City Council

CITY OF LACONIA ­ CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 25, 2018 7:00 P.M. 6/25/2018 ­ Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Hamel lead the Salute to the Flag at the above date and time. 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, and Bob Hamel. Not present: Andrew Hosmer Mayor Engler noted five (5) Councilors are in attendance and a quorum has been established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager and Donna Woodaman, Finance Director 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. Special budget meeting minutes of June 11, 2018 With one correction submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as amended. 7.B. Regular meeting minutes of June 11, 2018 With one correction submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as amended. 7.C. Special budget meeting minutes of June 18, 2018 With no corrections or changes submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 8.A. Temporary Traffic Order 2018­11 ­ Community Blood Drive Councilor Hamel moves to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2018­11, Community Blood Drive, to be held August 13, 2018 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Patrick Wood, Shore Drive, notified the Council that a friend of Laconia, Doug Stone has passed away and a celebration of his life will be held on July 6, 2018, from 11 am to 2:30 pm at the Belknap Mill. 10. INTERVIEWS 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1 13.A. Public Hearing for a proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority  for up to $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. Notice of this Public Hearing was made available in the June 13, 2018 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, City Hall, Community Center, and Laconia Public Library. Mayor Engler opened the public hearing at 7:07 pm Donna Lane read into record the following: Community Development Block Grant funds are available to municipalities through the NH Community Development Finance Authority. Up to $500,000 annually is available on a competitive basis for public facility and housing projects, up to $500,000 for economic development projects and up to $350,000 for emergency activities. All projects must directly benefit low and moderate income persons. Up to $12,000 per study is available for Planning Grants. This is a public hearing on a proposed application to the Community development Finance Authority for up to $150,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. The City will retain some of the fund for administration costs and sub grant the benefits of the remainder to Lakes Region Community Developers towards the acquisition and/or rehabilitation (added since public hearing notice) 191 & 193 Court Street. LRCD proposes relocating its offices to this location to better serve their primarily low and moderate income clients. This project conforms with Laconia Housing and Community Development Plan's Goal of: Promote activities that protect the health and safety of residents and visitors. And encourage a varied stock of safe, sanitary, decent and affordable housing for persons of all age and income groups. (Short­term and Long­term goals). Sal Steven­Hubbard ­ our location at 658 Union Ave will be relocating to what was known as the Walter's Market building on Court Street. Explained details of the project to the Council. Councilor Lipman questioned the property taxes status. City Manager Myers stated after speaking with the Assessing Department they do pay property taxes. Hearing no other comments from the public, the public hearing was closed at 7:13 pm. 13.B. Public Hearing for a proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds. Notice of this public hearing was made available in the June 13, 2018 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, City Hall, Community Center, and Laconia Public Library. Mayor Engler opened the public hearing at 7:13 pm. Donna Lane read into the record the following: Community Development Block Grant funds are available to municipalities through the NH Community Development Finance Authority. Up to $500,000 annually is available on a competitive basis for public facility and housing projects, up to $500,000 for economic development projects and up to $350,000 for emergency activities. All projects must directly benefit low and moderate income persons. Up to $12,000 per study is available for Planning Grants. This is a public hearing on a proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds. The City will retain up to $23,000 of the grant for administration costs and sub­grant benefits of the remainder to Navigating Recovery of the Lakes Region for the acquisition and/or rehabilitation of 102 Court Street in Laconia to be used as a Recovery Center where public services would be provided. The new location would allow them to more than double the clients they could service at a time. The majority of their clients are of low and moderate income. This project conforms with Laconia's Housing and Community Development Plan's Goal of: Promote activities that protect the health and safety of residents and visitors. (Short­term and Long­term goal). Councilor Lipman asked for a description of the this project. 2 Daisy Pierce, Executive Director of Navigating Recovery, explained the details of the project.  Councilor Hamel noted that this grant does not allow for the collection of rent. Daisy Pierce stated the rent collected will be a donation made by the tenant and that will go to Navigating Recovery and taxes will be paid from that donation. Councilor Hamel expressed his concern with non­residents using these types of services but yet do not contribute anything directly to the City. Hearing no other comments from the public, Mayor Engler closed the public hearing at 7:19 pm. 13.C. Public Hearing for the Residential Anti­displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for proposed Lakes Region Community Developers CDBG Project Notice of this public hearing was made available in the June 13, 2018 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, City Hall, Community Center, and Laconia Public Library. Mayor Engler opened the public meeting at 7:20 pm. Donna Lane read into the record the following: If the City were to undertake a CDBG project which involved displacement or relocation they would follow this Residential Anti­displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. The plan outlines the measures they would take to find comparable, suitable housing for persons (or businesses) displaced or relocated. There is no displacement or relocation planned as a part of this project. An on­site tenant in the building not required for the relocated offices will be allowed to remain. Hearing no other comments from the public, Mayor Engler closed the public meeting at 7:22 pm. 13.D. Public Hearing for the Residential Anti­displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the proposed Navigating Recovery CDBG Project Notice of this public hearing was made available in the June 13, 2018 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun, City Hall, Community Center, and Laconia Public Library. Mayor Engler opened the public meeting at 7:22 pm. Donna Lane read into the record the following: If the City were to undertake a CDBG project which involved displacement or relocation they would follow this Residential Anti­displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan. The plan outlines the measures they would take to find comparable, suitable housing for persons (businesses) displaced or relocated. There is no displacement or relocation planned as a part of this project. An on­site tenant in the building not required for the relocated offices will be allowed to remain. Hearing no other comments from the public, Mayor Engler closed the public meeting at 7:23 pm. 14. PRESENTATIONS Wes Anderson, DPW Director attended the NH Planning Association on June 5, 2018 and accepted, on behalf of the City, The 2018 Project of the Year Award for the work completed on Lakeside Avenue. This was awarded to the City for two reasons: first, executing a complete street program that included pedestrian friendliness of the Lakeside Avenue Area and two, maintaining the business friendly environment. 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler mentioned the community celebration that will be held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 for Laconia's 125th Anniversary. The event will kick off with a parade starting at 2 pm leaving from Laconia High School, preceding down Church Street, then right down Main Street, ending at Opechee Park with vendors and fireworks to follow. This event will take the place of the City's normal Fourth of July Celebration. The Website for more details on this event is WWW.CELEBRATELACONIA.ORG. Patrick Wood stated events are happening the day before at the Belknap Mill as well as the annual Greek3Festival on July 8, 2018. 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE (Lipman, Hamel, Cheney) 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 16.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 16.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Bownes, Hosmer, Lipman) 16.B.i. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 16.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Bownes, Hosmer, Cheney) 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 (Hamel, Lipman, Haynes) Councilor Hamel moves to schedule a meeting on July 23, 2018 at 6 pm for discussion regarding the Downtown parking garage, and any other items that may come before the committee, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bownes, Hosmer, Haynes) 16.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 16.E.ii. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 17. LIAISON REPORTS 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Frank Lacostic, Ward 2 ­ spoke in regards to the appropriation of monies out of the Laconia Fire Department budget. F. Lacostic asked for an explanation of how the school would use the $200,000 that is proposed being deducted from the LFD budget. Representative Charlie St. Clair ­ spoke on behalf of the banner poles at the entrance of Main Street. Representative St. Clair stated he is not the only one in support of this proposed project. Representative St. Clair has hopes with the installation of these banner poles, that City events could have more advertising. He asked for the Councils support in this matter. Patrick Wood, Chairperson of the Downtown TIF Advisory Board ­ explained the purpose of the proposed poles mentioned by Representative St. Clair. P. Wood is asking for the Councils support of these poles. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Project Updates Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. 4 Councilor Cheney questioned the placement of the utility poles on the sidewalk on Court Street. City Manager Myers explained that the sidewalk width will be adjusted to accommodate the utility poles so there is still enough  room for handicapped, strollers, and the sidewalk plow. DPW Director Wes Anderson explained the process is still in the transition phase. 19.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. Year End Departmental Transfers Councilor Bownes moves to approve the move of these items to cover the shortfall in various Departmental Budgets during Fiscal Year 2018: From: 01­415­101­0000 City Clerk $14,000 To: 01­417­101­0001 Election Salaries $14,000 Overage due to several Special Elections FY18 From: 01­437­000­0000 Police Salaries $30,000 To: 01­435 Police Station Maintenance Budget $30,000 Overage due to Utilities and Building Maintenance over expenditure From: 04­431­343­0000 Contingency $52,000 To: 01­502­000­1000 DPW Winter Maintenance $52,000 Overage due to extreme winter snow season From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $13,000 To: 01­599­105­0000 DPW Overtime $13,000 Overage due to extreme winter snow season seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.B. Year End Contingency Transfer Councilor Hamel moves to approve this request to fund several CIP projects that were not recommended in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $100,000 To: 01­499­500­0047 Court St. Bridge Replacement FY19 CIP request not recommended From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $100,000 To: 01­499­500­0028 Traffic Signal Improvements FY19 CIP request not recommended From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $13,000 To: 01­499­445­0004 Brush Fire Pump Unit 5 FY19 CIP request not recommended  From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $35,000 To: 01­499­437­0013 Police Portable Radios FY19 CIP request not recommended From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $22,000 To: 01­499­445­0014 Police Evidence Room/Armory Ventilation FY19 CIP request not recommended From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $ 18,000 To: 01­499­437­0015 Police Sally Port Door Modifications FY19 CIP request not recommended From: 01­431­343­0000 Contingency $ 22,000 To: 82­301­002­0000 Non Capital Reserve No request in FY19 budget, increase Non­Capital reserve balance, seconded by Councilor Cheney; Councilor Hamel spoke of projects that never make it to the top of the CIP list. A list was given to the Council of these projects. Mayor Engler called the question; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.C. Amendment of Ordinance 235­17 City Manager Myers explained the need for amending this ordinance. Councilor Bownes explained the importance of approving this amendment. Councilor Bownes moves to amend Ordinance 235­17 by inserting language for a new section two and re­ numbering the current section two to section three, re­establishing a 30 foot buffer on both sides of intermittent and perennial streams, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. 20.D. Request to approve a tentative agreement with the Laconia Police Officer's Association for the period from July 1, 2018 ­ June 30, 2021 Mayor Engler noted the Council will be vague in regards to the details of this contract tonight due to the Collective Bargaining Law stating that until the agreement is approved details can not be disclosed. Councilor Cheney moves that the City Council approve the tentative agreement with the Laconia Police Officer's Associations Contract for the period from July 1, 2018 ­ June 30, 2021, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. City Manager Myers explained the details of the approved Laconia Police Officer's Association Contract for the period beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 20, 2021 which included changes in the health insurance plan, COLA, and step increases. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 21.A. Recommendation from the Downtown TIF Advisory Board to utilize TIF funds to install a set of over the road banner poles Parks Director Kevin Dunleavy spoke on behalf of this request. K. Dunleavy noted that he has only6 done a preliminary look at the location and did not want to move forward until the Downtown TIF knew the Council would  approve the use of these funds. Councilor Bownes moves to approve the recommendation from the Downtown TIF Advisory Board to utilize TIF funds to install a set of over the road banner poles over Main Street in the vicinity of Stewart Park and the Landmark Inn not to exceed the amount of $25,000 with the condition that the sight is deemed appropriate by Recreation Facilities and DPW seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.B. Proposed Application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $150,000 in Community Block Grant Funds. Handouts were made available to the public. Councilor Bownes moves to approve the submittal of the Lakes Region Community Developers Relocation application in an amount of up to $150,000 and to authorize the City Manager to sign and submit the application, and upon approval of the CDBG application, authorize the City Manager to execute any documents which may be necessary to effectuate the CDBG contract and any amendments thereto, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.C. Proposed Application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $350,000 in Community Block Grant Funds. Handouts were made available to the public. Councilor Hamel moves to approve the submittal of the Navigating Recovery in the Lakes Region Relocation application in an amount of up to $350,000 and to authorize the City Manager to sign and submit the application, and upon approval of the CDBG application, authorize the City Manager to execute any documents which may be necessary to effectuate the CDBG contract and any amendments thereto, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.D. The Residential Anti­Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the Proposed Lakes Region Community Developers CDBG Project. Handouts were made available to the public. Councilor Hamel moves to adopt the Anti­displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for Lakes Region Community Developers CDBG Project, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.E. Residential Anti­displacement and Relocation Asistance Plan for the proposed Navigating Recovery CDBG Project Handouts were made available to the public. Councilor Haynes moves to adopt the Anti­Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan Navigating Recovery in the Lakes Region CDBG Project, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.F. General Budget Discussion Mayor Engler noted that if we are on schedule, it is proposed that the budget would be approved on July 9, 2018 at the regularly scheduled Council Meeting. The Council does have until July 23, 2018 to adopt the budget and if the Council does not adopt the budget by July 23, 2018 then the Manager's proposed budget automatically becomes adopted. A discussion was had between the Councilors, Mayor Engler, and Chief Erickson from the Laconia Fire Department. Some of the topics of discussion were the reduction of $300,000 to the Fire Department overtime salary budget and re­purposing those monies to the Police Department and School District, the number of fire fighters needed to safely run the shifts, training's, and potential resolutions regarding the hiring process for the Fire Department and Police Department. Mayor Engler read three paragraphs into the record for potential resolutions in regards to the Fire and Police Departments. 7 Councilor Bownes spoke on the savings of $68,000 from the Fire Department cutting down to a eight person night time shift and stated this should be part of the equation of the $300,000. Councilor Bownes is in agreement that $100,000 should go to the placement of a resource officer at Laconia Middle School. Some of Councilor Bownes concerns are not knowing what a safe number of fire fighters would be needed on duty in order for not only the residents of Laconia to remain safe but the departments' staff as well. Another concern is with the lack of communication allowed with Brewster Ambulance Service in regards to the ambulance privatization. Mayor Engler clarified the $68,000 that Councilor Bownes is referring to is in regards to a proposal from the Fire Chief. That proposal has been submitted into the minutes. Chief Erickson explained the proposal to the Council. Councilor Cheney spoke in regards to his disappointment with the lack of support to even hear the RFP from Brewster Ambulance Service. The Council was trying to help the Fire Department with leviating some of the work load, which would allow the Fire Department to complete some of the items that they have not been able to. Chief Erickson spoke in regards to the number of staff on duty at all times. He is comfortable with nine, would like to see the department reach the MRI level of 11, but feels seven is a dangerous number not only for the residents but for the staff as well. Chief Erickson explained the department averages 16 calls a day and expects those numbers to go up, not down. Laconia Fire Department is one of the busiest fire departments in the state. He stated there is a significant fire problem in the City. Most of the fires are not at single family homes, they are at large apartment buildings and businesses. Councilor Cheney does agree that the dollar amount may need to be looked but would also like to see the department using the call back method as needed and not immediately going to backfill. Chief Erickson explained his department feels demoralized due to the issue with the privatization of the ambulance. His staff felt like they would lose their jobs and no longer be needed. He explained the department would still have been going to at least 1200 to 1300 calls even with the privatization. Councilor Cheney explained the idea of privatizing the ambulance service was to free up the departments staff to do other jobs that needed to be done like training's, inspections and such. Councilor Cheney asked other than lowering to eight staff is there anything else the department can meet the City halfway with. Chief Erickson explained the inspection issues fall on scheduling and landlord availability issues. He did express this problem generally lies with the absentee landlords not our Laconia residential landlords. Chief Erickson spoke about trying to do the training while his staff is on duty rather than off duty but with how busy the department is it is hard to complete a training without being interrupted by a call. This is the reasoning for conducting training's with off­duty fire fighters. Mayor Engler clarified that the policy being proposed does not lower the shift staff number to seven. It states that we won't backfill under seven. In other words, nine staff would be scheduled, one or two call out, no one would be called in to fill those call outs. If more than two call out, then staff would be called in only to get back up to seven staff on duty. Mayor Engler broke down the percentage of shifts that were at full staff (nine) for the past year. Mayor Engler stated with the proposed policy the ballpark staff numbers would be 50% of the time there would be eight staff, 25% of the time there would be seven staff, and 25% of the time there would be nine staff. Councilor Bownes made note that if the privatization of the ambulance service had passed the Council never intended to reduce the fire departments staff. Councilor Lipman asked for an explanation in regards to what the savings would be if Chief Erickson continued for an entire year with nine staff during the day and only eight staff during the night. Chief Erickson does not have that number right now but stated he can not predict who will be in or out do to things such as bereavement or sick time. Chief Erickson handed a spreadsheet out to the Council and submitted one into the minutes. He explained the details of that. Mayor Engler stated the Fire Department had $555,000 in overtime last year. Chief Erickson disagreed. Holiday pay was added into that figure which shouldn't be. The Chief stated last years overtime amount was $247,000. This amount does not include holiday pay, the Pumpkin Festival, fireworks details, motorcycle week and the hospitals overtime. These items, not including the hospital, are paid by the vendors. Donna Woodaman explained how these costs are broken down and billed out. 8 Chief Erickson stated that his work philosophy that he has lived by for the past 24 years is "What is in the best interest of the people we serve." Mayor Engler compared what the Town of Meredith is doing with what the City of Laconia is doing. Chief Erickson stated there is no comparison. Councilor Haynes would like to get rid of the stigma that the Council is against the Fire Department. Councilor Haynes does not agree with the staffing being at only seven. He does want a figure to be presented that both parties are happy with. Chief Erickson would like to see the City Managers tax cap budget approved. Councilor Hamel addressed the issue that the Chief stated his staff's morale is very low. Chief Erickson explained that his employees love what they do, care about this City and they feel the Council wants to take that away from them. Councilor Hamel stated the charge of this Council is to watch out for the citizens that pay these bills. When LRGH decided to end their ambulance service it was up to this Council to look into that. Councilor Hamel knows the fire department does a great job. He believes the Council has been pretty good to the department with a new fire truck, a state of the art Fire Department, a new pump truck, and the hiring of eight new fire fighters. Councilor Hamel also stated that over the years the Council has asked that the overtime does not become institutional and that it should only be used as needed. He explained that there is only so much money that can go around with the Tax Cap. The one thing that has bothered Councilor Hamel is all of the false statements made by the fire department about the privatization. It has been very discouraging. With Brewster Ambulance Service pulling out due to the phone calls received, it was a disservice to the City. Councilor Hamel brought up the letter that was sent to the Taylor Community by the Save the Ambulance organization. Chief Erickson was handed the letter for his review as he did not know anything about it. Councilor Lipman would like to know what the Fire Department has been operating at, budget wise, the last three months with only eight staff at night. Chief Erickson does not have the exact numbers right now. Mayor Engler stated that as a matter of policy, if the department does not back fill under nine, his calculations, the savings would be around $120,000 to $150,000 per year. Councilor Lipman would like validation of the Mayor's figures. Councilor Lipman would also like to see the revenue sources from the overtime items that are billed out to see if the amount is being fully covered. City Manager Myers directed the Council to look at page 55 of the budget book for the break down of reimburseables. Mayor Engler feels the bottom line is protecting overtime. Mayor Engler stated that twice in the last three years he has floated proposals to add personal to the fire department to take that money out of the overtime budget and come out on the plus side and neither time did that pass. Chief Erickson stated he proposed for ten staff this year. Mayor Engler explained he felt that the department would just back fill to ten and the problem would still exist with the overtime line budget item. Chief Erickson explained that over 3700 hours of training was done during regular scheduled hours, but there is some training that can't be done that way. Councilor Hamel stated the Council is very willing to work with the Fire Department but what the Council is asking, is for the Chief to reassess the overtime issue. Councilor Bownes stated that from the Council's perspective, the entertainment of the privatization9 of the ambulance service was something the Council felt obligated to do. It was never anything but good feelings towards the department. Councilor Bownes stated it turned nasty due to the letters, such as the one Councilor Hamel presented earlier. The Council considers themselves friends of the fire department and they want to work with them, not against them. Councilor Bownes stated the Council is only looking out for the best interest of the residents of Laconia and the Fire Department. Councilor Hamel commented that ten cities in Massachusetts use Brewster Ambulance Service and not one of those departments had nothing but great things to say about them. Chief Erickson agreed and also stated those departments have not known anything but ambulance privatization. He also stated that his department saw the privatization as a threat of losing their jobs. Councilor Hamel moves to extend the meeting till 10:30 pm, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Cheney admires the Chiefs' passion but this requires more than just passion. Councilor Cheney is the most disappointed about the negativity regarding the privatization of the ambulance service. Chief Erickson stated he is willing to reduce manpower to eight at night and day, year round. City Manager Myers explained some numbers regarding savings to Chief Erickson's statement above (eight at day and night). If the Chief didn't backfill the first person, the savings from overtime plus retirement tax would be $140,000 annually from the managers proposed budget. With the Chiefs number of $28,000 from the $140,000, that would leave $112,000 of overtime and correlating retirement tax. Mayor Engler restated the City Managers statement, by not backfilling the first position for each shift, the savings in the overtime and retirement tax on that overtime would be an additional $112,000 to the City Managers already cut budget proposal. City Manager Myers explained why the money needs to be cut from the general fund only for the Fire Department budget. City Manager Myers also explained that between Motorcycle Week, Pumpkin Festival, Triathalon, and Fireworks Events, the billable money to the Fire Department Overtime line item is around $12,000 and $15,000 that the City gets reimbursed for and will get the Council a firm number tomorrow. Councilor Hamel is willing to rediscuss the amount but would still like to see $100,000 go to a school resource officer for the middle school. City Manager Myers stated by the Fire Department agreeing with a policy that stated having a full platoon at eight and not back filling the first position plus itemizing the reimburseables there could be a ball park savings of $130,000 in the Fire Departments general budget for the overtime line item. He also stated an entry level hire of a police officer would be around $80,000 annually and this happening at the beginning of the fiscal year would not be likely. Councilor Haynes asked if the school would be cost sharing this resource officer with the school. City Manager Myers has not addressed that as of yet. He suggests budgeting $60,000 for the new hire. Mayor Engler suggests cutting the Fire Department budget by $130,000 with $60,000 going into a fund for a school resource officer for the middle school, and putting the remaining $70,000 in a reserve account. Councilor Hamel suggests $150,000 be cut from the Fire Department budget including the retirement system tax and the Council watch the overtime that happens and reassess next year if need be. Councilor Cheney stated that the proposal that was received from Brewster Ambulance Service, the gentleman from the hospital that is losing his job on June 29, his name was floated around to be hired as part of Brewsters staff. Chief Erickson explained why he would still need that position. Mayor Engler asked how many Councilors informally would be in support of Councilor Hamel's amount of $150,000. Let the record show that all five Councilors are in agreement. Councilor Hamel asked the Chief if the group Trying to Save the Ambulance service was pushed by the department. Chief Erickson stated he does not know who was responsible for it. 10 Councilor Hamel also made a statement that only five employees out of the 39 of the fire department live in  Laconia. Chief Erickson disagreed with that statement. Councilor Hamel explained that is what the personnel department has in her records. City Manager Myers clarified what is going to brought to the Council for the July 9, 2018 meeting: $150,000 being cut from the Fire Department budget with $60,000 going to the Police Budget for the hiring of a School Resource Office for the middle school, and $50,000 to irrigation and $25,000 to Memorial Park irrigation and $15,000 to Contingency. City Manager Myers handed out a paper explaining the carry forwards. 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 23.A. Improvement of Union Ave/Elm Street intersection 23.B. Ordinance amendment relative to Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161, Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 23.C. Second reading of a resolution relative to the adoption of RSA 31:95­b, Appropriation of funds made available during the year 23.D. Master Plan 23.E. Milfoil Treatment funding requests 23.F. Sewer & Water Master Plan 23.G. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co­op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.H. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting 23.I. WOW Trail 23.J. Proposal to implement City Policies for designating emergency lanes 23.K. Resolution 2017­30 relative to authorizing the City Manager to apply to the State of NH DOT for a temporary use agreement in the City's name that will allow for the completion of a study concerning the different options and benefits of how to build Phase 3 of the WOW Trail and to sign all necessary documents 24. Any other business that may come before the Council 25. NON­PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91­A:3, II) 26. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council and hearing no objection, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 10:25 pm. Respectfully Submitted Cheryl Hebert City Clerk 11