Laconia City Council Special Meeting - Mayoral Interviews and Election - September 4, 2025
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Laconia City Council Special Meeting - Mayoral Interviews and Election - September 4, 2025
The Laconia City Council held a special meeting on September 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the council chambers to conduct interviews and elect a new mayor to serve until the next regular election in January. Two candidates were interviewed: Charlie St. Clair and Matthew Thomas. Following the interviews, the council voted unanimously to appoint Charlie St. Clair as mayor.
Discussion Items
- Interviews of Candidates: The council interviewed two candidates for the position of acting mayor. Each candidate provided a statement and answered questions from council members.
- Charlie St. Clair: Mr. St. Clair, chair of the Planning Board, stated his intention to serve only for the remainder of the term (approximately four months) and to keep meetings running smoothly. He emphasized his experience with city boards and his commitment to decorum. When asked about potential conflicts of interest regarding his property, he assured the council he would not participate in any sale of his property to the city during his tenure. He expressed support for law and order and indicated he would not create new committees.
- Matthew Thomas: Mr. Thomas, a resident of Laconia for about six years, described the role as ceremonial and stated he would not seek to affect legislation. He noted his familiarity with Robert's Rules of Order from prior experience in Massachusetts town meetings. When asked about tie-breaking votes, he said he would decide based on the issue. He acknowledged he had not read the city charter thoroughly but expressed willingness to learn.
- Election of Mayor: After the interviews, Councilor Feltz moved to appoint Charlie St. Clair as mayor. The motion was seconded by Councilor Susi. Council members discussed their support, citing Mr. St. Clair's experience running the Planning Board, his knowledge of city operations, and his deep involvement in the community. Councilor Cheney noted that managing the Planning Board is a significant task and that Mr. St. Clair understands what the council can and cannot do. Councilor Hoffman expressed confidence in his ability to run meetings. Councilor Bogan stated he had worked with Mr. St. Clair for years and found him capable.
Key Outcomes
- Appointment of Mayor: The council voted unanimously (6-0) to appoint Charlie St. Clair as the acting mayor of Laconia for the remainder of the term until January 2026. The vote was recorded as six affirmative votes.
- Encouragement for Matthew Thomas: Several council members encouraged Mr. Thomas to consider serving on a city board or commission, noting his willingness to step forward and his positive attitude.
Meeting Transcript
All right, okay. The uh hour being six o'clock, I'd like to call the uh Laconia City Council meeting, special meeting to order, yeah to uh conduct interviews and election of a new mayor. It's September fourth, two thousand twenty-five. Uh we're in the aminbaldic city council chambers. Um you lead us in the salute to the flag, please. Happy to I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic. One nation under God, individual liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Councillor Cheney. Um we are joined by recording secretary Katie Gargano. Um Clerk, would you call the role, please? Councillor Cheney. Here counselor Susie? Here counselor Hoffman. Present. Councillor Moose? Here. Here. Here. Thank you. Um we are joined by uh City Manager Kurt Beatti. Um before we get started, um item six on the agenda is interviews. Um we will give each candidate uh chance to uh give a statement and uh following that um I would uh entertain that uh we uh allow fifteen minutes per candidate for um questions and answers from the council. Uh I would uh appreciate it if you address the chair and I'll recognize him. Um item six A. Alexander Schmitt um has withdrawn. Uh six A. Item two, Charlie St. Clair. Charlie Uh Mr. Mayor Proto, if I could just make uh uh note the the way the names were listed on this is the order in which we received them. Okay, thank you. Uh Charlie, Katie, did you get would you enter that into the record? Okay, thank you. Yes, Mr. St. Clair. Hi. I uh put my name in, uh I guess to fill the gap. Those uh four months, I thought I could uh do a good job with my experience. Uh running the planning board as the chair and other committees I've been on in the city. I have no agenda except to keep things moving along for the next four months and work with the uh city councilors on the projects that they have we have going right now in the city. That's pretty much it. I don't need fifteen minutes to make a statement, but I think uh it's pretty cut and dry. We've got an election. We're gonna have a new mayor take office in January, and like I said, this is strictly a moment in time where we need somebody sitting in that chair to keep the move the meetings moving along and uh good decorum and and listen to the citizens of Laconia, and that's pretty much it, as I see it. Okay, thank you. Counselors, counselor Cheney. Uh Mr. Sinclair, uh, if you were appointed to this position, and I say this seriously, because you and I kid from time to time, but seriously, assuming for the moment you were made the acting mayor, are you prepared to uh assure the the balance of the council that you will not in any way uh get involved in the sale of your property to the city uh during that period of time. Well, did you know the longstanding joke is I already sold it to the city in July for five million dollars?
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