Laconia City Council Meeting - December 22, 2025

The City Council convened for its final regular meeting before the January inauguration of a new Mayor and Council. The session featured a special presentation for the Deborah Bienar Memorial Award, an extensive public hearing regarding the permanentization of the Human Relations Committee, a City Manager's report on the Winnipesaukee River Basin project, and the approval of boat agent agreements. The meeting concluded with the final Mayor's report and Council comments from outgoing members, culminating in a vote to establish the Human Relations Committee under new statutory guidelines effective in 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimous acceptance of the minutes from the previous meeting without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matters Not on Agenda:
  • Citizen Patrick Wood and Craig Howford extended holiday gratitude to the city and outgoing officials.
  • Doug Lambert expressed support for the interim Mayor's performance but voiced strong opposition regarding the funding source for a specific police officer (referring to him as the "Fentanel cop"). He requested clarification on whether reimbursed state funding for the officer's backfill constituted a taxpayer burden for the city, though the Mayor clarified the funding source is state-reimbursed.
• Ordinance 2025-5-25-325-33 (Human Relations Committee Public Hearing):
  • Doug Robinson (Ward 1): Expressed strong opposition to creating a permanent committee without a defined mission, policies, or procedures. He argued the committee's functions are being handled by existing departments and community partners, calling the proposal "putting the cart before the horse."
  • Patrick Wood (Chair, HRC): Offered clarification regarding the upcoming MLK celebration, asserting the committee planned and executed the event despite it being held at a church, and defended the need for continuity.
  • David Osman: Expressed general support for HRC, noting the committee has not been a financial burden on taxpayers due to grant funding. He suggested procedural improvements, including the ability to call emergency meetings and clarifying the succession process if a council member representative is absent.
  • Ronnie Abbott: Expressed opposition to creating a permanent committee based on what he characterized as a "retaliatory act" against a coming mayor, questioning if the current group should make this decision.
  • Mike Conan (Ward 6): Stated the current HRC is "broken and inefficient" with no definitive purpose, urging the council to pause the proposal.
  • Mike Boards (Ward 6): Expressed concerns regarding the venue of the MLK event (a church) and noted perceived mission drift regarding service projects for the homeless, arguing the matter should be tabled for the new council.
  • Archie Kelts (Board 3): Raised the concern that making the HRC a permanent city committee would require city council approval for all controversial statements, potentially limiting the committee's ability to give voice to marginalized groups.
  • Sue Higgins (Ward 2): Expressed strong opposition to proceeding without a new mission statement, citing concerns over past procedural irregularities, lack of transparency regarding minutes, and the potential for the committee to act without proper adherence to city standards. She urged the council to correct the committee first before making it permanent.
  • Doug Lambert (Belknap County): Reiterated concerns about the committee's lack of a consistent mission statement over the years, its political actions (e.g., advocating for Medicaid expansion), and the potential for the committee to operate without city oversight if not formalized, though he suggested tabling to allow for discussion.
  • Fran Caraselli (Ward 6): Expressed opposition to the committee, citing a lack of measurable outcomes in homelessness or community programs. She suggested a community-based approach rather than a permanent commission.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Report (Interim): The Mayor addressed the nonpartisan nature of the council, the necessity of maintaining work despite a transition in personnel, and the need for protocol regarding citizen attire. He proposed the formation of a dedicated events department to manage city festivals.
• Council Comments (Outgoing Members):
  • Councillor Cheney: Defended the transparency and performance of the council, refuting claims of non-transparency and attributing tax increases to state-mandated reappraisals rather than council decisions. He strongly supported the ordinance to create the Human Relations Committee as a city committee to ensure oversight.
  • Councilors Hoffman, Felch, and Susi: Offered personal tributes to outgoing colleagues and the city manager, acknowledging the nonpartisan spirit of the council.
• Ordinance 2025-5-25-325-33 (Human Relations Committee):
  • Discussion: Councillor Susi and Councillor Bogart debated the timing and necessity of the committee. Councillor Susi and Councillor Bogart expressed that while they support a committee, it must have a mission statement and oversight defined by the council, specifically referring to the Government Operations and Ordinances Subcommittee. Councillor Bogart argued the committee lacks a defined purpose and should be tabled, while others countered that creating a permanent committee prevents the group from operating as an unregulated 501(c)(3).
  • Amendments: The council agreed to amend the ordinance to include: (1) Staggered terms for committee members to be designated by the appointments committee; (2) A revision to Section C to allow only members who "reside" in Laconia (stripping language allowing non-resident business owners); and (3) Adoption of legal language ensuring the committee's purpose statement is created by the Government Operations and Ordinances Subcommittee and ratified by the City Council every three years.
• Boat Agent Agreements: Authorized the city clerk to sign agreements with seven boat dealers to act as agents for boat registration in exchange for commission.
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Scheduled public hearings for January 12, 2026, to apply for up to $100,000 in emergency funds for sewer line repairs at the Belknap House family shelter and to discuss displacement plans.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 2025-5-25-325-33 Approved (5-1 Vote): The Council voted to approve the ordinance amending Chapter 5 to establish the Human Relations Committee as a city committee. The motion was amended to require the Government Operations and Ordinances Subcommittee to draft a purpose statement, with referrals sent to this subcommittee after January 1, 2026. Staggered terms and resident-only membership were affirmed.
• Boat Agent Agreements Approved (6-0 Vote): Authorization granted for seven dealers to act as boat registration agents with commission payments.
• CDBG Hearings Scheduled: Public hearings for the Belknap House sewer project and displacement plan scheduled for January 12, 2026.
• Meeting Adjourned: The meeting concluded with no further agenda items, with councilors and the Mayor looking toward the January 5th inauguration.