Opinion/Letter: Hampton Beach commissioner responds to false attack

Portsmouth Herald

To the Editor:

Dear Hampton residents,

On Nov. 12, 2020, at the Hampton Municipal Budget Committee meeting the chairman, Brian Warburton, accused me of an illegal act and then being caught.

The accused act in question was that I, as one member, on my own without my fellow commissioner’s knowledge, reached out to the town of Hampton Recreation Department to co-sponsor with the Chamber of Commerce, Experience Hampton and the Village District. We were to cosponsor a high-end fire show, free to the community at the end of the summer season. These accusations were false. My fellow commissioners were aware and approved of my reaching out to the Recreation Department to co-sponsor the event. Once approved by the town manager, these funds were sent to our treasurer and deposited into our account.

Prior to this meeting the chairman, Mr. Warburton, had reached out to the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and was informed that this was not illegal. With this knowledge he still chose to accuse me while offering nothing to support this allegation such as an opinion of the NH attorney general, any New Hampshire state statute, any common law case, or any opinion from town counsel about the fact the town manager had approved it. This accusation has caused my reputation to be questioned by some members of the community, causing much pain to me.

This event was meant to repay the residents of Hampton. The chairman had contacted the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NMA) who advised him it was not against the law, and he misrepresented to the NMA that the co-sponsorship money came from tax revenue. The money came out of a fund composed of money paid to participate in programs offered by the recreation department. Due to the fact that the money does not come from tax funds, the show and cost is not reported to the Budget Committee to vote on.

The chairman also said that it is wrong for government agencies to cosponsor events. This is unbelievable having in mind in the 2020 town annual report the Rec Department promotes the fact that it cosponsored an event with the town of Stratham which was a municipality. The chairman also failed to state that the money from the Recreation Department has to be authorized by its director and get approved by the town manager at a minimum. The Village District has phases we go through to authorize a new show. First, the three commissioners vote on it. Then, the idea is then presented during our monthly meeting. Finally, then placed in our budget to be voted on by the residents. Who would think that an attempt to spread a little joy would be so attacked?

Municipal budget committees are created by statute. The statue defines its function to prepare a budget for town residents to approve or disapprove at the annual town meeting. The function of a municipal budget committee is not to make policy decisions. Policy decisions rest with department heads, town managers and the Board of Selectmen.

The Village District is geographically located between Winnacunnet road and to the bridge. This governmental body was created over a hundred years ago to bring fire protection, and water services to the beach. Over the past decade since the state redeveloped the ocean side of the beach it has caused an economic development of over $300,000,000 (three-hundred million dollars). The tax revenue from the beach represents 30-33% of the tax revenue of the town.

Other meaningful economic contributions to the town include the Real Estate Investment Trust Fund, which had been primarily funded from the sale at the beach of the leased land. The real estate investment trust fund was created after the land that was leased was sold. This fund is tapped into every year by the town of Hampton, and its current value is about $20,000,00 (twenty million dollars). This fund contributes over $500,000 (five hundred thousand dollars) to be applied to reduce the tax rate every year.

In addition, the hotels and restaurants contribute to the meals and rooms tax for the state of New Hampshire. Some of this money is returned back to the town of Hampton by the state.

The parking revenue to the town from the lots at the beach is approximately $600,000 (six hundred thousand dollars).

Another indirect source of tax savings is that only about 10% of the student population goes to school in Hampton, while this area contributes one-third of the school budget.

The Village District provides seasonal entertainment including,

Over a hundred nightly shows at the Seashell Stage
The international sand sculpture competition
Over seventeen firework shows
The Miss Hampton Beach competition
The weekly movies at the beach on most Mondays
A major sponsor of Children’s Week
Country Music Week
The Boston Circus guild who puts on the fire shows and the circus
The Winnacunnet High School Jazz Band and Chamber Singers
Hampton Beach Beautification Committee

In addition to all of the free seasonal entertainment put on by the Village District during the course of the year we present a multitude of speakers covering a wide range of topics pertaining to our town.

Our meetings are monthly, open to the public and well attended. On channel 22’s website, you can view our past meetings. We will continue to present the Fire Show, and welcome all of the residents of the community to watch it.

Sincerely,

Robert Ladd

Hampton Beach Village District Commissioner