Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $300,000 to be added to the Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund created under Article 16 of the 1998 Annual Town Meeting in accordance with the provisions of RSA 35 for the purpose of maintenance and/or reconstruction of streets? (Majority vote required)

What it means: $300,000 would be added to the Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund. This fund will be used for repair of roads in the future. The current balance is $1,200,000, which includes the appropriations approved by voters in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Those in favor say: This fund is intended for large projects and significant issues, such as the re-building of Lafayette Road. There is a 5-member team who controls this line item. They accept recommendations from the Department of Public Works, but an outside committee makes the decisions.

Those against say: No one spoke in opposition at the Deliberative Session.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $36.76 if this Article passes. This approval affects the current year only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 for the maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and replacement of sidewalks, this shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the project is completed or by March 31, 2018, whichever is sooner. (Majority vote required)

What it means: DPW will use a mix of internal resources and outside contracting to get as much done as possible while controlling costs. The specific projects worked on will be identified by DPW and approved by the Board of Selectmen.

Those in favor say: Funds would be used for maintenance, re-construction, sidewalk repairs and ADA compliance. Projects to be completed are identified in the Sidewalk Management Program.

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

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $3.23 if this Article passes. This appropriation request only affects 2017.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to conduct a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day during calendar year 2017; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen (a) to permit the Towns of Hampton Falls and New Castle to participate in said collection day at their own expense, and (b) to apply for, accept and expend for such purposes any funds from the State of New Hampshire, the Federal Government, and any private source as may become available? (Majority vote required)

 

What it means: The Town previously had a fund to run the Hazardous Waste Collection Day, but it is now depleted. If Hampton residents wish to continue this event, it needs to be funded. Hampton Falls and New Castle would be invited to participate at their cost.

Examples of Hazardous Waste: Products such as paint thinner, spot remover, oven cleaner, furniture polish, drain opener, pool chemicals and hair spray are considered hazardous because they contain chemicals that are corrosive, explosive, reactive, flammable or toxic. As of January 1, 2008 trash disposal of products containing mercury is banned.  Items included but are not limited to: thermometers, thermostats, electrical switches and relays, fluorescent light bulbs, button cell batteries.

Those in favor say: Hazardous Waste Collection Day assures that hazardous materials are not left on the street or thrown in the trash. The town has applied for a Household Hazardous Waste Grant from NHDES to supplement the program in 2018.

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

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $2.02 if this Article passes. Approval of this Article will impact 2017 taxes only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $120,000 for the purpose of developing a design for, and the permitting and bidding documents associated with the replacement of the seawall at Bicentennial Park. The existing wall has shallow embedment into the beach and the seawall is supported on sand prone to storm erosion. Under certain storm conditions analyses indicates the seawall will fail.

This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the project is completed or by March 31, 2018, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: In 2016, voters approved funding to investigated the issues, and to provide emergency temporary repairs. The current appropriation will fund the design, permitting and bid documents so the process of replacing the seawall can continue.

Those in favor say: The repairs made in 2016 are temporary, and the seawall could still be at risk of collapsing in a significant storm. Getting permits for the new seawall can take 6-9 months, so the process needs to keep moving. The plan is to reuse rocks brought in for the temporary repairs when the permanent replacement is built. The new wall will be designed to be at the same height as the adjacent State wall. Hampton Beach Area Commission is in full support of this project.

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

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $14.54 if this Article passes. Approval will impact 2017 taxes only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen with the aid and assistance of the Fire Chief to purchase a used Fire Engine Pumper to temporarily replace Fire Engine 2 that has been dead-lined due to frame failure, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to fund said purchase with said sum to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance, a fund containing unexpended appropriations from prior years, as of December 31, 2016, and with no amount to be raised by further taxation. Said used Pumper will be utilized for at least four years until the normal replacement of Engine 2 in accordance with the long rage capital expenditures program. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the purpose is completed or until March 31, 2018, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 

What it means: The truck would be expected to serve the town for 4 years, when the long range capital expenditure program indicates the town would be purchasing a new truck. This interim vehicle will be funded from the unassigned fund balance, so no new taxes will need to be raised.

Those in favor say: This is a “second line truck” meaning that when one truck is out for servicing, this truck is put into service. The goal will be to look for a used fire pumper that does not have existing maintenance issues. This is a reasonable way of serving the needs of the Fire Department while keeping costs reasonable for the taxpayers.

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

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $174,475 for the cost of Hampton’s contribution to twenty (20) human service agencies in the Seacoast in the amounts corresponding to the agencies’ requests in the right hand column as follows:

Human Service Agency                                              2016 Funding               2017 Funding Request

Aids Response Seacoast                                                           $2,700                    $2,700

American Red Cross                                                                    2,000                       2,000

Area Home Care & Family Services                                        12,000                    12,000

Big Brothers Big Sisters                                                              8,000                       8,000

Child Advocacy Center                                                               1,250                       1,250

Child and Family Services                                                          6,000                       6,000

Crossroads House                                                                    15,000                    15,000

Families First Health & Support Center                                 10,000                    10,000

Haven (fmr A Safe Place & Seacoast Assault Services)           7,500                       7,500

Lamprey Health Sr. Trans. Program                                         4,200                       4,200

New Generation Shelter                                                             2,000                       2,000

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program                                        1,800                       1,800

Richie McFarland Children’s Center                                         7,800                       7,800

Rockingham Community Action                                             25,000                    25,000

Rockingham Meals on Wheels                                                   6,625                       6,625

Seacoast Family Promise                                                            2,500                       2,500

Seacoast Mental Health Center                                                 8,000                       8,000

Seacoast Visiting Nurse                                                           40,000                    40,000

Seacoast Youth Services                                                             2,500                       2,500

Transportation Assistance for Seniors (TASC)                        9,600                       9,600

Total                                                                                       $ 174,475              $ 174,475

These twenty (20) human service agencies shall each be required to give a written report at the end of the calendar year 2017 to the Board of Selectmen highlighting what the funds were used for and what impact the funds had in assisting to achieve their goals and objectives? (Majority vote required)

What it means: Each of the listed agencies will receive a donation from the town in the noted amount. The funds raised and donated last year are provided for comparison. This is an “all or none” Warrant Article. If the Article passes, all the listed agencies receive the specified donations. If it fails, none do.

 Those in favor say: This is something we do every year. These agencies handle issues that the town would be dealing with if the agencies were not, so it saves the town money.

Those against say: This sort of funding should be voluntary, not mandated via property taxes. A person should not be required to support all of these agencies if he or she has a philosophical disagreement with one or more on the list.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $21.41 if this Article passes. The tax impact is for this year only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $99,740 for the following purposes of the Recreation and Parks Department: (a) the purchase of four (4) sets of new bleachers and picnic tables for the Tuck Field baseball field and the Eaton Park softball field; (b) the purchase of a “Gator” utility vehicle and trailer for the Parks Division; (c) the replacement of the carpeting at the Tuck Building; (d) the re-roofing of the Eaton Park Concession Stand; (e) the purchase of new office furniture to replace the hand-me-down 1970’s furniture that came with the Town Offices at the time of its purchase; (f) the resurfacing of two (2) in-bounds playing areas on the right-hand tennis courts, that includes one coat of Plexicushion Blue and one coat of US Open Blue plus striping; and (g) restoration of Tuck One Field, the Don Butler Diamond as the field is very uneven and requires removal of the grass cover and re-grading of the field; and (h) purchase of a new recreation software program including the purchase of new tablets and service for the Town Parking Lots and the Recreation and Parks Department as determined by the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager and the Director of Recreation and Parks, and to authorize the withdrawal of $99,740 from the Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund established for the purpose under Article 44 of the 2007 Annual Town Meeting? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: Every year, the needs of the Parks and Recreation Department are identified, and the voters need to approve withdrawal of the requested dollars from an established fund.

Those in favor say: The funds will contribute to a more efficient and safer Recreation Dept.

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

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $90,000 to carry out all lawful functions allowed under federal, state and local criminal justice forfeiture programs and to authorize the withdrawal of that amount from the Police Forfeiture Special Revenue Fund created for that purpose under Article 55 of the 2003 Town Meeting? (Majority vote required)

What it means: During normal police operations, items of value may be forfeited by individuals. There are expenses associated with the management of such property, including storage, auctioning, returning items where appropriate, etc. NH law permits the auctioning of this property where appropriate, and the funds so received are put into a fund. This Article seeks approval to use the funds to cover the cost of managing the forfeiture process.

Those in favor say: This is a standard, annual procedure.

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

Fiscal Impact: No tax impact.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $43,525 for the purpose of adding three new windows to the Children’s Room, which is on the basement level of the Lane Memorial Library. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriating per RSA 32:7, VI and will not lapse until the purpose of this article is completed or by March 31, 2019, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: if this Article passes, the monies raised would be used to install 3 windows in the Children’s Room in the basement of the library.

Those in favor say: The Children’s Room currently has no windows to the outside of the building. This creates a situation with inadequate lighting, inadequate airflow and poor options in the event of the need for an emergency exit. The room does not meet the updated NH standards. Proponents said that the project cannot be paid for with funds from the Library’s Capital Reserve Fund because that would deplete almost 40%, and that fund is meant for emergencies.

Those against say: Those apposed to this Article did not object to the project itself but raised concerns over appropriating new taxes to cover it as opposed to using existing funds.

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $5.25 if this Article passes. The tax impact is for this year only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be placed in the Hampton Conservation Fund; this fund is used to “acquire, maintain, improve, protect or limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve and properly utilize,” open spaces and conservation easements in Hampton in accordance with RSA 36-A: Sections 1 through 4, inclusive. Recent acquisitions such as the Batchelder Field Conservation Easement, have significantly reduced the size of the Fund, and the goal is to return the Fund to adequate levels to enable the Commission to conserve additional lands on behalf of the Town of Hampton? (Majority vote required)

 

What it means: This fund is a way of saving for opportunities, similar to the Capital Reserve Fund. Voter approval of this Article each year is primarily how the Conservation Commission replenishes the fund it uses to preserve and maintain open spaces.

Those in favor say: The Town needs to support conservation land for the recreational value as well as to help with excess storm water. Open spaces previously protected by these funds have made possible the Victory Garden, hiking trails, skating on ice pond, etc. These types of opportunities are very important to the quality of life in Hampton.

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

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $404,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $2.42 if this Article passes. This would affect 2017 only.