Laconia public meetings in 2022
26 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Lakes Business Park
The Board accepted a purchase and sale agreement for lots 3 and 4 to be used as a commercial solar generator facility, pending approval from the Laconia City Council and Gilford Board of Selectmen. The Board also approved development plans for lot 5 and requested a legal opinion regarding the solar project's conformity with park covenants.
- Approved remote participation for Henry Lipman (4-0)
- Approved September 28, 2022 minutes (4-0-1)
- Accepted $195,000 offer for lots 3 and 4 for solar facility (4-1)
- Approved soliciting legal opinion from Walter Mitchell on solar project covenant conformity (5-0)
- Approved final development plans for lot 5 as submitted to Gilford Planning Board (5-0)
Water Commission
The Board approved the accounts payable and financial statements dated December 21, 2022. Members reviewed a proposed 2023/2024 budget showing a 6.72% increase over last year, with a final vote expected in January. The board also discussed potential rate increases for backflow testing and non-payment reconnection fees.
- Approved minutes of December 8, 2022 (unanimous)
- Approved accounts payable and financial statement dated December 21, 2022 (unanimous)
Police Commission
The Commission approved two out-of-state training courses for officers and the 2023 Notice of Holidays. Chief Canfield reported the acquisition of two grants totaling $296,000 for a dispatch technology wall and an evidence storage building.
- Approved minutes from October 27, 2022
- Approved $3,489.20 for American Association of Polygraphers Annual Conference training
- Approved $2,684.50 for Force Science Certification Course training
- Approved 2023 Notice of Holidays
Human Relations Committee
The committee voted to create standing work groups for the Multi-Cultural Festival and Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Members also re-elected the current Chairperson and Secretary. A treasurer's report showed a balance of $3,384.98.
- Approved November 14, 2022 minutes (unanimous)
- Approved establishment of Multi-Cultural Festival and Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration work groups
- Elected Carrie Chandler as Secretary (unanimous)
- Elected David Stamps as Chairperson (unanimous)
Water Commission
The Board of Water Commissioners voted to ask the City Council to declare the old tank site property at the end of Lafayette Street as excess property. The board also approved previous meeting minutes and current financial statements.
- Approved request for City Council to declare Lafayette Street property as excess property (unanimous)
- Approved minutes of November 17, 2022 (unanimous)
- Approved accounts payable and financial statement dated December 7, 2022 (unanimous)
Conservation Commission
The Conservation Commission approved the November 16 meeting minutes and determined a boatlift permit for 88 Morningside Drive had little impact. Members discussed denying a Conditional Use Permit for a property on Rollercoaster Road due to un-permitted wetland violations. The board also reviewed development plans for the State School property and proposed new annual goals for tributary sampling and public outreach.
- Approved November 16 minutes (all in favor, 1 abstention)
- Determined Wetland Permit By Notification for 88 Morningside Drive had little impact
- Agreed to reduce staff-involved meetings to once per month
- Denied Lake Opechee Watershed And Shoreline Survey 2023 grant proposal
Planning Board
The board approved a site plan for a used car dealership on Union Avenue and a change of ownership to condominiums for a property on Elm Street. A boundary line adjustment at Lighthouse Cliffs was also approved. The board recommended Capital Improvement Committee rankings to the City Council.
- Approved used car sales and rentals site plan at 1103 Union Ave (All in favor)
- Approved ownership change to condominium for 20 residences and 1 commercial unit at 51 Elm Street (All in favor)
- Approved boundary line adjustment at 85 & 87 Lighthouse Cliffs (All in favor)
- Approved extension to December 5, 2023 for Grace Presbyterian Church addition at 174 Province Street (All in favor)
- Recommended CIP rankings to City Council (All in favor)
- Tabled discussion on temporary building permit moratorium to January 10, 2023 (All in favor)
- Appointed R. MacNeill as third Laconia representative to LRPC (All in favor, B. Cheney abstaining)
Board of Library Trustees
The Board of Library Trustees approved the FY24 budget and narrative with a specific increase for building maintenance. They also accepted the FY23 and FY24 checking account budgets and revised the library's Behavior Policy.
- Approved FY24 budget and narrative with $30,000 increase to Maintenance Building line (unanimous)
- Approved FY23 and FY24 proposed checking account budgets (unanimous)
- Accepted revisions to the Behavior Policy (passed with one opposed)
- Authorized Director to sign revised masonry survey fee proposal from Robert Fulmer (unanimous)
- Approved library closure on Dec 16, 2022, from 11:45 am to 1:45 pm for City Employee Luncheon (unanimous)
- Approved October 27, 2022 minutes (passed with one abstention)
- Accepted October 2022 financials (unanimous)
- Acknowledged receipt of four committee meeting draft minutes (passed with one opposed)
Personnel Advisory Board
The Personnel Advisory Board met to review nominations for the Employee Recognition award. The Board unanimously selected Dane Anderson from the Parks and Recreation Department as the winner.
- Selected Dane Anderson (Parks and Recreation Department) for 2022 Employee Recognition award (unanimous)
Board of Assessors
The Board of Assessors reviewed two property requests following a non-public session. One request was denied and another was partially granted. The board also signed several tax warrants.
- Accepted September 15, 2022 minutes
- Denied request for 713 Endicott St. N #55
- Granted 2021 request for 1480 Old N. Main St. #26
- Denied 2022 request for 1480 Old N. Main St. #26
- Signed CLU warrants
- Signed Real Estate & Supplemental Tax warrants
Parks & Recreation Commission
The Commission approved several facility use requests for sports leagues and fundraising events. It also voted to update park rules regarding RVs and prohibited items, and authorized a cartop boat launch at Bartlett Beach.
- Approved Run/Walk 5K Race at Downtown Gym-WOW Trail (All in favor)
- Approved Lou Athanas Youth Basketball League use of Community Center pending insurance and fees (All in favor)
- Approved Laconia Adult Coed Softball use of Memorial Park pending insurance and fees (All in favor)
- Tabled NHIAA baseball Tournament request at Robbie Mills Baseball field (All in favor)
- Approved banning RVs, trailers, and buses in park lots and new rules against unauthorized hanging items, shopping carts, and multiple bicycles (All in favor)
- Approved cartop boat launch at Bartlett Beach (All in favor)
- Approved updated user fees for Facility Use Request Form (All in favor)
- Cancelled the December meeting (All in favor)
Water Commission
The Board approved a reimbursement to a property owner for damages caused during a water main relay. The Commission also voted to change its 2023 meeting schedule to Monday nights. Other items discussed included land grants, property rentals, and water tank maintenance.
- Approved reimbursement of $10,400 to a property owner for sewer backup costs (unanimous)
- Approved accounts payable and financial statement dated November 16, 2022 (unanimous)
- Accepted minutes of November 3, 2022 (unanimous)
- Changed 2023 meeting schedule from Thursday mornings to Monday nights at 6:00
Conservation Commission
The Commission approved the minutes from October 5 and November 2, with one set of amendments. The remainder of the meeting consisted of staff reports and discussions regarding local environmental concerns and legal requirements for public meetings.
- Approved October 5 minutes (unanimous)
- Approved November 2 minutes with amendments (unanimous)
Human Relations Committee
The committee approved the minutes from October 11 and October 31, 2022. Members discussed planning for the next Multicultural Festival, an anti-hate sticker campaign, and a Martin Luther King Jr. art event.
- Approved minutes of October 11 and October 31, 2022 meetings
Laconia Putnam Fund
The board approved hiring Spectacle for sound and lights at approximately $3,600 for the Albert Cummings Blues Show. Members discussed potential 2023 programming and the possibility of purchasing risers to reduce rental and transport costs.
- Accepted minutes from October 11 and 17
- Approved hiring Spectacle for sound and lights at approximately $3,600
Capital Improvement Committee
The committee approved the minutes from the October 20, 2022 meeting. Members discussed project rankings and the synchronization of the CIP and Master Plan Steering committees. No other substantive decisions were recorded.
- Approved October 20, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
Water Commission
The Board unanimously approved the accounts payable and financial statements dated November 2, 2022. The commission decided to proceed with installing security cameras at the treatment plant and Union Avenue property. Other items, including a clearwell pump purchase and building repairs, remain under review or pending estimates.
- Approved minutes of October 20, 2022 (Unanimous)
- Approved accounts payable and financial statement dated November 2, 2022 (Unanimous)
- Decided to move forward with security camera installation at treatment plant and Union Avenue
- Approved non-public session minutes from October 20 meeting (Unanimous)
Licensing Board
The Licensing Board approved an event for The Downtown Gym and a request for the American Legion to use an outdoor loudspeaker for Veterans Day. The board also accepted the minutes from the October 5, 2022 meeting.
- Approved event for The Downtown Gym
- Approved American Legion outdoor loudspeaker for Veterans Day
- Accepted October 5, 2022 meeting minutes
Special Events Review Committee
The Special Events Technical Review Committee approved applications for the '1k Max' event and the Celebrate Laconia Lights Festival. Both approvals included requirements for traffic control and vendor licensing.
- Approved application PL2022-102 for '1k Max' at 626 Main Street (all in favor)
- Approved Temporary Traffic Order for PL2022-102
- Approved application PL2022-103 for Celebrate Laconia Lights Festival at 915 Main St (all in favor) with condition that applicant seek licensing for on-site vendors
- Accepted minutes from previous meetings as presented
Conservation Commission
The commission discussed stormwater mitigation and wetland buffers for a proposed 9-unit development at 48 Lucerne Ave. A shoreland permit for dock replacement at 154 Channel Lane was signed. Other items were tabled or discussed without formal action.
- Tabled Jumping Worms presentation until springtime
- Signed shoreland permit for in-kind dock replacement at 154 Channel Lane
- Tabled acceptance of October 5 minutes to the following month
Planning Board
The board approved an application to add a unit to a structure at 13 Hoyt Ct and granted an 80% impact fee waiver. An amended design for a 5,000 sf pavilion at 1072 Watson was also approved. A proposed moratorium on building permits was tabled.
- Approved application to add a unit at 13 Hoyt Ct (All in favor)
- Approved 80% waiver of impact fee for 13 Hoyt Ct (All in favor, 1 abstention)
- Approved amended style of 5,000 sf pavilion for 1072 Watson (All in favor, 2 abstentions)
- Tabled discussion on building permit moratorium to December 6 (All in favor, 1 abstention)
- Accepted October 4 minutes (No objections)
Human Relations Committee
The committee approved a proposal for an art and photography exhibit celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. to be held at the Belknap Mill in January. The committee also voted to purchase inclusion stickers for local businesses.
- Approved MLK Jr. Art Exhibit proposal and creation of a sub-committee to manage details and budget (unanimous)
- Voted to purchase inclusion stickers for local businesses
Police Commission
The Commission approved funding for two officers to attend a Level 2 Gracie Survival Tactics certification. The meeting also included the swearing-in of a new officer and reports on federal grants for camera trailers and ballistic vests.
- Approved $3,330 for Officers Tyler Babineau and Tyler Rouse to attend Gracie Survival Tactics school in Pennsylvania (unanimous)
- Accepted September 14, 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
Board of Library Trustees
The Board of Trustees voted to make fixing the water issue in the Periodicals Room the top priority, funded by the Gale Library building maintenance line. The Board also adopted a revised Investment Policy Statement and set holiday closure dates.
- Prioritized Periodicals Room water issue as priority number one (unanimous)
- Adopted revised Investment Policy Statement (unanimous)
- Approved September 22, 2022 minutes (unanimous)
- Approved September 29, 2022 Investment Committee minutes (unanimous)
- Approved October 12, 2022 Technology Committee minutes (unanimous)
- Approved October 20, 2022 Buildings and Grounds Committee minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted September financials (unanimous)
- Set holiday closures to follow Bank of New Hampshire schedule, except for a 4 pm closure on November 23
Historic District Commission
The Historic District Commission approved sending a revised draft of ordinance 235-21.2 to the Government and Ordinance Committee. The commission also voted to change its meeting frequency to every other month starting January 31, 2023.
- Approved revised draft of ordinance 235-21.2 for submission to Government and Ordinance Committee (unanimous)
- Approved changing meeting schedule to every other month starting January 31, 2023 (unanimous)
- Accepted July 26 minutes (unanimous)
Capital Improvement Committee
The Capital Improvement Committee met to discuss scoring criteria and guidelines for capital projects. They also discussed the creation of a Capital Reserve Fund based on presentations from the Fire Department, Police Department, and Department of Public Works, as well as tax cap implications. No formal decisions were made on these topics; the only action was approval of the previous meeting's minutes.
- Approved minutes from 10/13/2022 meeting (unanimous)