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Bar News - February 18, 2005 Court Renovations Move Forward Slowly Several courts in the state have urgent needs to make them more functional, according to New Hampshire District Court Administrative Justice Edwin W. Kelly. The Governor's budget request (2006-07) has earmarked $4 million to renovate the Laconia District Court. Kelly said that Exeter and Hampton District Courts are in "dire need" of new quarters, too. According to Jan. 27 article in the Union Leader, Laconia will lend its former police station as temporary quarters for the court while the renovations are going forward. Exeter will move in February from the basement of the town hall to the Brentwood county court complex temporarily. The basement that presently houses the court has led to respiratory problems among the staff, officials report. Hampton's court is not handicapped accessible and will continue its search for a temporary location so that renovations to its court can be made. It will probably take about two years for the Laconia court renovation. The court resides in a three-story brick and slate building that was once Laconia High School; it is next to the Belknap County Superior Court. The renovations will be expensive, especially those to the heating and ventilation systems. The court only actively uses the first floor and the city receives $22,000 a year in rent. Such a small amount of rent would not justify renovations paid for by the city. But the state would hope to use the other floors as well after the work is done, housing the District Court's Family Division there, also. The building is on the National Historic Register and although the state could build a new larger building on the site, it wants to respect the community's wishes by keeping the historic edifice. The other courts will "plug along" until something can be done to help them, Kelly said. The Hampton Court has had issues about handicapped accessibility on a weekly basis-and has "mold growing in the courtroom, rodents in the cellar, asbestos holes in the wall...," John Clark, clerk of the Hampton District Court, said. It is an embarrassment to the state of New Hampshire." Most of the proferred temporary quarters are too small. Similar health issues exist in Exeter; Court Clerk Carol Wright said, "It's true that we have been overlooked for a long time. I am glad that Laconia is getting something done. That is progress." Exeter's changes could involve possible consolidation; they are on hold until the 10 police departments in the court's jurisdiction can come up with a plan so that they won't have to travel. For Hampton, the lack of access for the handicapped "is just flat out wrong," said Clark. "People should be able to get into a court building. They shouldn't have to stand on the street and throw pebbles at the windows to get in." |
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