City Council

Distributed to Council 9/15/15. LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 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. RECORDING SECRETARY: The recording secretary for this meeting will be City Clerk Reynolds. SALUTE TO THE FLAG: Councilor Ava Doyle led the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL: City Clerk Reynolds called the roll with Councilor Ava Doyle, Councilor David Bownes, Councilor Brenda Baer, Councilor Bob Hamel and Councilor Bolduc in attendance. Councilor Henry Lipman was excused. Mayor Engler noted that five (5) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum is established. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Donna Woodaman ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 1. Regular meeting of August 24, 2015 Mayor Engler advised that the minutes have been distributed by the Clerk on August 27 and requested any corrections. With not the minutes were accepted as distributed. CONSENT AND ACTION CALENDAR: 1. Salvation Army Turkey Plunge fundraising request to use Opechee Cove Beach, Park House and parking lot on Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 8 am to 3 pm Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the request by the Salvation Army Turkey Plunge fundraising request to use the Opechee Cove Beach, Park House and parking lot on Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 8am to 3pm. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Tom the Turkey was in attendance and posed for a picture with Mayor Engler. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Charlie St. Clair made a suggestion regarding the oak tree between Dairy Queen and Dunkin Donuts on Union Avenue. C. St. Clair requested to remove the asphalt to benefit the tree. Lisa Hazeltine, 95 Maiden Lady Cove Lane, commented that she will applying for a lot merger of her parcel in a similar manner as lot 67 has done. 1 INTERVIEWS: Library Board of Trustees (2 alternate positions available) 1. Susan Hayes - seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Library Board of Trustees for a 3-year term expiring at the end of March, 2018 Ms. Hayes was not in attendance. 2. Josh Peltonovich - seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Library Board of Trustees for a 3-year term expiring at the end of March, 2018 J. Peltonovich was interviewed. Councilor Hamel asked if J. Peltonovich planned to stay in the area for the immediate future. J. Peltonovich advised that he is enrolled at the community college and he has no forseeable move. Councilor Bownes recommended waiving the rules to make this appointment this evening. Conservation Commission: (3 regular positions available) 1. Josh Peltonovich - seeking appointment as a full member of the Conservation Commission for a 3-year term expiring at the end of August, 2018 J. Peltonovich was interviewed. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE PUBLIC HEARING: NONE PRESENTATIONS: NONE MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Engler noted that festival season is upon the City and began with the Multicultural Festival this past weekend. There was samplings of a variety of cultural foods, activities and festivities. Coming up there will be the NH Coffee Festival on Saturday, September 19 from noon to 4:00 p.m. In less than two (2) months the Pumpkin Festival will be here and the Chamber of Commerce has been hard at work with the logistics. The Belknap Economic Development Council has formed committees to begin the process of hiring an engineer and consultant. Councilor Bownes and Mayor Engler are serving on this committee and will be reporting from time to time. CITIZEN REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS: Charlie St. Clair addressed the Council regarding the Route 3 signage and noted that he hopes that this will not be on the agenda in January still waiting to be discussed. It was discussed that Public Works has been working on many time sensitive projects and can have this ready for discussion for the September 28 meeting. 2 COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. FINANCE: (Lipman, Hamel, Baer) a) WOW Trail Fund b) Downtown TIF Financing No report on any item in committee 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) Review of Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161, Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers Councilor Doyle advised that the committee has reviewed the proposals and made some additions and requests to schedule a public hearing. City Manager Myers advised that the resolution would be presented at the next meeting and a public hearing scheduled. The Council was in agreement to this. There was discussion on the 50 foot perimeter section. It was outlined that it will be an item for the public hearing to be discussed as well as the noticing on the agendas for the recurring outdoor loudspeakers. 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 Monthly Economic Development Report and the Financial and Operational Trends Report. City Manager Myers advised that a late request was received for a traffic order for the Homecoming parade which he will administratively approve unless objections are brought forward. Patrick Wood will be appointed to the Laconia Housing Authority to replace Steven Laurent. In speaking with Dick Weaver the feeling is that his legal expertise and his Downtown connections will be helpful. Councilor Hamel noted that overtime has doubled in the Fire Department since last year and it should be monitored. 3 NEW BUSINESS: 1. Taylor Community PILOT Agreement approval and request to authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City City Manager will review the terms of the Agreement and the history of the PILOT agreement. This agreement would be for 10 years and does allow for inflation. Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the PILOT Renewal Agreement with Taylor Community and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement on behalf of the City. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 2. Non-Capital Reserve Fund Request City Manager Myers reviewed the proposal, which includes records from 1855 which is the year Laconia became a township, as well as the changes made to the Non-Capital Reserve Fund. A volume that has been done was shared with the Council as well as the microfilm and digital copy. Councilor Baer moved to approve the use of funds in the Non-Capital Reserve Account for the purpose of the restoration and preservation of vital records in an amount not to exceed $56,000. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 3. First reading of a Resolution relative to a request by Laconia Police Department to accept a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $14,641 with the City’s share at $11,641, and request to schedule a public hearing on September 28, 2015 during the regular Council meeting relative to acceptance of this grant Mayor Engler explained that in accordance with the City Charter, Section 5:06, all appropriations after the budget has been approved for the fiscal year require a public hearing and a Resolution to affirm the funds. Council Rule 27 (B) requires that any Resolution that will appropriate funding shall require two readings prior to adoption. City Manager Myers advised that this would be to supply appropriate response equipment (rifles) if needed. This is a joint grant with the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department. Councilor Hamel asked if these will be assigned to a vehicle or officer. Chief Adams replied that they will be assigned to officers because they need to be sited to the officer. There are currently nine (9) assigned at this time. Councilor Bolduc moved to waive the reading of this Resolution in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Councilor Bolduc moved a first reading of a Resolution relative to authorizing the City Manager to accept a Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $14,641 with the City’s share at $11,641, and request that a public hearing be scheduled for September 28, 2015 during the regular Council meeting relative to acceptance of this grant. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5- 0 and the motion passed. 4. Request to schedule two (2) public hearings on September 28, 2015 during the regular Council meeting regarding: a. A proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $12,000 in Community Development Block Grant Planning Study funds for Granite 4  State Children’s Alliance to develop a comprehensive plan to create a Model Child Advocacy Center, the Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center, at 95 Water St., Laconia. The majority of the clients of GSCA are of low and moderate income. b. The Residential Antidisplacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. Councilor Bolduc moved to schedule a public hearing on September 28, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting regarding a proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $12,000 in Community Development Block Grant Planning Study funds for Granite State Children’s Alliance to develop a comprehensive plan to create a Model Child Advocacy Center, the Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center, at 95 Water Street, Laconia, NH. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Councilor Bolduc moved to schedule a public hearing on September 28, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting regarding the Residential Anti-displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 5. Request to restore Lot 67 on Maiden Lady Cove Lane to its pre-merger status City Manager Myers reviewed the request and process for the restoration of this lot under Chapter 674:39-aa and the need to have conforming lots at this time. This was reviewed by the City Attorney, Assessing and Planning. One piece of information brought forward was that they are on City sewer and not on septic therefore the memorandum submitted by the Planning Director is not an issue. The applicant has been notified that the lots would not be conforming. Staff recommendation is to restore back to pre-merger status. Councilor Bolduc moved to restore Lot 67 on Maiden Lady Cove Lane to its pre-merger status as requested. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. 6. Request to appoint a Council representative to the Debra Bieniarz Award Committee Councilor Doyle has volunteered to serve on this committee again this year. Councilor Bownes move to appoint Councilor Doyle as the Council representative to the Debra Bieniarz Award Committee. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Route 3 Business District Signage 2. Milfoil Treatment Funding Request 3. WOW Trail 4. Master Plan 5. EPA Update 6. Sewer & Water Master Plan 7. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co-Op/Solid Waste Disposal Cost Reduction 8. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS: Heritage Commission (1 alternate position available) 1. Jane Whitehead - seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Heritage Commission for a 3-year term expiring at the end of March, 2018 5 2. Judy Smith - seeking appointment as an alternate member of the Heritage Commission for a 3-year term expiring at the end of March, 2018 Councilor Baer nominated Jane Whitehead for a 3-year term as an alternate on the Heritage Commission for a 3-year term expiring at the end of March, 2018. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Personnel Advisory Board (2 regular positions available) 1. Joan Leroux - seeking appointment as a full member of the Personnel Advisory Board for a 3-year term expiring at the end of October, 2018 Councilor Bolduc moved to appoint Joan Leroux as a full member of the Personnel Advisory Board for a 3-year term expiring at the end of October, 2018. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Weirs TIF District Advisory Board: (3 regular positions available) 1. Joseph H. Driscoll, III - seeking appointment as a full member of the Weirs TIF District Advisory Board for a 2-year term expiring at the end of June, 2017 (attached) Councilor Bolduc moved to appoint Joseph H Driscoll, III as a full member of the Weirs TIF District Advisory Board for a 2-year term expiring at the end of June, 2017. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Planning Board 1. Request to reappoint Warren Hutchins as a full member for a 3-year term expiring at the end of June, 2018 Councilor Doyle moved to reappoint Warren Hutchins as a full member of the Planning Board for a 3-year term expiring at the end of June, 2018. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 3- 2 (For: Doyle, Bownes, Bolduc; Opposed: Baer, Hamel) and the motion passed. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilor Bownes asked why the Council is not waiving the rules to make an appointment for someone interviewed this evening. Mayor Engler advised that this should not be done except in extreme circumstances. NON - PUBLIC SESSION: NONE ADJOURNMENT: Councilor Bolduc moved to adjourn at 8:14 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 5-0 and the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted, Mary A Reynolds City Clerk 6