Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $303,000 for the purchase of the following vehicles and equipment for the Department of Public Works, two (2) 3/4 ton trucks with plows; one (1) utility hot box; and one (1) 926M Caterpillar Loader, with any replaced vehicles to be traded in, if deemed to be prudent by the Public Works Director, Town Manager and Board of Selectmen. Said sum of $303,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until these purchases are completed or by March 31, 2022, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: DPW has submitted a need for (2) 3 ton trucks with plows; (1) utility hot box, (1) 926 Caterpillar Loader.  These are workhorse vehicles/accessories that will be paid for using the Unassigned Fund Balance.

Those in favor say: The vehicles being replaced are in poor condition, and there are too many expensive repairs to make refurbishing the trucks a viable option. This is a critical long-term purchase.

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

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the Unassigned Fund Balance for the specified purpose.

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 appropriated and added to the Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund. This fund will be used for large projects to repair our roads in the future.  The December 2019 balance is $2,229,968, but that balance includes funds for a Warrant Article approved in 2018 for $1,500,000 for work on Lafayette Road.  That money will come out of the fund when the bills are ready to be paid, but is currently part of the balance.  Likewise, Article 18 on this Year’s Warrant, if approved will use $435,000 of that fund.  This is why it is important to keep up the annual practice of contributing smaller amounts, so that when the large expenditures come up, the taxpayers are not hit with large expenditures all at one time.

Those in favor say: This fund is intended for large projects and significant issues. There is a five- member team that 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 $300,000 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost of $32.00 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000. This decision affects the current year only.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $200,000 to design flood controls for the protection of the west side streets off of Ashworth Avenue, Brown Avenue, the Island Path and Glade Path areas north to Winnacunnet Road, including NH Route 1A and the areas surrounding Meadow Pond, including High Street, King’s Highway, Gentian, Greene and Meadow Pond Roads, the areas surrounding the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary and all contributing water ways. Such flood control designs are those recommended by the ongoing Flood Studies being conducted by the Town and the Town’s consultants. Funds may be utilized for the design and permitting of final engineering plans and construction plans for bidding purposes. Funds may also be utilized for necessary work projects that are needed to facilitate the construction of flood and drainage facilities prior to the issuance of construction contracts. Said sum of $200,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This will be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the work is completed or by March 31, 2024, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: The requested $200,000 will be used to create modeling exercises to produce data regarding flooding, water flows, sea level rise and the like in the Route 1A/Hampton Estuary area and surrounding streets. The objective is to be better able to seek funding for modeling solutions and preliminary designs, which can serve as the basis for implementation and construction. A related report is expected from consultants under a $185,000 award to the Town. The current focus is to determine which recommendations can be put through to design and to identify potential resources such as the Army Corps of Engineers. The town can then look for matching grants to implement the recommendations. This work would demonstrate the Town’s commitment, with a plan that will be needed to attract financial backing.

Those in favor say: This process creates the “building blocks” for implementing solutions. It is in the best interest of the Town’s future real estate revenue stream to address this issue and to do it properly. Flooding happens today with much greater frequency than in the past. One possible solution may be “managed retreat” i.e. bringing properties back to estuary form because the frequency of flooding is so much greater. However, if there is a combination of solutions that can alleviate the problem, people can stay where they are. Structures can be waterproofed, raised, allow water to pass under and flow back. The priority is to tackle the most vulnerable spots; perhaps construction grants could come from federal sources.  A speaker made note of the fact that the real estate tax revenue of the town is at risk if homes become untenable in sections of the town.

Those against say: Some skepticism has been expressed about what can be effectively done when water will keep coming over the seawall.  Another speaker was concerned about the lack of specificity in the Warrant Article for the work that will be funded if the Article is successful.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund for the specified purpose.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $195,000 for the reconstruction of the High Street and Mill Road intersection to include the replacement of sidewalk approaches in accordance with ADA sidewalk construction and the installation of underground piping for future pedestrian signal improvements as required. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purpose is completed or by March 31, 2025, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required.)

NOTE – The $195,000 does not include the required work on the traffic control and lighting system that is in need of replacement. The $195,000 does include the push button controls for the pedestrian crossing system.

What it means: The project would include grade changes, ADA sidewalk construction and installation of underground piping for future pedestrian signal improvements.  Although this funding would make the intersection ready for lighting control upgrades, it does not include the cost of those controls.

Those in favor say: The intersection of High Street and Mill Road is used for school children coming and going to both Marston School and Hampton Academy.  The changes would help to make it safer for them to come and go to school.

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

Fiscal impact:  If Article 25 is approved, it will create an additional one-time tax cost of $20.80 for a Hampton home valued at $400,000. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .052 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $183,039 for the cost of Hampton’s contribution to twenty-one (21) human service agencies in the Seacoast in the amounts corresponding to the agencies’ requests in the right hand column as follows:

These twenty-one (21) human service agencies shall each be required to give a written report at the end of the calendar or fiscal year 2020 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 need to handle if the agencies were not, so these donations avoid other, possibly higher taxpayer expenses.

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 $183,039 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $19.60. This decision affects the current year only. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .049 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $126,700 for the following purposes of the Parks and Recreation Department: (a) Purchase playground equipment to replace old broken equipment for the Library Playground $35,000; (b) Skateboard Park renovations and concrete work, $20,000; (c) Landscape, tree and invasive growth removal at Lew Brown Park, Skateboard Park, Eaton Park and Tuck Park, $20,500; (d) Laser Grading at Eaton Park to make safer playing conditions, $20,000; (e) Tennis Courts and inline rink surface crack repairs, $9,500; (f) Recreation equipment maintenance, $4,000; (g) Recreation playground maintenance, $1,000; (h) General building repairs, $3,000; (i) Skateboard park maintenance $2,500; (j) Shed repairs, roof cleaning and new doors for the Cave Building, $6,700; (k) Replace two (2) garage overhead doors $4,500, all as determined by the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager, and the Director of Parks and Recreation and to authorize the withdrawal of $126,700 from the Hampton Recreation Infrastructure Special Revenue Fund established for these purposes 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 projects will contribute to a safer play environment for the children of our town, and the costs have been covered by revenue generated from Town Parking lots.

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

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money will be taken from a separate fund put aside for this purpose.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to enter into a 5-year lease purchase agreement for one (1) Mack Cab Over Refuse and Recycling Truck with a Labrie Automated two sided Loader Body unit in the amount of $350,395, including interest, the yearly payment being $75,500, and one (1) Mack 16-yard rear loading refuse and recycling truck in the amount of $237,090, including interest, the yearly payment being $51,000, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $126,500 to fund said lease-purchase agreement in year one, with said lease purchase agreement to contain a non-appropriation clause? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: The recycling truck being requested is similar to 2 trucks the DPW already has. Three trucks had been traded in, and DPW is asking to appropriate the third with a 20-year life expectancy. The current front loader would not pass inspection. The NH Department of Revenue Administration requires that the total value of the vehicles, as well as the cost of the first year lease must be in the article.  However, the lease can be terminated if circumstances change.  Leasing allows the Town to cycle out older vehicles rather than wait until they require expensive repairs (as in the case of ownership). The lead time for a new truck is 18 months, so the new vehicle would not be available until 2022.

Those in favor say: DPW gets behind when there are delays for lack of vehicles. The townspeople pay good taxes and want reliable trash pick-up. Leasing is a good way to approach this need, because the town can quit the lease if there are changes in the trash/recycling industry that change our approach.

Those against say: Maybe the town should outsource the trash obligation, thus reducing the need for new trucks.  (Mr. Jacobs said that was done in the past but was stopped because drivers from the private contractor were maxed out of overtime and streets were regularly missed.)

Fiscal impact: If Article 28 is approved, it will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $13.60 for each of the next five years (unless the lease is terminated sooner). Take your property value divided by 1000 times .034 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton raise and appropriate the sum of $116,300 for the purpose of improving the radio and Town emergency communications systems for the Police, Fire, Public Works, Building, Emergency Management and other Departments of the Town, said appropriation to be offset by funds in the amount of $116,300 to be received in the fall of 2020 from the State of New Hampshire under Chapter 346 of the Acts of 2019 (HB4) as unrestricted municipal aid? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The Communications Systems for our various Town Departments will be upgraded to improve inter-communication throughout the town.

Those in favor say: This is akin to the upgrades that homeowners make every several years on their phones.  Over time, the software and sometimes the hardware becomes outdated and must be addressed to maintain effectiveness.  The entire cost will be offset by funds from the state of New Hampshire.

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

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the funds will be reimbursed from the State of New Hampshire.

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 said sum of $90,000 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 abandoned property where appropriate, and the monies so received are put into a fund. This Article seeks approval to use the funds to cover the cost of managing the forfeiture process and other activities approved via the RSA’s.

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

Those against say: Those opposed take issue with taking the property of others (as opposed to the annual procedure of withdrawing money from the fund); or have issues with how the funds are spent.  Both of these issues are defined at the state-level and would not be affected one way or the other by the decision on this Article.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money will be taken from a separate fund put aside for this purpose.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $85,000 for the purpose of interior building improvements at the DPW main offices. Improvements include the installation of an air filtration system within the main office to filter fumes and other airborne particles from entering the existing office space. It also includes the renovation of the existing kitchen/bathroom/meeting area to provide separation of the existing spaces to be able to facilitate meetings at the DPW office, to provide a location to have breaks and meals that doesn’t double as a meeting space and bathroom entrance, and to update the bathroom for unisex use. Said sum of $85,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purpose is completed or by March 31, 2023, whichever is sooner. (Majority vote required)

What it means: DPW Main Offices are located in a small, old building in the same vicinity as the public works operations.  Fumes and other airborne particles infiltrate the working space. The referenced upgrades are needed to make the space safer and more hygienic for personnel who work in that building.  The funds will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

Those in favor say: We owe it to our Town employees to provide appropriate work environment.

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

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money was appropriated in prior tax years.  This Article is allowing the withdrawal of the money from the fund for the specified purpose.