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August 12, 2024
Selectmen public comment regarding the ordered resignation of the town clerk. https://www.lapennaliberta.com/post/nh-department-of-justice-7-30-24-town-of-hampton-alleged-election-official-misconduct-letter.
The resignation ordered by the DOJ stemmed from state election law violation complaints filed with the Department on May 3, 2024 by former Selectman Regina Barnes.
It seems odd how nonchalant the Selectmen, specifically the Chairwoman, seems to be about all this. Making it seem like the Town Clerk simply forgot to cross a T. These infractions are much more serious and should be taken as such by the board.
The Town Clerk was not the only culpable party regarding election and recount protocols in the Town.
Several defendants are named in the ongoing Rockingham Superior Court case, Regina M. Barnes v. Town of Hampton.
The entire Board of Selectmen failed to uphold their oath of office.
This board attended and participated in the March 27, 2024, recount. This board failed to ensure all ballot boxes were brought down to the recount. Also, this board, failed to ensure that ALL ballot boxes were opened at the recount for public examination. The board failed to act when the current moderator was publicly served with a Public Record Notice at the recount. This notice summarized what was witnessed and evidenced the day before the recount, March 26, 2024, OPEN BALLOT BOXES. A violation of NH RSA 669:32.
This board did not seem to bat an eye when the town incurred an additional $6,700 in election expense for the march ballot reprints for errors found on both the town and SAU 90 school ballots, but yet during an April 2024 public meeting, discussed the state statute governing town ballot question recounts and inquired of the town manager, the associated, perhaps wasted costs of the petitioned recount.
The board concurred at this meeting to inquire with the legislators about possibly amending the statute, to, in fact, make it more difficult for a town citizen to ask for a recount on a town ballot question.
The former Moderator failed to ensure that ALL BALLOT BOXES were secured with the proper tapes and chain of custody seals. A violation of NH RSA 659:95.
The former Moderator failed to uphold his oath of office.
The current Moderator failed to ensure that all boxes were brought down to the recount and did not ensure that all ballot boxes were opened at the recount. He failed to act when served with a Public Record of what was witnessed and evidenced the day before the recount, March 26, 2024, OPEN BALLOT BOXES. A violation of NH RSA 669:32.
The current Moderator failed to ensure that ALL BALLOT BOXES were secured with the proper tapes and chain of custody seals. Not securing ballot boxes for their chain of custody is a violation of NH RSA 659:95.
The current Moderator would NOT allow recording in the room of the recount. An Infringement of First Amendment Rights as defined in the United States Constitution. Injured party: former selectman Regina Barnes
The current Moderator failed to uphold his oath of office.
The proper move for this Board to make would be to offer Beth Frongillo her job back as Deputy Town Clerk. Ms. Frongillo was experienced and thorough. During my tenure as selectman, she proved to be a true asset to have in local government.
Who else would be considered by this board to fill the vacant Deputy Clerk position?
In conclusion, this morning, a formal Right-to-Know request was sent electronically to the Board of Selectmen and town clerk's office for the following.
1. All town of Hampton signed oaths of office from 2016 through the current 2024 year, and
2. The meeting minutes from the 2024 town of Hampton Annual town meeting.
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