City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 23, 2019 7:00 P.M. 12/23/2019 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Engler called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Haynes 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, and Mark Haynes. Not present: Bob Hamel and Andrew Hosmer Mayor Engler noted four (4) Councilors were in attendance and a quorum was established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager Glenn Smith, Finance Director 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. Regular meeting minutes of December 9, 2019 Minutes of the meeting were distributed to the Council on Monday, December 16, 2019. With no corrections or changes submitted to the clerk, the minutes will be accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 8.A. Acceptance of Unanticipated Funds - Laconia Fire Department Community Grant from Walmart Councilor Lipman moved to accept the $2,100 Walmart Community Grant for the purchase of specialized medical equipment to be placed on the ambulances, seconded by Councilor Bownes; the motion passed with all in favor. 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Gail Ober, Ward 5 - Ms. Ober thanked Mayor Engler for his six (6) years of service. Ms. Ober also addressed the Council in regards to the three (3) parcels that were purchased by the City and she expressed her dissappointment with the Council. Ms. Ober read a prepared statement but did not submit it into the record. Ms. Ober stated once the purchase and sales agreement was signed for these properties, it should have been disclosed to the public. Patrick Wood, 717 Shore Drive - Mr. Wood has submitted a letter of resignation from the Downtown TIF Advisory Board to the Mayor, Council and into the record. He expressed he is retiring and closing up his Office and will no longer have a presence in the Downtown as either a property or business owner within the  into the record. Ms. Ober stated once the purchase and sales agreement was signed for these properties, it should have been disclosed to the public. Patrick Wood, 717 Shore Drive - Mr. Wood has submitted a letter of resignation from the Downtown TIF Advisory Board to the Mayor, Council and into the record. He expressed he is retiring and closing up his Office and will no longer have a presence in the Downtown as either a property or business owner within the TIF District. Representative St. Clair - On behalf of Jennifer and himself, they would like to thank the Council and Department Heads for all of their hard work done that past year and looks forward to the coming year. 10. INTERVIEWS 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 11.A. Sarah Jenna - Seeking appointment as a regular member of the Planning Board to fill a vacant term expiring at the end of June, 2022 Councilor Cheney moved to appoint Sarah Jenna as a regular member of the Planning Board to fill a vacant term expiring at the end of June, 2022, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. 11.B. Request to appoint Amy Lovisek, Parks and Recreation Director, to the WOW Trail Maintenance Advisory Committee to fill the remainder of a three-year term expiring at the end of November, 2021 Councilor Haynes moved to appoint Amy Lovisek to the WOW Trail Maintenance Advisory Committee to fill the remainder of a three-year term expiring at the end of November, 2021, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14. PRESENTATIONS 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Engler stated that Mayor Elect Hosmer, City Manager Myers, and himself have met in regards to the management of the Colonial Theater. The name of this committee will be the Colonial Programming Management Committee. This committee will be responsible for determining what management structure as far as programming should be put in place once the City takes ownership of the Colonial. The committee will put out a request for proposal and then bring any RFP received to the Council for final approval. To date five people have agreed to serve on this committee and those five (5) are: Jared Guilmett, Jim Rogato, Rod Dyer, Elizabeth Howard, and Karen Prior. Councilor Bownes moved to approve the formation of the Colonial Programming Management Committee as well as approve the nomination of the five (5) people mentioned above, seconded by Councilor Haynes; Councilor Lipman clarified that the committee's role is to make a recommendation to the Council, with the Council having final approval. The Mayor confirmed that is correct. Mayor Engler called the question; the motion passed with all in favor. Mayor Engler mentioned tonight is the last meeting for the current Council and the new Council will have their first meeting in January on the 13th. The Mayoral Inauguration will be held on January 9, 2020 at the Belknap Mill at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited to attend and it is a spectacular event that only happens when a new Mayor takes office. 16. COMMITTEE REPORTS 16.A. FINANCE (Lipman, Hamel, Cheney) 16.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 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.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.C.iv. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 16.C.v. Paid Parking Proposal for Downtown 16.C.vi. Proposed Historic Overlay District 16.C.vii. Scenic Road Motorcycle Noise Petition 16.D. LANDS & BUILDINGS (Hamel, Lipman, Haynes) 16.D.i. Downtown parking garage 16.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 16.D.iii. Perley Pond Maintenance 16.D.iv. Plan for the DPW Compound 16.D.v. Continuation of the discussion regarding parking in the Lakeport area 16.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Bownes, Hosmer, Haynes) 16.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17. LIAISON REPORTS 18. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS No comments from the public were made. 19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 19.A. Project Updates Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. 19.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. Councilor Lipman asked for the City Manager to clarify any misinformation in regards to the Fire Department staffing and proposals that were in the newspaper.  19.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers reviewed the report. Councilor Lipman asked for the City Manager to clarify any misinformation in regards to the Fire Department staffing and proposals that were in the newspaper. City Manager Myers explained this would allow some flexibility for the City and the Chief to attract quality employees in the Fire Department. Councilor Cheney is the one that encouraged the City to find some creative ways within the Police and Fire Department to fill the vacancies. This proposed change has the full support of the Fire Fighters Union. City Manager Myers explained this would not take away the probationary period of a new hire. This proposed change would only apply to a candidate with three years of accredited fire service and a lateral transfer from another department. This would be done with the recommendation of the Fire Chief and approval from the Personnel Specialist and the City Manager. This also caps at how high a lateral transfer could be placed. If a new fire fighter comes in to the department with no experience they would still begin at the base step and work their way through the ranks. 20. NEW BUSINESS 20.A. Letter of agreement between the Firefighter's Union and the City of Laconia City Manager Myers explained what this item is doing is giving Chief Beattie the authority to hire qualified employees at better rates. This mirrors what the school district and police departments already do. City Manager Myers explained that by adding the language "the decision to place the employee within the salary range above is at the discretion of the City and shall not be grievable," and "this Letter of Agreement will remain effective until notice by either party is given to the other of its intention to withdraw its agreement" will protect the City. This would be a side letter to the contract. Chief Beattie is in favor of this as he hopes it will give him more candidates to choose from to fill any vacancies he may have. Chief Beattie explained as of right now there is one vacancy for a paramedic/firefighter. Councilor Cheney is in support of this idea, not because it gives him the ability to hire, but the potential savings for the City by not having to pay training expenses. Councilor Lipman moved to approve the proposed Letter of Agreement pertaining to the starting pay for experienced firefighters, AEMT, or paramedic as outline in the proposed Letter of Agreement between the City of Laconia and the Laconia Professional Firefighters Association as proposed in the Council packet tonight, seconded by Councilor Haynes; Councilor Bownes does support this in principle, but is reluctant to vote on this tonight as the entire Council is not present and this should be a full discussion. Councilor Bownes moved to table this item until January 13, 2020, seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with two (2) in favor, two (2) opposed (Lipman and Haynes), Mayor Engler broke the tie and voted in favor. Councilor Lipman is requesting this item be taken up during the Inauguration on January 9, 2020. City Manager Myers explained this item can be taken up during the Inauguration but they were trying to keep it more of a ceremonial event. It can be discussed that night if it is the will of the Council. Discussion was had in regards to what night this topic should be tabled to, January 9, 2020 or January 13, 2020. Councilor Lipman would like to see this discussed sooner rather than later due to a nation-wide labor shortage. Councilor Bownes doesn't understand how four (4) days could make a difference. Councilor Cheney does agree that everyone should be here present to decide on this topic. Councilor Cheney moved to reconsider the motion to table until January 13, 2020, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with three in favor and one opposed (Bownes).  a nation-wide labor shortage. Councilor Bownes doesn't understand how four (4) days could make a difference. Councilor Cheney does agree that everyone should be here present to decide on this topic. Councilor Cheney moved to reconsider the motion to table until January 13, 2020, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with three in favor and one opposed (Bownes). Councilor Cheney moved to table this item to January 9, 2020, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. City Manager Myers explained that according the Charter, the new terms for Mayor and Council take place January 1, 2020 whether a meeting is held or not. Therefore, it will be the new Mayor and new Council that will take this item up on January 9, 2020. There will not be a formal meeting on January 9, 2020 with the outgoing Council. 20.B. Discussion of City Manager's Compensation Before this item is discussed, Mayor Engler asked the Council to go into non-public session in room 200B to discuss this item. Councilor Haynes moved to go into non-public meeting under 91-A:3,II (a), the dismissal, promotion or compensation of any public employee, or the investigation of any charges against him, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted, seconded by Councilor Lipman; City Clerk Hebert took a roll call vote: Councilor Cheney: YES Councilor Bownes: YES Councilor Lipman: YES Councilor Haynes: YES ; the motion passed with all in favor. Mayor Engler noted four (4) Councilors were in attendance and a quorum was established. Not present: Bob Hamel and Andrew Hosmer Councilor Cheney moved to exit non-public at 7:51 pm, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Mayor Engler noted at 7:53 pm, the Council is back in regular session. Councilor Bownes moved to approve the raise of the annual salary of the City Manager from $135,000 to $142,000 beginning January 1, 2020, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. City Manager Myers thanked the Council and Mayor. 21. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 22. COUNCIL COMMENTS The Council expressed their gratitude to the Mayor for his years of service. Councilor Haynes thanked the City of Laconia and it's residents for the lighting in the downtown area. On behalf of the Mayor and Council, they wish the City of Laconia happy holidays.  The Council expressed their gratitude to the Mayor for his years of service. Councilor Haynes thanked the City of Laconia and it's residents for the lighting in the downtown area. On behalf of the Mayor and Council, they wish the City of Laconia happy holidays. 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 23.A. Master Plan 23.B. Milfoil Treatment funding requests 23.C. Sewer & Water Master Plan 23.D. Single Stream Recycling/Concord Co-op/Solid Waste disposal cost reductions 23.E. Strategic Planning/Goal Setting 23.F. WOW Trail 23.G. Weirs Beach Restoration Project 23.H. Fair St/Court St traffic problems and accidents 24. Any other business that may come before the Council 25. NON-PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91-A:3, II) 26. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council and hearing no objection, Mayor Engler adjourned the meeting at 7:58 pm. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk MINUTES OF THIS MEETING WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON JANUARY 13, 2020.