October 30th Select Board Newsletter
Dear Stratham Residents,.
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Clerks Office - Election Business only on Monday
- Town Offices closed November 3rd
- Reminder: What to Expect at our New Polling Location
- Farewell and Thank you to Tavis Austin
- Trick or Treating Reminder
- New FEMA flood maps
- Emergency Drought Assistance to Income Eligible Residential Well Owners
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
CLERKS OFFICE HOURS ON NOVEMBER 2ND
On Monday, November 2nd, the Town Clerk’s office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for election purposes only. The Clerk's Office will be accepting absentee ballots and applications for absentee ballots; you will recieve your ballot once your application is recieved. Please note, the office will be closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
TOWN OFFICES CLOSED NOVEMBER 3RD
Along with dozens of Stratham resident volunteers, our Town employees are critical to ensuring safe and orderly elections. As a result, our Town Office building and services will be closed to the public on Tuesday, November 3rd.
POLLING & ELECTION INFORMATION FOR NOVEMBER 3RD
Earlier this week, the Town published an election message about what to expect at our new polling location on November 3rd. For those voting in person, we look forward to seeing you at the Stratham Memorial School at 39 Gifford Farm Road while the polls are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
FAREWELL AND THANK YOU TO TOWN PLANNER TAVIS AUSTIN
Our Town Planner Tavis Austin has accepted the Director of Planning position in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Tavis served our community for five years and notably ensured the completion of the Town’s Master Plan in 2019 among other contributions to planning including overseeing the Town’s MS4 stormwater permitting and extensive policy work in the areas of the 108 corridor and rezoning of the 33 corridor. The Board and Town staff had a send-off for Tavis earlier this week. Please join us in congratulating Tavis and wishing him well in his new postion and thanking him for his years of service to Stratham.
Meanwhile, until the Town Planner position can be filled, the Town has arranged for interim planning serves to be provided by Municipal Resources, Inc. The postion of Town Planner has been posted and we look forward to updating the community as we go forward.
REMINDER: TRICK OR TREAT DATE SET FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 31ST FROM 5:00 TO 7:30 P.M.
The Select Board has selected the date of Saturday, October 31st for trick-or-treating in Stratham. Please read the Select Board's statement announcing the date and communicating best practices to better ensure everyone's safety.
https://www.strathamnh.gov/select-board/news/stratham-sets-trick-or-treating-date
UPDATED FLOOD MAPS FOR STRATHAM BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 29, 2021
Updated FEMA flood maps that show a more accurate picture of flood risk in Stratham will be finalized and become effective on January 29, 2021. Flood maps are produced for communities such as Stratham that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). More information about the mapping project is available on the NH Office of Strategic Initiatives’ Floodplain Management Program website.
Residents and business owners are highly encouraged to take the following simple steps before the January 29th effective date, to keep their property safe and to potentially save on flood insurance costs: Use the NH Flood Hazards Viewer ( http://bit.ly/368IBfJ ) to find out what flood zone your property is in on the pending maps. High-risk flood zones start with the letter ‘A’ or ‘V’.
The maps affect flood insurance requirements and costs in some areas. For buildings in high-risk flood zones, flood insurance is required as a condition of a Federally-backed mortgage. Costs are affected by the flood zone and other factors. There may be cost-saving options available for insurance, some of which may need to be in place before the maps become effective. Talk to your insurance agent today about your options.
Even if you do not have a mortgage, or if you are a renter, the purchase of flood insurance is still highly recommended. Keep in mind that just 1 inch of floodwater in a home can cause as much as $25,000 in damage. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn more.
Read FEMA’s Map Changes and Flood Insurance brochure ( https://rb.gy/8akfie ) or contact FEMA’s Mapping & Insurance eXchange helpline at 1-877-336-2627 for general mapping or insurance-related questions.
EMERGENCY DROUGHT ASSISTANCE TO INCOME ELIGIBLE RESIDENTIAL WELL OWNERS
The State has begun an initiative to provide short-term relief and financial assistance to low-income NH homeowners served by residential wells that are experiencing insufficient water or no water due to drought conditions. Information about income eligibility requirements and the amount of financial assistance for permanent drought relief measures are available on the NHDES Drought Management Webpage. Homeowners interested in assistance are asked to complete the following survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/wellwaterhelp. Homeowners that have questions about the survey or eligibility, please email: droughtwellinfo@des.nh.gov