July 15th Select Board Newsletter
Dear Stratham Residents,
Please read below for news and notes from the Town of Stratham. In this edition:
- Summerfest - July 16th
- Community Policing Award for Stratham Police
- Voluntary Water Conservation Measures Urged
- Frying Pan Lane History
- Monkeypox in NH
- Emergency Preemption Systems
- Energy Purchasing - Energy Commission News
- Temporary Changes to Jack Rabbit Lane
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
COMMUNITY POLICING AWARD
Stratham Police Department came in second in the New England Association of Chiefs of Police Community Policing Award for the year 2021. There was intense competition from police departments all across New England. View the letter and Certificate of Achievement.
VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES URGED
Yesterday, DES declared a moderate drought across New Hampshire (Press Release July 14th). A low snowpack this past winter and an early spring melt coupled with below average rainfall over the past few months have contributed to dry conditions. Additionally, over the past 30 days, only 25% to 50% of normal precipitation was received throughout most of the state. These conditions led to a rapid decline in soil moisture, surface water levels, and streamflow, which resulted in the drought declaration. Drought conditions are likely to persist.
To protect residential well supplies, NHDES is urging the public and municipalities to implement outdoor water use restrictions, such as limiting lawn watering to before 8 AM and after 7 PM and to odd and even days. The Select Board will discuss this issue at their meeting on July 18th; in recent years the Board has acted to implement restrictions, which take affect following a public posting and three-day waiting period. This is authorized pursuant to RSA 41:11-d during state or federally declared droughts. Meanwhile, the Select Board urges voluntary water conservation measures be carried out at your Stratham home and businesses. For further information, please visit the U.S. Drought Monitor or the Town’s website on the topic.
FRYING PAN LANE HISTORY
Have you ever been curious about the origin of Frying Pan Lane? Watch this YouTube video for answers!
MONKEYPOX IN NH
Learn more about this important health topic from the NH Health Alert Network (HAN).
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PRE-EMPTION FUNCTION
At the end March 2022, the Stratham Public Works contracted services to inspect and repair the preemption systems at our six signalized intersections. These systems are used by emergency responders to prioritize the emergency vehicles movement through intersections. Improvements were made at two intersections including NH101 at Portsmouth Avenue and the Market Basket/Portsmouth Avenue intersection. To date all of the six systems are fully operational; regular testing has been initiated and planning for equipment replacements will be assessed for inclusion in our capital plan or operating budgets.
From your Stratham Energy Commission
COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AND ENERGY
Just like many of you, the Town is monitoring closely the volatile landscape of energy pricing worldwide. Late last year (https://www.strathamnh.gov/select-board/news/december-17th-select-board-...), the Energy Commission and Select Board reported out on savings the Town has realized as part of its electricity aggregation effort with Rockingham Planning Commission and Constellation Energy. That contract expires in October and the Energy Commission is again working with the RPC to review options for a follow-on contract or other next step as an aggregation group with other NH governmental entities in Rockingham County. The memorandum of understanding for the group is currently under review and more discussion will be happening in the coming months.This effort will help control energy costs for municipal facilities, and the Energy Commission is now assessing opportunities for electric aggregation programs to be made available to Stratham residents as well. Additional information will be shared as their assessment matures.
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.