Laconia City Council Regular Meeting: July 27, 2026

The Laconia City Council met on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Key topics included a discussion on the road status of Prescott and Pagus Avenues, appointments to city boards and commissions, a request for dock space by the Antique and Classic Boat Society, and a proclamation honoring outgoing Councillor Steve Bogart. The meeting also featured extended public comments, city manager updates, and a debate on the appointments committee process.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting minutes of July 13, 2026, were accepted as distributed with no corrections.
• Resolution 2026-10: Accepted a $10,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Laconia for an irrigation upgrade at Rotary Park. A public hearing was scheduled for August 10, 2026. Motion passed 6-0.
• Agenda item 21A: Approved a request from the New England Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society to reserve dock space at the Weirs docks for 40-45 boats on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9:00 AM to noon. The motion passed 6-0, with Councillor Bogart noting the reservation would consume a majority of the dock system.
• Agenda item 21B: Supported the Laconia Fire Department applying for a Foundation for Healthy Communities Go North grant to expand the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program. No matching funds required. Motion passed 6-0.
• Agenda item 21D: Approved the appointment of Dave Roulette as the planning board's representative to the conservation commission, term expiring June 2029. Motion passed 6-0.
• Agenda item 21E: Appointments to boards and commissions were considered individually (see Discussion Items).
• Motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91A:3, II (dismissal, promotion, or compensation of a public employee) passed unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizen (name not stated): Expressed concern about overdevelopment in Laconia, citing seven active condo complexes. Suggested a moratorium on future condominium construction until zoning ordinances can be rewritten, as developers may rush to submit plans before rules change.
• Karen LaFlam (321 Pickerel Pond Road): Described her road being in poor condition for three years after logging operations. Noted a 26-lot subdivision is approved but the road lacks a proper base and has a 10-ton load limit, making construction impractical. Requested that the road be fixed before further development.
• Councillor Patrick Wood (Ward 1): Thanked Steve Bogart for his years of service on the zoning board, city council, and as state representative.
• Mark Hamill (36 Pagus Ave): Urged the council to initiate a betterment process (Option 4) for Prescott and Pagus Avenues, disputing the claim that abutters do not want to pay for road improvements. Stated he would accept a reasonable betterment fee.
• Sean McGuire (83 Prescott Ave): Detailed a 10-year history of attempting to resolve the road status, including a failed betterment effort in the 1980s and recent annual emergency lane declarations. Proposed a hybrid approach: a permanent emergency lane while pursuing a betterment process with a less-than-100% requirement. Emphasized that residents pay over a million dollars in taxes annually.
• Tony Phelps (North Street, Ward 6): Noted that Methodist Circle was accepted "as is" by the city despite a similar situation, and urged the same for Prescott and Pagus Avenues.
• Russell Bennett (90 Prescott Ave): Corrected the record that residents have been active in the betterment process, but 100% agreement was unattainable due to some abutters refusing to acknowledge their status. Noted the diversity of properties and lack of a homeowners association.
• Erica Murphy (90 Prescott Ave): Raised safety concerns about deteriorated pavement, citing potholes and collapsing road sections that could impede emergency vehicles. Requested the city repair and maintain the road as a Class 6 or private road.
• Dorian Richards (Ward 1): Urged the council to confirm the appointments committee's recommendations for the Colonial Theatre Advisory Board (Stacey Susi and Taylor Half) and not reopen the applicant pool, citing the importance of respecting deadlines.
• Sue Higgins (Ward 2): Commented on the appointments committee process, noting that questioning of candidates appeared inconsistent. Advised that a resident's public criticism of a city committee should not be a disqualifier for serving on it.
• Gina McGuire (83 Prescott Ave, Ward 6): Requested that Prescott Avenue be designated as an "as is" road, similar to Methodist Circle, Pickerel Pond Road, and Hill Crest Road, arguing that residents have already given easements for sewer lines and a pumping station.
• Wendy Hanley (69 Prescott Ave): Questioned why the city installed sewer infrastructure on a private road and asked for an easement but does not maintain the road.

Discussion Items

• City Manager's Report (Kurt Biotti): Provided updates on the Getty gas station issue (awaiting DES response), 91A training scheduled for August 10th at 5:00 PM at Belknap Mill, and road projects including Tower Street (fall work on top section, engineering study for lower section). Noted that the Hilliard Road culvert project with FEMA is progressing (city share currently just over $165,000, may increase). The Winnipesaukee River Basin study commission has been signed by the governor, with a report due by November 1st. White Oaks Road sewer work should be complete by Labor Day. Weirs Beach Restoration project rebid after only one valid bid. State school update: additional environmental testing ongoing after a fire, but timeline remains target of summer/early fall.
• Agenda Item 21E – Appointments Committee Recommendations: The council considered each appointment individually. David Wunsch was appointed to the Water Commission (5-1, with Councillor Haynes voting no). Mitch Hammill was reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission (6-0). Jean Whitehead was reappointed to the Heritage Commission (3-3, Mayor voted yes). Archie Coutts' appointment to the Human Relations Committee failed (3-3, Mayor voted no). Councillor Hildreth expressed concern that Coutts had previously opposed the committee. Councillor Bogart argued that dissenting voices should be embraced. Stacey Susi's appointment to the Colonial Theatre Advisory Board passed 3-2 (councillor abstained). A motion to table the appointments to allow late applicants to be interviewed failed (3-2). Taylor Huff's appointment to the same board passed 3-3 (Mayor voted yes).
• Agenda Item 21F – Community Events Committee: Motion to approve the committee's purpose and mission statement and begin soliciting names was tabled until the August 24th meeting when a new Ward 5 councillor would be seated. Motion passed 4-2.
• Agenda Item 22A – Discussion on Prescott and Pagus Avenues Road Status: Extensive discussion on options from the staff report: permanent emergency lane, betterment process, or accept "as is." Councillor Conan favored a permanent emergency lane to end annual declarations, supported by many residents who also want eventual betterment. Councillor Susi raised concerns about precedent and cost. Councillor Hoffman supported Option 4 (betterment). The council voted unanimously to send the matter back to the public works subcommittee with a directive to obtain an engineered cost estimate. A separate motion to place the permanent emergency lane declaration on the August 10th agenda passed 6-0.
• Proclamation for Councillor Steve Bogart: The Mayor read a proclamation recognizing Bogart's years of service on the city council, zoning board, and as state representative, and his community involvement with youth football, public access TV, the library, and the band. Bogart represents Ward 5 and is leaving the council.

Key Outcomes

• Antique and Classic Boat Society dock reservation: Approved 6-0.
• Fire department MIH grant application: Supported 6-0.
• Rotary Club donation accepted: Public hearing set for August 10, 2026.
• Dave Roulette appointed to conservation commission: Approved 6-0.
• Appointments to boards and commissions:
  • David Wunsch to Water Commission (5-1).
  • Mitch Hammill reappointed to Parks and Recreation (6-0).
  • Jean Whitehead reappointed to Heritage Commission (3-3, Mayor voted yes).
  • Archie Coutts to Human Relations Committee failed (3-3, Mayor voted no).
  • Stacey Susi to Colonial Theatre Advisory Board (3-2).
  • Taylor Huff to Colonial Theatre Advisory Board (3-3, Mayor voted yes).
• Community Events Committee: Tabled until August 24, 2026.
• Prescott and Pagus Avenues: Referred to public works subcommittee for cost estimate; permanent emergency lane declaration to be placed on August 10th agenda for public hearing.
• Non-public session: Entered 7-0.