Meeting report · City Council
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City Council — March 23, 2026
The tone was elevated by discussions of political threats and citizen grievances regarding building code procedures.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
EMS Billing Rate Adjustments
Potential increase in BLS emergency and specialty care billing rates. Affected: All residents requiring emergency medical services
fee change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Acceptance of minutes from March 19, 2026 meeting.
Minutes were accepted as distributed with no corrections.
6-0
05:50
Approval of Bike Week Fest request with amendment.
Approved the event for Sept -2, 2026, with extended sound hours until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. An amendment was added to ensure the $350 in fees ($150 licensing and $200 special event) is not waived for this for-profit event.
All in favor
11:55
Approval of Week the Lake temporary traffic order 2026-03.
Approved the event for May -2, 2026, with extended sound hours and alcohol consumption in designated areas, but with an amendment to not waive the licensing and special event fees.
All in favor
27:34
Renewal of the Robert A. Hamel Community Service Recognition Award Committee.
Motion by Councilor Corning, seconded by Bogert.
Approved
75:20
Approval of Ordinance 1989 (Human Relations Committee Administration) with a friendly amendment.
The amendment removed the clause allowing the City Manager to authorize emergency statements, requiring all public statements to receive full City Council approval instead.
Approved 6-0
78:00
Motion to enter non-public session (RSA 91-A:3:2:E).
Motion by Councilor Bogert, seconded by Councilor Cronin.
Approved
92:50
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
03:26 Approval of Previous Minutes
The council reviewed and accepted the minutes from the Laconia City Council meeting held on March 19, 2026.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
05:59 Bike Week Fest Request
Discussion regarding the upcoming Bike Week Fest, specifically focusing on extended sound hours and whether to waive licensing and special event fees for for-profit organizers.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Bogert, Councilor Haynes
23:41 Week the Lake Request
A request for a temporary traffic order for the 'Week the Lake' event, including sound extensions and alcohol consumption in designated areas.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Connan, Councilor Susie
30:28 Citizen Comment: Building Code Dispute
A citizen provided a lengthy testimony regarding a dispute over building code setbacks, fire safety, and procedural issues during a Building Code Board of Appeals meeting.
Speakers: Citizen, Unidentified speaker
54:07 EMS Billing and Community Paramedic Program Update
The fire department provided an overview of EMS billing revenue, ambulance fleet updates, and the successes of the Winnisquam Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Chief Joubert, Deputy Chief Scott Lewandowski, Winifred 'Winnie' Tunstall, Councilor Volge, Councilor Susie, Councilor Hilger, Councilor Cronin
50:16 Human Relations Committee Public Hearing
A public hearing regarding ordinance 1989 concerning the Human Relations Committee. The Council also discussed and amended the ordinance, specifically debating whether the City Manager or the full City Council should authorize emergency public statements.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Patrick Wood, Councilor Susi, Councilor Bogert, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Cronin
61:01 Political Conduct and Human Relations
a speaker addressed an unacceptable threat allegedly made by the Libertarian Party chairperson toward a candidate, noting that such language is contrary to the purpose of the Human Relations Committee.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
107:27 City Manager's Report: Infrastructure and Projects
Update on road repairs and the implementation of a new infrared asphalt patching system, the Weirs Boulevard bridge savings, the Winnipesaukee River Basin legislation, sewer repairs on White Oak Road, and the Laconia State School sewer redevelopment.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
71:56 Social District Update
The City Manager updated the council on the Social District, noting a meeting with the Public Safety Committee to finalize maps and management plans.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Human Relations Committee Governance
Debate focused on the concentration of power regarding emergency public statements, with concerns over whether the City Manager or the full Council should hold authorization authority.
Board position: The Board shifted authority away from the City Manager, requiring full City Council approval for all public statements.
medium concern
02
Event Fee Waivers (Bike Week & Week the Lake)
The council had to decide whether to waive licensing and special event fees for major events, balancing economic support for organizers against fiscal fairness and precedent.
Board position: The Board denied fee waivers for these specific for-profit/large-scale events but suggested a formal policy shift for the future.
low concern
03
Political Conduct and Threats
The meeting addressed an alleged verbal threat made by a political party chairperson toward a candidate, highlighting volatility in local political discourse.
Board position: The Board and officials condemned the language as unacceptable and contrary to the mission of the Human Relations Committee.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Follow up with code enforcement regarding cleanup progress at specific sites (Parade Road, Roller Coaster Road, and the Elm Street box truck) and provide a timeline to Councilors.
Assigned: City Manager
Coordinate with the council to add a formal agenda item to discuss proposed EMS billing rate adjustments (BLS emergency and specialty care rates) following proper notice.
Assigned: Chief Joubert
Adjust scope of the boardwalk/bandstand RFP and resend it due to lack of initial responses.
Assigned: City Manager / Staff
Prepare and present annual goal setting compilation to the Council.
Assigned: City Manager / Staff
Coordinate public notices and newspaper advertisements for the Human Relations Committee appointment process.
Assigned: Councilor Susi / Nancy
Notable statements
If it's for a nonprofit, we would waive fees. If it's for a profit, we would not waive fees. — Councilor Soucy · Debating whether to waive event fees for Bike Week Fest. 05:55
I think it would be fair to them to say, 'From henceforth, going forward, people that are for-profit, the fees will not be waived.' — Councilor Haynes · Suggesting a policy shift regarding fee waivers rather than changing terms mid-stream for existing precedents. 15:30
The lead times on new ambulances is still about 40 to 44 months if we were to order a new one. — Deputy Chief Scott Lewandowski · Providing an update on the ambulance fleet and procurement challenges. 58:55
Being hung in public is better than you [truncated/threat/insult]. That type of language is not acceptable to any of us. — Patrick Wood · Reporting a threat received from a political party chairperson during a discussion on the Human Relations Committee. 105:26
Being hung in public is better than you [sic]... That type of language is not acceptable to any of us. — Unidentified speaker · Addressing a reported threat from the Libertarian Party chairperson. 63:01
I don't understand how there would be an occasion that important that... we should be releasing statements before we know all facts pertaining to that situation. — Councilor Bogert · Debating the level of authority granted to the City Manager regarding committee statements. 82:21
Member positions
3 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred
Present
Renewal of the Robert A. Hamel Community Service Recognition Award Committee
YES
✓
Approval of Ordinance 1989 (Human Relations Committee Administration)
YES
✓
Opposed granting City Manager authority for emergency public statements
Motion to enter non-public session (RSA 91-A:3:2:E)
YES
✓
Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position.
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
0
Addressed
1
Partial
1
Not addressed
Unidentified speaker
30:11
Not addressed
The speaker expressed strong support for the proposed ordinance and amendments regarding the Human Relations Committee. They highlighted the historical importance of the committee in helping the community communicate effectively and emphasized the need to continue these efforts.
Key concern
Support for the ordinance and the continuation of the Human Relations Committee's mission.
The transcript shows the speaker finishing their comments and the moderator/official moving to the next agenda item without a specific response to the supporter's remarks.
Chief Joubert
33:04
Partial
Chief Joubert provided an update on EMS billing, fleet status, and revenue trends, noting that the department is moving in the right direction. He specifically highlighted the benefits of being 'in-network' due to new state legislation (SB 245) and suggested a potential rate adjustment to increase revenue.
Key concern
Providing a status update on EMS operations and suggesting a potential increase in billing rates for BLS emergency and specialty care services.
Board responseThe board/chair acknowledged the presentation and suggested discussing the potential action item on a different night.
The board acknowledged the information provided and addressed the procedural aspect of the proposed rate adjustment by suggesting it be handled at a future meeting.
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Report composed by
gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-25.