City Council

CITY OF LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 10, 2017, 7:00 p.m. City Hall, Conference Room 200A MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Pro Tem Armand Bolduc called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Ava Doyle led the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY City Clerk Mary Reynolds 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Reynolds called the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Ava Doyle, David Bownes, Henry Lipman, Brenda Baer, Bob Hamel and Armand Bolduc. Absent: Mayor Ed Engler Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc noted that all six (6) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum is established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Donna Woodaman Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc presented City Clerk Mary Reynolds with flowers and thanked her for her many years of service. Manager Myers updated the Council on Mayor Engler's health and noted that he continues to anticipate being away until early December. 6. PRESENTATIONS 6.A. Front Porch Awards ­ Presented by Councilor Hamel, Chair of the Land & Buildings Committee Councilor Hamel presented five (5) Front Porch Awards. The recipients were: Richard O'Brien, Jr. & Anne O'Brien for property located at 262 Pleasant St., Laconia NH 03246 Stephen and Joanne Fiorini for property located at 180 North St., Laconia NH 03246 John and Mary Ann Daigneault for property located at 69 Baldwin St., Laconia NH 03246 Brett & Susanne Belliveau for property located at 141 Lafayette St., Laconia NH 03246 Robert Cilley, Jr. & Linda Cilley for property located at 19 Chester Court, Laconia NH 03246 Councilor Hamel thanked City Clerk Mary Reynolds for her many years of excellent service. 7. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 8. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS  8.A. Regular meeting minutes of September 25, 2017 Minute of the September 25, 2017 meeting were distribute to the City Council on Thursday, September 28, 2017. No corrections were received. With no corrections, minutes were accepted as distributed. 9. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 9.A. Request by Tritanium Sports for the "City on the Lakes Tri Festival" on City park property City Manager Myers reviewed the report. Motioned to approve the request by Tritanium Sports for the "City on the Lakes Tri Festival" on City park property on August 11 and 12, 2018 by Councilor Lipman and seconded by Councilor Hamel. Discussion was had regarding this years event and the differences with the upcoming event, as well as reimbursement for City services. Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc called the question; the motion passed with all in favor. 10. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA 11. INTERVIEWS 11.A. Gregg Selesky ­ Seeking appointment to the vacant Electrician position on the Building Code Board of Appeals for a five­year term expiring at the end of March, 2022 G. Selesky was interviewed. City Manager Myers reviewed what the position requires for the Council. 12. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12.A. Kerren Horn ­ Seeking appointment to the Downtown TIF District Advisory Board to a three­year term expiring at the end of August, 2020 12.B. Chris Condodemetraky ­ Seeking appointment to the Downtown TIF District Advisory Board to a three­year term expiring at the end of August, 2020 Motion to appoint Chris Condodemetraky to the Downtown TIF District Advisory Board to a three­year term expiring at the end of August, 2020 made by Councilor Bownes, seconded by Councilor Baer; the motion passed with all in favor. 12.C. Appointment of Dean Trefethen, Planning Director, and Brandee Loughlin, Assistant Planning Director, as Commissioners on the Lakes Region Planning Commission to four­year terms expiring at the end of June, 2021 Motion to appoint Dean Trefethen, Planning Director, and Brandee Loughlin, Assistant Planning director, as Commissioners on the Lakes Region Planning Commission to four­year terms expiring at the end of June, 2021 made by Councilor Baer, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 13. COMMUNICATIONS 14. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14.A. Public Hearing regarding the question of permitting the operation of the NH Keno 603  game at qualifying establishments within the City on the November 7, 2017 election ballot Notice of this public hearing was made in the September 30, 2017 and October 3, 2017 editions of the Laconia Daily Sun, at City Hall, the Gale Memorial Library, the Laconia Community Center and the offices of the Laconia School District. Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc opened the public hearing at 7:24 pm With no members of the public choosing to speak the Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc closed the public hearing at 7:24 pm 15. MAYOR'S REPORT 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE (Lipman, Hamel, Baer) 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 16.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 16.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Baer, Doyle, Bownes) 16.B.i. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Doyle, Bolduc, Bownes) 16.C.i. Review of Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161 Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 16.C.ii. Ordinance Amending Chapter 221, Vehicles and Traffic/Parking on Sublawns 16.C.iii. Procedural review of grant applications 16.C.iv. Concerns regarding City Code Chapter 113, Animals, as it pertains to restraint of dogs to an owner's property (Finalized language to be reported out of Committee item to be taken up under "Unfinished Business") 16.D. LANDS & BUILDINGS (Hamel, Lipman, Bolduc) 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.D.iii. Discussion regarding the City owned vendor spaces on the Boardwalk as it relates to renting to food vendors ­ Report on Land & Buildings Committee meeting held 10/10/17 Councilor Hamel reported on the meeting held earlier this evening and another meeting will be scheduled on October 23, 2017 at 6:15 pm, after both attorneys have a chance to speak with their clients. 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bolduc, Baer, Bownes) 16.E.i. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes  17. LIAISON REPORTS 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Marc Burrell, 68 Warren Street, handed two packets to the council for review regarding the proposed changes to Chapter 113 but did not leave them with the Clerk to submit into record. M. Burrell read a prepared statement that was not given to the Clerk to be recorded but highlighted his concerns with unrestained dogs on private property. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Financial and Operational Trends Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. 19.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. Other items: City Manager Myers commented on the passing of State Representative Don Flanders. Representative Flanders has served this City well and thoughts are with the family. Councilor Lipman suggests that a formal recognition be made somehow. City Manager Myers is open to suggestions. With the passing of Representative Flandes, City Manager Myers brought before the Council the option for the City to hold a Special Election to fill the vacancy. The primary election would be on January 9, 2018 and Special Election on February 27, 2018. It was suggested that this item be brought up under New Business this evening. City Manager Myers reviewed the handout regarding General Assessing Information. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. Request to schedule a public hearing on October 23, 2017 during the regular City Council meeting for a report on the progress of Energy Improvements project at the Scott & Williams Building, 22 Strafford Street Motion to schedule a public hearing on October 23, 2017 during the regular City Council meeting for a report on the progress of Energy Improvements project at the Scott & Williams Building, 22 Strafford StremadbyCouncilLp,sHh motion passed with all in favor. 20.B Request to schedule a special election to fill the vacancy from the passing of Representative Flanders Motion to request, in accordance to RSA 655:81, a Primary Election on January 9, 2017 and General Election (if needed) on February 27, 2017 from the Governor and Executive Council made by Councilo Bownes,cdbyCuilrath motion passed with all in favor. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 21.A. Concerns regarding City Code Chapter 113, Animals, as it pertains to restraint of dogs to an owner's property Councilor Doyle read the suggested wording that legal provided regarding the rewording of Chapter 113 "Section 113­5 Dogs to be leashed or enclosed It shall be unlawful to intentionally permit any dog to run at large within the City of Laconia: to this end,  when not on the owner's property, the owner or person responsible shall keep the dog on a leash; when outside on the property of the owner or person responsible but when that person is not outside supervising the dog, it shall be kept either on a leash or in a physical enclosure (not an invisible fence or electric shock fence). However, after a first violation, in addition to a fine, the dog must thereafter by physically restrained at all time when outside. This section shall not apply to hunting dogs while such dogs are under the supervision and control of the owner while hunting." Councilor Bownes makes a motion to keep Chapter 113 language as it is, seconded by Councilor Baer. Councilor Lipman recommends observing more of what is going on within the City. Chief Canfield stated there is already a process in place to deal with issues like this that may arise and will keep the Council up to date with any issues that may arise. Councilor Hamel did receive reports from the police department regarding dog bites and/or issues and reviewed those reports with the Council. Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc called the question. the motion passed with all in favor. 21.B. Request to allow snowmobiles to use the sidewalk across the Weirs Beach bridges over the channel and the railroad The council discussed many options. Councilor Bownes recommends referring this topic to the Public Safety Committee and obtain more information. Councilor Hamel suggests is to go along with the recommendation of the State and with Fish and Game. Councilor Lipman is concerned about cutting off the tourism in that area during the winter time. Councilor Doyle commented that none of the sidewalks in the Weirs have been in years past not just the bridge sidewalk. Councilors would like to hear from the Snowmobile Association, business owners in the Weirs, year round residents, and the State's recommendation. City Manager Myers stated there was a meeting tonight at the Beane Conference Center with the Snowmobile Association. If this does not come to a head before snow then the City will maintain our current position and will not allow snowmobiles on our sidewalks. Councilor Lipman suggest having a fifteen minute slot at the next Council meeting regarding this topic and the Council was in agreement of this recommendation. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Baer extends her sincere gratitude for all of her help over the years to City Clerk Reynolds. 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 23.A. Ordinance amendment relative to Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161, Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 23.B. Second reading of a resolution relative to the adoption of RSA 31:95­b, Appropriation of funds made available during the year 23.C. Master Plan 23.D. Milfoil Treatment funding requests 23.E. Sewer & Water Master Plan  23.F. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co­op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.G. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting 23.H. WOW Trail 23.I. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 24. NON­PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91­A:3, II) 25. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the City Council and with no objections Mayor Pro Tem Bolduc adjourned the meeting at 8:37 pm. Respectfully Submitted Mary Reynolds, City Clerk These minutes were accepted by the City Council at their meeting of October 23, 2017.