Politics & Government

Story of the Week: The Key to Improving Hampton Beach?

A shakeup in the state's structure could lead to important changes, although it won't happen for at least a month.

Hampton Beach and the surrounding state beaches will soon have a dedicated state-employed supervisor, although officials say that "soon" won't come until late August or early September at the earliest.

Officials are currently finalizing an updated job description for a position they're creating by splitting the current Seacoast and South region parks supervisor position into two different jobs, according to Amy Bassett, the public information officer for the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation.

Previously, one individual, based out of an office in Concord, oversaw a vast area that extended from the Seacoast out west to Keene. Bassett said there's a need for more undivided oversight for one of the state's largest tourism-drivers, which is why the decision was made recently to change a job that has existed for decades. 

"Now that we're really trying to bring more year-round activity to beach area, or at least extend the season, it just felt like... somebody needed to be dedicated to the Seacoast region," said Bassett. "With the new facility, there is a responsibility to be there more frequently than splitting the time [between the Seacoast and western New Hampshire]."

Bassett said the state is hoping to post the position internally within the state system, and if there are no viable candidates the job would then be opened to external candidates. Bassett said the position wouldn't "realistically" be filled for at least a month if an outside candidate is chosen, although she said the process could be quicker if an internal choice is made.

For the past 2 1/2 years, Phil Gegas has overseen the Seacoast and South state parks. Before that it was Brian Warburton, a Hampton resident and former selectman who has since been vocal about the need for the supervisor to actually live in the Seacoast area.

Hampton selectmen have voiced displeasure in recent public meetings that the position hasn't yet been filled. Warburton said in an interview with Patch that he's frustrated the job opening hasn't even been posted yet, stating that the job description should already exist because the itself job already exists. 

"They know they're going to make $1.5 million in revenue from the meters, so they figure, 'Why rush to get people in charge?'" said Warburton.

Dick Nichols, the chairman of the Hampton Board of Selectmen, has expressed an interest in the position and has said he will apply. Warburton said he still would like to see a Seacoast-area resident appointed to the position, or a supervisor that at least lives in or would move to the area.

The state isn't limiting the position in that way. Bassett said the focus will be on finding the best candidate, one who can go above and beyond all of the duties required for the job.

"I think it all depends on the person, not necessarily where they're from," she said.

Warburton said he doesn't believe splitting his former position in two will help dedicate more oversight to Hampton Beach and the surrounding area, though, as he said technological advances have made it easier to accomplish tasks without actually being at each location. 

The issue, he said, has to do with the mindset of the individual in the position to do what needs to be done, as well as the mindset of the state to allow that person to fully manage the parks the right way. That's what will ultimately determine the success of the improvements the state is trying to make, according to Warburton.

"It's just mindboggling," said Warburton. "The problem is you've got to let the person manage it the way it is. My fear is they'll hire another paper-pusher, that they won't hire a maverick or someone who will stand up."


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