City Council

1/22/2018 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Cheney led the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY City Clerk Cheryl Hebert 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert called the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, David Bownes, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel, Armand Bolduc Mayor Engler noted that all six (6) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum is established. Councilor Bolduc presented Mayor Engler with a card from the Council and welcomed him back. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Donna Woodaman 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. PRESENTATIONS 7.A. Auditor presentation of the City of Laconia Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 Scott McIntyre, CPA from Melanson Heath reviewed the report. Councilor Lipman requests Mr. McIntyre to clarify the Net Pension is not just particular to Laconia. Mr. McIntyre affirmed the share of the Net Pension Liability is a nation-wide issue not just Laconia or New Hampshire issue. Councilor Lipman would like Mr. McIntyre to give the City a benchmark in a percentage in the coming years. The city is at 8% of City expenditures which includes the schools. City Manager Myers thanked Donna Woodaman for all of her hard work that was put in to getting this report together. Copies of this report are available for viewing at City Hall in the City Managers office, the City Clerk's Office, the City website, as well as the Public Library. 8. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 8.A. Regular meeting minutes of December 26, 2017 Minutes of the December 26, 2017 meeting were distributed on Thursday, December 28, 2017. With no corrections or changes received by the City Clerk, the minutes were accepted as distributed. 8.B. Inauguration Meeting Minutes for January 8, 2018  Minutes of the Inauguration Meeting on January 8, 2018 were distributed on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. With no corrections or changes received by the City Clerk, the minutes were accepted as distributed. 9. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 9.A. Request from Lakes Region Sled Dog Club to waive license, vendor and loudspeaker fees for the February 16 - 18, 2018 Sled Dog event Councilor Bolduc moves to approve the request from the Lakes Region Sled Dog Club to waive license, vendor, and loudspeaker fees for the February 16-18, 2018 Sled Dog Event, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 10. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Pam Clark, representing Celebrate Laconia - Welcomes Mayor Engler back and congratulates the new City Council. Ms. Clark announced the next three events coming up are; Miss 125th Laconia Scholarship Pageant being held on February 2, 2018 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Laconia Community Center. The second event is being held on March 24 2018, the anniversary of the City, at Pitman's Freight Room, called MANIFEST (March Anniversary Festival). The third event which will be held in July will have a parade and carnival, with more information to come. 11. INTERVIEWS 11.A. Peter Stewart - Seeking appointment to a regular member "Registered Architect" position on the Building Code Board of Appeals for a five-year term expiring at the end of March, 2023 Peter Stewart was interviewed. Councilor Hamel, Councilor Bownes, and Councilor Bolduc thanked Mr. Stewart for stepping forward. Mr. Stewart asked of the status of a Code Enforcement Officer. City Manager Myers explained the situation regarding the City's current Code Enforcement Officer who has been out on a work related injury and the City has a contracted Officer as needed. City Manager Myers is hopeful to have the current Code Enforcement Officer back sooner rather than later. 12. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 13. COMMUNICATIONS 14. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14.A. Public Hearing for Resolution 2018-1 regarding NH RSA 72.81, a Statewide Property Tax Exemption for Industrial Construction This notice of the Public Hearing was published in the January 12, 2018 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, Laconia City Hall, Community Center, Laconia Public Library, and the SAU. Mayor Engler opened the Public Hearing at 7:34 pm. Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Engler closed the Public Hearing at 7:35 pm. 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler expressed his gratitude to the City, Council members, grade schools, police officers, and Boy Scouts for the dozens of phone calls, cards, and emails during his medical leave. He especially wants to thank Councilor Bolduc for filling in as Mayor Pro Tem in his absence. Mayor Engler apologizes for not being present during the Inauguration to say good bye to Councilors Ava Doyle and Brenda Baer and to welcome Councilor Haynes and Councilor Cheney. Mayor Engler also mentioned that he has a special guest with him tonight, being his daughter, Laurel Fitzmaurice (Dr. Fitzmaurice). "She flew back here with me and has been my advocate, advisor, and my caregiver for the last four months."  Mayor Engler verbalized his appointments to the City Council Committees and Liaison assignments as follows: Finance Committee: Henry Lipman*, Robert Hamel, Bruce Cheney Land & Buildings Committee - Robert Hamel*, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes Government Operations & Ordinances Committee - David Bownes*, Armand Bolduc, Bruce Cheney Public Works Committee - Robert Hamel*, David Bownes, Mark Haynes Public Safety Committee - David Bownes*, Armand Bolduc, Henry Lipman * denotes Committee Chair Planning Board - David Bownes, Primary & Bruce Cheney, Alternate Library - David Bownes Parks & Recreation - Robert Hamel Lakes Region Public Access - Robert Hamel Capital Improvements Committee (CIP) - Robert Hamel Belknap EDC - Henry Lipman Motorcycle Week Association - Armand Bolduc Water Department - Armand Bolduc Heritage Commission - Mark Haynes Police Commission - Bruce Cheney Election of Mayor Pro Tem by the City Council. Councilor Bownes expressed his sincere gratitude to Councilor Bolduc for everything he has done for the City and nominates Councilor Hamel from Ward 5. Councilor Hamel nominates Councilor Bolduc. Ward 1 - Councilor Cheney voted for Councilor Bolduc Ward 2 - Councilor Bownes voted for Councilor Hamel Ward 3 - Councilor Lipman voted for Councilor Hamel Ward 4 - Councilor Haynes voted for Councilor Bolduc Ward 5 - Councilor Hamel voted for Councilor Bolduc Ward 6 - Councilor Bolduc voted for Councilor Bolduc With a vote of four out of six Councilor Bolduc will continue to be Mayor Pro Tem. Councilor Lipman motioned to change the votes to unanimous, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 16.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 16.B. PUBLIC SAFETY 16.B.i. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES 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.D. LANDS & BUILDINGS 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS 16.E.i. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 17. LIAISON REPORTS Councilor Bownes noted that they are trying to get the first two chapters of the Master Plan to the Planning Board by April. 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS No comments were made by the public. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Financial and Operational Trends Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. Councilor Lipman asked for an update regarding the declared disaster that happened in late October of 2017. City Manager Myers explained our reimbursement is in the amount $68,000 which covers the overtime and damage due to the storm. This report is available on the City's website as well as in the Laconia Links. City Manager Myers explained House Bill 413 regarding the local retirement system and asked the Council if they would like to move forward and have a letter sent from the City Managers office. Councilor Hamel motions to support HB 413 and through the City Managers Office have a letter sent to our delegation showing our support of HB 413, seconded by Councilor Bolduc; the motion passed with all in favor. 19.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. This report is available on the City's website as well as in the Laconia Links. 19.C. Project Updates Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. This report is available on the City's website as well as in the Laconia Links. Councilor Bolduc made comment regarding the Lakeport intersection and how the system is working much better. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. Request to establish rental fees for Boardwalk and Weirs Boulevard vending spaces for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2018  Councilor Hamel moves to approve rental fees for Laconia Motorcycle Week 2018 vending spaces located on the Boardwalk and Weirs Boulevard as presented, seconded by Councilor Bolduc; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.B. Request for setting hours of operation for food vendors and beer tents for Laconia Motorcycle Week Councilor Bolduc moves to approve the request to extend the hours of operation for food vendors from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am for Laconia Motorcycle Week, and to approve beer tents that have been issued a license from the City to open beginning on the first Friday of Motorcycle Week with an additional licensing fee of $50 that is consistent with all other vendors opening on the first Friday of the event, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.C. Approval of the current LEOP City Manager Myers explained the LEOP to the Council. A hard copy of this document will be held in the City Managers office at City Hall. Some of the updates implemented were the community partners, available resources, and State partners that are now available. Councilor Cheney moves for the approval of each designated signatory to review and sign the updated Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP) as the current plan for the City of Laconia. If any signatory desires a change to LEOP prior to signing it, they shall notify the Council as soon as possible and it will be put back on the agenda for the next available meeting of the Council, seconded by Councilor Bolduc; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.D. Grant agreement between Laconia Municipal Airport and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics Mayor Engler explained the Grant to the Council. Councilor Bolduc moves to authorize Mayor Edward Engler to sign the agreement between Laconia Municipal Airport and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 21.A. Resolution 2018-01 relative to NH RSA 72:82, a Statewide Property Tax Exemption for Industrial Construction Councilor Hamel moves to waive a reading of this Resolution in its entirety and to read by title only, seconded by Councilor Bolduc; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Bownes moves to approve Resolution 2018-1 regarding NH RSA 72.81, a Statewide Property Tax Exemption for Industrial Construction, seconded by Councilor Bolduc; Councilor Lipman stated he is definitely in favor of this and we are one of the first municipalities to take advantage of this. Mayor Engler called the question. The motion passed with all in favor. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Bolduc thanks Mayor Engler for coming back and how nice it is to see him smiling again. Councilor Bolduc informed the Council that on Wednesday night, January 24, 2018 at the Belknap Mill a presentation on the Bolduc Family of Gilford will be happening and it is free to attend. 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 31:95-b, 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 Co-op/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. NON-PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91-A:3, II) 25. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 8:27 PM. Respectfully submitted by, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk Minutes of this meeting were accept on February 12, 2018 1-22-2018 - Minutes - DRAFT.htm[1/24/2018 10:54:18 AM]