LACONIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008

CITY HALL – CONFERENCE ROOM 200A

7:30 P.M.

 

CALL TO ORDER:   

 

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

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG:   

 

            The salute to the flag was led by Councilor Henry Lipman.

 

ROLL CALL:    

 

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

 

ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the minutes of the regular and non-public meeting of February 11, 2008.

 

INTERVIEWS:

 

                        The following were interviewed.

 

1.      Arlene Barrett  - requesting appointment to the Heritage Commission

2.      Charlie St. Clair – requesting appointment to the Heritage Commission

 

PRESENTATIONS:

 

  • Chief Erickson/Emergency Planning

 

Chief Erickson reviewed the Emergency Plan stating everyone should have a three day supply of food, water etc. and always call 911 for a serious problem or to find out where the emergency shelter is located.

 

CONSENT AND ACTION CALENDAR:

 

1.      Airport Leases:  

 

                  (a)  Lease Termination Agreement with Transfer of Improvements to Third Party with Sherwood Mortgage Group, Inc.

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the lease Termination Agreement with Transfer of Improvements to Third Party with Sherwood Mortgage Group, Inc. in accordance with the lease Termination Agreement. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

                                   

            (b)      Lease Agreement by and between City of Laconia and Laconia Airport Authority and Rolling Iron Horse Ranch LLC

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the Lease Agreement with Rolling Iron Horse Ranch, LLC in accordance with the Lease Agreement. Seconded by Councilor Knytych. Motion passed unanimously.

 

            (c)        Lease Agreement by and between City of Laconia and Laconia Airport Authority and Sherwood Mortgage Group, Inc.

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the lease Agreement with Sherwood Mortgage Group, Inc. in accordance with the Lease Agreement.  Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

                       

            (d)        Transfer of the building and improvements from Sherwood Mortgage Group Inc. To Rolling Iron Horse Ranch, LLC    

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the transfer of the building and improvements on the leased premises from Sherwood Mortgage Group, Inc. to Rolling Iron Horse Ranch, LLC in accordance with the deed. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

        (e)        Notice of Lease by and between City of Laconia and Laconia Airport  Authority and Rolling Iron Horse Ranch LLC

        

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the notice of Lease with Rolling Iron Horse Ranch,LLC in accordance with the Lease Agreement. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

            (f)         Authorize City Manager to execute the Lease Termination, Lease Agreements and Notice of Lease

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to authorize the City Manager to execute the Lease Termination, Lease Agreements and Notices of Lease on behalf of the City of Laconia. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

            (g)        Estoppel Certificate to TD BankNorth, N.A. for Eastern Aviation Publishing, Inc.

                                   

Councilor Bolduc moved to approve the Estoppel Certificate to TD Bank North for Eastern Aviation Publishing, Inc. in accordance with the Lease Agreement. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

             (h)        Authorization for Manager to execute the Estoppel Certificate

 

Councilor Bolduc moved to authorize the City Manager to ececute the Estoppel Certificate on behalf of the City of Laconia. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously

 

2.      Opechee Bay State Forest – Proposed Agreement between Belknap County Conservation District and the State Department of Resources and Economic Development

 

                                    No action taken

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:

 

Mayor Lahey reported on the education funding issue stating the Governor had proposed a constitutional amendment through the Senate and it passed on a 19 -5 vote. Senator Sgambati voted against it. The last time this was proposed it failed by a large margin in the House of Representatives and hopefully it will again.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

  • The proposed bonding of $950,000 for the purchase of an aerial ladder truck

 

Mayor Lahey opened the hearing at 8:05 p.m. and read the following notice. “According to Article V of the Laconia Charter and other applicable State Laws, the City Council will hold a public hearing on February 25, 2008 at 7:30 P.M. in Room 200A of the Laconia City Hall to gather public input and comment concerning the borrowing of money and the issuance of long term debt in an amount not to exceed $950,000 and the appropriation of these fund is for the following public purposes:

 

                                    Purchase of an Aerial Ladder Truck                      $950,000

 

 The notice was duly published in the Daily Sun and posted at the Library and City Hall on February 14, 2008.

 

Chief Erickson stated the Department has a 1989 truck which is on the frontline and a 1998 ladder truck which is not long enough. Further reviewed how/why the trucks are maxed out and the pros and cons.

 

      There being no further comments or questions Mayor Lahey closed the hearing at 8:13 p.m.

                 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

  1. FINANCE:     

 

a)      Reserve Fund for Capital Improvements

b)      Motorcycle Week Revenues

c)      Transfer Station Construction

      d)   Bonding

                       

City Manager stated the city received a call at the last minute that they had not considered the Transfer Station bond to be one that qualified for municipal purposes because there is an operation on the same site that has a profit. The city may have to go through the Bond Bank for both of the issues. It will cost approximately $10,000-$12,000 for the bond bank fees. The IRS codes are quite clear and it is unfortunate they informed us at the last minute and puts us in limbo at this time.   This issue is not the amount but how it will be financed which the Finance Committee will review.

           

                                    No Report on items a, b and c.

 

  1. PUBLIC SAFETY: 

 

a)      Motorcycle Week – No Report

     

  1. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ORDINANCES:    

 

a)      RSA 202-A:11a/Laconia Library

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

c)      Council Rules of Procedure

 

            No report -  Meeting to be held March 10, 2007 on item c.

 

  1. PUBLIC WORKS: 

 

a)      Road Weight Limits

b)      Rowe Court

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

d)      Storm drains/salt leaching into lake

e)      Proposed traffic pattern changes at Old Prescott Hill Rd. & Rt. 106

f)        Request by Michael Leclair to extend City sewer to Coliseum Indoor Sports in Belmont

f)    North Main & Oak Street intersection

 

                        No Report

 

  1. LAND & BUILDINGS:  

 

      a)  Repair & Maintenance of City Buildings

      b)  Old Police Department building on Church St.

 

c)  Architectural/Design Options for 858 N. Main St.

    

Councilor Hamel reported the committee interviewed three architects for the construction/renovation of the Laconia Fire Station who gave ball park square foot figures and roughly what the cost for a conceptional plan would be.

 

            Meeting to be held on March 10, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. for further discussion.       

 

d)  SAU Roof

 

Councilor Bolduc reported the roof at the SAU building is leaking and they have gone out to bid and received three proposals and the Land and Buildings Committee voted to bring the matter to the Council to have Jonathan Gardner, Purchasing Specialist, put it back out to bid again and bring back to the Council. The money to be taken out of the Lands and Buildings Fund.

 

Councilor Lipman moved that Jonathan Gardner work with the school and obtain actual bids on the roof project for consideration to be taken out of the Lands and Building reserve fund. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

LIAISON REPORTS:

 

            Councilor Baer announced the Library has a program on Public Access TV which will be on 3-4 nights a week on Channel 25.

 

           

Councilor Hamel reported the Parks & Recreation Department is trying to schedule the fields for the different organizations for the baseball season.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT:  

 

            City Manager Cabanel reported on the following:

 

  • Riverwalk Design

 

Request for qualifications for the Riverwalk design were sent out and the city received three bids with two at $25,000 and one for $65,000. It is proposed to fund a section of the Riverwalk between the Fair St. bridge and Church St. bridge with TIF funds.

 

  • Impact Fees

 

            No bids were received to do an Impact fee study.

 

  • Lakes Business Park Sign

 

            The sign including lighting and granite post will cost approximately $12,000 and     the city would pay $6,000 out of the budget. 

 

  • Discussed the $350,000 increase for Laconia in the County budget, Eileen will meet with Nancy Cook and Commissioner Daigneault to see what can be done.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  NONE

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

  1. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 40, Heritage Commission

 

Councilor Hamel introduced and read the changes to AN ORDINANCE     AMENDING CHAPTER 40, HERITAGE COMMISSION.  Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Ordinance passed unanimously   

 

  1. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 119/Building Construction regarding demolition permits – Pending/Referred back to Planning Board with proposed amendments 2/11/08

 

NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS:

 

The following individuals are requesting appointment to the Heritage Commission

 

1.      Arlene Barrett

2.      David Bownes

3.      Peter Brunette

4.      Pamela Clark

5.      Dorothy Duffy

6.      Mary Jane Hoey

7.      Brenda Polidoro

8.      Elaine Scott

9.      Charlie St. Clair

10.  Wanda Tibbetts

 

                        The following were nominated as full members for a three year term

 

                        Councilor Baer nominated Pamela Clark. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc.

                        Ms. Clark was unanimously elected.

 

                        Councilor Hamel nominated Charlie St. Clair. Seconded by Councilor Baer.

                        Mr. St. Clair was unanimously elected.

 

                        Councilor Lipman nominated Arlene Barrett. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc.

                        Ms. Barrett was unanimously elected.

 

                        Councilor Bolduc nominated Elaine Scott. Seconded by Councilor Hamel.

                        Ms. Scott was unanimously elected.

 

                        The following were elected as alternates for a three year term.

 

                        Councilor Hamel nominated Wanda Tibbetts. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc.

                        Ms. Tibbetts was unanimously elected.

 

                        Councilor Knytych nominated Dorothy Duffy. Seconded by Councilor Baer.

                        Ms. Duffy was unanimously elected.

 

                        Councilor Bolduc nominated Mary Jane Hoey. Seconded by Councilor Baer.

                        Ms. Hoey was unanimously elected.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

 

Councilor Hamel gave an update on Amtrak stating he had been in contact with someone who attends the meetings of the N.H. Railroad Association and they have taken a vote that two spurs will be provided, one is the northern and the other the Lakes Region.           

 

Councilor Hamel moved to write a letter of support to Peter Griffin, President of the N. H. Railroad Association. Seconded by Councilor Bolduc. Motion passed unanimously.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS FOR MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA:   NONE

 

 

NON - PUBLIC SESSION:

 

Councilor Knytych moved to go into non-public session according to RSA 91-A:3, II: (d)  Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of real or personal property which, if discussed in public, would likely benefit a party or parties whose interests are adverse to those of the general community. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. On a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously.

 

On motion of Councilor of Councilor Bolduc, seconded by Councilor Hamel, it was voted to come out of non-public session.

 

Councilor Baer moved to seal the minutes for two years. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

                         

            Councilor Knytych moved to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. Seconded by Councilor Hamel. Motion passed unanimously.

 

A True record Attest:

 

 

Ann G. Kaligian

City Clerk