Vote No on North Hampton Article 7

Vote no on North Hampton Article 7

I would encourage the voters of North Hampton to vote in opposition to the proposed municipal complex on the March 11th ballot.  Many of us in town oppose the complex for various reasons.  Here are just a few.

Cost:   This facility will cost over 5.9 million dollars.  The increase in taxes felt by the citizens of North Hampton will not be small.  Our tax rate will be going up in town regardless of the complex.  The question is how much?  The complex will add .51 cents per thousand onto the tax rate.  With passage of this complex it is not inconceivable that the total tax rate for North Hampton will increase by almost $2.00 per thousand over the next few years.    

Need:  Why does a town our size need such a large municipal complex?  The proposed plan increases the size of the complex by 40%.  The “Safety Complex” alone will be a staggering 17,000 square feet for a Fire Department that has 3 employees on duty during most of the day.  The police, while on duty, are typically out patrolling the town.  17,000 square feet is disproportionately large for a population of 4,300 people.

Location:  The location of the Safety Complex is simply unacceptable.  The Select Board has chosen to place the 17,000 square foot facility in a residential neighborhood.  The argument that we already live with the affects of the fire and police in our neighborhood is specious at best.  The current buildings are set back and are down in the lowest part of the area.  There are only two homes, one behind and one across that are directly impacted by activity.  The new and much larger facility will be directly abutted by 7 homes and will be connected to a residential street.  It will be on the highest section of Atlantic Ave, dwarfing the smaller residential homes surrounding it.

Fairness:  The Select Board of North Hampton has pulled no punches in pushing through this project.  They have used $60,000 of town money to sell this plan.  They have had a full time Town Administrator, a cable channel, mailings and the town website to convey their message.  The Select Board has pushed this process forward, controlling the debate from the beginning.  From placement of the buildings to who would be allowed to serve on the various committees established to plan the project.  Only those that agree with them have been allowed to participate in the process. 

In full disclosure I live directly across from the proposed complex.  My family and I have lived here for over 10 years and we take pride in our home and our neighborhood.  We like being part of the community and the bustle that the town complex produces.  As good neighbors to the town we ask that our fellow citizens vote no on Article 7.  We, as a town, can do better.

Wally Kilgore

North Hampton, NH