To see if the School District will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300,000 to continue long term maintenance, repair and modernization work to include technical and/or engineering services at Hampton’s Marston and Centre school buildings and grounds? This article is a continuation of an annual program planned to keep the buildings updated and in good condition, thereby protecting the taxpayer’s investment. Projects planned for 2016-17 are listed below. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7 VI and will not lapse until these projects are completed or June 30, 2018, whichever is earlier. (Majority vote required.)

Marston School

 Replace roof over original building and 1975 addition (phased)         $215,000

Implement security improvements (phased)                                              25,000

$240,000

Centre School

Replace original classroom sinks and counter tops (phased)                 $ 20,000

ADA improvements (district-wide)                                                                   5,000

Replace hallway entrance doors to Gymnasium                                             5,000

Roof repairs (ongoing)                                                                                        5,000

Implement security improvements (phased                                                  25,000

                                                                                                                     $ 60,000

 

What it means: The Article is self-explanatory – the funds are sought to keep the two schools in good condition.

 Those in favor say: This is a routine request to maintain the buildings in good order.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at public hearings.

 Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $35.50 in 2016 if this Article passes. Approval of this Article affects 2016 only.

To see if the School District will vote to approve the cost items included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Hampton School Board and the Seacoast Education Association covering the four year period from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2020 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing levels:

Year	Estimated Increase
2016-17	$239,020
2017-18	$254,533
2018-19	$252,502
2019-20	$250,748

and further raise and appropriate the sum of $239,020 for the 2016-17 fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels in accordance with the most recent collective bargaining agreement. (Majority vote required.)

What it means: School officials have negotiated with the Seacoast Education Association, representing about 120 teachers. The amounts noted represent less than 1% increases, plus additional “step” increases. The voters must now approve the increase.

Those in favor say: These negotiations, similar to other collective bargaining agreements in town, are a compromise between “give backs” related to health insurance, and the need to maintain competitive salaries for teachers in Marston School, Centre School and Hampton Academy.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at public hearings.

 Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $28.29 in 2016 if this Article passes. Subsequent years included in the contract would increase the average homeowners taxes by about $30.00 per year.

 

 

Shall the School District raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant, or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $20,184,320? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $20,256,680, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the District or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.  (Majority vote required.)

Note: Warrant Article #2 (operating budget) does not include appropriations in any other warrant articles.

What it means: The proposed Operating Budget for Hampton School District is $72,360 less than the Default Budget. The Default Budget is defined as the prior year’s budget increased by contractual obligations, debt service and any Warrant Articles passed by the voters.  Approval of the Article will result in the lower budget.

Those in favor say: The Operating Budget is less than the Default Budget, so it makes sense to vote for that.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at public hearings.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear a decreased tax cost of $8.79 if this Article passes.

Shall the Hampton School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $24,945,000 for reconstructing and equipping the Hampton Academy middle school; and authorize the issuance of not more than $24,945,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Chapter 33); and authorize the School Board to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; and further to raise and appropriate the additional sum of $460,550 for the payment of the first year’s interest on the bonds or notes authorized by this article, and authorize the School Board to apply for, accept and expend any grants for this purpose and take any other action necessary to carry out this vote? The School Board and the Budget Committee recommend this appropriation. (Three-fifths vote required.)

 What it means: What is being proposed is a comprehensive renovation of Hampton Academy for a total cost of $24,945,000. The project would address infrastructure needs such as new roofs, windows and air quality issues; space to accommodate current technology and learning methods and would also incorporate a Community Room. The cost would be financed through bond debt.

Those in favor say: Information has been put forward by SAU 90, and is the basis for this section.  A link to the Hampton Academy Renovation Project page can be found at the bottom of this section.

Images of the school and the need can be seen by clicking here:

Hampton Academy

Following are some of the highlights of the project as found in the SAU 90 materials:

• The building was originally built in 1939, with additions in 1961 and 1974.
• The building houses Grades 6-8.
• The project will add 51,000 square feet and will renovate 63,300 square feet.

• Specifics of the project, which will respect the character of the site:

• Re-design to better protect flow of students and visitors for safety reasons
• New roofs, windows, and technology infrastructure
• Improved parking with safer traffic flow
• Upgraded mechanical, electrical, air quality, data and building safety systems
• Community auditorium with fixed seating for 550
• Community Room and public meeting space with video recording for Channel 13

• Why now? The needs of Hampton Academy have been researched for years and there is a carefully vetted design for the work. Program and safety concerns continue to change with the changing society. The building and the additions are old, and many expensive infrastructure repairs will need to be undertaken with or without the re-design. Retiring bond payments can help fund this project, and interest rates are not likely to get lower than they are now.

• If the project is NOT undertaken as currently proposed, the Town will still need to address major infrastructure issues including: roof replacement, electrical upgrades, fire suppression, air quality, a complete restroom renovation, and ADA code compliance. Putting the project off is likely to incur rising construction costs and rising bond rates, making future repairs more expensive for taxpayers.

• The dollars requested are stated as being the “Guaranteed Maximum Price.”

Those against say: Those who have expressed issues with the proposal focus on:

• The overall cost of the project and the impact on the tax bill
• Other Town needs such as water drainage issues that will also need to be addressed
• The scope of the renovation and whether there might be a less expensive option

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $55.93 in 2016 if this Article passes. There will be future year impacts as well, with the 2017 cost estimated at $106.26 for the average-valued home.

http://www.sau90.org/node/hampton-academy-building-project

HA Project

 

By petition of Steven Jusseaume and at least 25 registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton, in the interest of making the best use of Town employees’ and volunteers’ time, require that detailed agendas for all public meetings be posted at least four days prior to the date of the meeting? The agendas should include a list of the Town Departments, Boards and Commissions that are being asked to participate in the meeting, with a brief statement of the topic(s) to be discussed. The items on each agenda should be listed in the order in which they will be discussed, with the understanding that occasional and unavoidable last-minute changes may need to be made. Each agenda shall be posted at Town Hall, at the Lane Memorial Library, and on the appropriate page on the Hampton Town website? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: Although most boards abide by this courtesy, according to the petitioners it is not always the case.   If a Board holding a public meeting does not issue a detailed, timely agenda, members of the public cannot properly decide whether or not they wish to attend the meeting. Further, when the presence of Town employees or volunteers is required but those people are not notified until the last minute, it creates issues with scheduling other Town business. This Article aims to remedy that situation.

Those in favor say: It makes sense to require this, and since most Boards do this anyway, it is not seen as a hardship. The Article recognizes there may be unavoidable exceptions to the rule.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

By petition of Kerstin Wilcox and at least 25 registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton seek to gradually reduce the amount of the budget dedicated to debt service from the current 12% to a maximum of 6%, which is the average percentage of debt service for all New Hampshire towns? Methods of bringing the debt down might include the use of capital improvement funds to save for projects requiring bonds, thus avoiding or reducing interest debt, or timing projects such that implementation coincides with the expiration of previous debt. This advisory article does not speak to any specific project, but rather addresses the desire of taxpayers to control the overall percentage of the budget dedicated to paying down bond debt? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: This advisory Article seeks to bring awareness to the fact that Hampton currently dedicates 12 cents of every tax dollar collected to debt requirements, twice the level of the average New Hampshire town. Approval of this Article would send a message encouraging the timing of projects and/or capital reserve funds to reduce or avoid bond debt in the future.

Those in favor say: This is a good thing to be aware of, and a sensible approach.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

 

On petition of 25 legal voters of the Town of Hampton:

To release and remove a portion of deed restriction #4 (BK2509 P1919) as to the oceanfront side only of the premises at #10 Ancient Highway (Tax Map 134, Lot # 105) owned by Peter and Rita Cary, in order to allow reconstruction of the existing non-conforming oceanfront side of the dwelling, as part of the substantial renovation of the dwelling. The portion of the deed restriction #4 to be removed as to the oceanfront side of the dwelling only reads as follows: “The Grantee will not erect any buildings upon the premises within seven (7) feet of any boundary line. The Hampton Zoning Board has approved variances for the other requested work on the property.  Further to authorize and direct the Town Clerk to execute and deliver to the lot owners for recording a notice of this vote at the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds, at no cost to the Town? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: Like Articles 40 and 41, this is one of the parcels of land that the town leased to Hampton residents in the 80’s, all of which had certain restrictions associated with them. One of the restrictions was that the owners would not build within 7 feet of the boundary line, a restriction that the owners wish to have removed. If approved, this Article will amend the deed restriction only. Any other permitting requirements or variance requests would still need to be addressed via the appropriate Boards in Town.

No one spoke in favor or against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

On the Petition of Amy Hansen and at least twenty-five other registered voters of the Town of Hampton, shall the Town of Hampton raise and appropriate the amount of $35,000 to help defray the cost of carrying out repairs and maintenance to the Town Clock. Such funds raised by this article to be used a long with privately raised funds that are currently in the Town’s possession to complete the work of constructing a tower to house the clock and for the clock’s repair and installation in that structure.   This shall be a non-lapsing account per 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the earlier of: i) all funds raised by this Article being expended for the construction, repair or maintenance of the tower and clock, or ii) December 31, 2021? (Majority vote required)

What it means: This clock was given as a gift to the town in 1897, and was a part of Hampton’s town center for many years. It came crashing down during a fire decades ago. It was rescued by Hampton residents, only to be relegated to the basement of Town Hall for a number of years. At some point, a concerned group of citizens got access to the clock and have been working to restore it. The plan is to mount it on a to-be-erected, separately funded tower on the green in front of Centre School.

Those in favor say: The clock is part of our heritage and should be salvaged. Individual residents have cared enough about this to dedicate many hours to restoring it and raising money for it, but now need the help of other Hampton homeowners. Last year’s unsuccessful request for $75,000 has now been reduced to $35,000 as more funds have been raised privately.   The clock belongs to the Town of Hampton and the town should participate financially in the restoration.

Those against say: Some people think the funds needed should be raised by private efforts and donations. Another wondered about the noise of the bell.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $4.28 if this Article passes.

On the petition of John Nyhan and at least 25 Hampton registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton raise and appropriate $3,000 to pay to Experience Hampton Inc, the organizer of the 2010 to 2015 Hampton Christmas Parades, to help defray the expenses of the 2016 Christmas Parade and related activities? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: This is an annual donation to Experience Hampton to help fund the Christmas parade in town

Those in favor say: The parade takes place early in December, and tries to involve many groups within town, including businesses, schools and local officials. The total cost of the parade is $15,000 of which the taxpayers are being asked to absorb a small fraction.

Those against say: No one spoke against this Article at Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $329,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $.35 if this Article passes.

 

On Petition of Stephen Joyce and at least 25 registered voters, we direct the Board of Selectmen to not approve any special event requests that result in the closure of any road in the Town of Hampton. The only allowed exceptions are the Annual Seafood Festival, Neighborhood Block Parties and Parades? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The petitioners are asking the Town to not approve any events (exceptions as stated) that would close the roads in such a way as to hinder resident comings and goings during the event. It was noted at Deliberative Session that this might not be a legally enforceable Article, because the opening and closing of roads in some cases may be subject to other regulations and jurisdictions.

Those in favor say:  Those who spoke at Deliberative Session expressed frustration at not being able to come and go as they wished for many hours at a time. For example, at one annual road race, Ocean Boulevard from the Beach District to High Street is closed from 8:30 – 11:00 AM. Others report not being able to get home from morning activities because all the roads surrounding their homes were blocked. Proponents encourage approving this Article if for no other reason than to send a message to the Board of Selectmen that the people in Town are very frustrated with the local closures, especially those that benefit a for-profit organization with very little upside to Hampton taxpayers.

Those against say: Aside from the legality question of the potential ordinance, opponents say the events support local businesses, and provide a venue for various athletic and other activities for the residents of Hampton as well as the many visitors. They referred to the road closures as a minor and temporary inconvenience and thought it was worth it for the benefits provided.

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.