City Council

Minutes of this meeting were approved by City Council on March 14, 2022. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 P.M. 2/28/2022 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hosmer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Lipman led the Salute to the Flag 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Acting City Clerk Stacy Anders 4. ROLL CALL Acting City Clerk Stacy Anders took a roll call with the following Councilors in attendance: Bruce Cheney, Henry Lipman, Mark Haynes, Bob Hamel, Tony Felch and Robert Soucy Mayor Hosmer noted all six Councilors were in attendance and a quorum was established 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE City Manager Scott Myers, Finance Director Glenn Smith 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. Regular meeting minutes of February 14, 2022 Minutes of the meeting were distributed to the City Council on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. With no corrections or changes submitted to the City Clerk, Mayor Hosmer declared the minutes accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Harry Bean, owner of multiple multi family units asked if there will be any input from public before the solid waste proposal will be voted on. Mayor Hosmer noted there will be opportunity for public to address items on the agenda under item 19. 10. INTERVIEWS 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 11.A. Reappointment of City Councilor Mark Haynes as a regular member of the Historic District Commission to a term expiring at the end of December, 2023 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 11.A. Reappointment of City Councilor Mark Haynes as a regular member of the Historic District Commission to a term expiring at the end of December, 2023 Councilor Hamel moved to reappoint City Councilor Mark Haynes as a regular member of the Historic District Commission to a term expiring at the end of December, 2023, seconded by Councilor Felch; the motion passed with five in favor. Councilor Haynes recused himself from the vote. 11.B. Reappointment of Dean Trefethen, Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement Director, as a member of the Highway Safety Commission, to a three-year term expiring at the end of March, 2025 Councilor Haynes moved to reappoint Dean Trefethen, Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement Director, as a member of the Highway Safety Commission, to a three-year term expiring at the end of March, 2025, seconded by Councilor Felch; the motion passed with all in favor. 11.C. Reappointment of Lt. Christopher Noyes from the Laconia Police Department as a member of the Highway Safety Commission to a three-year term expiring at the end of March, 2025 Councilor Cheney moved to reappoint Lt. Christopher Noyes from the Laconia Police Department as a member of the Highway Safety Commission, to a three year term expiring at the end of March, 2025, seconded by Councilor Soucy; the motion passed with all in favor. 11.D. Reappointment of Stacy Soucy as the Planning Board's representative to the Lakes Region Planning Commission to a four-year term expiring at the end of June, 2025 Councilor Felch moved to reappoint Stacy Soucy as the Planning Board’s representative on the Lakes Region Planning Commission to a four-year term expiring at the end of June, 2025, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with five all in favor. Councilor Soucy recused himself from the vote. 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 13.A. Public hearing on Ordinance 2022-161-11, 19 to amend City Code Chapter 161, Licensing, to update Sections 161.A and 161-19 The public hearing opened at 7:09 pm No one spoke for or against the proposal in person or via Zoom. The public hearing closed at 7:10 pm 14. PRESENTATIONS 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Hosmer commended Public Works for their work during the recent storms. 16. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Cheney reported success in efforts to save the wooden bridge in the Weirs. The State will rebuild it then turn it over to the City to maintain. City Manager Myers noted there will be a rolling 5 year period for  Mayor Hosmer commended Public Works for their work during the recent storms. 16. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Cheney reported success in efforts to save the wooden bridge in the Weirs. The State will rebuild it then turn it over to the City to maintain. City Manager Myers noted there will be a rolling 5 year period for maintenance. Councilor Cheney asked for a report on the future of the culverts on Hilliard Rd that were looked at and repaired. City Manager Myers explained that there is a parallel with FEMA emergency dollars and a submitted application to Homeland Security Management as a way of being proactive. If the funds do not materialize $20,000 has been slotted to the capital funds. Councilor Lipman would like to look at the big picture of the budget and tax cap calculation. City Manager Myers gave a brief background and possible forecast. With all the new value over the next couple of years gained value and will lessen tax rates. Councilor Haynes complimented the Fire Department for their work at the four alarm fire on Bay St over the weekend. Councilor Felch reported that the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association is all set and working on next year's 100th anniversary. 17. COMMITTEE REPORTS Councilor Soucy reported the newly created Appointment Committee meeting was an organizational meeting to get things started. He asked anyone interested in any vacancies to any board or commission to apply. The next meeting will be later in March. 17.A. FINANCE (Lipman (Chair), Hamel, Cheney) Councilor Lipman would like to schedule two follow up Finance Subcommittee meetings before the next two Council meetings on March 14 and March 28 at 6:15 pm to finish up review of the Welfare Guidelines. 17.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 17.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 17.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Cheney (Chair), Soucy, Lipman) Councilor Cheney reported the Public Safety Committee received concerns about the dangerous speed along the South Main Street area. The Police will do a survey of speed and will be there more often. 17.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Soucy (Chair), Felch, Cheney) 17.C.i. Review of Chapter 167, Noise and Chapter 161 Licensing as it pertains to outdoor sound equipment and loudspeakers 17.C.ii. Ordinance Amending Chapter 221, Vehicles and Traffic/Parking on Sublawns 17.C.iii. Procedural review of grant applications 17.C.iv. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 17.C.v. Proposed Historic Overlay District 17.C.vi. Scenic Road Motorcycle Noise Petition 17.C.vii. Use of public property by for-profit entities  17.C.v. Proposed Historic Overlay District 17.C.vi. Scenic Road Motorcycle Noise Petition 17.C.vii. Use of public property by for-profit entities 17.C.viii. Short Term Rentals 17.C.ix. Naming privilege's to public areas 17.D. LAND & BUILDINGS (Hamel (Chair), Haynes, Felch) 17.D.i. Downtown parking garage 17.D.ii. Repair & maintenance of City buildings 17.D.iii. Plan for the DPW Compound 17.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Haynes (Chair), Felch, Soucy) 17.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17.E.ii. Discussion for converting from a manual to an automated solid waste curbside collection service 18. LIAISON REPORTS 19. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Harry Bean, owner of multiple multi family units in Laconia, addressed the Council. He requested the City put out a new bid on solid waste removal. After the last meeting he looked at the bid packet and it is straight forward but seems to only ask for bids on automated trash pickup. He suggested the new bid ask for prices of manual and automated pickup. He had no disrespect for the Council but is trying to give more options on what should be done, to give citizens a fair chance. City Manager Myers noted that there were two RFPs; he will get a timeline and benchmarks and will distribute the findings to Council as well as make the information a public document. 20. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 20.A. Project Updates Report City Manager Myers went over the Projects Update Report. He noted the Lakeport TIF Advisory Committee is looking to start conversations on meetings. 20.B. Monthly Economic Development Report City Manager Myers went over the Monthly Economic Development Report. City Manager Myers went over the hiring of the new City Clerk/Tax Collector, Katie Gargano, and gave her background. She will be starting March 7. The City has a new treasurer: Diane Clary. He gave a brief background on Ms. Clary. He also thanked Jeff Graham for his continuing work as Deputy Treasurer. There was a Bank RFP that went out and the City is staying with the current bank, Bank of NH. 21. NEW BUSINESS 21.A. Amendments to the City's Wage and Compensation Plan  There was a Bank RFP that went out and the City is staying with the current bank, Bank of NH. 21. NEW BUSINESS 21.A. Amendments to the City's Wage and Compensation Plan City Manager Myers gave background. Councilor Lipman would like to see comparisons to other communities. City Manager Myers mentioned that there was a comparison and noted that City Hall has only a 35 hour workweek versus many other communities that have 40 hour workweeks. Councilor Felch moved to approve the Wage and Compensation Plan as presented, seconded by Councilor Cheney; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.B. Municipal Resources Inc. City Manager recruitment proposal City Manager Myers walked through the proposal. Mayor Hosmer went over the time table from September backwards. The possibility is to get an offer made and accepted by July. City Manager Myers noted that Council should look at what is important to the Council first before starting the process. Councilor Lipman asked if MRI could specify who will be working with the City as he’d rather not get a new person but a seasoned person who understands New Hampshire. Councilor Felch moved to approve the Municipal Resources, Inc. proposal for City Manager recruitment services as presented and adding in the contract to have the team identified and subject to City Manager verification of lead recruiters, seconded by Councilor Soucy; the motion passed with all in favor. 21.C. First reading of Ordinance 2022-189 to amend City Code Chapter 189, Sewers Public Works Director Wes Anderson explained that the Ordinance needs to be brought in line with current regulations. Mayor Hosmer is concerned that not all parties are in the know of this change. Public Works Director Wes Anderson reported they have gotten in touch with the majority but are still looking for some. They plan to have information sessions to help the associations begin the process. Councilor Cheney moved to waive a reading of this Ordinance in its entirety and to read by title only, seconded by Councilor Soucy; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Felch moved a first reading of Ordinance 2022-189, Sewers, seconded by Councilor Lipman; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Lipman would like more than one public hearing. Counselor Felch moved to schedule a Public Hearing on March 14, 2022, during the regular City Council meeting to gather input prior to any action being taken, seconded by Councilor Soucy; the motion passed with all in favor. 22. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 22.A. Second reading of Ordinance 2022-161-11, 19 to amend City Code Chapter 161, Licensing, to update Sections 161.A and 161-19 Councilor Cheney moved to waive a reading of this Ordinance in its entirety and to read by title only, seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Felch moved a second reading of Ordinance 2022-161-11, 19, to amend City Code Chapter 161, Licensing, to update Sections 161-A and 161-19, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor.  seconded by Councilor Haynes; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Felch moved a second reading of Ordinance 2022-161-11, 19, to amend City Code Chapter 161, Licensing, to update Sections 161-A and 161-19, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with all in favor. Councilor Felch moved to approve Ordinance 2022-161-11, 19 to amend City Code Chapter 161, Licensing, to update Sections 161-A and 161-19, seconded by Councilor Soucy; the motion passed with all in favor. 22.B. Converting to an automated solid waste curbside collection system upon completion of the current manual collection contract City Manager Myers gave a background. Councilor Haynes moved to take this agenda item, Converting to an automated solid waste curbside collection system upon completion of the current manual collection contract, off the table, seconded by Councilor Hamel; the motion passed with five in favor. Mayor Hosmer is interested to know what Council thinks about the public comments. Councilor Lipman believes the changes propose externality and feels transparency is important. Councilor Hamel agrees with Councilor Lipman and read the RFP. He would like to see the path of what both methods will cost and rebid with both automated and manual proposals. Councilor Soucy agrees with Councilor Lipman and Hamel. He asked if the proposal goes for rebid to have Laconia stand alone and also Laconia with Belmont for comparison purposes. Councilor Felch agrees with all the Councilors. Councilor Cheney is in agreement as well. He would like City Manager Myers to provide the information he currently has before going out to bid again. Mayor Hosmer asked for visuals for the public. Councilor Cheney moved to table converting to an automated solid waste curbside collection system upon completion of the current manual collection contract, seconded by Councilor Felch; the motion passed with all in favor. 22.C. RFQ for Urban Planning Services for downtown Laconia parking study Mayor Hosmer asked to keep on the table the item for RFQ for Urban Planning Services for downtown Laconia parking study until March 14th. City Manager Myers noted that money is still being spent on the garage and suggested not tabling for much longer. Council concurred. 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.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 Hosmer adjourned the meeting at 8:46 pm. Respectfully, Acting City Clerk Stacy Anders