Town Manager’s Weekly Update
March 11, 2010
Announcements
· 2010 Dog Licenses Available now available at Town Clerk’s Office. All dogs four months and older are required to be licensed by May 1st. Owners must present a valid rabies certificate and a neutering or spaying certificate, if applicable.
· Friends of Kids Kove will be hosting a Comedy Night and Silent Auction sponsored by the Rotary Club of Merrimack. The event will be held at the Alpine Grove on Saturday, April 10, 2010 starting at 7pm. Silent Auction starts at 7pm. Comedy Show starts 8pm with 3 comedians from the North Shore Comedy Club, including Rob Steen and headliner Dave Andrews. Proceeds to benefit Kids Kove Rebuild Project. Ticket prices are $30 and include hors D'oeuvres. For tickets and more information contact Pete Giacapuzzi @ pgiacapuzzi@earthlink.net or 603-424-2168 or visit the Kids Kove Website -www.newkidskove.com
· On April 10th the 2nd annual Magic Show is being held to support the Merrimack Police K-9 program. The show is sponsored by Merrimack Crime line and The Society of American Magicians. The show is at Wasserman Park from 10 am to 2 pm and will feature a family style event with food and many performances both on stage and at tables by our magicians. There will be a demonstration by the Merrimack Police K-9 unit at noon. We hope everyone will come join us for a great day of family fun all for a great cause.
· The 18th Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at Wasserman Park on Saturday, March 27th co-hosted by the Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department and Merrimack Friends & Families. Merrimack children ages 2 - 10 are invited to join us in search of colorful Easter Eggs filled with candy, prizes or prize winning tickets! Winning tickets will be redeemed immediately in the Function Hall. While in the Function Hall, Merrimack Friends and Families invite you to take your child's photo with the Easter Bunny. Remember your camera and your best smiles. Donations will be accepted with their thanks! This rain or shine event will start promptly at 11:00 a.m. with areas sectioned off in several age categories. Please arrive early with your basket and the volunteers will help you find your search area. Immediately following the Easter Egg Hunt, the Parks and Recreation Department is hosting an Open House at Wasserman Park. We will be on site to offer tours and answer your questions. With the parks 46 acres of developed land and 87.7 acres of Conservation Land, there is plenty of space for everyone. Tennis courts, the Norma French Playground, outdoor basketball courts, hiking trails, and the Resident Only Beach are all open to the public every day of the year.
Town Manager’s Report
· The latest edition of the quarterly newsletter is scheduled to arrive in mailboxes March 29th. Included in this edition will be the Voter’s Guide that has historically been an insert in the Merrimack Journal. The Voter’s Guide information will also be available on the Town’s website.
· The Town Report is also scheduled to be delivered to the Town Offices by March 29th. Once received, the Town Report will be available at the Town Offices, Central and South Fire Stations, the Police Department and the Library. The Town Report will also be available on voting day at the three polling locations and the Town’s website.
· I will be attending the March 15th School Board meeting, at their request, to discuss briefly the both SRO programs and how the MMS grant is moving forward. I will be attending with both Officers Murray and Prentice.
· The gasoline tank at the Public Works Garage is operational again. Water appears to have either gotten into the tank during the rainstorm of a couple of weeks ago in the area of the tank fill area or the gasoline recently delivered had water in it. The Town’s gasoline supplier removed the affected gasoline and replaced it with new gas at no cost. Modifications were made to the tank filler area to eliminate the chance of water getting into the tank in the future. There were no leaks found in the tanks based on tests performed.
· The Woodland Drive drainage work is ongoing. 100 feet of drainage line from Baboosic Lake Road in the direction of the outfall has been replaced. The total distance from Baboosic Lake Road to the outfall is 600 feet. Observations into the next 85 feet of pipe showed extensive root infiltration and root blockage in the pipe. Highway has cut out the roots but can go no further due to more significant root blockages. Public Works is currently reviewing the alternatives available to remove any blockages in the balance of the drainage to the outfall. If Public Works continues to find the type of blockages, more extensive repairs will be needed. Those repairs may include DES permitting. Public Works is committed to correcting this drainage problem as quickly as possible.
· The annual Golden Skate challenge will take place this Saturday, March 13th at St. Anselm's College hockey rink beginning at 3:00 PM. This is an annual game between the Merrimack Police All-Stars and the Merrimack High School boy’s ice hockey team. The game benefits the New Hampshire Special Olympics and tickets are available at the door.
· Planning continues on moving the Building/Health functions to the Fire Department. Today, the Fire Department shadowed the Building Officials. Minor modifications are being planned at the Central Station to meet the needs of the move.
· The Assessing Department informed me today that their recent sales ratio analysis indicates that a Town-wide valuation update is not needed in 2010. Overall, the current property values remain within the guidelines established by the State of New Hampshire. Merrimack will need to complete a Town-wide update in 2011 as part of the state certification of Merrimack’s property values.
· I provided each Town Councilor with a summary of active Public Works projects. That list is also available on the Public Works Department’s webpage on the Town website. If anyone has any questions on the summary please let me know.