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.

Date Monday, March 23, 2026 Duration 1.5h Speakers 1 Public comments 2 Decisions 6 Lively

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Residents should prepare for potential changes to EMS billing costs in Laconia.

During the City Council meeting on March 23, 2026, the Fire Department provided an update regarding EMS billing revenue and ambulance fleet procurement. Crucially, an action item was identified: Chief Joubert has been directed to coordinate a formal agenda item to discuss proposed adjustments to BLS emergency and specialty care billing rates.

Because these changes directly impact the cost of emergency services for every household in the city, this discussion must happen with proper public notice. Currently, no specific rate increases were voted on, but the groundwork is being laid for a formal decision.

We will continue to monitor the City Council agendas and notify the community as soon as the formal hearing regarding these EMS rate adjustments is scheduled. Transparency is key when it comes to your emergency service costs.

Mar 23, 2026 1.5h long 1 speakers 2 public comments 6 decisions Lively

❝ Notable statements ↔ Drag to browse

“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. 06:01

“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. 35:39

“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. 1:03:34

“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. 1:03:34

“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. 1:21:16

This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.

What was discussed

Potential increase in BLS emergency and specialty care billing rates.

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

What was discussed

The council reviewed and accepted the minutes from the Laconia City Council meeting held on March 19, 2026.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Soucy, Councilor Bogert, Councilor Haynes

What was discussed

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 Connan, Councilor Susie

What was discussed

A request for a temporary traffic order for the 'Week the Lake' event, including sound extensions and alcohol consumption in designated areas.

Speakers: Citizen, Unidentified speaker

What was discussed

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: Unidentified speaker, Patrick Wood, Councilor Susi, Councilor Bogert, Councilor Hoffman, Councilor Cronin

What was discussed

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, Chief Joubert, Deputy Chief Scott Lewandowski, Winifred 'Winnie' Tunstall, Councilor Volge, Councilor Susie, Councilor Hilger, Councilor Cronin

What was discussed

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

What was discussed

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

What was discussed

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

What was discussed

The City Manager updated the council on the Social District, noting a meeting with the Public Safety Committee to finalize maps and management plans.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

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

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

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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Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.

Total speakers

Addressed

Partial

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 response

The 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.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.