City Council

CITY OF LACONIA - CITY COUNCIL MEETING City Hall - Armand A. Bolduc City Council Chamber 7:00 P.M. 3/23/2026 - Minutes 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Bordes called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM T 2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Councilor Bogert led the salute to the flag F 3. RECORDING SECRETARY Katie Gargano, City Clerk A 4. ROLL CALL Clerk Gargano called the roll of the following city councilors: Councilor Hildreth, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Haynes, Councilor Bogert and Councilor Conant. R Mayor Bordes confirmed that all councilors were in attendance and a quorum was present. 5. STAFF IN ATTENDANCE Kirk Beattie, City Manager; Glenn Smith, Finance Director D 6. COUNCIL PROCLAMATION 7. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS 7.A. City Council regular meeting minutes of March 9, 2026 Minutes of the Laconia City Council meeting of March 9, 2026 were distributed to members of the City Council on March 16, 2026. Councilor Conant made a motion to approve the minutes as distributed, seconded by Councilor Bogert. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 8. CONSENT & ACTION ITEMS 8.A. Temporary Traffic Order 2026-02 - Biketemberfest A request has been made to hold Laconia Biketemberfest on September 11 – September 13, 2026 beginning at 5:00 pm on Friday, September 11 and ending at 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Actual hours of operation for the event will be as follows: Friday, September 11 – beginning at 5 pm, ending at 2 am on Saturday, September 12 Saturday, September 12 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 2 am on Sunday, September 13 Sunday, September 13 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 5 pm Section 161-4 of the City’s Code states in part that outdoor sound shall not operate past the hour of 9:00 pm Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday (with the exception of Motorcycle Week). The organizer of the event is requesting that the time for outdoor sound as shown above be extended to allow bands to play until 11 pm on Friday, September 11 and Saturday,  2026. Actual hours of operation for the event will be as follows: Friday, September 11 – beginning at 5 pm, ending at 2 am on Saturday, September 12 Saturday, September 12 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 2 am on Sunday, September 13 Sunday, September 13 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 5 pm Section 161-4 of the City’s Code states in part that outdoor sound shall not operate past the hour of 9:00 pm Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday (with the exception of Motorcycle Week). The organizer of the event is requesting that the time for outdoor sound as shown above be extended to allow bands to play until 11 pm on Friday, September 11 and Saturday, September 12. (Bands will only play until 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 13.) The Special Events Review Committee approved this event at their March 4, 2026 meeting. A map of the event is provided as additional information. The organizer of the event is also asking for a waiver of all licensing and special event fees associated with the event; in past years the Council has approved this waiver request. If the waiver request is not approved, the Licensing fee would be $150 and the Special Event fee would be $200. T Councilor Conant made a motion to approve TTO 2026-02, Laconia Biketemberfest, approve a waiver of all licensing and special event fees associated with the event, extend the hours of operation of sound equipment and/or loudspeakers for Biketemberfest from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, September 11, 2026 and Saturday, September 12, 2026, and allow alcohol consumption on City Property in the designated areas only, pending Special Events Review Committee approval. F Seconded by Councilor Hoffman. Discussion: Councilor Soucy is concerned about waiving fees for a regular business. He doesn’t think we should be waiving the fees. Councilor Soucy amended the motion to remove the waiver of the fees. Amended Motion: Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve TTO 2026-02, Laconia Biketemberfest, A to extend the hours of operation of sound equipment and/or loudspeakers for Biketemberfest from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, September 11, 2026 and Saturday, September 12, 2026, and allow alcohol consumption on City Property in the designated areas only, pending Special Events Review Committee approval. Seconded by Councilor Conant. Councilor Hoffman also concurred with the amendment. Discussion: Councilor Haynes expressed that he does not think we should change the way we do business without any formal notice. Many councilors expressed that they have been R discussing this at various meetings over the past year or more. The motion passed as amended with in 5 favor. Councilor Haynes was opposed. 8.B. Temporary Traffic Order 2026-03 - Wake the Lake D A request has been received to hold Wake the Lake on Lakeside Avenue on May 15 – May 17, 2026 beginning at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 15, 2026 and ending at 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Actual hours of operation for the event will be as follows: Friday, May 15 – beginning at 5 pm, ending at 2 am on Saturday, May 16 Saturday, May 16 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 2 am on Sunday, May 17 Sunday, May 17 – beginning at 7 am, ending at 5 pm Section 161-4 of the City’s Code states in part that outdoor sound shall not operate past the hour of 9:00 pm Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday (with the exception of Motorcycle Week). The organizer of the event is requesting that the time set forth as shown above be extended to allow bands to play until 11 pm on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16. (Bands will only play until 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 17.) The Special Events Review Committee approved this event at their March 4 meeting. A map of the event is provided as additional information. Please note that paid parking on Lakeside Avenue will not yet be in effect during this event. The organizer of the event is also requesting a waiver of all Licensing and Special Event fees associated with this event; in past years the Council has approved this waiver request. If the waiver request is not approved, the Licensing fee would be $150 and the Special Event fee would be $200. Councilor Bogert made a motion to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2026-03, Wake the Lake, approve a waiver of all Licensing and Special Event fees, extend the hours of operation of sound equipment and/or loudspeakers for Wake the Lake from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, May 15, 2026 and Saturday, May 16, 2026, and allow alcohol consumption on City property in the designated areas only. Seconded by councilor Conant. Discussion: Councilor Soucy asked if parking meters are in place at this time? Manager Beattie stated no, they aren’t turned on until Memorial Day. Councilor Soucy is concerned about waiving fees for regular businesses. He doesn’t think we should be waiving the fees. Amended Motion: Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2026-03, Wake the Lake, to  are in place at this time? Manager Beattie stated no, they aren’t turned on until Memorial Day. Councilor Soucy is concerned about waiving fees for regular businesses. He doesn’t think we should be waiving the fees. Amended Motion: Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve Temporary Traffic Order 2026-03, Wake the Lake, to extend the hours of operation of sound equipment and/or loudspeakers for Wake the Lake from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Friday, May 15, 2026 and Saturday, May 16, 2026, and allow alcohol consumption on City property in the designated areas only. Seconded by Councilor Conant. Discussion: Councilor Bogert also concurred with the amendment. Councilor Haynes stated he still is not in favor of this. There should be an announcement saying when fees will no longer be waived. The motion passed as amended with 5 in favor. Councilor Haynes was opposed. T 9. CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA Anthony Santagate, event organizer for Wake the lake and Biketember Fest asked if he can charge admission for these events, since they are on city property. Manager Beattie stated he will look into it and F get back to him. Richard Mason, Ward 6- informed the council that he recently attended a building code of appeals meeting regarding the property next door to him, he was disappointed that the people running the meeting didn’t know how to work of the equipment. There was a 2 hour debate about whether he had met the 20-day A appeal deadline. He stated he was never made aware of the 20-day appeal deadline. He doesn’t feel that the city was aware of that appeal deadline until the city attorney got involved. The building inspector told him to get a lawyer, and he does not feel he was treated properly. He is saying all that is left for him is to sue the city. Kristen Obrien from Taylor Community- wanted to let the council and public know that they have some great R shows coming up in their music series, they are all free to the public and are posted in their monthly newsletter “the gazette”. Anyone can sign up with their email address to receive the gazette. Erika Vollmerding, Ward 5 voiced concerns to the council about safety in schools in regard to school shootings, she feels there should be drills that are practiced. She thinks the police should come to the D schools and teach about gun safety. The second concern is bears in downtown Laconia, she stated recently there was a bear seen on court street. She wants to see the city create an ordinance on the hours you can have your bird feeders out at dawn and dusk. She also said that we are a tourist community and she is worried people will get out of their cars and try to take photos with the bears. 10. INTERVIEWS 11. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS 12. COMMUNICATIONS 13. PUBLIC HEARINGS 13.A. Public Hearing - Ordinance 2026-5-32 - Amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III - Boards and Commissions, Section 5-32, Human Relations Committee Notice of this Public Hearing was made available in the March 12, 2026 issue of the Laconia Daily Sun and posted at Laconia City Hall, Laconia Community Center, Laconia Public Library and the offices of the SAU. Action on this item may be taken up under Unfinished Business. Mayor Bordes opened the Public Hearing at 7:28 PM. Patrick Wood, Ward 1 spoke in support of the ordinance and amendments to this ordinance. Mayor Bordes closed the Public Hearing at 7:30 PM.  Action on this item may be taken up under Unfinished Business. Mayor Bordes opened the Public Hearing at 7:28 PM. Patrick Wood, Ward 1 spoke in support of the ordinance and amendments to this ordinance. Mayor Bordes closed the Public Hearing at 7:30 PM. 14. PRESENTATIONS 14.A. Update on EMS billing and the Community Paramedic Program - Chief Joubert Chief Joubert introduced members of his team to the council. T Emergency Medical Services Deputy Chief Scott Lewandowski presented to the council the EMS billing. EMS billing funds personnel, the fleet, EMS equipment, medical supplies, training & CPR and the billing fee to the ambulance billing service. Winifred Tunstall, Community Paramedicine, gave an update to the council about the Mobile F Integrated Health program. 15. MAYOR'S REPORT A Mayor Bordes reported he is still working on setting up the homeless subcommittee. 16. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilor Soucy is looking for an update on the Parade Rd/ Rollercoaster Rd property. R Councilor Conant stated that cleaning up the neighborhoods was noted as a priority during the council’s goal setting process, one is that property councilor Soucy noted and he gave 2 addresses to the code department to follow up on. Manager Beattie stated that they tried to go on the Parade Rd/ Rollercoaster Rd property with a warrant, D they weren’t allowed on the property by the property owner, they left and got another warrant but then it started to snow and we have to reschedule back to the property with the company who is doing the cleanup. He will also follow up on the 2 addresses given to code. Councilor Bogert reminded residents to please be patient with DPW with the roads, mud season, frost heaves and potholes, they are dealing with it all. Councilor Hoffman wanted to ask if there is nothing the city can do for the Weirs BLVD parcel and Mr. Mason. Manager Beattie feels that maybe where its headed is to court. Councilor Hoffman would like to know how we prevent this from happening again in the future. Manager Beattie stated the fire department said that the code was interpreted correctly. The building board code of appeals did not give him the results he was looking for and he has the right to move to the next step. 17. COMMITTEE REPORTS 17.A. FINANCE (Councilors Soucy, Bogert and Hoffman) 17.B. PUBLIC SAFETY (Councilors Soucy, Haynes and Conant) 17.C. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES (Councilors Hoffman, Bogert and Conant) 17.C.i. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 17.C.ii. Performance Zoning 17.D. LAND & BUILDINGS (Councilors Bogert, Hildreth and Conant)  17.C.i. Regulation of Short Term Residential Rental Businesses 17.C.ii. Performance Zoning 17.D. LAND & BUILDINGS (Councilors Bogert, Hildreth and Conant) 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, Soucy, Bogert) T 17.F. APPOINTMENTS (Councilors Soucy. Hildreth and Conant) 18. LIAISON REPORTS F 19. CITIZENS REQUESTS TO COMMENT ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS Patrick Wood, Ward 1 spoke about the proposed purpose statement for the human relations committee. There was one correction made and has been added by the city manager and given to the council at the start of the meeting. A 20. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT 20.A. Project Updates Report R Manager Beattie presented the project updates report to the City Council. 20.B. Monthly Economic Development Report Manager Beattie presented the monthly economic development report to the City Council. D 21. NEW BUSINESS 21.A. Request to renew the Robert A. Hamel Community Service Recognition Award Committee In September of 2024, the Laconia City Council created a Community Service Recognition Award Committee. By unanimous vote, the award was named in honor of Robert A. Hamel, our colleague and friend, for his dedication and service to his beloved City of Laconia. The Committee is to be appointed annually by the Mayor and Council. The Resolution was attached to the agenda originally establishing the Committee was approved by the Council at their November 12, 2024 meeting. The award is to be presented annually in June. Council Rules state that special committees created by the Mayor sunset at the end of each calendar year unless they are renewed. As an example, members of the 2025 Committee consisted of Councilor Haynes, Councilor Felch, City Clerk Katie Gargano, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Lovisek, Matt Soza, Becky Guyer and Tara Shore. The Committee chose two recipients of the 2025 award: David Stamps and Debbie Frawley Drake. Councilor Conant made a motion to renew the Robert A. Hamel Community Service Recognition Award Committee, as requested. Seconded by Councilor Bogert. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0  Tara Shore. The Committee chose two recipients of the 2025 award: David Stamps and Debbie Frawley Drake. Councilor Conant made a motion to renew the Robert A. Hamel Community Service Recognition Award Committee, as requested. Seconded by Councilor Bogert. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 22. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 22.A. Ordinance 2026-5-32 - Amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III - Boards and Commissions, Section 5-32, Human Relations Committee T During previous City Council meetings regarding the Human Relations Committee (HRC), the Council has referred the matter back to the Government Operations and Ordinance subcommittee, with the primary mission of creating the HRC’s Purpose Statement. During discussions at the Government Operations and Ordinance subcommittee meeting of March 4, F 2026, the committee reviewed the ordinance governing the committee and made suggestions that will help align their upcoming purpose statement with the ordinance. The recommended changes, as included on the attached Ordinance, need to be approved by Council. A Synopsis of changes: 1. Changing number of members from 13 to 7. R 2. The 7 members will be made up of (6) Council appointments, and (1) Mayor’s appointment. 3. The Mayor’s appointment will be for two years and align with the Mayor’s term. 4. The first appointments will be (2) one-year terms, (2) two -year terms, and (2) three-year terms. The Mayor’s appointment is two-years. D 5. Terms expire coinciding with the members’ initial appointment dates. At the March 9, 2026 City Council meeting a motion was approved to schedule a Public Hearing on this matter; that Public Hearing was held earlier this evening. The HRC’s purpose statement was reviewed by our legal counsel and is a separate agenda item on this evening’s agenda. Councilor Bogert made a motion to waive a reading of Ordinance 2026-5-32 in its entirety and to read by title only. Seconded by Councilor Soucy. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 Councilor Hoffman made a motion to move a second reading of Ordinance 2026-5-32 relative to amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III – Boards and Commissions, Section 5-32, Human Relations Committee. Seconded by Councilor Soucy. Discussion: None. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 Councilor Hildreth made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-5-32 relative to amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III – Boards and Commissions, Section 5-32, Human Relations Committee, as presented. Seconded by Councilor Hoffman. Discussion: Councilor Soucy wanted to make sure that all members will be going through the appointments committee. Councilor Bogert clarified that the 6 members would go before the appointments committee, but the mayors appointment will not.  Councilor Hildreth made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-5-32 relative to amending Chapter 5, Administration of Government, Article III – Boards and Commissions, Section 5-32, Human Relations Committee, as presented. Seconded by Councilor Hoffman. Discussion: Councilor Soucy wanted to make sure that all members will be going through the appointments committee. Councilor Bogert clarified that the 6 members would go before the appointments committee, but the mayors appointment will not. The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 22.B. Human Relations Committee Purpose Statement At the March 4, 2026 Government Operations and Ordinance Subcommittee meeting the committee discussed the Human Relations Committee Purpose Statement. The revised Purpose Statement, which has been reviewed by legal counsel, was attached to the agenda for the City Council’s T consideration. Councilor Soucy made a motion to approve the Human Relations Committee Purpose Statement, as presented. Seconded by Councilor Bogert. Discussion: Councilor Bogert made an amendment to remove the sentence “if time does not allow for prior Council approval, the City Manager may F authorize the speech and its content.” from section D of the purpose statement. The amendment was seconded by Council Conant. There was a continued discussion about how this does not relate to city statements only for this specific committee and does not show any lack of faith in our city manager’s decisions that he makes. Manager Beattie said it does not matter which way this goes, he has no opinion, if something happens overnight in the city, he will still make a statement on behalf of the city. Councilor Soucy and Councilor Hoffman concurred with the amendment. A The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 23. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS R 24. Any other business that may come before the Council 25. NON-PUBLIC SESSION (According to RSA 91-A:3, II) Councilor Bogert made a motion to go into nonpublic session according to RSA 91-A:3, II. D (e) Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed against the body or agency or any subdivision thereof, or against any member thereof because of his membership in such body or agency, until the claim or litigation has been fully adjudicated or otherwise settled. Seconded by Councilor Conant Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Hildreth- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Conant- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 The nonpublic session began at 8:30PM. Councilor Bogert made a motion to return to public session. Seconded by Councilor Soucy. Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: Councilor Hildreth- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Conant- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0  Councilor Hildreth- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Conant- Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 The public session was reconvened at 8:45 PM. Councilor Bogert made a motion to seal the minutes for 1 Year or until the legal consideration is solved seconded by Councilor Soucy. Discussion: None. By Roll Call Vote: T Councilor HIldreth- Yes Councilor Soucy- Yes Councilor Hoffman- Yes Councilor Haynes- Yes Councilor Bogert- Yes Councilor Conant- F Yes The motion passed with all in favor. 6-0 26. ADJOURNMENT A Mayor Bordes adjourned the meeting at 8:45 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Katie Gargano, City Clerk D R