City Council

CITY OF LACONIA ­ CITY COUNCIL MEETING May 21, 2018 7:00 P.M. City Hall ­ Armand A. Bolduc Chamber 5/21/2018 ­ Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Hosmer lead the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert took the roll with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, David Bownes, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel, and Andrew Hosmer Mayor Engler noted all six (6) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager and Donna Woodaman, Finance Director 6. Department Presentations 1.) School District ­ Dr. Minnihan, Superintendent and Christine Blouin, Business Administrator C. Blouin, Business Administrator discussed the proposed budget. C. Blouin stated the year started with a zero­ based budget with the team leaders and building level administrators. The team leaders presented to the building administrators what their "needs" were and those needs were brought to the Superintendent and C. Blouin. The budget discussion included grants received and anticipated, salaries and position changes, benefits including health insurance and retirement costs, the Special Education Trust Fund and the budget being tax cap compliant. Some of the changes discussed included the Kindergarten Aid (estimate of $1,100 per kindergartner), Adult Education, and revenue from Federal Services. There was discussion regarding the $65,000 difference in the gross appropriation. The budget has three different types of funds being the General Fund, Federal Fund, and Food Service Fund. Only the General Fund affects the budget as the Federal and Food Service Funds are self revolving funds. The School District is not anticipating any large projects but some smaller projects for enhancement purposes. 2.) Police Department ­ Chief Matt Canfield The PowerPoint Presentation paper packet was distributed to the Council and submitted into the official minutes. Chief Canfield presented the proposed budget. The discussion included statistical information for the department, department goals and objectives, grants, school safety preparedness and training and the opioid crisis. Discussion was had regarding staffing and how it compares to other cities or towns in the State. Another topic of discussion was the Body Cam roll out program over a two­year fiscal period. The hiring of Certified Officers has been a struggle due to lack of Certified Officers to choose from. There are 42 officer positions being funded and only 39 employed. School safety was discussed and all the training exercises that have been and will continue to be done. The police department has made many connections throughtout not just the State but the Country as well. Officer Eric Adams spoke on behalf of the P­E­T (Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment) program. Officer Adams updated the Council on the benefits of this program. This program reaches out to many resources to help the individuals that are struggling with substance abuse. To date Officer Adams has 165 clients that are in the program and are clean 60 days or more. Officer Adams has connections with over 240 individuals in this community. Officer Adams and Chief Canfield were invited to Washington, DC for the National HIDTA Conference (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas) and Laconia is not labeled as HIDTA. The success rate of this program is about 80%. 3.) Fire Department ­ Chief Ken Erickson 1  Chief Ken Erickson reviewed his proposed budget with a prepared presentation, which included statistal information for the department, achievements, as well as goals. Discussion was had pertaining to the privatization of the ambulance service and billing services. Chief Erickson stated all of his staff but himself is cross­trained as firefighters and EMT's. Council asked questions regarding privatization of the ambulance service and how it would affect the Fire Department. Chief Erickson spoke about the active training that the department does and because of this they have extremely low fire insurance rates. The Laconia Fire Department is one of the busiest departments in the State. Multi family dwellings and commercial properties are where most fires are seen. Every day is equally as busy. Assistant Chief Kirk Beattie spoke on behalf of the Laconia EMS and Community Involvement. A lot of the policies regarding EMS come from the Laconia Department. Assistant Chief Beattie spoke about the Make A Wish Foundation and how the department just helped fullfill a wish of a local child. Chief Beattie also discussed the departments Recovery Coordinator. This program is highly successful and as of right now has a 50% compliant rate. The department cannot be considered a safe station as they can't gaurantee someone always being there, but in the same sense they do not turn anyone away. 7. Any other business that may come before the Council 8. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Hosmer moves to go into a non­public meeting at 10:00 pm per RSA 91­3A:3, IIc, seconded by Councilor Hamel; a roll call vote was taken Councilor Cheney Yes Councilor Bownes Yes Councilor Lipman Yes Councilor Haynes Yes Councilor Hamel Yes Councilor Hosmer Yes Mayor Engler Yes the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hosmer moves to exit non­public meeting at 10:47 pm, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hamel moves to seal the non­public meeting minutes for one (1) year, seconded by Councilor Bownes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Haynes moves to go into non­public meeting at 10:48 pm per RSA 91­A:3, IIc, seconded by Councilor Hamel; a roll call vote was taken: Councilor Cheney Yes Councilor Bownes Yes Councilor Lipman Yes Councilor Haynes Yes Councilor Hamel Yes Councilor Hosmer Yes Mayor Engler Yes 2 the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Haynes moves to extend the non­public meeting to 11:00 pm, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with a five (5) to one (1) vote. (Councilor Lipman was out of the room) Councilor Bownes moves to exit non­public meeting at 11:29 pm, seconded by Councilor Hosmer; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Hamel moves to seal the non­public meeting minutes for one (1) year, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. With no further business to come before the Council and without objection, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 11:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk MINUTES OF THIS MEETING WERE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL ON MAY 29, 2018 3