New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is hoping he will be able to work with the town of Hampton and government officials regarding a dispute over an area beach.  Hampton is in the process of suing the state over its state-owned beach.

Governor Sununu and government officials held a public meeting recently and the governor said his goal was to talk about the events that led to the select board’s vote in September to file the lawsuit.  According to newspaper reports, the governor agreed changes were needed but believed the state had shown it is committed to the beach and the Hampton.

Hampton Beach is operated by the state, but it is not the state that responds to 911 calls that come in when an emergency occurs at the beach.  Hampton’s own fire and police officials have already spent more than $700,000 dealing with emergencies over the last four years.

According to Hampton officials, the state expects the town to cover some costs for which they should not be held responsible under the deed that established transfer of the land from town to state ownership.  That deed was put into place in 1933.

Town officials claim Hampton is stressed by the seasonal population growth that occurs every summer.  Out of season, there are just 15,000 residents in Hampton, but that number balloons to more than 150,000 people at any given time during the summer months.

Now, there has a January 31^st deadline for a potential lawsuit, if mediation is unsuccessful.  Sununu is still hopeful the matter can be resolved outside of the courtroom.