On your ballot this year, Articles 46 through 50 have been petitioned by registered voters.  Details are provided here.

On the petition of Kristen Russell 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 2018 Hampton Christmas Parades, to help defray the expenses of the 2019 Christmas Parade and related activities? (Majority vote required)

What it means:This request is for an annual donation to Experience Hampton to help fund the Christmas parade, which occurs in early December each year.

Those in favor say: The parade involves many groups, 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 $3,000 cost in 2019 will create an additional tax cost for the average Hampton home valued at $405,000 of $.41.  (Take your property value divided by 1000 and multiply by .001 to get your specific tax impact.) This decision affects the current year only.

On petition of G. Berkley Bennett and at least 25 registered voters, shall the Town raise and appropriate $6500.00 to reimburse the Hamptons American Legion Post 35 for the purchase of 200 bronze service flag holder/grave markers.  American Legion Post 35 would place the markers to properly honor the graves of our veterans in the High Street Cemetery which are currently missing service flag holder grave markers?

What it means:  Every year, the American Legion in cooperation with the local Scouts put flags on the graves of veterans.  In so doing, they have noticed quite a few graves that are not properly marked. This Article would fund the money needed to be sure that all the graves have markers and flag holders.

Those in favor say: The funds would assure that all veteran graves are properly marked and honored.

Those against say: Those against this Article state that this is a great effort, but the mechanism is wrong.  The funds should come out of the Cemetery Maintenance Trust Fund.

Fiscal impact: The $6,500 cost in 2019 will create an additional tax cost for the average Hampton home valued at $405,000 of $.82 (Take your property value divided by 1000 and multiply by .002 to get your specific tax impact.) This decision affects the current year only.

On petition of Meghan Riley and 25 or more registered voters, shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $520,000 for construction of a sidewalk on Mace Road within the Town’s right of way for the safety of our residents.

Background: Project reviewed by appropriate parties and estimate includes necessary elements required for construction (tree removal etc.)? Majority vote required

What it means: The petitioners who put forward this article are asking for just over a half-mile of sidewalk to be installed along Mace Rd. There are already sidewalks along 2 portions of a large triangle including Mill Road and High Street. But Mace Road does not have a Sidewalk, creating safety concerns for residents using the area to exercise, walk dogs, push strollers and use wheelchairs/walkers.

Those in favor say: The major objective of this project is to correct a safety issue, as Mace Road is used by many families to access Five Corners Park, Marston School and Hampton Academy, as well as to jog and ride bikes).  A Mace Road sidewalk is part of the long-term sidewalk plan, but implementation is several years out.  In the meantime, pedestrians are at risk.  One of the speakers told the story of a young girl who was killed in 1988 on the neighboring portion of High Street, and that was when a sidewalk was installed there. The combination of being a frequently-used path for pedestrians, the ever-increasing traffic rate, and the tendency for drivers to be distracted is creating an imminent danger. The purpose of addressing this now as a petitioned Warrant Article is to mitigate the risk of anyone being injured while we await the longer-term plan implementation.  All property to be used is within the Town’s Right of Way.

Those against say: There is a plan in Hampton to work on sidewalks and that is how this should be addressed, as opposed to through a Warrant Article.

Fiscal impact: The $520,000 cost in 2019 will create an additional tax cost for the average Hampton home valued at $405,000 of $63.24. (Take your property value divided by 1000 and multiply by .155 to get your specific tax impact.) This decision affects the current year only.

On petition of Anthony Curro and at least 25 Hampton registered voters shall the Town of Hampton vote to establish the following ordinance.

Section 1. Authority

In accordance with the provisions of New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Chapter 31, Sections 39, I, (a) and (e) authorizing the Town of Hampton to enact by-laws, the following chapter for the regulation of smoking is adopted by the Town of Hampton in the Annual Town Meeting assembled.

Section 2. Purpose

It is the declared purpose of the Town of Hampton, through the adoption of this By-Law, to protect the human health, preserve the natural environment, conserve precious and dwindling natural resources and to curb the desecration of the beauty of the Town of Hampton and the State of New Hampshire and to protect the health, welfare and safety of its citizens.

Section 3. Definition

As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the word “smoking” means the burning of tobacco, natural or artificial; any narcotic plant, weed or substance, either natural or artificial;

the use of electronic devices for the purpose of inhaling the smoke therefrom and expelling said smoke in and/or on any public park, cemetery, common, beach or other public properties of the Town of Hampton.

Section 4. Unlawful activities

It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the smoking of any substance defined in Section 3 of this By-Law in and/or on in any public park, cemetery, common, beach or other public property of the Town of Hampton.

Section 5. Enforcement

Any person or persons violating to provisions of these by-laws shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine of not less than $100 for the first offense, $150 for a second offense and $200 for a third and all subsequence offenses to be issued in the form of a summons and notice of fine. Fines imposed shall inure to the use of the Town and shall be deposited in the general fund of the Town of Hampton.

Section 6. Severability

In any provision, word, clause, section, paragraph, phrase or sentence of this By-Law is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional, unlawful or unenforceable, such unconstitutionality, unlawfulness or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions of this By­ Law, provided that the purpose of this By-law can still be achieved in the absence of the invalid provisions.

Section 7. When effective

This By-Law shall become effective when adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Hampton?

What it means:This mirrors the intent of last year’s Warrant Article of the same topic.  The wording of that Article was such that it was deemed “advisory”.  This Article is intending to make the smoking ban on Town property a part of our Ordinances.  This Article bans smoking in any public park, cemetery, common, beach or other public property of the Town of Hampton.

Those in favor say: Although no one expects 100% enforcement of an Ordinance of this type, the presence on the books of the smoking ban provides a regulatory basis to request that someone who wishes to smoke please remove him or herself from the town-owned property while they do so.

Those against say: The concerns expressed at Deliberative Session on this topic were about the nuances of where a person could or could not smoke and about how the Ordinance would be enforced.

 Fiscal impact: No Tax Impact.

Note:  The same petitioner put forward Article 50 also put forward Article 49.  He has stated that Article 49 has the language that will give the Article more legal standing.  He tried to cancel Article 50, but it was too late to do so.

We, the undersigned registered voters of Hampton, NH, in order to protect human health, preserve the natural environment, conserve precious and dwindling natural resources and to curb the desecration of the beauty of the Town of Hampton and the State of New Hampshire and to protect the health, welfare and safety of its citizens, request you to insert into the warrant for the 2019 Town Meeting the following article to see if the town will vote in favor of the following:

To establish a No Smoking Ordinance stating that it is unlawful to smoke in any public park, cemetery, common, beach, or other public property of the town of Hampton NH. Person(s) in violation of the provisions of the ordinance by-laws will be subject to a fine.

What it means: The same petitioner who put Article 49 on the ballot also put forward Article 50, but was advised that the wording of Article 49 would give more Article more legal standing.  The petitioner tried to revoke or significantly change Article 50 but the RSAs do not allow that after the Article has been accepted.  If you want the smoking ban to become an Ordinance, vote “yes” for Articles 49 and 50.  If you are not in favor vote “no” for Articles 49 and 50.

Those in favor say: No one spoke for this Article at Deliberative Session, aside from the attempt to significantly change it to make it more in line with Article 49.  That attempt was not accepted by Town Moderator due to restrictions of the RSA’s.

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

Fiscal impact: No Tax Impact.

Article 1: Operating Budget of $23,585,440 versus Default Budget of $23,387,188 

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 $23,585,440? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $23,387,188, 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.)

 What it means:The SAU 90 proposed operating budget for 2019 is 2.6% higher than last year’s budget, and the less than 1% higher than the mandated default budget.  Should the operating budget be defeated, the default budget of $23,387,188 would be in effect. The default budget adds .12 per $1000 valuation or $48.96 for the average-value home in Hampton. The proposed operating budget adds another $24.48 such that the total tax impact if the proposed SAU90 operating budget passes is $73.44

To calculate the effect on your property tax (for your specific property):

• Divide the Tax Assessor’s Valuation of your home by 1,000. (Example: for the average assessment of $405,000, the number to use would be 405.) Use your latest tax bill, or go to: http://gis.vgsi.com/hamptonnh/Search.aspxand enter your street address to get your valuation.
• Multiply the result in #1 by .18 to get the tax impact of the proposed Operating Budget. Multiply the result in #1 by .12 to determine the tax impact if the Operating Budget fails.

Those in favor say: The approximately $198,000 rise over the default budget was comprised of salaries, increases for non-union workers, a family interventionist, a custodian, and transportation.

The family interventionist is a counselor focused on supporting youngsters who have suffered significant trauma. The full-time position covering all three buildings is requested because more students have mental trauma impacting their learning process, primarily due to the drug crisis. Regarding the addition of a custodian, Hampton Academy is now 40,000 square feet larger and cleaning of hallways, locker rooms and bathrooms still needs to be done, as well as upkeep of landscaping and outside space. There also needs to be some room in the budget to absorb unfunded mandates which come from the state with some degree of frequency.

Those opposed say:  Those opposed questioned whether adding a full-time custodian and another special education person were needed.  The issue is the affordability of the tax burden for homeowners.

Fiscal Impact: The difference between the proposed operating budget and the default budget is $198,252, which will create an additional tax cost for the average Hampton home valued at $405,000 of $24.48. (Take your property value divided by 1000 and multiply by .06 to get the difference for your tax bill between voting “yes” to the proposed SAU 90 operating budget or voting “no” and operating under the default budget for 2019.

Article 2: Collective Bargaining Agreement with Seacoast Educational Support Professionals (SESPA) $37,246

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 Educational Support Professionals Association covering the three-year period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing levels:

Year                            Estimated Increase

2019-20                     $  37,246

2020-21                     $  25,575

2021-22                     $  23,714

and further raise and appropriate the sum of $37,246 for the 2019-20 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: The SEPSA Union contract runs from July 1^stto June 30^th.  This three-year contract covers the support personnel who help teachers in classrooms, serve as monitors, support individual students including those with special needs.  The negotiated contract represents a 1.75% wage increase for these workers, and also includes a variety of concessions from the Union with regard to medical insurance.

Those in favor say: The three-year agreement helps avoid additional negotiations and the associated costs. The employment category of Hampton Academy paraprofessionals is changed to reflect the addition of 15 minutes to their work day because the middle school has a longer school day than do the elementary schools. The prescription (Rx) plan is changed from a three-tier to a more cost-effective six-tier plan consistent with the rest of the district. Dental insurance is added with 75% of the employee coverage provided by the District. In the second year of the agreement, there will be a new “buy-out” provision for non-election of the health benefit. The paraprofessionals will gain one paid holiday with each year of the agreement.

The agreement maintains the current four-step pay scale. In each year, a new top step will be added at a level that is 1.75% higher than the current top step. Employees will advance each year by one step, but there will be no change to the existing steps in the scale. Each year the bottom step will be eliminated, leaving a four-step scale. At the end of three years, the agreement will have a four-step scale with 1.75% between the steps.

Total cost of the first year of the agreement is $37,246.

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

Fiscal Impact:  The average Hampton home valued at $405,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $4.08 at current staffing levels.

Article 3 – Long Term Maintenance

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 2019-21 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, 2021, whichever is earlier.  (Majority vote required.)

MARSTON SCHOOL
Replace roof over 1975 addition (phased)	$217,000
Replace original classroom sinks and counter tops (phased)	10,000
Replace grease trap in kitchen	15,000
Implement security improvements (phased)	10,000
	$252,000

CENTRE SCHOOL
Replace original classroom sinks and counter tops (phased)	$ 28,000
ADA improvements (district-wide)	5,000
Roof repairs (ongoing)	5,000
Implement security improvements (phased)	10,000
	$  48,000

What it means: This article is a continuation of an annual program to keep the buildings updated and in good condition.

Those in favor say: Regular maintenance and upkeep helps to protect the taxpayer’s investment and to prevent more costly repairs down the line.

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

Fiscal Impact: The average Hampton home valued at $405,000 would bear an increased tax cost of $ 36.72 in 2019.   This decision is for the current year only.