to the following Fire Dept. members:  Peggy Crosby, Drew Vanderslice, Kerry Sullivan, Ben Hochschwender, Collette Poisson, James Kent, Kyle Pettinelli and Leah Richard.

REMEMBER STRATHAM FARMS THIS PLANTING SEASON!
It's that time of year when the warm weather and sunshine turn our thoughts to fresh fruits, vegetables and beautiful flowers!  Stratham is fortunate to have many farms that sell fresh produce and seedlings.  By eating local you are getting the freshest fruits and vegetables and are eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of produce.  If you are making preparations to grow your own garden, many of Stratham's farms sell plants and other essential gardening items.  Please support Stratham farms!  Follow this link to see a list of Stratham farms:  https://www.strathamnh.gov/conservation-commission/pages/stratham-farms  

CONGRATULATIONS DEB BAKIE, STRATHAM'S NEW TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR
At the Select Board Meeting on May 10th, Deb Bakie was appointed Town Clerk-Tax Collector following the retirement of Joyce Charbonneau.  Deb was sworn-in at the meeting by Select Board Chair Mike Houghton.  Deb Bakie has served as the Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector since 2016 following a 27 year career in the United States Coast Guard. Under Deb's leadership we are certain the Clerk's Offices' reputation as friendly, professional, and invested in the community will continue and grow.  Thank you Deb for your service and congratulations.

JIM JOSEPH APPOINTED NEW DEPUTY TOWN CLERK-TAX COLLECTOR
On Monday, May 17th, following his nomination by Town Clerk-Tax Collector Deb Bakie, the Select Board appointed Jim Joseph to serve as the new Deputy Town Clerk-Tax Collector.  Jim was sworn-in by Deb Bakie on May18th surrounded by municipal center colleagues.  Jim has worked for the Town as an Assessing Assistant since 2010 and will continue to perform Assessing duties while serving in the Town Clerk-Tax Collector's Office.  The Assessing Office is also undergoing changes following the retirement of our Assessor; stay tuned for more information about the restructuring of the Assessing Office.  Meanwhile, please join us in congratulating Jim.  

THANK YOU TO RESIDENTS WHO PROVIDED INPUT ON ROUTE 33 PLANNING EFFORTS 
Thank you to the residents who participated in the two public input sessions on the Route 33 corridor last week.  The events were held to garner feedback from Stratham residents on the potential for a Neighborhood Heritage District designation for the Route 33 corridor. Property owners along the Route 33 corridor were a particular focus of the sessions and all property owners in that portion of the corridor were mailed invitations to participate in the events.  Approximately 15 people participated in the two sessions. Generally, residents appeared supportive of a Neighborhood Heritage District for the Route 33 corridor including the concept of introducing some additional uses to better ensure investment in the many historic structures along the corridor.  The Planning Board will be working to draft the Ordinance language this summer and the Town will host public outreach opportunities for residents to provide their comments on the draft language in the early Fall. In the meantime, residents can stay updated on the effort by visiting www.strathamnh.gov/route33 or by contacting the Planning Department at planning@strathamnh.gov. Several community members volunteered their time to plan and present the sessions, including Planning Board Chair Tom House, Heritage Commission members Nate Merrill and Rebecca Mitchell and Route 33 Legacy Highway Ad-Hoc Committee member Alex Dardinski.  The Town is grateful for their efforts and contributions and for those who attended.

DPW - OPERATOR / LABORER POSITION
The Town of Stratham is seeking a team member to support road, grounds & facility maintenance as well as the care of cemeteries. Work performed ranges from the skilled operation of heavy equipment; backhoe, wheeled loader, plow truck to semi-skilled landscaping, carpentry, care and troubleshooting of plumbing & small engines, etc.  Requirements include:  Minimum of a High School diploma/G.E.D.; Possess or obtain within 6-months of employment a CDL-B with air brake endorsement; Possess or obtain within 1-year of employment a NHDES Solid Waste Operator Certification. For more information, click here.

DOG LICENSING
Please remember to license your dogs.  Dog fines wil be in effect June 1st.  Follow this link.

THINKING ABOUT VISITING STATE PARKS THIS SUMMER?
Check out this information about State Park License Plates.