Approximately 40 people, including officials from the Boards of Finance, Selectmen and Education, attended the Annual Town Meeting on the evening of June 16 to discuss fiscal matters and to nominate a member to the Regional District #11 Board of Education. In a unanimous vote, Kathy Freed was re-elected to serve as one of Hampton’s representatives on the tri-town school board for a three-year term.

Voters also authorized the Selectmen to accept State funds for the improvement, maintenance, and repair of roads, and approved the 5-Year Plan. First Selectman Allan Cahill, who moderated the meeting, explained that the Plan changes with priorities, noting that this winter’s freeze-thaw cycles adversely affected roads. He also apprised residents of the State’s plan to replace the bridge over Fuller Brook on Route 97 next year, which will close the highway and substantially increase traffic on alternate roads in town.

Cahill also presented the Town Government Budget, explaining increases for Town counsel, energy, improvements to trails, the ambulance service, and cost-of-living adjustments for all town employees. A number of residents challenged the need for a new item – Selectman’s Communications – as an additional cost to taxpayers as we already have a Town website and a Town newspaper. Questions regarding revenue included adjusting rental charges to reflect utility costs and the increase in marriage licenses. Cahill explained that the new contract for leasing the lower level of Town Hall for use as a school will be negotiated in August, and Town Clerk Shannon Haddad explained that marriage licenses have increased considerably, from an average of 15 per year to approximately six a week, due to the wedding venue, Stonehurst at Hampton Valley. Board of Education Chairman Rose Bisson’s presentation of the elementary school budget explained that the slight overall increase was due to the price of fuel oil and a 15% hike in health insurance. If the budgets are approved, the total amount of $5,320,588, which includes the municipal and elementary school proposals, as well as the middle/high school spending plan which was approved at a May 3 referendum, will result in a mill rate of 22.49, 1.28 less than the current rate of 23.77.

Besides the budgets, two other items were slated for referendum decisions. Approval of up to $100,000 for the purchase of a multi-duty truck to replace the 25-year-old vehicle in use, and the transfer of $250,000 from the unassigned General Fund to the Hampton Fire Company’s Length of Service Award, a program which has experienced insufficient funding since its inception in 2007, resulting in a funded ratio of 11.9% of the accrued liability of $500,000. There remained concerns among audience members regarding the reason for the deficit, and assurances that it won’t recur. Refuting Cahill’s stated claims that “all invoices were paid”, Board of Finance Chairman Kathy Donahue informed residents that once the finance board was apprised of the situation, a committee was formed and an investigation conducted with findings and recommendations. She also reported her confidence in the new program administrator, and the procedures established to avoid further deficits. The requested funds, along with $60,000 in assets, and an annual line item of $50,000 these last two years, will bring the program’s funding to 75% of the liability, the recommended rate.

The meeting concluded with some discussion on the use of American Rescue Plan funds. Mr. Cahill announced that some of the funding has been designated for replacement of the sign board on the Town Hall campus and for technology improvements for town meetings. To a question on the use of the funds for non-profits, Cahill stated that the “town’s needs come first.” Ms. Donahue expressed her hope that Hampton holds a public forum to seek public input on the use of the funds as surrounding towns have done.