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Campton selectmen open budget hearing amid questions on legal costs, knotweed and voting machines
Summary
At a Feb. 3 public budget hearing, Campton selectmen answered resident questions about rising legal expenses, invasive Japanese knotweed and the need for new voting machines; town staff said federal solar grant approval would determine a planned installation.
Campton — The Town of Campton Board of Selectmen opened a public budget hearing Feb. 3, 2025, and fielded questions from residents about several budget items, including higher legal costs, invasive species control and replacement voting machines.
Town Administrator Kate O'Connor led a line-by-line review of the proposed budget while Town Clerk and Tax Collector Hannah Joyce explained election technology terminology, describing the town's position that its current machines are aging. "The Town voted to move to an electronic voting system in 2007," Joyce said, and parts and maintenance for the existing machines will not be supported for much longer, prompting the need to consider replacements.
Residents pressed the Board on the higher legal expense line after Ted Baumeister asked whether legal fees had increased. "There has been an increase in the Town's necessity to use the Attorney," Selectman Sharon Davis said; O'Connor added that recent actuals from the past year contributed to the rise.
Public safety budgets were addressed when Police Chief Kevin Foss discussed police details and the cruiser fund as part of his department's budget presentation.
Invasive species drew sustained concern. "It is the Japanese Knotweed plant," Selectman Craig Engel said when asked what the town is confronting; Jessica Halm, chair of the Conservation Commission, and several residents described local mitigation efforts and asked the town to provide more information on prevention and control.
On renewable energy, Joann Moser asked whether a proposed solar grant is state or federal. O'Connor said the grant is currently federal but is proceeding through the New Hampshire Department of Energy and that the town would not proceed with installation without grant funding.
The hearing also included questions about capital reserves and department funding. O'Connor reported a Roads Capital Reserve Fund balance of $259,000 at the end of 2024. Selectman Davis confirmed the Recreation Department does not fully fund itself. When asked whether the proposed DPW Director position would appear as a separate warrant article, Davis said the position would not be a separate article and would be in addition to the Road Agent rather than replacing that role.
Before closing the hearing, resident Robert Bain asked how each board member voted on a prior Article 5; the Board announced the recorded positions (Kelly: nay; Davis: aye; Engel: aye; Donahue: aye). The Board closed the public budget hearing by unanimous vote; later the meeting went into a non-public session and adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
The Board did not make a final determination on the Veterans Credit question raised by a resident during the hearing and said it would research the matter further.
