News

Seabrook Town Clerk's hours change Monday

Seabrook Town Notebook
Angeljean Chiaramida
Published: August 15, 2008

Starting Monday, the hours of operation at the Town Clerk's office are changing to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The change will allow significant expansion in the service it provides to residents who register vehicles locally, Town Clerk Bonnie Fowler said. On Monday, Seabrook will be connected via the Internet to the state's motor vehicle registry. As a result, there will be no lag time in registration information for those who choose to register their cars through the local office, and they won't have to drive to the DVM branch offices in Epping or Dover.

In addition, Seabrook's clerk will be able to register vehicles weighing up to 26,000 pounds.

To accommodate the registry's requirements, the local office must shut prior to its former 4 p.m. closing time. To make up for closing earlier, Fowler is opening the office at 8 a.m., one hour earlier.

Fowler said the added convenience the upgrade in service provides should save time and gas money for those living and conducting business in town, since nearly all vehicles will be able to register without having to travel the 40-mile round-trip to Dover for immediate registration of their vehicles.

The town will also benefit, for Seabrook will receive $3 per transaction to help support its operating costs.

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Selectmen took recommendations from Water Superintendent Curtis Slayton recently that will ensure a greener, more cost-efficient design of the soon-to-be-built water treatment plant.

The design of the building will be altered to accommodate solar panels along the entire south side of the building and solar energy will be used to heat the water used in the plant.

The $21,000 design change will "save on energy and reduce our carbon footprint," Slayton told selectmen.

According to Selectman Brendan Kelly, who encouraged investigating alternative energy sources for the building, using solar energy simply makes sense. For Kelly, it didn't seem sensible to put up a new building and not include the latest in alternative energy technology to save in operating costs.

Other design alterations will connect the plant to the town's sewer instead of building a septic system. Although the new design costs about $15,000, Slayton said connecting to the sewer will "get rid of the yuck factor of putting a septic system in the town's well fields," a suggestion selectmen wholeheartedly approved.

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Wednesday was the debut selectmen's meeting for new Town Manager Barry Brenner. Welcomed by Selectmen Kelly, Aboul Khan and Bob Moore, Brenner said he looks forward to serving Seabrook and thanks everyone in town who has been very welcoming since he started last Friday.

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Rain may have canceled Family Night at Gov. Weare Park on Tuesday, but the races and contests planned for that night will take place Saturday. Family Night events are being scheduled into Saturday's "Main Event" daylong celebration, that will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the grounds of Salisbury Elementary School.

For more information, contact the Recreation Department at the Community Center, or call 603-474-5746.

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There were spelling errors in reporting the names of the children winning awards at last Saturday's Baby Seabrook Pageant. Dominic Mancini was the 12-month baby boy who won his age division of the pageant. Dominic also won for having the best smile and attire in his age group.

Vanity Blake received best smile honors for the age group of little girls from 36 to 47 months old.

Winning best hair honors for baby girls up to 12 months old was Julesiya Maria Carrillo. Julesiya also received the Ambassador Award as the baby who sold the most tickets to the Lions Club Baby Seabrook Pageant.

The money raised from the tickets sold to the pageant supports the Lions Club's many civic and charitable programs, such as the monthly birthday parties and birthday gifts for Seabrook nursing home residents, as well as the club's support of vision testing and other sight-saving services.

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Special trips are upcoming and offered by Seabrook Happy Seniors.

Wednesday, Aug. 27: A lunch at Country Buffet is planned, after which a trip to the Christmas Tree Shop is planned. The bus leaves the Community Center at 8 a.m.; the cost is $29. Contact the Community Center for reservations at 603-474-5746.

Wednesday, Sept. 3: The Installation Banquet is set for the Galley Hatch Conference Center. Cost is $25. Call Irene for reservation and information at 603-474-3274.

Wednesday, Sept. 17: Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad following a buffet luncheon at the Red Jacket Inn. The bus leaves the Community Center at 8:45 a.m.; the cost is $36. Call Helen for reservation and information at 603-474-8932.

Angeljean Chiaramida is the Seabrook reporter and can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3271, or at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com.