Town of Hampton - Lane Memorial Library

- Board of Selectmen -
The year of 2006 was a very busy one for the Town of Hampton. In March, we welcomed William Lally
to the Board, and Jim Workman returned to the Board. The Selectmen, Town Manager, Department
Heads, and all employees came together to set priorities and implement the third Default budget.
In May, the Hampton community came together to help Taylor River Estates in their Mother's Day flood.
The Selectman came together with Taylor River residents to address deficiencies in our Emergency plans
and the communication with the State. Better communication with State of New Hampshire officials was
established. The Board of Selectmen would like to thank all the private citizens and groups like the Boy
Scouts, who came to help the residents of Taylor River Estates.
The infrastructure project at the Beach continued this year. The Selectman met with many residents to
resolve issues stemming from the project.
The year of 2006 was one of transition in personnel. In late spring, we said good bye to Dawna Duhamel,
our Finance Director. Dawna devoted many hours to serve the community of Hampton. In August, the
Selectmen received the resignation of James Barrington. The Board of Selectman appointed Mark
Gearreald, Town Attorney, as our interim Town Manager. The Board of Selectmen would like to thank
Mark for his numerous hours, patience, and understanding that he exhibits on a daily basis for the Town
of Hampton and its citizens.
In July, the Board of Selectmen started a five month search process for the new Town Manager. The
Board met many times to interview potential candidates. In January, Frederick Welch was unanimously
approved as Manager to lead Hampton into 2007 and 2008.
In November and December, the Board of Selectman with our Interim Town Manager, and newly
appointed Finance Director, Michael Schwotzer, worked numerous hours preparing a budget that
reflected the department needs to operate the Town of Hampton. The Selectman appreciate all the work
Selectman Bill Lally did in presenting the Selectman's budget to the Budget Committee.
I would personally like to thank Rick Griffin, Ben Moore, Jim Workman, and Bill Lally for the numerous
hours they put in their jobs as Selectman. Thank you for taking the calls at home, going to situations to
investigate, and giving up of your personal time to benefit the Town of Hampton. Each one of you should
be proud of the work you do each day.
Now to the voters: the Budget has been through the Department Heads, the Town Manager, the
Selectman, and the Budget Committee. It is now your turn to make the decisions. Changes to the Budget
were made at the Deliberative Session on February 3, 2007, and the new, compromise Operating Budget
figure of $24,764,301 is explained on the sheet that accompanies this Report. This figure represents a
modest increase that will enable the Town to implement the Budget Committee’s recommendations to
restore needed public safety positions. The Budget and Warrant Articles will be voted on March 13, 2007
at Marston School from 7:00am. – 8:00 pm. Absentee ballots can be obtained through the Town Clerk's
office through March 12, 2007. Please remember: this is every resident's time to voice their opinion.
Virginia (Ginny) Bridle Russell, Chairman of Board of Selectmen
9