City Council

Minutes were approved on August 28, 2023, by the City Council. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Interviews and Election of Ward 5 Councilor City Hall- Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 7:00 P.M. 7/17/2023 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Hosmer called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Mayor Hosmer led the salute to the flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL Clerk Gargano called the roll of the following: Councilor Cheney, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Lipman, Councilor Haynes, Councilor Felch and Mayor Hosmer. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.A. Request to schedule two Public Hearings for the Community Development Finance Authority Request to schedule two (2) public hearings on July 24, 2023, during the regular City Council Meeting regarding: 1. A proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $500,000 in CDBG Housing Grant Funds. Of the grant funds, up to $30,000 will be retained by the City for administrative/labor compliance costs associated with the project, up to $470,000 of the funds will be subgranted to Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD) for improvements to Millview Apartments, an 18-unit affordable housing complex located at 115-117 Union Ave; 20 & 28 Locust St; and 5 Jameson St). The improvements will include new siding, new boilers, and possibly some landscaping improvements. 2. The Anti-displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the Millview Apartments Upgrade Project. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available to municipalities through the NH Community Development Finance Authority. Up to $500,000 annually is available for Economic Development Projects, up $500,000 for Housing Projects, up to $500,000 for Public Facility Projects, up to $350,000 in Emergency Funds, up to $25,000 per Planning Study grant. All projects must directly benefit a majority of low- and moderate-income persons. Councilor Haynes made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing on July 24, 2023, during the regular City Council meeting regarding proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $500,000 in CDBG Public Facility grant funds for improvements to Millview Apartments located at 115-117 Union Avenue, 20 & 28 Locust Street and 5 Jameson Street. The improvements will include new siding, new boilers, and possibly some landscaping improvements.  Councilor Haynes made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing on July 24, 2023, during the regular City Council meeting regarding proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $500,000 in CDBG Public Facility grant funds for improvements to Millview Apartments located at 115-117 Union Avenue, 20 & 28 Locust Street and 5 Jameson Street. The improvements will include new siding, new boilers, and possibly some landscaping improvements. Seconded by Councilor Felch Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 5-0 7. INTERVIEWS 7.A. Interviews of Ward 5 City Council Candidates A Ward 5 City Council vacancy exists due to the recent passing of Councilor Robert Hamel. The term expires on January 1, 2024. Election of a candidate to fill the Ward 5 City Council vacancy will occur later in the agenda under “Nominations, Appointments & Elections”. Please refer to the candidates’ applications included in the agenda packet. 7.A.i. Breanna Neal The Council interviewed Breanna Neal of 37 Avery Street. She has been a resident in Laconia for 9 years. Breanna is the former owner of the downtown business Polished and Proper. She has been on the Downtown TIF Advisory Board for 8 years and has worked has been in several positions for the last 4 years as an election worker. As well as being on the founding board before Celebrate Laconia became a non-profit. Breanna feels that she has had enough grasp and experience in the City to understand what the Council does and knows there is a need and is willing to serve. Mayor Hosmer thanked Breanna for her application. Mayor Hosmer feels that the work done by the councilors is based on what they would like to see in the City and how they would like to see the City develop. Mayor Hosmer asked Breanna her perspective and her potential influence in the City. What does she foresee in the City, the great opportunities and challenges. How she might approach a complex problem which might not have an easy answer. Breanna said what she brings to the table is that she is creative. She understands that most of the problems that come before the Council are complex. She understands hard decisions and that homelessness is extremely complex. She likes to attack those problems by identifying the boundaries, variables, positives, and negatives to try and find cohesion. But not every part of it is going to make someone super happy but if you can find the compromise then everyone can move forward. Councilor Lipman asked Breanna if she were to be voted in tonight if she would also file to be put on the ballot for the upcoming election. She said yes. He also asked what three things she finds as positives about Laconia and three things she would like to improve. Three Positives: the development of Main Street over the past 10 years, the revitalization of the Weirs and the event of motorcycle week. Three needs improvement: Marketing of the things the city offers because so many things are available but lots of citizens do not know about them. Use of the City Flag, she would like to see it everywhere. Councilor Haynes asked if she believes the City has done enough to help with homelessness. She believes that this is a multifaceted issue. It needs to be coordinated between the state and local level as well as non-profit organizations and citizens. What she can provide herself to help with her profession is she has the ability to sit one on one with people and listen. She gets to be a part of several different boards and speak frequently with law enforcement. Councilor Cheney asked specifically what areas she might want to have improved. Breanna would like to see better contact information for the several non-profit organizations in the area. Apply for grants and be firmer in the enforcement end of things because there will always be people who choose to be homeless.  with her profession is she has the ability to sit one on one with people and listen. She gets to be a part of several different boards and speak frequently with law enforcement. Councilor Cheney asked specifically what areas she might want to have improved. Breanna would like to see better contact information for the several non-profit organizations in the area. Apply for grants and be firmer in the enforcement end of things because there will always be people who choose to be homeless. Councilor Soucy asked what she sees needs to happen to improve downtown. Part of it is time. Centralized coordination between shop owners for communication. Councilor Lipman thanked Breanna for her opinions and thanked her for the comment on coming in under the tax cap. He asked what her opinion is on the school system. She thinks that the schools deserve a lot more praise than what they get credit for on the internet. Councilor Haynes asked for her opinion on the parking garage. Breanna said based on her opinion and the parking study, it would be best to remove the 50-year-old structure. Councilor Lipman asked what problems she might see in ward five. She does not have any right now, but it was a ward five resident who asked her to run. 7.A.ii. Steven Bogert The Council interviewed Steven Bogert of Spruce Street; he has been a resident for over 20 years. He has sat on the Zoning Board of Adjustment since 2002, a community activist with the Laconia youth football and cheer for the last 18 years. He believes that he has had a long- standing, great relationship with the City. He believes the City has tons of potential to continue to grow in a positive way. He thinks the state school property will help with this. He believes the opportunity with the infrastructure would be to provide housing. Mayor Hosmer thanked Steven for his application and dedication to the City. Mayor Hosmer pointed out that he does not believe there are any ordinances that prevent him from serving as a state representative, board member and potential council member. Mayor Hosmer would like to know what his intentions are with this. Steven said that it is commonplace to have council members also serve at a state level. If he is appointed to the council, he will be resigning from the zoning board. Mayor Hosmer would like to know what his thought process is on complex problems that might show up in his role as state legislature. If something were to come up to the City’s benefit or not, how would he balance both. Steven says that he has already told his majority leader that he votes the way the City wants him to vote. He tries to work with the City to get as much input as he can, like working with the City Manager. On addressing complex issues. He likes to use flow charts to define the issue, the end goal, questions, and solutions. Councilor Lipman mentioned that sometimes there are delegation meetings on the same Mondays as council meetings and would like to know how he would navigate this. Typically, the delegation meetings are earlier in the day and if they overlap, he will use his best judgement to decide what meeting needs priority. Councilor Lipman asked about his top three most improved and needs improvement points. Three things most improved- the library, the railroad station, the growth of the city. Two things that need improvement- The parking garage, remove the top level and restore the second floor and retail growth. Mayor Hosmer asked about the conflict between the delegation and having to vote on a county budget and then sitting as a potential council member and having to vote on a city budget. Steven explained that when he sees those numbers, he runs them by the City Manager’s office to find out how things are going to work. He does the same with the superintendent of the schools. This is to be as transparent as possible. He reiterated that he is a delegate for Laconia. He believes that if he becomes a council member and gets to work on a budget, it will give him a better understanding of the City’s needs and what to bring back to the delegates to enable him to make better informed decisions. Council Soucy wanted to confirm that he would vote in favor of the City. He said yes. Councilor Cheney asked Steven’s feelings on the tax cap. He likes the tax cap. It makes  give him a better understanding of the City’s needs and what to bring back to the delegates to enable him to make better informed decisions. Council Soucy wanted to confirm that he would vote in favor of the City. He said yes. Councilor Cheney asked Steven’s feelings on the tax cap. He likes the tax cap. It makes people work harder. Councilor Haynes asked if he believes the City should look into the zoning areas for better growth. He explained that the documents are supposed to be flexible not concrete. He does think there is room to make improvements because it was created many years ago. Council Lipman asked if he knows of any issues unique to Ward five. He mentioned that there is a gas pipe that was exposed because of the recent storms. He also believes the crosswalk by the Irving Gas Station needs improvement. Councilor Lipman also asked if he were to be voted in temporarily if he plans to also put his name on the ballot. He said yes. 7.A.iii. Michael Denufrio withdrew his application and no longer wishes to be considered for the position. Mayor Hosmer recessed the meeting at 8:14PM The meeting resumed at 8:20 PM 8. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS A Ward 5 City Councilor vacancy exists due to the recent passing of Councilor Robert Hamel. The term expires on January 1, 2024. Candidates were interviewed earlier in this meeting. 8.A. Election of Ward 5 City Councilor Councilor Felch made a motion to elect Breanna Neal as Ward 5 City Councilor to fill the remaining term of the late City Councilor Robert Hamel which expires on January 1, 2024. Seconded by Councilor Haynes Discussion: None. The vote was 2-3, the motion failed. Opposed: Councilor Cheney, Councilor Soucy, and Councilor Lipman. Councilor Soucy made a motion to elect Steven Bogert as Ward 5 City Councilor to fill the remaining term of the late City Councilor Robert Hamel which expires on January 1, 2024. Seconded by Councilor Cheney Discussion: None. The motion passed 3-2. Opposed: Councilor Haynes, Councilor Felch. This motion indicates that Steven Bogert has been appointed to fill the term for Robert Hamel which expires January 1 st . 9. Any other business that may come before the Council Councilor Felch made a motion to go into Non-Public Session according to RSA 91-A:3, II (d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Lipman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes  By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Lipman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes The Council entered nonpublic session at 8:25 PM The public session reconvened at 8:37 PM Councilor Soucy made a motion to seal the minutes of the nonpublic session for 6 Months seconded by Councilor Cheney. The motion passed with all in favor 5-0. 10. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hosmer adjourned the meeting at 8:38 PM. Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk