Extension Ends Manager Contract Controversy

As expected, a in Hampton's elected leadership has led to resolution of the town manager contract stalemate, as selectmen voted Monday night to extend Fred Welch's current deal by three years.

Welch said he was "delighted" with the deal, which will carry him through June 30, 2015, and passed 3-1-1. It's been seven months since the start of the contract , although Welch said he's long since "stopped counting" and hasn't dwelled on the lack of contract because he said it had nothing to do with his main duty as manager — serving the people of Hampton.

"I'm very, very pleased the people of the community stood behind me during this tough period of time," said Welch, who will turn 70 this year and reach his 50th year in municipal government. "By and large the last five years [in Hampton] have been very exciting and rewarding. I enjoy what I do because [I] get to help people. There's a lot of satisfaction in that."

Newly-elected selectmen Ben Moore and Phil Bean — both of whom mentioned Welch's contract in their campaigns — voted in favor of the extension, as did Selectman Rick Griffin, who was elected as the board's new chairman Monday.

Selectman Mike Pierce voted against the extension, while former Chairman Dick Nichols, who was elected the new vice chairman Monday, abstained from the vote.

Nichols didn't explain the reasoning behind that abstention, although he also helped create by abstaining in September. He said Monday night that he abstained last year because he "didn't feel right to disclose confidential information," which he said would've happened had he voted.

Moore made the motion to extend Welch's contract, stating that Hampton is "well-suited" with him, especially with about to begin. Resident Bill Bowley agreed, stating during public comment Monday that it would be foolish to begin those projects without Welch.

"We have come out of turmoil the last year and things now are starting to look pretty good," said Bowley. "God forbid we pull the captain off the ship and let it go. God forbid. This guy’s got all the knowledge."

Pierce has been during the manager contract discussions, and he maintained his opposition Monday. He said he still strongly disagreed with extending Welch, stating he found it "disturbing" that Moore and Bean would "come in here thinking [they] know all the facts" and try to push through a contract during the first full meeting since the March 13 elections.

"This is not going to go easy for me," said Pierce before the vote on the contract, stating you need "all the facts" before making business decisions. "There's a lot more to this story than you know, Mr. Moore and Mr. Bean. I think you owe it to the people of Hampton to know the details."

Both Moore and Bean said they thoroughly reviewed all performance reviews and documentation of Welch's performance after the elections. Bean said his "comprehensive" review showed him that he "enthusiastically" supports a new contract, while Moore said there was nothing in the documents that should stop the selectmen from renewing Welch.

"I’m not going to discuss what was contained in the reviews," said Moore. "There were some comments in the paper in 2011, so I think what I'd like to say to put the townspeople — if anyone is concerned — at ease is that there was nothing mentioned in any of those documents that concerned any unethical behavior or illegal activity."

Griffin agreed, stating after Monday's meeting that the "questions [Pierce] is stuck on happened before [Pierce] was a selectman" and aren't "relevant at all" or "even really that important."

Pierce tried to amend Moore's motion Monday to discuss the issues in a nonpublic session before voting on the contract, although that motion was defeated 3-2; Griffin, Moore and Bean voted against it.

Nichols voted in favor of the nonpublic session because he wanted to avoid the potential issue of selectmen uttering "cryptic comments" and "speculation" about Welch in a public domain. He said he didn't expect the nonpublic session to "affect the outcome" of the vote, however.

Welch said his main focus will now be to continue just as he's always done, as well as continue to proceed ahead with the various Town Meeting-approved projects.

Welch has hinted to Patch that he might retire in three or four years, which could make this contract — the terms of which are identical to his current deal — his final deal.

He said Monday after the meeting, though, that he hasn't decided either way and said he likely would look for a part-time job in municipal government if he isn't renewed in 2015.