City Council

LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 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. SWEARING IN OF MAYOR AND COUNCILORS ELECT: City Clerk Mary Reynolds administered the Oath of Office. SALUTE TO THE FLAG: Councilor Brenda Baer led the Salute to the Flag. RECORDING SECRETARY: City Clerk Reynolds ROLL CALL: City Clerk Reynolds called the roll with the following in attendance: Councilor Ava Doyle, Councilor David Bownes, Councilor Henry Lipman, Councilor Brenda Baer, Councilor Robert Hamel and Councilor Armand Bolduc. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Donna Woodaman ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 1. Regular meeting minutes of October 26, 2015 The minutes of this meeting were distributed on October 26 and no corrections have been received. If there are no corrections the minutes are accepted as distributed. CONSENT AND ACTION CALENDAR: 1. Request by LAYBL to raise funds at the Community Center Concession Stand from December 19, 2015 through March 19, 2016 Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the request by LAYBL to raise funds at the Community Center Concession Stand from December 19, 2015 through March 19, 2016. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Bree Hendersen, a resident in Ward 4, addressed the Council regarding the lack of exposure of the City flag within the City. The City flag is 50 years old, adopted by the City Council in 1965, and has not been raised on flag poles throughout the City as it should be. B. Hendersen reviewed some historical information about the flag and questioned if the City flag is useful to the meaning of the City and suggested that a well-designed and used City flag could assist with the identification of the City. The elements of a flag, such as that of the City of Chicago, is a great example of what a well-designed flag can do. B. Hendersen proposed the idea to have a contest to redesign the City flag to be a better tool for the community. Councilor Lipman noted that this is a great idea and thanked B Hendersen for coming forward. 1 Senator Andrew Hosmer addressed the 3-way stop sign issue discussed at the Public Works Committee meeting. Senator Hosmer does not feel a 3-way stop sign is not the solution and the data does not support it but he is happy to hear that the Council is willing to look into other options for the area. INTERVIEWS: Trustees of the Trust Fund (1 vacant position) 1. Anthony Felch - seeking appointment as a full member of the Trustees of the Trust Funds to fill the remaining 3-year term of Karl Reitz which expires at the end of March, 2016 (1 vacant position) A. Felch reviewed his qualifications with the Council. Councilor Lipman asked what the knowledge and understanding of investments Mr. Felch has. A. Felch replied that he does not have much knowledge. Parks & Recreation Commission (1 vacant position) 1. Anthony Felch - seeking appointment as a full member of the Parks & Recreation Commission to fill the remaining 3-year term of Jeff Pattison which expires at the end of March, 2016 A. Felch commented that he has been the President of the Leavitt Park Association for the last three years and wants to do his part for the City. Mayor Engler confirmed that A. Felch has attended most of the meetings of the Parks & Recreation Meetings in the last three years. A Felch confirmed this is accurate. Councilor Lipman asked if the interaction between Leavitt Park Association and the Parks & Recreation Commission has been positive. A. Felch replied that it has. 2. Arthur Kirk - seeking appointment as a full member of the Parks & Recreation Commission to fill the remaining 3-year term of Jeff Pattison which expires at the end of March, 2016 A. Kirk stated that he feels he was born and raised in the City and is raising his family here as well, utilizing the parks and sports fields, and wants to make sure his family have these resources for the future. Councilor Lipman asked if the time commitment would be a problem. A. Kirk replied that it would not be a problem. Councilor Lipman asked if A. Kirk has attended any meetings. A. Kirk replied that he has not but has been communicating with other Commission members and is familiar. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE PUBLIC HEARING: NONE PRESENTATIONS: 2 Mayor Engler presented a Front Porch Award to Mary Crowley for her property on 29 Mass Ave. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Engler advised that there will be a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and encouraged Veterans and residents in the community to attend. Mayor Engler also noted that the Motorcycle Week Association is holding a public forum regarding the future of the event. This will be held on Wednesday evening at 5:00 p.m. at the Belknap Mill on the third floor. Members of the community and the Association will be in attendance to answer questions. This is an opportunity to listen to the public and discuss the future of this important event in the City. CITIZEN REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS: NONE 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 c) Procedural review for grant applications No report on any item in committee 4. PUBLIC WORKS: (Bolduc, Baer, Bownes) (report of the meeting held this evening at 6:00 p.m.) a) Review of a request for a 3-way stop for Summit Ave, Wentworth Cove and Governor’s Island Councilor Bolduc reported on the meeting held this evening regarding the 3-way stop for Summit Ave, Wentworth Cove and Governor’s Island. It is the recommendation of the committee to not move forward with this item but to request the City Manager to look into the possibility of putting a speed table in the area to reduce speed. City Manager Myers reviewed the speed table and how studies have shown that they are effective. It was advised that in this particular area a speed bump-out would not be feasible because the roadway does not have existing curbs or sidewalks. 5. LAND & BUILDINGS: (Hamel, Lipman ,Bolduc) a) Repair & maintenance of City Buildings No report on any item in committee 3 LIAISON REPORTS: Councilor Hamel updated that the Fire Department has moved into the administration wing of the building, as well as the living quarters, and they are working on the renovations of the older portion of the building, as well as first coat of pavement. The official date of completion is estimated to be December 24. MANAGER’S REPORT: City Manager Myers reviewed the Monthly Economic Development Report and the Financial & Operational Trends Report. Discussion followed regarding welfare assistance, the tax rate setting, motor vehicle revenue, and Impact Fee usage. City Manager Myers updated the Council on the pavement work completed this season. Discussion followed regarding streets that have had work done and those that will have work done in the next few years. City Manager Myers advised that 375 bulky item stickers have been sold since October 1, 2014 when the program was implemented. This is a positive start and is a convenience for those that utilize them. City Manager Myers discussed the CIP request for Lakeside Avenue. There is a significant problem with the water lines, drainage concerns and sewer problems on Lakeside Avenue and it should be considered that the Boardwalk be done in conjunction, as well as the possibility for under-ground utilities. City Manager Myers has already reached out the Eversource to get a price so the information is available for discussion and the funding can come from several sources, including the Weirs TIF funds. The timeline for this project, if done, would begin next year immediately after Labor Day, close up for the winter and resume in the spring for a conclusion by Memorial Day. There was discussion of using Impact Fees for some of the cost. Councilor Hamel asked if there would be a possibility of looking at parking kiosks rather than the parking meters that are in place. City Manager Myers replied that he will look into it. NEW BUSINESS: 1. First reading of a resolution relative to the acceptance and expending of donations received by the City of $3,000 and request to schedule a public hearing on November 23, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting The City Charter, Section 5:06, directs that all appropriations after the budget has been approved for the fiscal year require a public hearing and a resolution to affirm the funds. Additionally, all resolutions appropriating funds require two readings. Councilor Bolduc moved to waive the reading of this Resolution in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. Councilor Bolduc moved a first reading of a resolution relative to the acceptance and expending of donations received by the City of $3,000 and to schedule a public hearing on November 23, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting. Seconded by Councilor Bownes. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. 2. First reading of a resolution relative to the adoption of RSA 31:95-b, Appropriation of funds made available during the year and request to schedule a public hearing on November 23, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting 4 Councilor Baer moved to waive the reading of this Resolution in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. Councilor Bolduc moved a first reading of a resolution relative to the adoption of RSA 31:95-b, appropriation of funds made available during the year, and to schedule a public hearing on November 23, 2015 during the regular Council Meeting. Seconded by Councilor Doyle. Councilor Hamel noted that he was not here for the last meeting and he will agree to a public hearing but will not agree to the resolution because he feels the Council should not be giving up the authority to review all appropriations. Mayor Engler called the question. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. 3. Request to approve the Sewer Warrant Councilor Hamel moved to approve the sewer warrant as presented. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Ordinance amendment relative to Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161, Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers (tabled at the meeting of 9/28/15) 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: NONE COUNCIL COMMENTS: Councilor Lipman commented that reflecting on the goal setting that was done by the Council several years ago and some of them are coming to fruition, such as the gateway improvements. Councilor Lipman encouraged the Council to consider having another goal setting session as a special meeting. Mayor Engler asked City Manager Myers to schedule a date in January in the similar format to what was done in the past. Councilor Hamel commented that he feel the flag design contest would be a good idea. Mayor Engler recommended having a structured format for something like this. Councilor Hamel requested that this be included in the goal setting. Councilor Bolduc thanked the public for coming out on Election Day last week. Councilor Bownes would like to address the tree at Dunkin Donuts on Union Avenue and the State School Property in the near future. The report for the State School Property was discussed, as well as the Brownsfield funding that was received. There was a discussion about the tree in question and the arborist report that would allow for the saving of the tree. Mayor Engler noted that he has been informed that the developer has submitted a request to amend 5 their site plan to take the tree down. It was requested that this item be placed on the next agenda for review. NON - PUBLIC SESSION: NONE ADJOURNMENT: Councilor Baer moved to adjourn at 8:21 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Vote was 6-0 and the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted Mary A Reynolds City Clerk 6