City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Government Operations & Ordinances 4:00 P.M. 10/4/2021 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Soucy called the meeting to order at the above date and time. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Soucy lead the Salute to the Flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL City Clerk Hebert took a roll call vote with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, Bob Soucy, Tony Felch Chairman Soucy stated all three committee members were in attendance and a quorum was established. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Scott Myers, City Manager Glenn Smith, Finance Director Wes Anderson, DPW Director 6. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Soucy (Chair), Felch, Cheney) 6.A. Redistricting of Ward Boundaries City Manager Myers started by explaining the breakdown of the populations of each ward according to the 2020 US Census. From the 2020 Census, the City of Laconia has a population of 16,871. Ward 1 - 2,994, Ward 2 - 2,754, Ward 3 - 2,429, Ward 4 - 2,931, Ward 5 - 2,694, and Ward 6 - 3,069. We need to distribute the population to be within +/- 3%. The City Manager showed a map on how we could adjust the ward boundary lines to get as close as possible to the 3%. He also explained that census blocks can not be broken up and it is best to use certain landmarks when adjusting the lines. Ward 2 will not need to be touched at all. The first change is to use Province Road as the new boundary. This would move 107 from Ward 4 to Ward 5. Then we can use the Weirs Channel as a boundary line. This would move anyone on the right side of the bridge to Ward 1 and to the left to Ward 6. By doing this, it moves about 125 residents. Then we would shift about 725 residents from Ward 1 to Ward 3. This would have all of Blueberry Lane in Ward 3. The new boundary line would be Lexington Drive. Then we would sift about 425 residents from Ward 6 to Ward 1. This would now have all of Southdown/Long Bay in Ward 1 rather than being split between two wards. Lastly, we would shift about 270 residents from Ward 3 to Ward 1. This change would have both side of Old North Main Street represented in Ward 1 and also includes the northern side of Lexington Ave toward Ahearn State Park. It also includes one small pod adjacent to Opechee Park in the area of Edgewater Ave. City Manager Myers also explained by doing the change on Blueberry Lane, we would lose the Beane Conference Center as a polling location as Blueberry Lane would end up being in Ward 3. We  both side of Old North Main Street represented in Ward 1 and also includes the northern side of Lexington Ave toward Ahearn State Park. It also includes one small pod adjacent to Opechee Park in the area of Edgewater Ave. City Manager Myers also explained by doing the change on Blueberry Lane, we would lose the Beane Conference Center as a polling location as Blueberry Lane would end up being in Ward 3. We are actively looking at other options for a Ward 1 polling location. Some options that we are looking into are the Heritage Baptist Church on Meredith Center Road, St. James Episcopal Church on Parade Road, and a church on Old North Main Street. State law says the polling location needs to be within the boundary lines of that ward. There are not a lot of options in this section of the City. Another option would be to look into Funspot as an option or a few of the businesses on Lexington Drive. The committee is in agreement with the City Manager's adjustments. 6.B. Placement of Temporary Signs Councilor Cheney thinks the entire sign ordinance needs to be reviewed. A particular concern of his, is the removal of political signs but not the septic, quilting, or private advertising signs. It was suggested putting a time limit as to how long signs could be left. City Manager Myers explained political signs are treated differently than other temporary signs. There is a specific law for political signs (RSA 674: 17). Most people do not know where the right-of-way's are. Someone may think they are placing a sign on their own property when in reality it is a right-of-way. The State's right of ways on Laconia are: NH Route 107 from the boundary with Belmont to Hounsell Ave, NH Route 106 from the boundary with Belmont to intersection with NH Route 107, Meredith Center Road from the intersection of Parade Road and Elm Street to the boundary with Meredith, and Endicott Street East and North from boundary with Gilford to boundary with Meredith. Councilor Cheney suggested having a list available for those that go into the Clerk's office to file for candidacy. A copy of the Ordinance and State Law is included in the record. City Manager Myers will also ask Director Trefethen for an update on the permanent sign ordinance. 7. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS An unnamed person spoke about the signage on personal property. He said someone should be able to post any signs they want on their own property because of their first amendment. 8. Any other business that may come before the Committee 9. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the committee and hearing no objection, Chairman Soucy adjourned the meeting at 4:59 pm. Respectfully submitted Cheryl Hebert, City Clerk