Shall the Town of Hampton vote to create a Recycling Revolving Fund in accordance with the provisions of RSA 31:95-h,I,(a) and RSA 149-M:4, XIX and XX, into which shall be deposited all funds received as income, fees and charges from the receipt or sale of recyclable materials and recycling, including, but not limited to a) materials that can be used to produce marketable goods, including but not limited to clear and colored glass, aluminum, ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastics, corrugated cardboard, vehicle batteries, tires from vehicles, paper, demolition materials, yard and earth materials, and any other materials that are collected, deposited with, charged for, reprocessed and recycled for a further or new use by the Town of Hampton or by others. Funds derived from such recycled materials shall be deposited into the Recycling Revolving Fund. The money in the fund shall be allowed to accumulate from year to year, and shall not be considered part of the town’s general surplus. The Town Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys in the fund, and shall pay out the same only upon the order of the Board of Selectmen or the Town Manager without further approval of the legislative body (Town Meeting). Such funds may be expended only for the purposes for which the fund was created which is for the receipt, processing of recyclable materials, their collection, separation, storage, loading for shipment, the shipment of such materials, the purchase, replacement and repair of recycling equipment, vehicles, and carts, and the collection, storage, loading, and transportation expense and the cost of recycling personnel, contractors services directly related to those function and, to establish funding for this account to raise and appropriate the sum of $80,000 to be placed in such account with said sum of $80,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The $80,000 is seed money to establish the fund.  Future contributions will come from revenues gained from the sale of recyclable material, and the fund will be used to pay for future expenses and purchases related to recycling.

Those in favor say: This was a suggestion of the Recycling Committee, and is a good idea because we will face large yet currently unknown impacts to how we process recycling material in the future.  This fund will provide a source of revenue for dealing with those changes as they occur.

Those against say:  Those who spoke against this at Deliberative Session objected to the use of the Unassigned Fund Balance, which might otherwise have been used to reduce taxes.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money to be used to set up the account was appropriated in prior tax years.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of participating in the FEMA Advanced Assistance Grant Program that will reimburse the Town 75% of the Town’s expenses in the grant program based on the expenditure of $50,000 in completing the program requirements, with said appropriation to be funded from the Unassigned Fund balance; this funding will enable the Town to establish a process to prioritize, manage and administer requests for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds by Hampton on behalf of those property owners interested in elevating their structures or selling their vulnerable properties to the Town within the FEMA flood hazard areas that are or will be subject to sea level rise utilizing private and Federal funds? (Majority vote required.)

 What it means:  Article #33 will fund the development of a process through which Hampton property owners can apply for FEMA funding to elevate their structures to make them more flood-resilient, or to sell their properties to the town (at fair market value), after which the structures will be torn down and the parcels converted to open space.

These grant applications, according to FEMA regulations, can only be made through the Town. The money would fund a contractor (Rockingham Planning Commission) to provide administrative oversight, to ensure that all paper work submitted by property owners and the town meet regulations and that, should grants be awarded, all required reports are complete and timely through the completion of each project. These grants may enable people to elevate their structures who may not otherwise have the funds to do so. The Town has applied for a grant to cover this development process. Should that grant be awarded, 75% of the $50,000 ($37,500) will be reimbursed to the Town when the development work by RPC is completed, leaving the final cost to the Town at $12,500. The $50,000 in this warrant article will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance, meaning that there will be no additional tax impact.

 Those in favor say: ­The initiating process must be done by the Town, and there is a “daunting” amount of administration that must be done to qualify Hampton residents for these FEMA grants.  There is a possibility for a significant offset (75%) of the cost of the upfront process (as well as the 75% grants for the homeowners).  If the 75% grant for the upfront work is not forthcoming, the project will not be initiated.

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

 Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money will be taken from the Unassigned Fund Balance at the outset, and we will have 75% reimbursed via a grant.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to conduct a Transfer Station Improvements Feasibility Study to balance the changing rubbish and recycling markets as well as current operations. The facility will require modifications to be able to address needs to segregate materials, improve internal operations, and make building modifications and research alternatives for disposal. The study will provide recommendations, facilitate immediate improvements such as the purchasing of storage trailers, dumping containers, earthwork, and provide planning level designs and costs for future appropriation requests. Said sum of $50,000 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. This shall be a non-lapsing appropriation by RSA 32:7, VI and shall not lapse until the purpose is completed or by March 31, 2024, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

 What it means: The dramatic changes in the trash and recycling markets requiremodifications to our physical operation in order to segregate materials, improve internal operations, and make building modifications. There is also a need to research alternatives to our current methods of solid waste disposal. The study will provide recommendations, facilitate immediate improvements, and provide planning level designs and costs for future appropriation requests.

Those in favor say: The world is changing as it relates to the disposal of solid waste.  This has caused massive increases in the costs of handling such waste – not just for Hampton but around the globe.  We need to give DPW what it needs to meet these new challenges.

Those against say: No one spoke in opposition to 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.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 for the purpose of removing trees from the High Street Cemetery in order to protect grave sites, gravestones and abutting properties and roadways, such sum to be used by the Tree Warden to contract for the removal of the trees and for the restoration of said Cemetery caused by such removal, and to authorize the Tree Warden in consultation with the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager and the Cemetery Trustees, to contract the work for said purposes, and to authorize funding said appropriation through the withdrawal of $50,000 from the principal in the Cemetery Burial Trust Fund, which has a principal balance of more than $500,000 generated from the sale of cemetery burial plots? (Majority vote required)

What it means: This Article would allow the Town to withdraw $50,000 from the Cemetery Burial Trust Fund (currently having a principal balance of $500,00 generated from the sale of cemetery burial plots) for the purpose of removing trees from the High Street Cemetery causing damage to graves, gravestones, roadways, and abutting properties.  Funds also would cover the cost of restoration caused by such removal.

Those in favor say: The trees are causing damage to the roads, stones, and graves.  Many are bug infested and are in danger of falling, causing more damage.

Those against say: It is a shame to remove the trees, as they add aesthetic value.

Fiscal impact: There is no tax impact because the money will come from the Cemetery Trust Fund.  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 $40,000 to replace and equip a new vehicle for the Fire Prevention Officer, this vehicle is utilized by Fire Prevention Officer to attend meetings at various sites, conduct on-site inspections and to respond to fires to investigate their origin and cause, the vehicle carries all necessary tools to perform the work of the Fire Prevention Officer as well as his firefighters turn out gear. Said sum of $40,000 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, 2021, whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: The existing vehicle is 12 years old and would be traded in or sold.  The funds will come from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

Those in favor say: The Fire Prevention Officer carries the firefighter’s turn out gear in the back of his truck.  The contaminated equipment is currently not separated from the driver, and that will be remedied with the new truck.

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.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000 for the purpose of replacing the Town Office, Second Floor, West Side Heating System with a Heat Pump Mini-Split System to include all labor, materials, and utility connections, with said appropriation to be funded from the Unassigned Fund balance. 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, 2021, whichever occurs sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means:  This Article would approve the replacement of the current heating system on the second floor west wing of the Town Office with at Heat-Pump system.  Cost of $32,000 includes all labor, material and utility connections, and would be paid for by the Unassigned Fund balance.

Those in favor say:  The current system is inefficient and does not properly balance the heat in the area. The proposed heat-pump system would save heating costs in the long term.

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

Tax impact:  There is no tax impact since the funds would be drawn from the Unassigned Fund balance.

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $27,500 to be added to the Firefighters Turn Out Gear/Personal Protective Equipment Capital Reserve Fund created under Article 17 of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting in accordance with the provisions of RSA 35. Said sum of $27,500 to come from the Unassigned Fund Balance. (Majority vote required)

What it means: In 2019, voters approved a $200,000 funding of a new Capital Reserve Fund for the replacement of Firefighter’s Protective Gear.  This fund needs to be added to each year so that as gear expires and funds are depleted, additional funds will be available for future needs.  It is a way to prevent taxpayers from being presented with a large bill all in one year.  This Article would transfer the funds from the Unassigned Fund Balance to the Capital Reserve Fund.

 Those in favor say: This is a standard, annual procedure to keep our firefighters safe.

Those against say: No one spoke against this article 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 to be transferred to the previously-established Reserve Fund.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $24,500 to purchase a new mid-size pickup truck equipped with a two-way radio for the Building Department with a replaced unit, a 2012 pickup truck, to be traded-in or sold, if deemed to be prudent by the Building Inspector, the Town Manager, and the Board of Selectmen. Said sum of $24,500 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 purchase is completed or by March 31, 2021 whichever is sooner? (Majority vote required)

What it means: This would be a purchase (as opposed to a lease) of a mid-size pick-up truck for purposes of the Building Department.  It would replace an existing Ford F-150 truck, and would be paid for through the Unassigned Fund Balance.

Those in favor say: The existing truck is showing signs of age.

Those against say: No one spoke against this article 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 fund for the specified purpose.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise ad appropriate the sum of $20,000 for the purpose of conducting two (2) household hazardous waste collection days during calendar year 2020; and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to permit the Towns of New Castle and Hampton Falls to participate in said collection days at their own expense; and to apply for, accept and expend for such purpose any funds from the State of New Hampshire, the Federal Government, and any private source as may be made available? (Majority vote required.)

 What it means: This is the opportunity for homeowners to responsibly dispose of corrosive or flammable items that would be a danger if they were to end up in the regular trash. 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. Trash disposal of products containing mercury is banned, including thermometers, thermostats, electrical switches and relays, fluorescent light bulbs, button cell batteries.

Those in favor say:There will be two Hazardous Waste Collection Days this year, as there were last year.  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 offset the costs, and this allows the Town to offer the service at a reasonable cost for taxpayers.

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

Fiscal impact: The $20,000 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $2.00. This decision affects the current year only. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .005 to get your cost.

Shall the Town of Hampton vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000 to be placed in the Hampton Conservation Commission Fund; this fund to be 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? (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 purchase, 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 manage excess storm water, maintain clean water, and preserve wildlife habitat.  Open spaces previously protected by these funds have made possible the Victory Garden, the Town Forest, hiking trails, skating on Ice Pond, etc.  These types of opportunities are very important to the quality of life in Hampton. The fund permits timely action when opportunities present themselves.

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

Fiscal impact: The $20,000 cost in 2020 will create an additional tax cost for a Hampton home valued at $400,000 of $2.00. This decision affects the current year only. Take your property value divided by 1000 times .005 to get your cost.