Hampton vs. Concord, NH

Dear editor,

Four years ago the Hampton BOS were fighting for Hampton taxpayers. Unfortunately, the judge made recommendations for the town of Hampton; the recommendations stated the town should file a right-to-know request with various state departments and then re-file the suit. However, after getting little to no response from our right-to-know requests to state departments, the board never re-filed the suit.

Certain "town leaders" are more concerned with keeping their relationships intact with their state friends. I would argue constituent taxpayers and their wallets should weigh above any relationship. Elected officials are supposed to work for the taxpayer not worry about their social status with Concord officials.

In order for the Hampton Beach state park renovations to happen as discussed by Commissioner Rage in the October 19, 2017 "Hampton selectman defends court action against the state," Seacoastonline article; the town of Hampton had to first dish out taxpayer dough to support Hampton sewer infrastructure improvements so that Concord had something reliable to connect their new infrastructure.

No matter what way you look at it in my view, Hampton taxpayer dollars support the operations of HB state park, which is owned by Concord, NOT Hampton.

Another gripe; the state over the past several years has failed at providing a sufficient amount of state troopers to patrol its own park. This used to NEVER be the case, what happened?

They will tell you it is because of budget and staff shortages. However, during the spring of 2020 we had a plethora of NH troopers sent to patrol the closed state parking lots, then during the HB 2020 COVID summer of mayhem, we received little to nothing for NH troopers support. They were summoned only when intense riots were already occurring.

Did anyone happen to check out how many state troopers were at the Oct. 13, 2021 Executive Council meeting? If not, you should really check it out, it was a joke. Concord is incompetent.

As you can see, some of us have no problem standing alone in a room full of idiots.

Regina Barnes

Hampton, NH