The Dispatch July 26th, 2022

Public Works:

Notice of water service disruption Wednesday July 27th. Granite Street, Pine Street and Concord Street customers may be affected from 8am-4pm with Municipal Water Service Shut-Down. We will work to reduce the inconveniences of this work and we thank you for your understanding and patience. Thank You - Peterborough Utilities Department

2022 Stormwater inventory field work kicked off June 1st with staff members, GIS Specialist, Julie Elwell, and intern, Emma Brown.  Julie and Emma, continue to work on Peterborough’s storm water inventory.  They use a high-accuracy GPS receiver to locate catch basins, culverts, swales, and drainage pipes.  A mobile field application is then used to collect the condition and measurements of the infrastructure.  This mapping and information will be used in the Highway Department inspections, conditional assessment programs, and capital budgeting.

Over the last several years, the town has developed a seasonal program to verify and update the Town’s Geographic Information System (GIS) storm water infrastructure.  The GIS data includes location, condition, and measurements of catch basins, culverts, swales, and all the connections between. With guidance from the Department of Public Works, Julie and Emma have identified priority streets for the 2022 field season. They have focused on areas missing critical data and roadways with poor drainage.

They use a high-accuracy GPS receiver, an iPhone, and an in-house ESRI Field Maps™ app to verify existing inventory on the ground; locate missing infrastructure; and to collect structure measurements.  All located catch basin grates are opened and connecting pipes are also traced out.  Some catch basins are completely buried by sediment, leaves, and other debris but many have been uncovered because of historic GPS data and persistence.

This work will continue through the summer and is a crucial part of maintaining proper drainage along our roadways and neighborhoods. The mapping and information will be used in Highway Department inspections, conditional assessment programs, and capital budgeting. 

Peterborough’s Pavement Management Plan Presentation from the 2020 Town Meeting: For residents interested in learning more about recent local road repaving activities, please view this very informative presentation provided by the DPW Director Seth MacLean. To view the Zoom presentation, please click here. 

What is Chip Sealing? (or seal coating, BST, Bituminous Surface Treatment) Chip sealing is a thin film of heated asphalt liquid sprayed on the road surface, followed by the placement of small aggregate ("chips"). The chips are then compacted to orient the chips for maximum adherence to the asphalt, and excess stone is swept from the surface. This protects the pavement from the effects of sun and water, increases skid resistance, fills small cracks and other surface defects.

Why is Chip Sealing done? A chip seal is about one fourth to one fifth the cost of a conventional asphalt overlay and extends the life of asphalt pavement by 5 to 7 years, which varies with the type and amount of daily traffic.

Recycling Center: Full-Time Recycling Center Attendant 1, employment opening: We are looking for a team player that can work in a professional, fast paced, customer-oriented environment. This is an excellent career opportunity with a great organization that offers excellent benefits, competitive pay, a retirement package, four day 10-hour work week, and advancement opportunities. Job responsibilities will include general recycling duties and operation of balers and forklift. Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent, 6 mos. experience as a solid waste operator preferred, but the Town will consider an appropriate combination of education and experience that provide the knowledge and skills to perform the job. Training will be available to the chosen candidate. Competitive pay is offered for this position. Completed applications and related materials may be emailed to grae@peterboroughnh.gov or dropped off in person at the Town House located at 1 Grove St., or at the Recycling Center on Scott Mitchell Rd. Applications and materials that are mailed should be addressed to: Nate Brown, 1 Grove St, Peterborough, NH 03458. The Town of Peterborough is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position will remain opened until filled.

Reminder about Peterborough’s “Pay as you Throw” system of disposal: The Town uses a pay-per-bag system. This system requires all non-recyclable waste to be disposed of in special bags that are available for purchase at: Agway, Belletete’s, Shaw’s and The Nature’s Greengrocer in the Town of Peterborough. The bags are available in 2 sizes Large (33 gallons) and small (15 gallons). Large bags are in rolls of 10 for $15 each and small bags are also in rolls of 10 bags for $7.50. No other bags or containers will be accepted for trash disposal. Peterborough trash bags are not available at the Recycling Center, only through the 4 vendors listed above.

All other items to be disposed of will be recycled or weighed and may be assessed disposal fees. The Recycling Center information can be found here on the Town’s website: Informational Brochure

Eversource Press Release:

MANCHESTER, N.H. (July 19, 2022) – With high heat and humidity expected across the state over the next several days, air conditioners and fans will be working overtime at most homes and businesses. On average, New Hampshire customers use 25% more electricity during the summer months to keep things cool when it’s sweltering outside. Although high electricity usage during a heat wave can put a strain on the electric system, Eversource is prepared to meet that increased demand and its crews are ready to respond to any outages or issues that may arise.

“We begin preparing for the increased demand we typically see during the summer months well before the hot weather arrives,” said Eversource President of New Hampshire Operations Doug Foley. “By conducting ground and aerial inspections of the electrical system in the cooler months, we can detect and address any issues in advance so that our customers have reliable service during these hot summer days and throughout the year.”

Help is available for customers who need it

While the updated default energy service rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource does not take effect until August 1, the energy company encourages customers to enroll in one of its payment plans or assistance programs if they need help with their energy bill. Regardless of financial need, customers are eligible for various payment programs and can visit Eversource.com/billhelp to find the right plan for them. The energy company also offers information and tips for customers who may be considering an alternative supplier to help protect against possible scams and deceptive marketing practices.

In addition, residential customers can register for a free virtual webinar that Eversource is hosting on Tuesday, July 26, to learn more about financial assistance, payment plans, and energy efficiency programs that can help with energy bills year-round.

Actions customers can take now to beat the heat this summer:

1. Use the Cooling Calculator on Eversource.com. The tool helps customers understand how much electricity their current cooling system uses and the impact of small changes to temperature settings.
2. Use the Home Heating Index tool to check qualification for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®. During an in-home visit, a technician will identify money-saving opportunities for customers’ homes including weatherization, efficient heating and cooling equipment incentives, and attractive financing offers for eligible upgrades.

Additional tips for keeping temperatures and energy costs down in the summer:

• Keep air conditioners set at a moderate temperature that’s also comfortable. For every degree higher on the thermostat, the air conditioner will use 1–3% less electricity. Using a programmable or Wi-Fi thermostat can also help manage energy usage, especially when away from home.
• Don’t block air flow. Keep air vents clear of obstructions such as furniture, curtains, and rugs. For those with central air and floor vents, consider using vent deflectors to direct and increase the reach of cooled air. Keep air conditioner filters and coils clean. Dirty filters block air flow, reducing efficiency and making it harder to deliver the cool air.
• Keep blinds closed when it’s hot out to prevent unwanted heat from entering a home through windows. Using curtains, shades, and blinds can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
• Switch to ENERGY STAR® certified LED lights. The energy-efficient bulbs run cooler and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lights.
• Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise and at a higher speed in the summer to circulate the breeze more effectively, creating a cooling, wind chill effect. Since ceiling fans cool only people and not the actual room; remember to turn the fan off when leaving the room.
• Cook dinner outside. Cooking indoors heats up the kitchen and makes cooling systems work harder, so opt for cooking outdoors instead. 
• Look for the ENERGY STAR rating when purchasing new appliances. Also, be sure to choose the right size when purchasing an air conditioning unit. An oversized or undersized AC unit is less effective and uses more energy.

To learn more about the energy-saving programs available, visit Eversource.com.