Laconia City Council Meeting Summary - January 12, 2026

The Laconia City Council convened on January 12, 2026, at 7:00 PM to address public concerns regarding fire safety and property zoning, review applications for emergency housing repairs, discuss municipal operational trends, and vote on new business items including a Homeland Security grant and the termination of a long-term intermunicipal agreement. The meeting featured extensive public testimony on sensitive safety issues and strategic planning for the city's future.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the December 22, 2025, meeting were accepted as distributed with no corrections; Councillors C and Susie abstained as they were not members of the council at that time.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Richard Mason (Ward 2 Property Owner): Expressed strong opposition to a newly approved construction project located six feet from his residence on Whip Wiz Boulevard. Mr. Mason stated that the building does not meet fire code, violates association bylaws, and was approved via a variance that moved it closer to the street than the typical ten-foot requirement. He reported that his house had burned down previously, highlighting the safety risk. He stated he was told by the building inspector to "get a lawyer." He expressed frustration that city departments initially indicated they would "let him go forward" despite his safety concerns.
• Lisa Moran (Ward 2 Resident): Expressed deep concern regarding the potential presence and activities of ICE in Laconia. Mrs. Moran stated she was concerned about giving up constitutional rights, specifically freedom of speech and freedom to walk without questioning papers. She requested clarity on what interactions with law enforcement are moving forward regarding immigration status checks and Real ID policies, noting that she is concerned about residents being unaware of the implications.
• Doug Robinson (Ward 5): Stated full support for the newly elected and returning officials, emphasizing the importance of honesty and transparency. He argued that the city council should not simply "go along with the flow" and urged the council to critically examine the forward-looking master plan, ensuring it includes economic growth strategies to support new housing without driving out locals. He praised the improvements to meeting minutes and called for the council to lead with integrity regarding the state school property, homeless issues, and economic responsibilities.
• Greg Huff (Ward 2): Stated that the Colonial Theatre contract is currently suboptimal and argued that the venue should be run like a municipal airport or parking garage to generate revenue. Mr. Huff projected that by increasing booking to 250 nights and adding concessions or ticket surcharges, the city could generate $400,000 to $600,000 annually to reduce the tax burden. He argued that the current curatorial model caps volume and under-utilizes the facility.

Discussion Items

• Whip Wiz Boulevard Construction (Ward 2): Councillor Hoffman and the Mayor expressed support for Mr. Mason's safety concerns. The Mayor confirmed a prior visit to the site and agreed to dig deeper into the approval process. Councillor Hoffman noted the structure is a legal issue likely approved by the ZBA in 2024 and suggested the council has limited power unless the legal team finds a way to unapprove. City Manager Kirk Beati stated the issue is with the legal and fire departments and that they are working to determine if the approval can be revoked; a timeline and update will be provided at the next meeting. The Mayor clarified that while the city does not like to supersede association bylaws, safety codes take precedence and they will work with associations where possible.
• Colonial Theatre Utilization: Councillor Hoffman argued that viewing the theatre solely as an expense is a narrow view, stating that it has successfully increased the downtown tax base and reduced the overall tax burden for taxpayers. Councillor Susi and the Mayor agreed to explore a new direction for the contract, noting the current one expired in June and an RFP has been issued with limited legal responses due to the recent change in administration.
• Concord Hospital: Councillor Susi expressed concern regarding long wait times (6-7 hours) at the hospital, especially with Bellamy County's population swelling to 200,000-250,000 in the summer. She urged the council to work with Cargill Hospital Aconia. Councillor Hildreth suggested the Mayor use the Concord Hospital's two million dollar investment and feasibility study as talking points.
• Commuter Bus Route: City Manager Beati announced that the Community Action Program has suspended the Concord-Laconia commuter bus route effective January 30, 2026, citing low ridership and financial constraints. The route was originally established to help local businesses recruit employees from Concord and Franklin.
• Social District: Councillor Bogart expressed support for establishing a social district for the city to improve summer utilization of outdoor spaces. He emphasized that while nonprofits should be waived event fees, for-profit operations should be required to pay. Councillor Susi noted that the special events committee handles daily operations, but council votes are required for fee waivers or traffic changes.
• General Assistance: The City Manager reported a significant increase in welfare costs, noting that over half of long-term assistance recipients are now elderly and disabled. He mentioned a new state bill (passed the House) that requires a 60-day residency check but does not remove the obligation to provide emergency aid.
• TIFF District Finance: Councillor Bogart clarified the status of the Downtown TIFF fund, confirming that the $512,000 budgeted amount represents projects already allocated (including lighting) rather than the total unspent balance. The city intends to continue reducing the fund balance over time.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 2026-01: Approved unanimously (6-0) for the first reading to accept a $26,405 Homeland Security grant for SWAT/SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department. A public hearing is scheduled for January 26, 2026.
• Lakes Region Built Business Park: Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate a successor agreement with the Town of Guilford to terminate the original 2001 intermunicipal agreement. The new agreement stipulates that Laconia will receive 25% of taxes from the sold lots (up to a $1 million cap for capital improvements before it reverts to the city). A public hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2026.
• Belknap House CDBG Application: Approved unanimously (6-0) to submit an application for $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant emergency funds to replace the sewer line at the Belknap House family shelter.
• Relocation Plan: Approved unanimously (6-0) the Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the Belknap House project, which anticipates no displacement during the emergency repairs.
• Future Agenda: Councillor Susi proposed requiring quarterly or semi-annual reports from city boards and committees to keep the council informed. Councillor Robinson called for a timeline on the legal review of the Whip Wiz Boulevard construction issue to be provided at the next meeting.