February 9th Select Board Newsletter

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

• Town Meeting Information
• Voter Information Night - March 7th at 6:30 pm
• Heritage Commission Presentation - February 16th 
• Stratham Historical Society Scholarships Offered
• Wiggin Memorial Library Art Gallery
• Stratham Fire Department Auxiliary Open House
• Parks & Recreation February Calendar for Adult Programming
• Sale Inspections for 2024 Revaluation
• Emergency Management
• Open Space and Connectivity Public Outreach Event - February 12th at 6:00 pm
• SAU 16 Vision of a Graduate Vision Summit Invitation

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, February 19th in observance of Presidents Day. No impact to curbside collection.

TOWN MEETING INFORMATION:  ELECTION AND BUSINESS SESSION INFORMATION
The public hearing on the 2024 town budget and warrant was held on Monday, February 5th at 7:00 pm.  A presentation on the 2024 operating budget was given and materials are posted on the Select Board meeting page and the Town Meeting Page.  The Town Election will be held at Stratham Memorial School (39 Gifford Farm Rd) on Tuesday, March 12th.  Polls will be open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.  The Town Meeting business session will be held on Saturday, March 16th also at Stratham Memorial School.  The meeting will begin at 9:00 am. 

The School District Town Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 5th at 6:00 pm.  Stratham School District budget & voting flyer here.  

VOTER INFORMATION NIGHT
Everyone is encouraged to attend the Wiggin Memorial Library Voter Information Night on Thursday, March 7th in the Joan Sewall Room in the Municipal Center beginning at 6:30 pm.  More information here.        

HERITAGE COMMISSION - SCAMMON FARM PRESENTATION 
Have you ever wondered about the fields and woods behind the Market Basket and Shaw’s plazas, or the big old dairy barn located on River Road?  The Heritage Commission is pleased to announce our annual winter program will take place at the Stratham Firehouse on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:00 pm (storm date of 2/23/2024).  Commission members Jeffrey Hyland and Nathan Merrill will present the history of the Richard Scammon Farm on River Road.  Four properties that make up the 103-acre surviving portion of the farm were recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic District.  We invite you to come learn about the significance of this special piece of Stratham, and Jeff Hyland will share insights about some of his Scammon ancestors, eight generations of whom lived here from 1665 through 1967.  More information can be found here.  

STRATHAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED
The Stratham Historical Society is now accepting applications from local students qualifying for the Winfield L. Foote scholarships.  Detailed instructions as to eligibility, application forms, required documents and method of submission may be found on the Stratham Historical Society’s webpage.  To date, the Winfield L. Foote Scholarships for Academic Excellence program has awarded over $130,000 to local students. 

SALE INSPECTIONS FOR 2024 REVALUATION
As was shared recent past newsletters, in 2024 the Town, through its contractor Whitney Consulting Group, is completing a town-wide property revaluation.  Whitney Consulting Group has begun inspecting all properties that have sold in the last two years in order to verify that the records we have on those properties are accurate and reflect the condition of the property.

Property owners are not required to let the Assessor into their property but the Town asks for your cooperation in allowing WCG staff access to your property as accurate data for sale properties will help us to determine accurate values for all property.  The staff will be wearing identification badges and have a letter from the Town introducing them.  Stratham Police Department has the staff’s vehicle information.

Upcoming events include a revaluation start-up meeting with Whitney Consulting Group, Town staff, and a representative of the NH Department of Revenue Administration to discuss the procedures and timelines of the revaluation.  Upcoming milestones will include a Quarterly Status Report to the Select Board in mid-April and a preliminary analysis report later in the spring.  Stay tuned for additional updates.

Meet our Artist(s) of the Month!
Monday, February 12 @ 5:30pm
Youth Activity Room
In our new Art Gallery for the month of February, we are thrilled to host student artwork from the Stratham Memorial School and Cooperative Middle School related to Civil Rights.  Come and see their creative and inspiring work!

FIRE DEPARTMENT AUXILIARY OPEN HOUSE




Parks & Recreation February calendar for Adult Programming.  Check it out!
 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Help out with Stratham Emergencies
This week our team of town staff and volunteers led by Emergency Management Director David Barr participated in the second Seabrook Emergency exercise for this two-year cycle.  We are looking to add to our team of responders, if you have an interest, please reach out to Town Administrator David Moore at dmoore@strathamnh.gov.  If you have experience in the medical field, radiation safety, physical sciences, or emergency planning in general, we especially would like to have you join our team and upcoming trainings.  Thank you for your consideration.

OPEN SPACE AND CONNECTIVITY PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENT



SAU 16 VISION OF A GRADUATE VISION SUMMIT INVITATION