Laconia City Council Meeting Summary - November 24, 2025

The Laconia City Council convened on November 24, 2025, to address routine items, public concerns regarding safety and noise, and several financial resolutions. Key discussions centered on bicycle and e-bike safety, a 7.9% proposed county budget increase, and critical fire department equipment replacements amidst ambulance delivery delays. The council unanimously approved various resolutions and scheduled public hearings for December 8, 2025, regarding grants and impact fees.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the acceptance of minutes from the previous meeting.
• Adopted Temporary Traffic Order 2025-21 for the "Santa Shuffle 5K" race on November 29, 2025, an event benefiting the children's auction.
• Accepted the city's contribution of $5,000 to the Santa Village organization.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Diane B. Lockwood (Resident, Stratford Street, Ward 2) expressed concerns regarding:
  • Bicycle and E-bike Safety on Sidewalks: She urged for public service announcements on bicycle etiquette, citing numerous close calls with cyclists, e-bikes, and scooters on sidewalks, noting that the issue affects residents of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Vehicle Noise: She requested a noise ordinance for loud vehicles, citing disturbances on busy intersections and suggesting the city look to Manchester's existing ordinances as a model.
• Mayor St. Clair Response:
  • Acknowledged the sidewalk safety issue, noting that vehicles moving too fast (40-50 mph) on sidewalks in Concord are a state-level reclassification issue but confirmed police do intervene.
  • Regarding noise, stated that while a standard noise ordinance exists, it is difficult to enforce and prosecute due to testing and proof requirements.
• Councilor Hoffman Response: Confirmed that the police do engage in dialogue with offenders, though visibility of enforcement may vary, and acknowledged the difficulty of the issue.

Discussion Items

• Homelessness and Public Health: Councilor Hoffman proposed a multi-pronged approach to the homeless crisis, arguing the city must address public health aspects, specifically:
  • Increasing trash drop-off locations.
  • Implementing a citywide needle disposal program.
  • Providing designated facilities for bathroom access.
  • Councilor Felch recommended referring these matters to the Public Works committee.
• Elm Street School Safety: Councilor Cheney reported a near-accident involving student pickup logistics, with cars blocking traffic. He urged an immediate proposal from the School Department regarding a back-entry plan or traffic control improvements to prevent future injuries.
• Elm Street Bridge Curbing: Councilor Cheney raised safety concerns regarding a 3-inch curb ramp on the bridge near the fire station, which he stated poses a hazard to cyclists and vehicles. The City Engineer (Alan Beadle) has been asked to investigate and discuss a potential new pavement coat that would remove the curb.
• Roller Coaster Road/Parade Road: Councilor Cheney inquired about the status of a court-sanctioned cleanup order for a property issue dating back two years. The City Manager confirmed a contempt order is now active, and the company will return with law enforcement enforcement soon.
• County Budget Concerns: Councilor Susi warned against a proposed 7.9% increase in the county budget, citing that the City of Laconia already bears the highest tax burden due to non-taxable county and nonprofit properties. She proposed modeling the financial impact on the remaining $1.9 million city budget.
• Kratom Regulation: Councilor Haynes reported on the Government Operations committee's findings regarding Kratom. Despite public testimony from both users (citing medicinal benefits) and a concerned parent (citing addiction), the committee found no current state or federal regulations to ban the substance or restrict sales, and thus recommended no further action.
• Fire Department Equipment:
  • Garage Door Motors: The Fire Chief reported that 10-year-old motors are failing and no longer supported. Councilor Cheney recommended replacing two motors simultaneously to reduce labor costs, despite the current budget request covering only one. The motion was adjusted to include a request for a funding source for the second motor.
  • Ambulance Purchase: Due to delays in the delivery of new ambulances (3-year lead time), the Fire Department requested funding to purchase a used ambulance with 40,000 miles for $55,000 to ensure three-service coverage. Councilors expressed strong support for the cost-effective measure.
• Downtown Lighting: The council moved a resolution off the table to finalize costs and details for a proposed lighting upgrade in the City Hall parking lot and Rotary Park, to be funded by the Downtown TIF district.
• Police Grant Update: Resolution 2025-31 was amended to increase the accepted Homeland Security grant from $51,000 to $55,000 for a utilities side-by-side vehicle project.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous Votes (6-0):
  • Approval of temporary traffic order for the Santa Shuffle 5K.
  • Adoption of a motion to send a letter of support to the state legislature committee once identified for the bill to reduce the Winnipesaukee River Basin fund rate from 5% to 2%.
  • Approval of City Manager signature on the lease assignment for 15 Aviation Drive hangar.
  • First reading of Resolution 2025-35: Acceptance of an $87,000 DHS grant for police SWAT/PSU equipment.
  • First reading of Resolution 2025-36: Use of impact fees and internal service funds to replace a damaged fire station garage motor and seek funding for a second motor.
  • First reading of Resolution 2025-37: Use of impact fees and internal service funds to purchase a used ambulance.
  • Approval of the 2025 second half sewer warrant ($177,994.64).
  • Approval to table Resolution 2025-38 (Downtown Lighting).
  • First reading of Resolution 2025-38: Expenditure of TIF funds for lighting conceptual design.
  • First reading of Resolution 2025-31: Acceptance of the amended $55,000 DHS grant for police side-by-side vehicles.
• Scheduled Public Hearings: All grant and impact fee resolutions (2025-35, 2025-36, 2025-37, 2025-38, and 2025-31) are scheduled for public hearing on December 8, 2025.
• Directives: City Manager and City Engineer instructed to investigate Elm Street School traffic logistics and the Elm Street Bridge curb height issues for the next meeting.