The Mystery of the Cable TV Fund

What Happened to the Town of Hampton’s Cable TV Funds?

In the summer of 2012 this fund had $123,534 in it.  A box van was approved by the Selectman for $30,000 in the fall, but that transaction has not yet been executed.   At a January review of year end finances it was reported that the Box van would be purchased in January and that the fund balance would be drawn down to $44,000. the November monthly financial report, the fund had been reduced to $78,771. What happened to the $44,763?? This fund will be under $50,000 when the box van gets delivered in 2013!

Prior to the activity during the latter part of 2012, all substantial expenditures came before the Board of Selectmen for review and approval. The Rational Taxpayers of Hampton could not recall any denials of these requests.  Now we find that a number of purchase orders were initiated by the new Channel 22 Chair-person and signed off by the Town manager without the Cable Committee having a single meeting and without the knowledge or approval by the Selectmen in a public meeting.  The Selectman’s representative to the Cable Committee was completely unaware that the spending was taking place.

A discussion with the Cable Committee Chairman took place at the December 27^th Selectmen’s meeting.  After some obvious diversionary tactics by Fred Welch, Hampton’s Town Manager, which included giving the Cable Committee Chair Department head status, comparing the Cable Committee to the Assessing and Legal Departments and hiding behind the $15,000 purchasing policy limit, it was pointed out by Selectman Nichols that the Cable Committee is not a department with a budget vetted by the Selectmen, Budget Committee and voters, but an appointed committee reporting directly to the Selectmen.  Mr. Welch knew what the past practice had been as he has been the Town Manager since 2007!  In fact, Article 21 of the 2000 Town Meeting authorizing the Cable TV fund specifically stated that “This fund will be under the jurisdiction of the Board of Selectmen.”

Later on in the same Selectmen’s meeting, when Warrant Article #16 involving the Cable TV revolving fund was reviewed, it appeared that he tried to slip one by with the removal of language contained in prior years Cable TV warrant articles that allowed the Selectmen to approve using a portion of the Cable TV funds for educational purposes.  The Town Manager clearly displayed his agenda when he stated there is “not enough money for SAU 90 as we are spending it all on municipal government business!”  Additionally, more diversionary tactics were also used by Mr. Welch when he indicated that the Comcast contract will need to be renegotiated for SAU 90 to share, which as we now know turned out not to be the case!                                                                                                   

 In summary, the Rational Taxpayers of Hampton feel in light of the unauthorized purchase of a $115,000 trash truck and the more recent fiasco using illegal encumbrances to pump up year end spending, that this issue is just another example where Mr. Welch demonstrates superb survival skills but poor management skills and does so with the complete support of Chairman Griffin.   

For Rational Taxpayers of Hampton

Norman Silberdick