All right.

So it being seven PM.

I like to call this meeting the water.

Representative, I mean, oh, Councilman, Counselor, C would you like to read us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Our recording secretary is Katie Gargano.

Would you like to call the role, please?

Councillor Hilltruth.

Counselor Susie?

Here.

Councillor Hoffman.

Present.

Councillor Haynes?

Here.

Counselor Bogart?

Here.

Councillor Codon?

Here.

Mayor Boards.

Here.

Staff in attendance, we have Kirk Beati, and we have Gary as well, correct?

I'm sorry.

Why did I say Gary?

I answered it both.

All right.

Uh no council proclamation.

Uh, acceptance of the minutes from the December twenty second, twenty twenty-five meeting.

Two counselors abstain so they were not on the council at that time.

But no corrections and changes submitted to the clerk.

The minutes will be accepted as distributed.

Do I have a motion for that?

Who was first and who was second?

Counselor Susie made the motion, and Councillor Bogus seconded it.

All in favor.

Yes.

And do I have a motion to accept?

Counselor Conan.

So we could skip through all these ones.

I think we're out to public hearing.

Number nine.

Oh citizens' comments for matters not on the agenda.

Do we have anybody in the audience audience?

I would like to make some comments.

Make sure it's not on tonight's agenda.

I'm not even sure if at the right meeting, but I had to start somewhere.

My name is Richard Mason.

I own three properties on Whip Wiz Boulevard.

Um the city recently approved someone to build a house six feet off of my house.

And they're trying to build two stories up, yada yeah, yada.

Not only does it not meet fire code or anything.

Now I look out my living room window and six feet, I see a wall.

Um it doesn't meet code, it doesn't um the association.

I'm sorry per the bylaws of the association, it doesn't meet any of that.

Uh it's wrong.

I'm not sure where I was supposed to start, and I figured this would be a good place.

Have you contacted the association in question about it?

Yes, yes.

That's the so the the Ascondo Association enough that the the town says they don't recognize um bylaws from the association and stuff like that.

Council Bowman.

If I may, have you uh spoke with our planning department?

I spoke with uh briefly with the planning department.

Um I went to the the building uh inspector himself who approved it, and his only words to me was get a lawyer.

So did the planning department indicate that it went to zoning to be six feet off the property line?

They're gonna go to the usually that's a ten foot.

They came here for a variance.

So they came here for a variance and got a variance to move forward, move it forward closer to the street.

Um nothing was ever said about you know the height or the you know distance from my house.

Is this your house?

The tall one is my house, and directly in front of it is the the building in question.

Hold on, sorry.

My name is Of course the small is your house, right?

No.

The large one is your house.

Yes, sir.

And the small item is the one they tore down completely and started from scratch.

They actually have a new building permit, so it doesn't meet fire code for the new build building permit, even and you went to the planning board and spoke.

I went to the building building inspector, and we send get a lawyer, he said get a lawyer.

So let me just yeah, so Mr.

Mason, I did meet.

Um, and our uh beyond my ability.

Um the um our our planning department and fire have both been working on this.

They brought it to our attorneys for review.

Um and I I haven't had the full update.

I think you did talk to maybe Chief Jubert this morning.

This morning, I knew he said he'd talk to you, but I didn't hear the whole story back on it.

So um so I don't have all the answers to where it stands right now, but I know he does have a building permit to build, and our attorneys with our fire and planning are working on what options that they have to not approve it or go back and unapprove, or do they have to stay and just continue the approval as is?

So it is being worked on.

We have talked, um, but I can't say to what the outcomes going to be.

Right, I'm realize yeah, I just don't because I don't have all the answers.

Well, I was under the impression they were gonna let them move forward with it.

Okay, that's what the I got a chance to talk to Chief.

Um realize it's a probably sensitive area.

I'm sneaking go ahead, is uh you spoke to the uh buildings inspector who gave them the permit.

I've talked to well, I talked to building inspector, I've talked to planning and I've talked to fire.

Um and I was getting their results back as to what we could do.

Um, as as Mr.

Mason said, it sounds like that at this point uh the the billings to continue, is what it sounds like.

That's what I yeah.

Um but I have not had a chance to follow up with um any one of them since meeting with our attorneys.

Okay, it's with legal, so I'm not gonna it's with legal, but I think it's back in our court now, but um I haven't had a chance to follow up with them to have a to have a conversation on it, Mr.

Mayor Mayor?

Yes, um, Mr.

Mason did reach out to me, it's in my ward.

Um, I went down and and had a phone call with him while I was standing in front of the the structure that's being proposed where it is, and it's definitely a safety concerns um with with putting a building there this close, and not only with his building but with the proximity to the street.

And yeah, that's something we definitely want to dig into.

How does it get approved?

Like I know exactly where that location is, and that's definitely if looking at this plan is definitely gonna obstruct.

I mean he's gonna be looking out with the fire code.

I just paid 300,000 for a house that I look out the window and I could see the channel.

It's instantly gone.

Uh uh counselor Hoffman First, then did this go in front of the ZBA?

Does anyone know?

I mean, my understanding is that it did.

Do we know when?

Uh back in 24 for a variance to uh move forward.

This house has changed hands five times in the last three or four years because it's been shot down, shot down, shot down that finally someone found a loophole to get it through.

Oh my god.

I have a feeling if you know if it was approved by the CBA, there's there's not much we can do about it.

This is a legal issue.

And that's why we have it in our attorneys, and I I do think they've received some information back from them, but we haven't had a chance when I when I say you know, I haven't had a chance to follow up with the departments on what they got back, other than you know, I'm kind of hearing probably the same thing.

I mean the saying is grandfather, a single story structure is grandfathered there.

It's not you can't put a ladder between the house and the in the window and and put a fireman up there or my my daughter and my two grandkids are gonna live there summertime.

Um the house is burnt down once.

It did burn down when it was was being built uh 20 years ago, so it does happen.

It's a safety issue.

Never mind, you know, it's gonna decrease the value of the house tremendously once they you know you know how far six feet is.

So you said you're within an association as well, right?

It the there is an association there, it's uh it's a very I use the word loose.

I would recommend to speak to the president of your association.

I am as well.

You are the president.

I would talk to your legal counsel for the association.

We we don't have legal counsel, we pay dues and it we it pays for our lawn mowing and our snow plowing.

Our units are all our own.

We're responsible for everything.

Okay.

Council of Bogan.

Mr.

Mayor, would it be possible to get a timeline on this if y'all could put together if the city or the planning department could put a timeline of events on when things we can have that for your next meeting?

Because if I'm not mistaken, also if they didn't act upon their uh variants in 2024 to an appropriate time, it would have been uh null and void after a year.

Well, the it was it was then once the gentleman got the variance, he then sold the property to somebody else.

He took that variance and got a uh a demo permit.

Nothing that we'd never seen a plan about the building or anything like that.

You guys were the first ones to see plans, and they approved it.

Well, the town and they approved the uh permit.

We'll get an update on timeline and also where we stand with legal and with fire and code and planning.

Um at the next meeting.

Uh one of the things I just want to mention on is the concern about um associations.

Uh obviously it can't supersede fire code and all that, but we do I I don't like that that comment was made because we not by you, but by internally, because we do try to work with our associations.

I give you a good example.

Um the town's recognize it.

Well, uh there's it it like I said, it can't supersede, but we do work with them because we have places in town that should be allowed by the way we I'm just using this as an example.

Um you may be able to have a short-term rental, but the association doesn't allow it.

So the association wins that one.

You know, and so we do work with so I don't like with a town enforce that uh yeah, we wouldn't.

We didn't give, we haven't given um the approval for short-term rental in places where the association has said no, it's in our D that you can't.

Well, our bylaws say it in multiple people right there.

My guess is it was never questioned or challenged, and that's probably where that came from.

Um the one I'm referring to was challenged.

Um so we we do try to work with the association, and I didn't like that.

That comment is not by you, but by internally.

So we'll get we'll get you the timeline, we'll get you the you know a little bit more in depth and get it back to you.

Even when the the chief called me this morning, there was no explanation, it's just we're gonna let him go forward.

It's not it's not a safety issue, it's this, yeah.

And that's why I need to get more information.

It was literally we're gonna let it go forward.

I'll get I'll I will get more information for you guys.

Thank you.

And and for you.

Thank you very much.

Anyone else?

Every day.

Thank you very much.

Evening.

Um my name is Lisa Moran, and I live in Ward 2.

Um I'm actually here, and uh I have concerns about ice.

I've been watching the news like everybody else.

I know that through the county, I believe the city is working in cooperation with the county.

I I'm not really sure, and that's kind of why I'm here.

I'd like more clarification on what is moving forward in the city of Laconia with regard to that level of interaction with law enforcement.

And the other reason why I kind of I mentioned it to Commissioner Spanos.

I believe in the courthouse a few weeks ago, I saw after hours, four identical SUVs.

I didn't go over and investigate, I don't know.

But if they are in the community, if ICE is in the community, I think the public should know about it.

I think we should be updated on what kind of interactions we're having.

I know that our population is not necessarily high on high priority, and we are a red state, but I I am very concerned.

I'm very concerned about comments like, well, if you just obey, nothing bad will happen to you.

And we know that's not true from what we're seeing out in um other parts of the country.

And it also flies in the face of what our constitutional rights are.

And I'm very concerned about giving up our constitutional rights, our freedom of speech, our freedom to walk without being questioned about our papers.

Do you have your papers?

And now they're saying the real ID is fake.

We're not gonna honor that.

So that means that people have to have a passport.

So these are the these are the things that have concerned me.

And I know that a lot of people will say, Well, this is what I voted for.

And I'm not saying they shouldn't have voted for this administration.

I'm just saying I don't know how many people are really aware of all the ins and outs, and that's what I'm looking to have made known.

So I don't know.

That's that's all I wanted to say.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Hi guys, how are you doing today?

My name's Doug Ward 5, Robinson's last name.

Um, good evening, members of the city council.

My name is Doug Robinson, Ward 5.

I'm here tonight to congratulate all of our newly elected and returning officials or well fought campaign.

Earning the trust of the voters is important, guys.

You guys all did it for one reason or another, you guys are sitting up there.

Congratulations, every one of you.

Um, especially what brings our strengths, priorities, and perspective to this council.

Well, you may not always agree with one another.

That's perfectly healthy in a democracy, guys.

No one's gonna agree 100% of the time.

When I see six hands go up, I often question are we just kind of going along with the flow, or is this actually the right answer?

You know, it's okay to disagree.

I'm hopeful that this group will approach the hard work ahead with open minds, honesty, and a shared dedication to serving the city of Laconia.

Honesty is important, guys.

Um, we've talked about it, we've talked about transparency.

I believe in honesty.

If you're gonna say something, mean it.

Don't sit there and say it never happened.

Don't sit there and try to make it grassroots when it wasn't.

Just be honest.

It's okay.

No one cares where it comes from.

We just want honesty.

We're all out here because we care, right?

We ran because we care.

So yes, honesty is important.

Leadership matters deeply to many residents, myself included.

I believe that this council has the opportunity to discriminate those values in meaningful ways, especially when we take on major issues such as the state school property, the TIF districts, the homeless in the development of the forward-looking master plan.

That's gonna shape our community for the next 15 to 20 years.

Um, you guys have that two-year opportunity to do that.

I ask that every one of you take a hard look at that master plan moving forward.

These challenges will shape our city for decades.

I also want to thank Kurt for the improvements he's already made to ensure our citizens have a complete and accessible minutes for both the city council and the various subcommittees.

Um those were previously lacking, and Kurt, you've done a good job.

You you brought those up to speed.

Uh, while acknowledging there's still more work to do that committee, that comment to clarity and openness strengthens the public trust and sets the right tone for the work ahead.

Um, guys, we can do this, right?

We can do it with the right tone, the right attitude.

Um, as the state school project moves forward, future businesses' growth will essentially support the city's long-term stability, ensuring that we prepare for the economic population changes that will follow.

Um, we need both, right?

We're gonna have sustainable growth.

We have to have an economic plan.

This can't be build 2,000 houses over there at the state school and have no way to support them.

If we do that, we're just gonna be inviting more non-locals to buy here to spend money, inflate the property values, and still drive out your locals because we're gonna still be working at grocery stores, stopping malls, um, and other jobs that don't pay a living wage.

So I I ask that each of you when that master plan comes out, you look at the economic growth, make sure that it's there.

Um is counting on an effective and accountable and honest forward thinking city council, especially as we confront the homeless and the economic development responsibilities and population growth.

Um we'll be watching, every one of us, right?

All us characters that show up to these meetings, all these people that get on the Zoom calls, all these people that go back and look at the meetings.

Um we're characters, um, but we're gonna be here.

We're gonna be here speaking loud, speaking proud, and holding people to honesty and integrity.

Uh congratulations once again, and best of luck to all of you in the upcoming two year session.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Matt is not on the agenda.

How are you doing today?

Nice to see you everybody.

My name's Greg Huff, um Ward 2.

I'd like to mirror uh what Doug said about congratulations and welcome.

Um looking forward to all kinds of productive things going on here and and you know, all kinds of ideas happening so that we can all make Laconia as best we can.

Um I thought of uh, and this has nothing to do with um what was already previously said, um I was looking at some of the idea of of the debt that uh Lacone is carrying, uh specifically like in the um in the bonds and everything.

And it occurred to me one of them uh with the uh uh colonial theater doesn't necessarily act like the others.

And by that I mean the others, like if you have a you know, if you uh did the um I want to say the the middle school, that's just what it is.

There's nothing that can be done about it.

That's an outlay that's something that we wanted to pay for.

The colonial theater has a unique opportunity to actually make money.

Um, and as far as I'm aware of, it doesn't.

Um I don't think that I and I could be wrong, but as far as I know, we pay a company to do it.

Um we get like uh the best that I can tell, maybe 20 shows a year.

Um we don't score any income from from any of it.

Um so what I would just ask for you, I know it might be a little late in the season because you're you're bidding out whatever we can do for this, but I would just like to uh point out a few things.

Um it should be run more uh like say a municipal airport or a parking garage in most towns, or even a municipal ski area, okay.

Meaning it must generate cash flow that reduces taxes or pays off its own debt.

Um right now the colonial theater doesn't either.

Um every successful venue rents dates.

Um, and by that I mean the colonial instead curates shows, um, which caps volume.

Most run theaters that really do a good job do different bookings.

And by this I mean they they book touring acts, community productions, dance schools, corporate events, comedy tours, church uh uh festivals, film festivals, political forums, graduation ceremonies, regional competitions.

There's a lot of community things that are done at a at a theater like this, and a lot of chances to create revenue.

Um and this is just one possible idea.

I I know that there's probably a million others that could be out there, but just for an example, uh uh a building of of that size and and uh capability should be booked roughly around 250 nights a year.

Um, the colonials most likely under 50.

I don't know what the actual numbers are.

Um there's different things that you can uh get uh concessions and bar revenue if you were to be able to pull that in, could go 100% or a split to the city.

Um you can also do merch tables.

You know, when you go in and you see a band or whatever and they have all of their merchandise there, you should be getting a cut from that, just like you do when you have motorcycle week and you have all your vendors.

Same idea.

There's many different ways to do this.

A ticket surcharge.

If you've got tickets that are 40, why can't you have $2 or $3 cut right off the top to go back to the taxpayers?

Okay, this is purely to bring down that kind of thing for your property tax uh burden.

Um another thing with that, just to give you a small idea.

Um, if you were to be able to fill that thing uh 60% full with 120 book nights at 40 a ticket, your revenue would be roughly around 86,000.

That's a lot more than we're paying you know, we're paying out a lot more than that.

But if you add in your rental fees from all of your other possibilities, like your other schools having graduations and all that stuff, it can be upwards of 200 to 300,000 and another hundred thousand in concessions if you're able to do that.

So the grand total, you're looking at 400 to 600,000 annually that you can be taking in, which is actual tax relief for the people of the city.

And they would have a venue that is being used by the city as opposed to sitting quietly almost all the time.

I know it's early.

I know you got a lot more on your plate, but I just wanted to get this one out there because I think if we can do stuff like that, then we can help to be able to promote all of the other things that you guys want to do and all the other things that the city planning wants to do.

And just last on that, um, I just want to say that I lost that part.

I think you get the idea.

Thank you.

Thank you, folks.

Enjoy the evening.

Is there anybody else with a comment not on an agenda item?

Seeing none, we will move on.

We're down to 13A public hearings.

Uh the first one is about a proposed application for the community development finance authority for up to 100,000 in community development block grant emergency funds for the Belknop Belknap House emergency repairs replacement of the sewer line servicing the building.

Uh the notice of this public hearing was made available in the December 26, 2025 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun and was posted at Laconia City Hall, Laconia Community Center, Laconia Public Library, and the offices of the SAU.

With that being said, we are going to open the public hearing for this matter.

Would anybody like to speak on this?

The time is 7.24 p.m.

Good evening, Donna Lane, CDBG consultant.

I have to read to you because CDBG is very picky about the wording.

So I'm just gonna read a couple paragraphs.

Community development block grant funds are available to municipalities through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authorities.

Up to $500,000 annually is available for economic development grants, up to $500,000 for housing projects, up to $500,000 for public facility projects, up to $500,000 in emergency funds, and up to $25,000 per planning study grant.

All projects must directly benefit a majority of low moderate income persons.

This is a proposed application to the community development finance authority for up to $100,000 in CDBG emergency funds.

Of the grant funds after $15,000 will be retained by the city for administrative labor compliance costs associated with the project.

Up to $85,000 of the funds will be subgranted to Belknap House, a family shelter located at 200 Court Street for emergency repairs, replacement to the sewer line servicing the building.

The shelter services, low and moderate income persons.

Project informs the Tacone's housing community development plans goal of promote activities that protect the health, safety of residents and visitors, which is a short-term and a long-term goal.

So recently there was an issue with the sewer line.

And they unclogged it, but have found issues, so it needs to be fixed.

And it's a lot of money for Bellknap House.

Thank you.

Council have any questions or comments.

Can I just say that there's an informational packet up at the table over here, by the way?

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Does the public have any questions or comments?

Anyone else like to discuss this matter?

All right, Doug Robinson, Ward 5.

Um, I'm speaking tonight as a concerned resident who supports helping the vulnerable families, but also believe strongly in transparency, fiscal responsibility, and proper oversight when federal funds are passed through our city.

The proposed CDB grant for the Belknap House project raises several important points that deserve clear and answers for approval.

First, the CDB grant requires the city of Laconia to act as the legal applicant for the fiscal agent.

And even though the project benefits of nonprofit, this means the city carries the compliance responsibilities, reporting obligations, and potential liabilities of federal rules are not followed.

This is not a small administrative task.

Second, the city has proposed retaining $15,000 for the administration of the oversight.

Depending on this on the category of the federal excuse me, um depending on the grant category, federal rules typically cap that amount at 10%.

Um respectfully requesting clarification on the category of this grant being submitted under and whether the administration amount complies with the CDF and the HUD limits.

Third, the construction of this scale may require temporary location of families and services under federal rules.

Relocation costs must be budgeted and documented and handled consistently if relocation is expected.

It should be clearly identified in the application and explained to the public.

Finally, as with any pass-through grant, the city should allow for strong subsequent agreement in place.

This protects taxpayers by requiring the nonprofit to follow procedural rules, maintain records, and accept responsibility for the project's performance.

My goal is not to oppose this project, but to ensure the city and the nonprofit and the families that we serve are all protected by a transparent, well-structured process.

I appreciate your attention to these details and your commitment and responsibility moving forward.

The last thing I would ask is a hundred thousand dollars to replace the sewer line, guys.

It's a lot of money.

So when I see the hundred thousand dollar dollar amount on a block grant, I really want to know if that was like already estimated.

Do we have companies go out there and do this?

Or do we pull this number out of the hat?

Um it's just gonna fit.

Um I haven't heard any of those things, so tonight I asked for those clarifications on this project moving forward.

Thank you.

Yeah, well, there's quotes on it.

There's um that includes the administrative fees, and if I'm not mistaken, the relocation fees are factored in to that.

Yeah, so there's multiple things that factor in, not just the fixed physical fix.

As to the physical fix, um, we'll have to get bids.

So if we get the money and it costs 40,000, then we don't take it all, and it stays with CDFA, CDBG.

Um we just need to have enough in there to be sure that we can afford to do the work.

Um it's 15% for CDBG administrative up to 15%.

Um kind of missing some of the questions.

Just the relocation, actually, we're gonna address it in the next public hearing if that's okay.

Can we wait for the next one?

That's okay, it just needs to be in the directed to the donor.

Just talk up the correct year.

Sorry.

Um, those you haven't bid yet, but you do have like estimates, so we have estimates, but so they've been at least we go in with estimates when we ask for the money, but the reason reasonableness of cost is determined when we bid.

Um, and being an emergency, we might have to pay a little extra to get somebody in there fast, you know.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Anybody else like to speak on this matter?

Seeing nobody, the time being 7 30 p.m., I'd like to close the public hearing.

Next up 13B.

Another public hearing.

Uh and this is actually kind of related to what we just discussed.

It's a public hearing about the anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan for the Bell Knap House emergency repairs and replacement project for the sewer line servicing the building.

Um notice of this public hearing was made available in the December 26, 2025 edition of the Laconia Daily Sun and posted at the Laconia City Hall, Laconia Community Center, Laconia Public Library, and the offices of the SAU.

We'll open the public hearing at 7:30 p.m.

Would anybody like to speak on this matter?

Thank you.

Hi, Donna Lane again.

Again, I have to read one more paragraph.

Okay.

Sorry.

This plan outlines measures that are the uniform relocation act required for CDBG projects that involve any displacement or relocation of persons or businesses.

If the city were to undertake a CDBG project which involved displacement or relocation, they would follow this plan.

Plan outlines the measures they would take to find comparable suitable housing for persons or businesses displaced or relocated.

This project does not anticipate any displacement or relocation.

It's a couple day job, and they are intending to have everything functional while they're working on it.

I imagine worst case scenario, we'd bring in a porta potty.

Um but it if we do displace people, we do have to cover the cost for it.

Um, but that is not the intent.

The intent is to not move people.

If you did have to displace people, do you have an estimate or a guesstimate I'll say of how many people that might be at this moment or no?

Well, it could be 19, right?

There's 19 beds.

Um, but we will the intent is to make it work so that um I think that worst case scenario would be bringing in something quickly.

Um it's not the intent to displace anybody.

But we always have emergencies, and so we have a little buffer in there if we have one.

Anybody else have a question?

Anyone else would like to speak on this matter?

Seeing none, I will close the public hearing on this at 7 32 p.m.

Uh presentations and May's report.

Uh so recently we just had law enforcement appreciation day.

I would just like to bring up, did I skip something?

I'm getting no okay.

Um I like to just bring up, I want to thank Wilconia Police Department, our state police and Bell now County Sheriff's Office for all they do for our community.

Um we also recently had a meeting with the developer of the state school property.

Everything's looking very positive with that, and uh seems to be going in the right direction for the community.

And uh there's really not much going on yet.

There's a bunch of meetings coming up, and I'll keep everybody updated on those, but there isn't much other than that.

Uh next up, we will have council comments.

Councilor Susi.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

One of the things I've noticed as chairman of the appointments committee, is we have a lot of different boards or things like Putnam Fund and things like that.

That we we almost never hear from.

So what I'd like to do is ask you and city manager to maybe put a schedule together or talk to these other boards and we can list them all, that they come in front of the council either once a quarter or once every six months, and tell us what's going on.

Okay, what's what's activity there is, or what do they see?

And I mean, I know when we at the appointments committee, and those of us that are on it, when the people come to us and they're looking to be appointed to the library or planning board, or anything else, we ask them a lot of questions, and we find out a lot of things that you don't hear about here because usually when people came here and passed when there was no committee, as long as it was in one body, they got in.

Okay.

And I I you know I I saw something this evening on the in the planning board and ZBA with the same person, each is a problem, maybe optically.

Okay, we're gonna look at those kinds of things.

But I'd like to hear from trustees of the trust funds, putting the board, all of our boards and stuff, come in, spend whatever time, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, tell us what's going on, what are their concerns, do they have any problems and everything else and keep us?

Okay, because we're the ones responsible up to date on what's going on.

Like maybe once every six months, like a report to the council.

I know that when it comes to budget season, we see a lot of them.

Okay, we see the library, we see planning, we see all that, but a lot of them we don't.

And I just every six months is fine.

Bring us a report.

Like for for example, I was I was in the office the other day when I was speaking to Joya about she has the economic development responsibility.

Come to the city council and tell us what's going on.

Maybe there's something we can do to help.

Maybe there's some something that we need to work at changing and zoning or anything else to help bring in people, bring in factories or jobs or whatever else is necessary.

So I just like to see is see more information come from those boards.

Well, we can we can set that up.

Um I'll probably start with the ones that don't have a council representative sitting on them.

Um I would expect you to be the voice for that.

But uh yeah, we can certainly do that.

Right, because I know I went to the I went to if I may, Mr.

Mayor.

I went to the Putnam Fund prior to Pumpkin Fest this year.

And I asked them to be help us to be involved with Pumpkin Fest.

And they point it up to bring in a uh you know, a real good act, you might say a show for the children and everything else.

And you know, and really helped that I went to the trustees of the trust funds because there was a question at the time about how some things were handled, and I know the city manager helped out in the legal help down.

We got those things all straightened up.

But if we don't go and involve ourselves from the city, we don't know it.

Okay, and that's that's all I'm asking for that to do, okay?

That's matters.

Okay.

And then the other thing I was gonna ask, and I know you and I have talked, but just to uh make sure it doesn't get I'm not saying it would get lost on the agenda, okay.

Um make sure that we at some point in time put together a uh council representation, whether it's one, two, or three council, whatever it is.

We have to start working with Cargett Hospital Aconya.

Okay, and I know you've told me you're gonna meet with one of their CEOs or something else like that.

But we we've got to do something because I know that recently things happened, and I ended up in the ER, and I waited like six, seven hours to get in.

I know most, maybe a lot of other people here have had the same kind of problems.

And uh it's it's a real it's a shame, okay?

And we're all used to having the hospital is there, and I realize you've got to operate in a block or else you're not gonna be able to operate.

How do we how do we help them?

My question comes out to be simple.

I know that year round, I believe our population for the city is around 17,000.

Give or take a little bit.

Our county population, maybe a hundred.

65,000.

65,000, okay.

But in the summertime, or even summer, spring, fall, depending on what sports season, like that.

That total population of Bellamp County probably rises to 200, 250,000 people.

Who knows, okay?

And that hospital here is not right now, and I'm not a medical uh expert, but right now I don't think I think they have a very hard time helping out all the people that need their help.

Okay, it's it's it's a challenge for us, and here as a city, one of the biggest things I hear from my constituents is what can we do to help?

Okay, I know that the the m um their contract, I believe, comes up in May, something like that, five-year contract from when they first started, and there's no doubt there's which way we're gonna go, and I I understand they've invested, but we need something to make our constituents feel more comfortable.

Okay.

And um the other one I was gonna mention, I believe the city manager has taken a real great step in helping that.

And I know that um one of my constituents, Mr.

Huff, came up and talked about the Colonel Theater.

The contract that we've been working with as of today was one that was put together prior to any of us, I think pretty well any of us here being on the board.

Mark, were you on?

Mark was on a city council, but it's a it was a contract that was very favorable in one direction, let's put it that way, okay.

And uh I know that I've made it known, I believe most of the city council here's made it know we've got to take another new direction with that, only some help and whatever, however, you want to get it without getting uh muddy of the waters or anything else like that.

And I know that um I think it's a gem, I think it's an awesome uh diamond or a piece of coal in the rough, it can be a lot better.

I no doubt about it, okay.

Um it was brought to brought to the city and voted on to be an investment into the city and help draw people into the downtown area, which I think it can do and has done.

But do we need to go after and try to do something different?

Maybe we do.

But I'd like to see this, and I know the city manager's done that, but maybe Mr.

Mayor yourself, or maybe however well you want to do, uh, have some of us help or maybe put out input into that with him.

Absolutely.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

If I could just make if mind if I can just make a comment on that, just so um so when he says I've been working on it.

So the contract expires at the end of June.

We put out for an RFP, um, had one response back.

We put out RFP again.

We only had one legal response back, and I get into the weeds of why it's only one.

Um so that's new as of now.

Um well, as of about a month ago.

Um so knowing that we had a new uh mayor and council seated, I have sat on it a little bit.

Um I think it's something we need to move on, whatever direction we go.

Um, but I you know it was a it was it a little bit delayed for that reason, so I knew mayor and council could see.

Um we need to move on it no matter what we're gonna do.

Um but uh that's why we stand where we stand right now.

Makes sense.

Council of Bogart.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh I do believe it's now time we've passed in the social district uh for the city of Laconia, and I think it's time that we start to work on that uh so that come summertime we have things in place so that we can take full advantage of our short-lived outdoor situations, and I'm not sure, but I would ask that you work for the city manager and determine if that's one of our committees, or is that a special committee you need to put together to uh uh bring this uh so that it can happen in a very short time?

Counselor C'est Council Bogart, I think it's right on par, but I just want to add one more comment to that.

Um within the social districts, and we've all a lot of us here have been on the council and we get requests for waiving fees or waiving this or waiving that, okay.

One of the things I want to make clear is that if it's a nonprofit organization, whether it's youth basketball or the football or anything else like that, fine.

We waive all we want.

But if it's for a sort of profit operation, we should make sure they pay.

Or some Absolutely.

I want to make sure that's done.

And I've I know there's any correct me, Mr.

Manager if I'm wrong.

There's an event um committee.

It's not the city council.

I think it's made up of department heads.

Yeah, it's a special events committee that it it more makes sure that the day-to-day operations and everything of whatever events gonna be coming in to get handled, or if there's um if they need to bring water in or porter parties or fire code stuff, that's what that's what they take care of.

Okay, but when it comes to the next thing, then it comes to the council for a vote.

Comes to the council for a vote on most everything, usually if it's a traffic change or if they need to take over a parking lot, waive fees, those types of things uh uh come in front of you.

Okay, thank you.

I just want to make sure that's the right.

So not I I won't say everything from special events does, but a lot of it does.

Okay.

I think a lot of us are on the CPAs with that, yes.

So anybody else.

I just want to respond to the social district.

So one of the things that I was asked to do is to put together the kind of a uh a first round draft of the map and get it to you with the holidays and everything else I got behind.

I'll work on having it at the next meeting for you guys, and then you can take it and either send it to a committee or talk amongst you know, here whatever you'd like to do with it.

So I'll get something for the next meeting out together.

Just get put on the back burner a little bit.

I know that like from public safety committee, we'd like to review that with the as far as the committee concerned.

Okay, counselor Hilldriff.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um with regard to your meeting with the hospital.

I know that um Concord Hospital recently made a two million dollar investment in the um the medical building attached, and they also Concord Hospital did a study to um for the feasibility of if Concord if they closed that Concord Hospital could not handle the influx of patients.

So you know, good fodder for you when you go into the meeting.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yep.

Oh, Councilor Hoffman.

Yeah, I just wanted to touch on the colonial a little bit.

Um it's true, there has been a lot of concerns about the the utilization of the colonial, and I think we need to do whatever we can to to increase its utilization.

And I think anything we can do to decrease the tax burden of the colonial or to increase or create profitability, is it's certainly worth looking at.

But I think looking at the colonial as an expense, I think is a narrow view of it.

I think if you look at how much the tax base of downtown has changed since I mentioned this before, that I don't have the figures in front of me this time, but it is quite a bit of money that that is generated downtown that didn't exist before the colonial opened.

Um we're not the only city that's used a theater to anchor a revitalization of its downtown area.

Um it's been successful other places, and I think it's been very successful here.

So I think when you really look at the big picture of downtown.

I think you could make the argument the colonial has actually increased our tax base and reduced the tax burden for our for taxpayers and not created uh you know, created a liability.

Just throwing that out there.

Thanks.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I just wanted to report that I attended my first planning board meeting the night after inauguration.

So trial by fire.

Um it was uh I I was um reached by Rob, our planning uh director, and he briefed me on what to expect, went over the rules.

It was um it was a a very enlightening process, and uh and so we kicked off that.

I also met with um with Ben up at the water department, and I'll be attending my first water commission meeting uh next Tuesday on the 20th.

And uh I also met uh this morning actually with Patrick Wood of the Human Relations Committee, and uh we're gonna we're gonna try to get that um ball rolling and and see where that might bring us.

That's something all of us will be contributing in now that it's a permanent committee.

So I look forward to uh getting input from each and every one of you here.

Thank you.

You keep busy.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

All right.

Oh, next.

So we got a lot of blanks here.

Do we have any updates with any of the committees?

No, not at this point.

Uh so we're up to citizens' requests to comment on current agenda items.

I see somebody getting up.

He's running the light.

He's running out the door.

No, nobody, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes.

With um the government operations and ordinances, which is you three.

Um is there an update to that short-term residential rental business.

I can answer to it that the planning board's gonna be coming forward with a presentation.

I think at the next meeting is what we're trying to work on.

We tried to get it done in time for tonight.

Uh there was a lot of updates that happened in it, and I I don't know if you have more to say, but there was there was a lot of updates on it, and then there was some changes at the state law level, so we had to go back to our legal and then come back.

So it's been to planning board a couple of times now because it had to keep going back and forth with changes.

So you'll be getting an update uh from planning department on it because you guys are gonna have to make some uh uh decisions on it as well.

All right, so we have no comments on the agenda items, so we're on to Kirk and his city manager's report.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So I'll start.

I have my financial and operational trends, but before I get started, I just make two notes.

Um one of my appointment um requirements is the Laconia Housing Redevelopment Authority Board.

Um I had a reappointment that I had to make, and I reappointed Patrick Wood to a five-year uh reappointment to the board.

Um I just got this well, I don't know, maybe 4 30 this afternoon.

Uh is a press release from um the community action program for Bell Knap and Merrimack Counties.

Uh press release went out that they are suspending the Concord Laconia commuter bus route.

Um if you're not familiar with the program, it it ran from Concord went up uh um Route 3 through Franklin, Tilton into Laconia, turned around and went back that way.

Um they're citing rider um amount of riders and some financial constraints.

Don't know a whole lot of details.

I got the press release is all I got today the late this afternoon.

Uh, but they were really wanted to push that word out.

Um, so I uh wanted to mention it to you guys while I'm question about that.

Didn't when that was discussed when they started that, wasn't it at the request of uh businesses in the area that they they wanted to be able to get employees in on the buses?

There was a lot of push from you the the business that really made the most uh request on it uh was the Watts regulator um Webster Valve down in Franklin because they knew they could pull people from Concord up Route 3.

Then they then it kind of expanded to well, what if we get people to work at like Tanger in Walmart and Tilton in that area, so that expanded then the hospital here was another big push.

So that's kind of why it made the the route that it did.

I haven't talked to them in a well, I shouldn't say I haven't talked to him in a while.

I had talked to them probably maybe three months ago.

We were looking at maybe changing the location of the one over on Church Street to a more visible uh area.

Um we had a hard time finding a spot to begin with when this whole project started.

Um so I got an email from her today, assuming that that was what she wanted to continue to talk about, but instead it was the it was the copy of the press release saying that they were uh no longer transport.

No longer do as and that's of uh January 30th, 2026.

So thanks.

If I hear any different, I will uh certainly let you guys know.

Thank you.

Uh so the financial financial and operational trends uh report, these are submitted by uh department heads, so I'm just gonna go through it a little bit more in depth just with the uh um because we do have some new people up here.

These are submitted by um department heads.

The first thing you'll see is the net gain in construction value.

Um obviously that number is high because we have a lot of new building construction this year.

That as I always say as we get to the end of the assessing year, that does go down a little bit because we do take off some things that it weren't included in here that uh right now this number is strictly new construction minus demolition.

When we go back and look at a little bit deeper, we do take off some things that aren't that don't add assessing value to property.

So this is this is a true net construction, new construction minus demolition, but it will come down a little bit.

It won't be at this full number when uh when the uh March 30th comes around, March 31st comes around.

Also, Susie.

Of course, I just want to make sure that we're on there's no uh people don't think so.

There's no Pillsbury group in here.

No, no, no.

And secondly, the 911 Center.

Is that in here?

Shouldn't be because it's a state property, but I but I will look to I will look to I will I will check on that.

Um we do exact we do take those.

So if it was that would end up being backed out anyhow.

Right.

So I I will check on that for an answer, but uh if it was it wouldn't be at the end.

Right.

Okay, thank you very much.

Yep.

Let me uh let me just check on that.

Um fire rescue calls.

So this ends the calendar year.

Um you'll note that they had a uh uh about a 400 call increase over last year uh for the time of year.

Uh one of the things I will just make a note on is the date with 20 or more incidents.

That was a number they started keeping quite a few years ago now.

Um, and it's interesting to see that usually you have one, two, maybe three a month.

Um that was quite a busy month for them uh through the month of December.

The uh mobile integrated health care, the MIH that you see that community paramedic data.

Um that was through a grant that we're working with with partnership of public health um to send out a um uh uh a paramedic who's specially trained in what's called community paramedicine um to basically treat people where they're at.

Um think of it along the lines that I don't want to take their work because it's a completely certainly a different skill set, but think of visiting nurse type uh activities where they're going to work with the patients in their home.

Um and then with the goal of if they don't need to go to the hospital, they get to stay home as opposed to um going to the hospital, which we know is a as a burden, right?

We've we talked about that.

Um so this the project's uh only been going on since July.

Um it may have been a month or two before that, but this started in July.

Um and then they're getting a lot of work in, it's going very well.

I've heard a lot of good success.

Uh a lot of people I've actually had a few people in the community say that they've had a lot of luck with it.

So um same thing with another fire department EMS related uh topic later on.

I'm gonna have the chief come in um and do a presentation on this uh hopefully in the next month.

Our general assistance that is our welfare.

Um we budget uh 175,000 towards city relief, um, which is about 14,500 a month that we'd like to be at.

Um and as you can see, there were a little um you know, we're a little bit higher than that right now.

Um, but that's where we try to be.

Uh city relief was historically designed around um, you know, if I if I can't uh get my car fixed this month, um I need $300 to fix my car, I'm gonna lose my job.

Well, let's help them so they don't lose their car so they don't lose their job, maybe oil, maybe some propane, that type of stuff.

Uh it's really over the last probably three or four years, um mostly post-COVID, so we'll say it more like three years, has transitioned from um that to more rental assistance is what is what we're seeing a lot more of, or housing, putting people up in housing.

So that's why you're seeing some of the increases uh that you're seeing.

Um again, one of the presentations I think we should do is a welfare presentation.

Uh we do that every year or so, and I know we'll do it for budget time, but it'd probably be something good to do as well.

Just wanted to say, you know, if you look at the the net assistance costs over the last few years, I mean the cost of this is absolutely skyrocketing.

Um I know we're we're kind of bound by RSA as to as to how we how we handle this, but isn't it worth at least the the conversation of uh can we accomplish what we're required to with less cost?

Well, that's gonna change a little bit at the state level because now there's gonna be residency requirements that pass right, Steve.

Council Wilder.

We have done that passed through the house.

Yeah, well, no, that's gonna be we have and we tried.

No, there's gonna be a 90-day resident, it's 60.

Nope.

Oh, what was it?

You can ask for uh identification on their residency, and then there's also been a uh uh an up to amount to pay.

So in between, and it was also interesting that the city council actually approves what dollars that are put in to that fund, not the budget side, but through the RSA and our welfare line that uh uh Glenn and them work from there's dollar values in there that are are set by the city itself by the state.

That's just past the house, so it hasn't gone through the Senate or signed by the governor yet.

But if there may question, no, yeah.

Okay, yeah, but don't we have a residency or something already?

I know we talked about this a couple of meetings ago, and they come to they go to Glenn's office, they got to show their a Laconia residental residency.

Sure.

And Glenn's office goes to whether I'll have him answer how he answers the residency when they come in.

Um the way the state law set rates now, the town or city in which the person has residency is responsible for them.

So if, for example, a person has uh residency in in Concord and they show up in Laconia at 4 30 on a Friday afternoon.

Um we can't legally say, no, you're gonna sleep outside this weekend.

But what we can do is provide the service and then seek compensation from the city of Concord from the from whatever the city of residency is.

And I've got to say, um almost all communities within the state of New Hampshire step up to that responsibility.

It's uh very uncommon for us to uh have to uh expend money on resident from another city or town and then not receive um uh compensation.

Turning people away.

Um we're not turning people away for that reason.

I mean, most of the people well say most, but a good number of the people that come up seeking welfare assistance do not qualify.

Uh there's a pretty rigorous um qualification process for uh for uh uh uh getting general assistance, and uh we we turn a lot of people away just because they don't meet that.

Then what happens then they go somewhere else.

I mean I mean uh a lot of that is uh folks will come in and there's a there's a there's a certain we sit down with them and we do a budget.

We have to come in with monthly income, monthly expenses, kind of do the math and see if there's there's a shortfall.

Uh in many cases, uh monthly expenses um can be can be lessened.

And when that when you go through that process, they no longer require this the assistance.

That plays itself out uh many times.

So there's this this uh things like that.

Or we send them uh if they are uh the responsibility of another community, and it's not 4 30 on a Friday afternoon.

We tell them to go to that other community, and that happens uh quite a bit also.

Okay, thank you.

Yep, thank you.

And that new bill doesn't change the fact that if they show up at your doorstep at 4.05 going and need help, that that three-day period is still within uh in there, so that knowing that you don't have time at 4 05 in the afternoon on a Friday to close to do all that work, it gives you that three days plus a holiday if it's a Monday's a holiday.

So the bill helps to cut out some of the strenuous, but it doesn't take out the real help for the people who are looking for help and genuinely need the help.

It doesn't do anything with that.

So don't freak out that all of a sudden we're not helping nobody.

That's not what's happening.

And I will say one of the uh I think disturbing trends that we've seen if when you look at the uh the big ticket items like the shelter, I'd say at this point, more than half, and maybe way more than half of the people that we are providing long-term assistance to are elderly and disabled.

And that won't change.

And and that correct.

That's that's not the point of the bill is not to change that kind of stuff.

So uh continuing on, uh next page is the CONIA police department activities.

Uh note their calls for service over the corresponding year was uh was up a little over 5,000 calls, about 20 percent.

Um a lot of that, if you look at um the next three or four categories down, I guess it's three categories down.

Um the that that really, even though only one line says community policing, those extra patrols, park walk and talk, community policing really all fit into that community policing model, where they're trying to be out more, they're trying to be.

Not that they weren't out patrolling, but this is more focused and more targeted at that community policing.

Um and uh so they've they've been doing a really nice job with that.

Um another one on there.

If you go down uh their year to date, um DUIs are up quite a bit for whatever reason.

Um, but that's uh you know, that was just them out uh doing their job.

Um the property tax collection is down a little bit than what we'd normally see at this time, but the bills normally are due in December, they weren't due till January, and I think that's just why we're seeing seeing a decrease settle uh next month that'll that'll all back off and we'll be where we should be.

The bills were normally go out for December.

Um we had issue.

Um I talked about this before, but we had an issue with DRA with our forms and their forms weren't lining up, so it took a little bit longer once we get everything squared away.

Uh it was too late in the year to be able to have the bills due in December.

Next page is our overtime.

This is really it's a six month snapshot, but you know, it really fluctuates over the course of the year.

Um as would expected.

We see more increase right off right out of the gate within overtime when we start looking at uh July and August because it's vacation time.

Um then it sort of dips down and then public works takes over.

They're doing a lot because they're out doing their winter stuff.

Um but all the department heads monitor this and make adjustments as needed as they get towards the end of the year.

Um with the to try to obviously plan to stay within there with their overtime.

Uh motor vehicle registration, those are estimated revenues that we do, but we're we usually are right on the on the uh target with what we're estimating, and that's where we are right now.

Uh parks and recreation.

Uh the one thing that they do give to us is our um is their uh amount of usage, so that's the facility use request that they get.

There's no pending grievances right now.

Um you don't see these on this until they're at uh they're at my level.

Um there's nothing outstanding right now.

Uh impact fees, uh these are based on just as a refresher, they're based on um new building construction, they pay an impact fee for their building.

Uh, we did just change the uh the formula and the amount of money a little bit, so you'll start seeing those numbers go up.

Um, and these these amount of monies are used towards capital improvement projects that are identified.

Um and the way the formula works, different projects receive different amounts of money.

So a school may not receive as much money for uh a warehouse being built versus they're going to for apartment building that they would expect to bring children in.

So that's that.

Uh the uh the reserve balances, uh those have control.

Um the trustees of the trust really have a lot of control over those.

Um money in, money out though comes through the council.

Um so if we're gonna use any of that money, it has to come through you.

It's public hearing, and then you say yes, go ahead and you can spend that, then it still has to go back to the trustees for their approval.

Um and the same thing with money going in.

If we were to have, and we're gonna probably be talking about this in the next couple weeks because I think we're gonna have one, uh, money that we want to put into a uh a reserve account.

Uh it still comes to you, public hearing, and then it goes back to them, and we have to tell them yes, here's the here's the vote.

It went they voted council voted yes, and uh um and and they can still say yes or no to wanting to pull pull that out or put it back in.

Uh the TIFF finance summary uh is there.

So if you look at uh the first the first column that says balance, if you take that, add it to the budgeted um under revenue, subtract the budgeted expenses.

Your year-end balance should be what what's remaining uh at that time.

Uh we've been working on trying to um not use these as a piggy bank, so we want to make sure that the the money's either being used or not put into it.

Uh so we've been working on that, and it's been steadily coming down over the last few years, and I think we've been making good progress on that, and we have fully intentions of continuing that uh this year.

Look at the building uh permit numbers.

You see the code statistics uh with their building um year-to-date permits last year to this year at this time, um, as well as um their building permits in their code inspection.

So certainly a lot of building going on, all those numbers sort of line up together.

Boat taxes, nothing really to talk about.

Uh general fund and expenditures were we're right where we should be on both of those.

Uh the EMS billing history.

The hard part with looking at these, and I'm gonna have Chief Jubert and his EMS deputy come in, they're gonna do a presentation on this.

Because I think it'd be it's always a good review.

We probably do it once a year is a good review.

The one thing to remember looking at this is there's such a lag time on seeing this catch up.

If you take somebody to the hospital and we bill them in July, it could be December, January before we see money.

So this thing is always fluctuating.

Um, but I'll have them come in and do a presentation on on this in the mobile integrated health care.

I think it'd be good to see that all together.

Storm costs, this is we only have to put this out in the winter time, and uh, so I guess you know it's winter when we see this.

Um what you see when you get this is a uh uh a monthly snapshot up top, and then the bottom one is a uh year to date.

Really, it kicks in, you know, November, December, depending on when the storms hit.

Um we do know that you know, if you look at uh in December, uh we had a lot of storms, we had a lot of call outs, and we spent a lot of money on storms.

January we've been out, but it's been a little bit better.

So we we you know we budget what we think we need.

We do have a winter maintenance reserve account that we can uh go into if we need to.

We try not to.

Um our goal is to keep that money in there and and try to find it within the department's budget during the year.

If that's a few grand or you know 50 grand, we can probably do that.

Certainly if we start to get into the hundreds of thousands, that doesn't it doesn't work, and we and we do have that ability to well, you have the ability to say yes, go ahead and do it and go back to the trustees.

So um that's my report that you get that once a month.

Um and uh unless you have any questions, that's councillor bogert.

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh Kurt, uh going back to the TIFF finance summary in the downtown area.

Are we uh we had put out hopefully an RFP for the lighting along the river bank and the parking lots and stuff like that, and uh are we trying to make sure that that TIFF money is gonna be there and not spending it in other directions so that we can cover that cost of those lights?

Certainly that's a goal, is that one the that are I know that RP is being worked on.

I don't know if it's gone out yet, but I know it's being drafted because we had to update it.

Um again, we've been trying to get some of that number down, uh, but knowing that that's probably the next really big project that's ticket.

Oh, it's gonna be a very big ticket, and I think that's gonna be our next big ticket in the downtown area.

So that's basically what the TIFF is used for, is for capital improvement for downtown and uh per previous discussions, the rotary park and all through here is part of that downtown TIFF.

So that would make it uh uh uh a marriage made in heaven perfect for for that.

Yeah, yeah.

I would just like also say, Counselor, if you look at that uh budgeted amount in downtown TIFF of $512,000.

That is actually not the number that was in the budget that you approved in July.

Uh every time this council votes to spend downtown TIFF money on something else, like the lighting and some equipment that you have voted on since July, uh we update that number.

So that's a kind of a real-time number of projects that you have already approved in the budget and since budget adoption.

But and and that's why I was if I may, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh that's why I was curious because I see we budgeted 512, and to me that meant we've already allocated 512.

And does that mean that's 512 of the balance of 644?

Or is that saying that we have 1.1 and we've allocated the 512 from the 1.1.

One, it's the 644 plus the 325 minus the 512.

So we're gonna end the year if nothing changes um at 457,000 in that count, and then we'll put more money into it next year, and depending on what we want to do for projects.

Because we may I continue, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh the money is only put in there as it's allocated.

Is that correct?

It's it's only put in really at the beginning of the budget year.

That's part of your budget vote is to is to put that in.

So we identify projects.

Let's use for the example that we're gonna use the uh um the lighting project.

And I'm not saying we are you would get in your budget uh presentation, you would get the TIFF, it would say downtown lighting project.

This is the cost, whether it be the bond item or the total cost, depending on what the project is.

This is how much we're gonna be able to put to it, and then you'll see um the new estimated end year at the end of next fiscal year.

So if I'm if I'm if we don't have in a particular TIFF district, doesn't matter which one.

Um for that, then there's no money allocated to that TIFF fund.

Generally, yeah, yeah, it's you know I'll give you an example.

That's what we did at Lakeport last year.

That's why you see the budgeted at zero because we had already put the money in there and it didn't get spent, but it was gonna get spent in in this year, so that's why we did that.

Yes.

It's just not normally.

I think that was a misconception by people thinking we we automatically, whether there's something to use it for or not, take the money and put it there, which takes it out of the tax.

I think what ended up happening was more more than just what was out identified was maybe being put in to make sure that we had the money in there, and that's what we've been trying to control over the last couple of years to get that back down.

And that's what we've been trying to control over the last couple of years to get that back down.

Thank you.

Mr.

Mayor, that's all I have.

All right.

On to the next new business.

Agenda item 21A resolution 202601 relative to acceptance of an award in the amount of 26,405 from the Department of Safety Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of SWAT slash SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department.

So the city has applied to New Hampshire Department of Safety for the grant funding and the amount of 26,405.

Mr.

Mayor, if I may just chime in that that was not uh in the packet because we just got it tonight, but it has been given to the clerk for the minutes.

Perfect.

And I know every counselor has it.

And I do have an LPD uh captain here if you're if you have any questions.

Anybody has any questions?

We have a member of Laconia Police Department here.

Anybody have any questions?

Nobody.

No.

Three motions.

All right.

So I move to waive a reading of resolution 2026 01 in its entirety.

And it's a read by title only.

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Councillor Haynes made the motion.

Councilor Susi seconded it.

Um I move a first reading of resolution 22.

We got a vote on it.

I think it would be.

Oh well.

I'm moving too quick.

All in favor?

I just assume this is all right.

That's unanimous.

I move a first reading of resolution 202601 relative to acceptance of an award in the amount of 26,405 dollars from the Department of Homeland Security grant program for the purchase of SWAT SOU equipment for the Laconia Police Department.

Councilor Bogan made the motion.

Councilor Hildreth seconded it.

All in favor.

60.

Thank you.

Um I now move to schedule a public hearing on January 26th.

Join the regular city council meeting to gather public input prior to any action being taken.

Councilor Hoffman made the motion.

Councilor Hill seconded it.

All in favor.

I don't think that public hearing date is correct.

I changed it to the second.

No, we changed it while he's when he said it out loud.

When I said it out loud to the 26th, yeah.

Okay.

It was just misprinting.

Sorry.

Didn't we all in favor?

All in favor, 6-0.

Excellent.

On to agenda item 21B.

Termination of the intermunicipal agreement between the city of Laconia and the town of Guilford governing the development of the Lakes Region built business park.

Uh so basically in May of 2021, intermunicipal agreement was signed governing the joint economic activities between Laconia and the town of Guilford related to Lakes Business Park.

And uh the town of Guilford voters have authorized their border selectment to negotiate and execute a successor agreement with the city of Laconia.

Um there is an attachment you guys can all see of a successor agreement and uh the original intermunicipal agreement.

Yes.

That's a good question from the city manager.

Um we talked about this, I'm just want to make sure it's clarity.

So all the lots there have been sold.

Correct.

Okay.

So there's nothing open.

That's what triggered this conversation.

That's what triggered this conversation understood.

Yep.

So all the lots have been sold.

The real estate taxes that are collected under the Guilford tax rate.

Yep.

Okay.

Do we still split 50-50?

Or what is the what is the or will we be splitting what's going on in the future?

So the the successor successor agreement uh has 25% of the um taxes from those properties coming our way.

That's part of the negotiation as to what we're gonna do, but it's at 25% right now.

Um there is a formula in there that it's 25%, but also includes some of the money goes into the capital improvement project program for there, but that caps out at a million dollars.

So once I hit that, it would our 25% would come our way.

You know where we are into that project as far as capping out.

It uh I don't, I I don't I'll get that.

I think it's pretty close, but I don't want to quote that.

So um there's quite a bit in it.

Okay, so as we move forward, and that that probably gets assessed and reassessed and to go for tax rates.

We we were wrong numbers.

We're gonna we're gonna receive 25%.

If we go with exactly as it's written right now, right?

It could change depending upon where that cap number is.

Yep.

Okay.

And as far as the that's where the the answer to my question second question, the million dollars is for maintenance.

Yes.

Is that is that like plowing or is that no capital improvement type projects?

Um, I know they want to put a trail system in, plus if they have any issues.

Um don't quote them, I believe it's water if there's a if there's an infrastructure type problem paving, if there's something major that goes on that they'd be they'd have that money to uh to be able to work on.

So if any of those lots become available being sold by the owner today, they can do whatever they wish.

It doesn't have to come back to here.

No, they now that they've sold ones, they would not have to come back to that.

Remember, they came back to the joint committee, right?

And then it was recommended they wouldn't have they would skip that that portion of it.

Okay.

So basically, other than collecting the revenue, we're washing our hands with this.

Pretty much uh there, you know, the the the way the agreement was originally written, they also uh included it in some airport language, some uh phase one information, way back in in 2001.

So that's why before we do this assessor agreement, our our attorneys have already been made aware they're gonna I want them to go through it to make sure is just a successor agreement work, or is it better to have an ad is it an addendum to the original?

So our attorneys will work on it.

That's why you asked for an extra.

We'll see we'll see.

That's why I asked about a couple extra weeks.

Oh, absolutely.

It's gonna come back to you guys anyhow if you approve this to see it.

Okay, thank you.

Council Hoffman.

So what happens if uh the property needs a capital improvement in excess of what's in the fund?

Uh million dollars sounds like a lot, but that doesn't buy a lot if it needs serious infrastructure upgrades at some point.

I would I will look at that in there, but I would say it's in the town of Guilford.

Um I like that answer.

So that would be all that.

That would be how I would uh I would tend to look at it.

Okay.

Um, you know, no different than if on our end the pounds will down and we know we have a water main break or something.

It's they might come back and say, well, we'll use the same ratio.

We'll pay 75, you pay 25.

They might if I was them, that's the way I'd push it back.

Yeah, they don't have to, they know I so but but before we move anything forward, would it ask them back here?

Okay.

I feel like that should be in there somewhere.

We yeah, absolutely.

I'll add that in, or at least have it.

I'll bring it up with our attorneys and have that in there.

Yep.

Thanks.

Anyone else?

All right.

I move to authorize the city manager to negotiate a successor agreement with the town of Guilford pertaining to the lakes business park.

Intermunicipal agreement agreed upon in 2020 um 2001.

The negotiated agreement shall be reviewed by the city of Laconia legal council prior to being presented to the city council.

So moved.

Councilor C seconded by Councillor Bogart.

All in favor.

Six zero.

All right.

I I moved to schedule a public hearing on February 9th, 2026 during the regular city council meeting to gather public input prior to any action being taken on this.

Councillor Hoffman, seconded by Councillor Hildreth.

All in favor.

Thank you.

Oh now on to unfinished business.

Uh 22A proposed application to the community development finance authority for up to 100,000 dollars in community development plot grant or emergency funds for Bellknap House emergency repairs, replacement of the sewer line servicing in the building.

Um we already had a public hearing on this earlier.

Do we have any discussion pertaining to this?

These guys are too easy.

We've already discussed it.

Yeah, well, we kind of did it.

Yeah.

So I moved to approve this submittal of the Bell Knap House emergency sewer line repairs slash replacement project, C B C D B G application, and vote to authorize the city manager to sign and submit the C DBG application, and upon approval of the C D BG application, authorize the city manager to execute any documents which may be necessary to effectuate the CBDBG contract and any amendments there too.

So moved.

Councillor Hill.

Seconded by Councillor Haynes.

All in favor.

6-0.

Guys, uh very easy.

I I I don't make this like the normal.

I'm getting too comfortable there.

Uh agenda item 22B.

Adoption of the anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan for the Bell Knap House Emergency Repairs slash replacement project for the sewer line servicing the building.

Again, we had a public hearing earlier today.

Do we have any discussion pertaining to this?

I do.

Councillor Haynes.

Um we still on that uh replacement is going to be on Pearl Street.

Uh yeah, that's my understanding.

It's coming on.

And that uh if it gets on to Court Street, we could have all kinds of traffic problems.

Yep, my understanding is it's coming off of Pearl Street.

I will try to confirm with you and I'll contact you directly, but my understanding is it's coming off Pearl Street.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

No problem.

Any further discussion?

All right.

With being none, I move to approve the residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan for the Belknap House Emergency Repairs slash replacement project for the sewer line servicing the building.

Councillor Conan and seconded by Councillor Bogart.

All in favor.

All right.

Anything else?

Future agenda items.

Uh one comment to make mistakes.

Yes, counselor.

Okay.

Um earlier this evening we we heard from one in the audience, Mr.

Robertson, I believe, talked that if we had a six to nothing vote and most of our stuff, something was wrong.

I I don't think it's wrong.

I think it's common sense that most of us agree on a lot of these things as they're well prepared and you know we we're using common sense in our votes.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

Do we need a motion to adjourn or do we just adjourn?

Robert's rules, perfect.

Thank you to for everyone coming out tonight.

What time?

It is now 824 p.m.

And we can adjourn.

Thank you.