City Council

LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 27, 2015 CITY HALL – CONFERENCE ROOM 200A 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Edward Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. City Clerk Reynolds will be recording this meeting. SALUTE TO THE FLAG: Councilor Henry Lipman led the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL: City Clerk Reynolds called the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Councilor Bownes, Lipman, Baer, Hamel and Bolduc. Also present City Manager Scott Myers and Finance Director Donna Woodaman. Mayor Engler noted that a quorum has been established. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 1. Regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2015 Bolduc/Hamel 5-0 Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2015. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. CONSENT AND ACTION CALENDAR: 1. Temporary Traffic Order 2015-5, Community Blood Drive, Belknap Mill Councilor Bolduc moved to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2015-5, Community Blood Drive, Belknap Mill. Seconded by Councilor Lipman. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 2. Temporary Traffic Order 2015-6, Memorial Day Parade Councilor Hamel moved to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2015-6, Memorial Day Parade. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 3. Request to hold BOW WOW Festival on May 2, 2015 1 Councilor Baer moved to approve the request to hold the BOW WOW Festival on May 2, 2015. Seconded by Councilor Lipman. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 4. Request to use Memorial Park, snack bar and storage shed for Laconia Slow Pitch Softball from May 1st through December 1st, 2015 Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the request to use Memorial Park, snack bar and storage shed for Laconia Slow Pitch Softball from May 1st through December 1st, 2015. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Karmen Gifford from the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce addressed the Council regarding the Pumpkin Festival. Ms. Gifford announced that the Chamber will be applying and working through logistics to hold the Pumpkin Festival and they are looking to hold the event in the Downtown area. Mayor Engler thanked the Chamber for taking the lead on this, as well as Charlie St Clair and Amy Landers of the Lakes Region Tourism Association. INTERVIEWS:  Lakes Business Park Commission: (1 Laconia position vacant) 1. Franklin Tilton – seeking appointment to the Lakes Business Park Commission to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Brenda Baer Mr. Tilton was interviewed. Councilor Hamel moved to suspend the Council Rules for the purpose of appointing Mr. Tilton this evening. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Councilor Hamel moved to appoint Franklin Tilton to the Lakes Business Park Commission. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE PUBLIC HEARING: 1. A proposed ordinance amending Chapter 173, Pawnbrokers Mayor Engler opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. with the reading of the notice of this public hearing being made in the Friday, April 17, 2015 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, at City Hall, the Gale Memorial Library, the Laconia Community Center and the offices of the Laconia School District. Detective Kevin Butler reviewed the proposed changes to the Chapter and the record keeping that would be required of the pawnbrokers and second hand dealers. A list of effective businesses was shared with the Council which is approximately 15-18 businesses. Chris Santanello confirmed that clothing would not be included. Detective Butler confirmed this is accurate. Ms. Santanello stated that if clothing is not included she has no objections. 2 Charlie St Clair asked if his business is on the list of effective businesses. It was expressed that it is not. On occasion his business does purchase items from the public and would need to track this. With no other members of the public wishing to speak the public hearing was closed at 7:26 p.m. PRESENTATIONS: 1. Fleet Management Report Finance Director Donna Woodaman and Purchasing Specialist Jon Gardner reviewed a prepared presentation. A discussion followed pertaining to a points system of evaluating vehicles, retention of vehicles and the cost associated, as well as ways to improve the process moving forward. 2. Sand Migration Update Recreation and Facilities Director Kevin Dunleavy reviewed a prepared presentation. A discussion followed relating to the various options for the continued phases of this project. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Engler discussed the $20,000 donation, with $10,000 coming from Aavid Thermalloy and $10,000 from Mr. Alan W. Wong, and there is additional procedures that needs to be done by the Council in the form of a motion in order to disburse the funds. Councilor Lipman moved that the City of Laconia acknowledges the receipt of $10,000 from the Aavid Thermalloy and $10,000 from Mr. Alan W. Wong with the understanding these funds are to be donated to non-profit organizations operating in the City and/or region at the discretion of the Mayor. The City of Laconia further acknowledges that Mayor Engler has determined that $5,000 of these funds is to be paid out to each the following organizations during April or May 2015: Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region, Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center, Belknap Mill Society, and Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Mayor Engler also announced that Aavid Thermalloy is directly making an additional $5,000 donation to the Belknap Mill Society and two anonymous donors from within that same company are each contributing another $5,000. Aavid and two donors have a close bond to the Belknap Mill as it was the foundation of future manufacturing in Laconia, which has allowed Aavid to grow into a global enterprise and a beacon of future growth in the City across all segments of the economy. CITIZEN REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS: Joe Driscoll commented on the fantastic presentation on the Sand Migration Study. The beach is the driving factor of the Weirs area and the effort to revitalize it is exciting for the community. The Weirs Action Committee is excited to be involved in the process moving forward. 3 COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. FINANCE: (Lipman, Hamel, Baer) a) WOW Trail Fund b) Downtown TIF Financing c) Elderly Tax Exemption Analysis Councilor Lipman requested to schedule a meeting of the Finance Committee regarding the Elderly Tax Exemption Analysis. Councilor Lipman moved to schedule a meeting of the Finance Committee on May 12, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY: (Baer, Doyle, Bownes) a) Fair St./Court St. traffic problems and accidents No report on any item in committee 3. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES: (Doyle, Bolduc, Bownes) a) Ordinance Amending Chapter 221, Vehicles and Traffic/Parking on Sublawns b) Chapter 173, Pawnbrokers No report on any item in committee 4. PUBLIC WORKS: (Bolduc, Baer, Bownes) No report on any item in committee 5. LAND & BUILDINGS: (Hamel, Lipman ,Bolduc) a) Repair & maintenance of City Buildings No report on any item in committee LIAISON REPORTS: NONE MANAGER’S REPORT: City Manager Myers reviewed the Project Updates. City Manager Myers also announced that he has made the reappointment of Lenny Miner to the Board of Assessors for a 3-year term. There was discussion regarding paving on Highland Street and a plan being made available before, as well as Lakeside Avenue needing some repairs before the summer season. City Manager Myers assured the Council they are working with the contractor on some of these areas and it will be reported back to the Council. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Request to approve the updated Fixed Asset Policy 4 Finance Director Woodaman reviewed the updates presented. Councilor Lipman moved to approve the revised Fixed Asset Policy as presented. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 2. Request to schedule a public hearing on May 11, 2015 during the regular Council meeting regarding the proposed amendment to zoning of the area currently known as the Commercial Resort Zone Councilor Bownes moved to schedule a public hearing on May 11, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting regarding the proposed amendment to zoning of the area currently known as the Commercial Resort Zone. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 3. Request to transfer $600,000 from Contingency for Street Repairs Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the transfer in the amount of $600,000 from account 01- 360-059-0000 Concord Coop Revenue to account 01-497-500-0013 DPW Street Repairs/Construction. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. City Manager Myers reviewed a list of streets that will have sewer and drainage, as well as reclaiming, upcoming. It was requested that this list be published to the City website and emailed to the Council. 4. Request to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 173, Pawnbrokers Councilor Baer moved to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 173, Pawnbrokers, as presented. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 5. Transfer request Finance Director Woodaman reviewed that this account needs to be established to accept funding from the State and to create a bank account. Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the transfer in the amount of $1.00 from account 01-437- 303-0000 Police Miscellaneous to account 82-301-201-0001 Drug Forfeiture Funds – State of NH. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Request by the Margate Resort to extend hours of operation for an outdoor loudspeaker from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on May 24, 2015 Caroline Snyder addressed the Council and reviewed the information provided as requested. Letters were sent to everyone listed in the packet and a copy of the letter was provided. Discussion was held regarding sound and how it will travel. There was also discussion about making exceptions to the ordinance, control of the sound if there were complaints made to the venue, and the need to encourage events in the City. 5 Councilor Lipman moved to approve the request by the Margate Resort to extend the hours of operation for an outdoor loudspeaker from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on May 24, 2015. Seconded by Councilor Bownes. Vote was 2-3 and the motion failed. (For: Bownes, Lipman; Against: Baer, Hamel, Bolduc) Councilor Lipman moved to approve the request by the Margate Resort to extend the hours of operation for an outdoor loudspeaker from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on May 24, 2015. Seconded by Councilor Bownes. Vote was 3-2 and the motion passed. (For: Bownes, Lipman, Hamel; Against: Baer, Bolduc) 2. Lakeport Landing/21 Elm Street 3. Milfoil Treatment Funding Request 4. WOW Trail 5. Master Plan 6. EPA Update 7. Sewer & Water Master Plan 8. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co-Op/Solid Waste Disposal Cost Reduction 9. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS: • Planning Board: (3 vacant alternate positions) 1. Michael DellaVecchia - seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Planning Board - 3 year term to expire at the end of March, 2018 Councilor Bolduc moved to appoint Michael DellaVecchia as an alternate member of the Planning Board for a 3-year term to expire at the end of March, 2018. Seconded by Councilor Bownes. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. • Highway Safety Commission - Mayor’s Appointment Mayor Engler advised the Council that he has appointed Lt. Allan Graton to the Highway Safety Commission to fill the vacancy being made by the retirement of Lt. Al Lessard. COUNCIL COMMENTS: NONE NON - PUBLIC SESSION: NONE ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Engler noted that there would be a non-meeting immediately following this meeting regarding collective bargaining negotiations. Councilor Lipman moved to adjourn at 9:22 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Bownes. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted Mary A Reynolds 6 City Clerk 7