City Council

Minutes were approved on 1/13/25 by Laconia City Council. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 P.M. City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 12/23/2024 - 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 City Clerk Gargano called the role of the following City Councilors: Councilor Cheney, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Haynes, Councilor Bogert and Councilor Felch. Councilor Bogert announced that he was unable to attend the meeting in person, he was alone in the room. Mayor Hosmer noted that all votes this evening would be taken by roll call vote. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager; Glenn Smith, Finance Director 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 6.A. Proclamation - Christmas Village Mayor Hosmer presented the following proclamation to the volunteers of Christmas Village: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Christmas Village in Laconia began in 1975; it was originally inspired by Santa’s Village in Bristol, NH, as a way to tell the story of Noah’s Ark, eventually becoming a much treasured Christmas celebration; and WHEREAS, this year marks the 49th anniversary of Christmas Village. The event is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom have been involved for decades, whose hard work transforms the Community Center into a winter wonderland; and WHEREAS, Christmas Village is a free celebration where children can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, receive a gift, visit with the elves, play games, get their faces painted and make crafts. This event is especially important for children who might not otherwise have a Christmas; and WHEREAS, approximately 25 adult volunteers and 70 children committed their time to help keep this tradition alive for the more than 1,400 people that visited Christmas Village over four days this  WHEREAS, Christmas Village is a free celebration where children can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, receive a gift, visit with the elves, play games, get their faces painted and make crafts. This event is especially important for children who might not otherwise have a Christmas; and WHEREAS, approximately 25 adult volunteers and 70 children committed their time to help keep this tradition alive for the more than 1,400 people that visited Christmas Village over four days this year; and WHEREAS, next year marks the 50th anniversary of Christmas Village in Laconia. Work has already begun buying toys for all ages, coming up with new ideas of how to build the village, and working on fundraising in order to keep the tradition moving forward. NOW, THEREFORE, today as we celebrate the long history of Christmas Village in Laconia, I ask all citizens to join with us in extending our heartfelt thanks to the countless volunteers for making sure this magical tradition continues in our community. Given under my hand and the seal of the City of Laconia this 23rd day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four Andrew J. Hosmer, Mayor. 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. Regular City Council meeting minutes of December 9, 2024 Minutes of the Laconia City Council meeting of December 9, 2024 were distributed to members of the City Council on December 13, 2024. One minor correction to the minutes was made, and the revised minutes were redistributed to the Council and updated on the website. With one correction submitted to the Clerk, the minutes were accepted as distributed. 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Patrick Wood, of Ward 3. He stated he was the mayor of Christmas Village one year and it was a wonderful experience and he is so glad to see this event return to the City every year. As the Chair of the Laconia Human Relations Committee he noted they will be hosting a Martin Luther King celebration on 1/19/25 at 1PM at the Laconia Colonial, the program has been expanded to 1/18/25 and 1/25/25 there will be a movie playing at the Laconia Library, that is about a doctor from Keene NH both viewings will begin at 7pm. There will be a discussion held after each movie presentation. 10. INTERVIEWS 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 14. PRESENTATIONS 15. MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Hosmer stated there is a great event coming up at the Belknap Mill on 12/31/24 the 1 st annual Mayor’s new years eve ball from 8PM – 12AM. Tickets can be purchased online at Belknapmill.org. The bells at the mill will be rung at midnight, he looks forward to seeing many members of the community there. 16. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Haynes thanked the City Manager and City Staff for the annual holiday luncheon.  Mayor Hosmer stated there is a great event coming up at the Belknap Mill on 12/31/24 the 1 annual Mayor’s new years eve ball from 8PM – 12AM. Tickets can be purchased online at Belknapmill.org. The bells at the mill will be rung at midnight, he looks forward to seeing many members of the community there. 16. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Haynes thanked the City Manager and City Staff for the annual holiday luncheon. Mayor Hosmer announced this year’s employee of the year is the City Manager’s secretary Nancy Brown. Everyone who had a hand in keeping this a secret from Nancy did a great job. Councilor Felch noted that the Lakes Region Children’s auction raised 763,334.00 this year and the pub mania top team was café déjà vu, they raised over 43k, all that money will be disbursed to 60-70 children’s charities. The listing of where the money goes is right on their website. Councilor Cheney noted the on going Code violations and issues with the parcel at the corner of Rollercoaster Rd and Rte. 106, he read the court decision and wants to see the City follow through with what was ordered. Mayor Hosmer asked what the next step is, Manager Beattie stated the next step will be for the City to go back to our Attorney’s and we may have to go in and clean it up ourselves and attach the bill to the property. He also reviewed the welfare guidelines, and on page 17 of the guidelines it states a workfare program, he remembers a prior welfare director named Bert Morin who was always utilizing this part of the guidelines, Councilor Cheney would like to reinstitute this program throughout the city. Councilor Soucy was wondering where the City is standing with the Concord Hospital, he thought we were going to go to the Attorney General’s Office. Manager Beattie stated he doesn’t have an answer yet, but he will follow up. 17. COMMITTEE REPORTS 17.A. FINANCE (Soucy, Cheney and Hoffman) 17.A.i. WOW Trail Funding 17.A.ii. Downtown TIF Financing 17.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Cheney (Chair), Soucy and Felch) 17.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Haynes, Felch, Cheney) 17.C.i. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 17.C.ii. Proposed Historic Overlay District 17.C.iii. Use of public property by for-profit entities 17.C.iv. Performance Zoning 17.C.v. Code Enforcement on property maintenance 17.C.vi. Time frame for demolition permits 17.D. LAND & BUILDINGS (Bogert, 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), Hoffman, Soucy) Chairman Haynes noted the Public Works Subcommittee met and they decided on no parking on  17.D.iii. Plan for the DPW Compound 17.E. PUBLIC WORKS (Haynes (Chair), Hoffman, Soucy) Chairman Haynes noted the Public Works Subcommittee met and they decided on no parking on both sides of the street on one end of Howard Street down by Victoria Woods and the Brick Front. 17.E.i. Retaining Wall Policy 17.E.ii. Discussion for converting from a manual to an automated solid waste curbside collection service 17.F. APPOINTMENTS (Councilors Soucy (Chair), Cheney and Haynes) 18. LIAISON REPORTS 19. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS No one from the public wished to speak. 20. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 20.A. Financial and Operational Trends Report Manager Beattie presented the report to the council, he noted that building permits are moving forward, they are at about the same amount as they were 2 years ago, the welfare expense is over but they did vote at this last meeting to move some leftover ARPA funds, on the last page the storm costs through November we are doing ok financially. 20.B. Project Updates Report Manager Beattie presented the report to the council and noted the Weirs Beach Restoration has a meeting set for January 3, 2025, with the Parks & Rec Director and the State of NH. 20.C. Monthly Economic Development Report Manager Beattie presented the report to the council and noted on Page 2, the CPIU did tick up a little bit last month, we are at about 2.95%. We’ll know next month where the year ends up but he imagines it will be just under 3%. Councilor Soucy asked the city manager to put together a 5-year comparison to see how the tax rate, property evaluations and the percentages of how it has changed. He asked Manager Beattie to share it with the rest of the Council. Manager Beattie explained he sent it directly to Councilor Soucy first since he was the one who requested it and he wanted to make sure it met what he was asking. 21. NEW BUSINESS 21.A. Resolution 2024-29 - Relative to acceptance of an award in the amount of $10,680.00 from the Department of Safety Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of SWAT/SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department The City has applied to the New Hampshire Department of Safety for grant funding in the amount of $10,680.00 to purchase SWAT/SOU equipment through the Homeland Security Grant Program. Fiscal Impact: None - The entire cost of this equipment is covered by the Homeland Security Grant, there is no local match requirement. Councilor Haynes made a motion to waive a reading of Resolution 2024-29 in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None.  $10,680.00 to purchase SWAT/SOU equipment through the Homeland Security Grant Program. Fiscal Impact: None - The entire cost of this equipment is covered by the Homeland Security Grant, there is no local match requirement. Councilor Haynes made a motion to waive a reading of Resolution 2024-29 in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None. By roll call vote: Councilor Cheney: Yes Councilor Soucy: Yes Councilor Hoffman: Yes Councilor Haynes: Yes Councilor Bogert: Yes Councilor Felch: Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 Councilor Hoffman made a motion to move a first reading of Resolution 2024-29 relative to acceptance of an award in the amount of $10,680.00 from the Department of Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of SWAT/SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department. Seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None. By roll call vote: Councilor Cheney: Yes Councilor Soucy: Yes Councilor Hoffman: Yes Councilor Haynes: Yes Councilor Bogert: Yes Councilor Felch: Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 Councilor Cheney made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing on January 13, 2025 during the regular City Council meeting for Resolution 2024-29 relative to acceptance of an award in the amount of $10,680.00 from the Department of Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of SWAT/SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department, to gather public input prior to any action being taken. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. By roll call vote: Councilor Cheney: Yes Councilor Soucy: Yes Councilor Hoffman: Yes Councilor Haynes: Yes Councilor Bogert: Yes Councilor Felch: Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 21.B. Proposed amendment to the Wage and Compensation Plan In accordance with the authority outlined in Section 6:02 of the Laconia City Charter and Section 1.4 of the City’s Classification and Compensation Plan, I am submitting the following amendment to the City’s Wage and Compensation Plan. The amendments will automatically take effect unless vetoed by a majority vote of the City Council within thirty (30) days of December 23, 2024. The amendment is as follows: WAGE AMENDMENTS: Adding the new position of Community Paramedic to Grade 22 of the Wage and Compensation Plan Fiscal Impact: $158,658.04 - $193,858.62 Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve the proposed amendment to the Wage and Compensation Plan as presented, which will take effect January 1, 2025. Seconded by Councilor Cheney Discussion: There was a brief discussion about what the fiscal numbers meant, Manager Beattie explained it includes every tax, retirement contributions, and a family plan of health insurance at the maximum amount. By roll call vote:  Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve the proposed amendment to the Wage and Compensation Plan as presented, which will take effect January 1, 2025. Seconded by Councilor Cheney Discussion: There was a brief discussion about what the fiscal numbers meant, Manager Beattie explained it includes every tax, retirement contributions, and a family plan of health insurance at the maximum amount. By roll call vote: Councilor Cheney: Yes Councilor Soucy: Yes Councilor Hoffman: Yes Councilor Haynes: Yes Councilor Bogert: Yes Councilor Felch: Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 22. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 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) Councilor Cheney made a motion to go into nonpublic 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 Soucy Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 The nonpublic session began at 7:33 PM. Councilor Felch made a motion to return to public session. Seconded by Councilor Hoffman. Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes  By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 The public session reconvened at 7:44 PM Councilor Felch made a motion to seal the minutes for 12 Months, seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Cheney- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Felch- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 26. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Hosmer adjourned the meeting at 7:46 PM. Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk