City Council

Minutes were approved on February 21, 2025, by the Government Operations & Ordinances Subcommittee. CITY OF LACONIA JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES SUBCOMMITTEE AND THE ELECTRIC AGGREGATION COMMITTEE January 30, 2025 - 2:00 pm City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 1/30/2025 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Haynes called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Felch Led the salute to the flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL Clerk Gargano called the roll of the following committee members: Councilor Haynes, Councilor Felch, Absent: Councilor Cheney Electrical Aggregation Committee- Councilor Eric Hoffman, Patrick Wood, Richard McNeill, Tyler Carmichael 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager; Wes Anderson, DPW Director; Rob Mora, Planning Director; Matt Canfield, Police Chief 6. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS Councilor Felch made a motion to accept the July 10, 2024, and July 25, 2024, minutes as presented. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None The motion passed with all in favor. 2-0 7. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Haynes, Felch, Cheney) 7.A. Community Power Authorization At their meeting on January 27, 2025 the Laconia City Council assigned review of the attached Final Draft of the Laconia Electric Aggregation Plan to a joint meeting of its Government Operations and Ordinances Subcommittee and the Electric Aggregation Committee. 7. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Haynes, Felch, Cheney) 7.A. Community Power Authorization At their meeting on January 27, 2025 the Laconia City Council assigned review of the attached Final Draft of the Laconia Electric Aggregation Plan to a joint meeting of its Government Operations and Ordinances Subcommittee and the Electric Aggregation Committee. At the City Council meeting on February 10, 2025 there will be an agenda item for the Council to take action to adopt the final plan and refer it to the PUC for their review and approval. In accordance with RSA 53-E:6, the Electric Aggregation Committee unanimously approved the final draft of the plan at their meeting on January 9, 2025. Once adopted, the Final Plan will be sent to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for their review. After the PUC approves the Plan, the City Manager will work with Freedom Energy under the guidance of City Council to implement the program. The Planning Department recommends that, at their next meeting on February 10th , the City Council takes action to adopt the final plan and refer it to the PUC for their review and approval. Councilor Hoffman stated the electrical aggregation committee has met several times and has gotten all their answers on this plan and he feels it is the best option for the City of Laconia. Councilor Felch stated he has had direct energy for the past several years and he feels this is similar to that and will be a great option for our residents and business owners. Mr. Carmichael stated the PUC has 60 days to review the plan. Councilor Haynes thinks it is pretty straight forward. Mr. Wood felt this proposal gave the city the most changes and to meet the needs of the community while giving the city the most control. They did review several proposals and they committee all agreed it was the best option for the city. Manager Beattie noted this is going to the PUC and asked for the record what the next steps are. Once the city council has adopted the plan: They will file the plan with the PUC, there is a 60 day waiting period. Freedom Energy/Colonial Power will begin pricing options to find the city the best rates. This could take several months or up to a year. Then the city has to agree with the contract. Then they will begin the reach out to the customers. They will also receive an opt out option if they do not wish to participate in the program. Mr. Wood noted if you have another supplier all ready there is no need to change from direct energy or something else if you don’t want to. Residents can opt out at any time, there is no fee or penalty. Mr. Carmichael stated the committee unanimously voted to approve the current plan that has been presented. Councilor Felch made a motion to send the Laconia Electric Aggregation Plan to the full council at the February 10, 2025, meeting. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 2-0 7.B. Discussion of the City's Noise Ordinance  Councilor Felch made a motion to send the Laconia Electric Aggregation Plan to the full council at the February 10, 2025, meeting. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 2-0 7.B. Discussion of the City's Noise Ordinance Councilor Haynes, Chair of the Government Operations & Ordinances Subcommittee, has requested a discussion of the City’s Noise Ordinance following a concern voiced by a constituent. Attached to the agenda is Chapter 167 of the City’s Code relating to noise. Councilor Haynes has suggested the following language, or something similar, be incorporated into Chapter 167 of the Noise Ordinance to address these types of concerns: "It will be unlawful to operate any device, mechanical or otherwise, prior to 7:00 am that is involved in excavation, construction, landscaping, vehicle, street or road repair, delivery or the shipping of any product or commodity," Public Works Director Wes Anderson states that the following language constitutes the standard provisions on work hours used in DPW’s construction contracts: “Work Hours. Do not perform any work involving high noise machinery such as jack hammers or excavating equipment, including starting and warming the equipment, prior to 7:00 AM or after 7:00 PM, unless otherwise approved by the Engineer”. Public Comment: Tammy Griffin of Bay St, spoke about the excessive noise across the street from her house. Noise began at 6am during the summer, and has changed to 7am. There were multiple projects on Bay Street with the house being demolished and a new one being built and the replacement of the gas tanks behind her house at Terry Murphy’s. There have been dump trucks, cement trucks, cranes, several employee workers, delivery trucks, back hoes, concrete, nail guns, slamming car doors. The noise has been unbearable. She is a resident of that neighborhood for the past 29 years. They have also been working after 5pm. She’d just like some peace. Chief Canfield spoke about the vagueness in the current version of the ordinance, it may help that the ordinance updated, it’s not uncommon for construction to take place later in the evenings when the days are longer, and the weather is nice. Manager Beattie noted its not in our ordinance but when people file for their building permit it is listed on the permit what hours they are allowed to construct. Councilor Felch agrees with what is listed in the staff report and he’d like to see it brought to the full council. He read the staff report. Director Mora is a little concerned that there are several businesses who receive deliveries in the morning. Councilor Haynes asked if they could tie it back just to construction projects. Director Anderson would like to have the ability to adjust the hours as needed for their projects, they typically start setting up for construction around 6:30 AM in the summer months for city projects. Chief Canfield would like to see a clarification of the work hours and he’d like to see it go through legal. Councilor Felch made a motion to send the amendments to the full council after it goes through legal by the February 24 th council meeting. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 2-0 8. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS  Councilor Felch made a motion to send the amendments to the full council after it goes through legal by the February 24 th council meeting. Seconded by Councilor Haynes. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 2-0 8. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS 9. Any other business that may come before the Council 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Haynes adjourned the meeting at 2:27 PM. Respectfully submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk