City Council

Minutes were approved by the Subcommittee on 1/28/2026. CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING Government Operations & Ordinances City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 6:30 P.M. 12/18/2025 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Councilor Haynes called the meeting to order at 6:36 PM. 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Haynes led the salute to the flag. 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Stacy Anders, Deputy City Clerk 4. ROLL CALL Councilor Cheney, Councilor Haynes and Councilor Felch 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilor Felch made a motion to approve November 18, 2025, minutes as presented, seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None The motion passed with all in favor. 3-0 7. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Haynes, Felch, Cheney) 7.A. Ordinance 2025-5-20, 5-32, 5-33 - Amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III - Boards and Commissions - Human Relations Committee Councilor Cheney addressed homelessness that rapid response for enforcement purposes has been going on for over a year. The only place that we have significant delays is on state property. Det Adams is significantly involved in drug related issues that he has been asked by the AG’s office to train police officers throughout the state on enforcement related tasks. He believes the public should do more research before they state things that are not true about someone, especially by name of a city employee. Mr. Beattie briefed the committee about the proposed ordinance that it will be on Monday’s agenda. They will be able to make changes as needed at the council meeting. He went over what the City Attorney recommended. Councilor Felch stated that the new council can make the changes going forward. 8. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS  Attorney recommended. Councilor Felch stated that the new council can make the changes going forward. 8. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Councilor Felch moved the citizens requests to comment on current agenda items first, seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None The motion passed with all in favor. 3-0 Councilor Felch made a motion to make comments to a three-minute limit, seconded by Councilor Cheney. Discussion: None The motion passed with all in favor. 3-0 Pat Wood stated that the Human Relations Committee is supporting the efforts to make the committee a full committee of the city. This is not the committee’s decision to make; it is the Councils. He discussed two changes that he presented at a prior meeting to the ordinance. Councilor Cheney addressed Mr. Wood regarding allegations against him and the Human Relations Committee. Mr. Wood stated that they are untrue. Mr. Beattie stated that he spoke with officials from the City of Nashua. They informed him of the NH 811 program. If an individual qualifies under the NH 811 program, they go on a list for housing that is throughout the state. An example of someone from Nashua was approved for housing, but it was in Laconia. They refused to move to Laconia because they wanted to stay in Nashua. Ronnie Abbott, resident of Gilford NH stated that there are multiple programs that do the same thing, including the CAP Program. Steven Bogert, resident of Ward 5 and Ward 5 Councilor, stated he would like a few changes to the ordinance: He would like the language to change under section 5-32D. He believed the City Manager should not be appointing members to the Human Relations Committee. He is not concerned about the current City Manager who is appointing, but future City Managers. He would like to add who is going to give the committee the direction on what to work and not work on. It should not be the committee deciding on what they are going to work on. Councilor Cheney agrees with this. He also discussed the need for a mission statement. Gregg Hough, Ward 2, is not in favor of the Human Relations Committee, he believes the committee is not neutral. Archie Kelch, Ward 3, agrees with Gregg Hough. He would like to see Chairman versus Chairperson to be used. Doug Lambert, Gilford resident & owner of local business, commented on a recent letter to the editor in the Daily Sun. He believes issues started when homelessness and God pods were discussed. He suggests the committee should be dissolved. Councilor Cheney stated that if the Human Relations Committee is under the Council’s control, then the members would be Laconia Residents only and they can direct them on what they can do. If it continues as is, they will not be able to control what they do. He believes that it should be a City Committee. Doug Lambert echoed what Gregg Hough has said before, what role and purpose of city government does this committee serve whether it’s a city or mayoral committee. Government is what we come together to do which an individual can’t do on their own. Councilor Felch stated that even if they approve this committee at the next council meeting, the committee members will be appointed by the new council. Ronnie Abbott stated he would like the council to look at the mission statement with a linear vision.  Councilor Felch stated that even if they approve this committee at the next council meeting, the committee members will be appointed by the new council. Ronnie Abbott stated he would like the council to look at the mission statement with a linear vision. Councilor Bogart wanted clarified if the mission statement is written already, Councilor Felch said no but it has been discussed. Mr. Wood doesn’t understand why the public is against having a member of a non-profit agency part of the committee. The existing purposes of the committee states to educate ourselves and our children. Historically, the Police Chief has been part of the committee up until the last 5 years, when they have not been. He wants people to come together to talk about issues. Gregg Hough stated that Mr. Wood is making great points, but Mr. Wood thinks that people on the committee need to think the right way, this is not what the government needs to be doing for us. The public is capable of doing it on our own. At their last meeting they were lamenting about the possibility of breaking up the committee, it was not put in their minutes, and there is no video of the meeting. If they get disbanded, they are still going to continue to do what they are doing. Councilor Cheney’s wants control over it, Mr. Hough believes they have a lot on their plate on the council, this does not need to be on it also. It’s a drain on resources, it’s not a necessary function of the government, no other city has this. 9. Any other business that may come before the Council Chairman Haynes thanked the committee for working together over the past several years as this is their last meeting together. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Haynes adjourned the meeting at 7:29 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Stacy Anders, Deputy City Clerk