LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING

 

LACONIA CITY HALL – ROOM 200A 7:30 P.M.

 

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Mayor Lahey called the meeting to order on the above date and time.

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG:

 

            Councilor Luther led the salute to the flag.

 

ROLL CALL:

 

            Clerk Kaligian called the roll with the following Councilors present: Councilor Luther, Lipman, Baer, Hamel and Bolduc. Also present City Manager Cabanel. Councilor Fitzgerald absent.

 

ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

 

            On motion of Councilor Bolduc, seconded by Councilor Hamel it was voted to approve the minutes of the budget meeting on 4-9-07 and regular Council meeting of 4-09-07.

                       

INTERVIEWS:  NONE

 

CONSENT AND ACTION CALENDAR:

 

1.                   Approval of SEA contract cost items

 

Councilor Hamel moved to accept the Agreement with the SEA as written with the cost increase over three years of $51,207. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

2.                   Memorial Park Men’s Softball request to use concession stand at Memorial Park for Men’s Softball League from May 13 through September 18, Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00-10:30 p.m. and Sunday’s 11:00 am – 10:30 p.m.

 

Councilor Hamel moved to approve the request of the Memorial Park Men’s Softball League to raise money on city property at Memorial Park and softball field on Fridays and Mondays from 6:00 pm-10:30 pm and Sundays from 11:00-10:30 pm May 13, 2007 to September 18, 2007. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

3.                   Scheduling Public Hearing for City and School Budgets

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to hold a public hearing on May 14, 2007 at 7:30 pm. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

4.                   Scheduling budget work session/deliberations

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to hold a budget work session on May 16, 2007 at 6:30 pm. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:    None

 

PRESENTATIONS:      None

           

MAYOR’S REPORT:    None  

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

1.                  FINANCE:

 

a.                   Motorcycle Week Revenue

b.                   Special Items

c.                   Proposed changes to City fees

d.                   Waiver of MTRC for Lakeport Baptist Church

e.                   Request for waiver of fees by non-profits

f.                    Establishment of Trust Funds for a Performing Arts Center

 

No Report

 

2.                  PUBLIC SAFETY:

 

a.                   Motorcycle Week

b.                   Walk light and traffic light at Union Ave & Messer Sts. Timing of lights at Court & Main Sts. Three-way stop at New Salem & Pleasant Sts and right hand turn at Elm St.

 

No Report

 

3.                  GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES:

 

a.                   RSA 202-A:11a/Laconia Library

b.                   RSA 79-E Community Revitalizations Tax Relief Incentive/Main St.

 

No Report

 

4.                  PUBLIC WORKS:

 

a.                   Road Weight Limits

b.                   Rowe Court

 

Councilor Bolduc reported the committee met with Assistant Public Works Director, Luke Powell concerning five different areas of concern. The committee will wait until they come back on the 14th of May at 6:30 pm. The committee has no recommendation at this time.

c.                   Ordinance Amending Chapter 221, Vehicles and Traffic/Parking on Sublawns

d.                   Storm drains/salt leaching into lake

e.                   Parking for Laconia  Senior Center

 

No Report on items a, c, d and e. Meeting 5-14-07 6:30 pm. On item b.

 

5.                  LAND & BUILDINGS:

 

a.                   Repair & Maintenance of City Buildings

b.                   Old Police Department building on Church St.

 

No Report

 

LIAISON REPORTS:    NONE 

 

MANAGER’S REPORT:   

 

 City Manager Cabanel reported on the following;

 

  • Employee parking for the Harley Davidson event at the Beacon St. parking lot Motorcycle Week.
  • The City Assessor Bob Camp resigned and there are two people who are certified to do appraisals who will fill in with more hours. The position will be advertised.
  • Thanked the Finance Committee and Council for the new carpet and tile which spruced up the building.
  • Discussed financial projects for bonds and contracts. An analysis will be done so that the wisest choices will be made with the money and maximize the amount of interest earned and pay the least amount of interest payments.
  • City Manager Cabanel reported it is very hard to sell the four new spaces on the boardwalk and requested the council consider reducing the cost from $3,000 to $2,000 only for this year.

 

MOTION:

 

Councilor Lipman moved to reduce the cost of the four new spaces from $3,000 to $2,000 for this year (2007) only. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1.                   Petition to change zoning for property located at 343 Court St. from Downtown Riverfront District to Commercial/Peter Burr – Cheapo Depot

 

Councilor Hamel read a letter from Neil Young in favor of Mr. Burr’s request.

 

Laurie McCarthy of Addison St. read a statement opposed.

 

Councilor Luther moved to refer the petition to the Planning Board.  Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Councilor Lipman moved to refer it to the Planning Board for consideration of a zoning change for rental of vehicles. Seconded by Councilor Luther. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Councilor Lipman moved to request the Planning Board to consider other zoning options dealing with the entrance to the city. Seconded by Councilor Baer. Motion passed unanimously.

 

2.                   Request of Rally & Race Association to change dates for Motorcycle Week 2008

 

Councilor Hamel moved that Motorcycle Week will be held beginning the second full weekend of June and end the third full weekend in June. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the raising of funds at the Motorcycle Bike Show at Opechee Park contingent upon approval of the Parks & Recreation Department. Seconded by Councilor Hamel.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

3.                   Referral to the Government Operations Committee of request by Aquedoctan Realty, LLC for an easement at property known as the Weirs Beach General Store and located at 329-347 Lakeside Ave.

 

Councilor Hamel moved to authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement to allow the easement with conditions expressed and written by the City Attorney and approved by the Public Works Department. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:   NONE

 

NOMINATI0NS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS: 

 

1.                   Thomas Crossley – requesting appointment as an alternate to the Zoning Board of Adjustment

 

Councilor Lipman stated based on the testimony of Mr. Crossley he should learn more about what the board does and its operations and if he is still interested he can attend a number of meetings and the participation be based on citizenship as opposed to promoting a business interest.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:   

 

  • Councilor Hamel reported he had stopped at the Middle School and the by-pass pumps were running and the process is ongoing. They will be reconnecting the pipe by the end of the week and discontinuing the pumps.

 

  • Councilor Hamel discussed contacting merchants regarding recycling cardboard.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA:   NONE

 

NON-PUBLIC SESSION:  NONE

           

ADJOURNMENT:

 

On motion of Councilor Bolduc, seconded by councilor Hamel, it was voted to adjourn at 8:33 p.m.

 

A true record Attest:

 

Ann G. Kaligian

City Clerk