Meeting report · City Council
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City Council — April 13, 2026
The meeting was marked by high community anger over legal transparency violations and visible internal disagreement among council members during voting.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
Public Alcohol Ordinance
New regulations regarding alcoholic beverages in public and the management of a city social district. Affected: All residents and visitors using public spaces
other high impact
02
Colonial Theatre Management Agreement
Significant changes to oversight, nonprofit status definitions, and contract terms for a major community asset. Affected: Local residents, theater patrons, and the management company
other high impact
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approval of minutes from the March 23, 2026, City Council meeting.
Motioned by Councilor Conant, seconded by Councilor Hildreth.
Approved
Temporary traffic order 2026-01 (Love Our Earth Day).
Approves the event on May 9, 2026, and waives special event and licensing fees.
Approved
Temporary traffic order 2026-04 (Laconia Little League Parade).
Approves the parade for April 18, 2026 (rain date April 25), and waives fees.
Approved
Temporary traffic order 2026-05 (Lakes Region Community College Graduation).
Approves blocking Canal Street on May 16, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Approved
Authorize Mayor and City Manager to sign the grant agreement between Laconia Municipal Airport and the NH Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics.
Approximately $150,000 for airfield restriping.
Approved
Reappointment of Ryan Cardella (Weirs TIF District Advisory Board full member).
6-0 vote.
Approved
Appointment of Deborah Cheney (Zoning Board of Adjustment full member).
5-1 vote; Councilor Conant opposed.
Approved
Appointment of Bruce Cheney (Planning Board alternate).
The motion failed with several abstentions and two votes against.
Failed
Approve request for the Town of Gilford to expend $22,000 from the Lakes Business Park Capital Replacement Trust for trail design.
Funds are for conceptual design development of the Lakes Business Park Trail System.
5-0 (one abstention)
Schedule a public hearing for the Colonial Theatre Management Agreement.
Hearing scheduled for April 27, 2026, to gather public input regarding Spectacle Management Inc.
Approved
Authorize City Manager to sign the partial release of assignment of leases and rents at 609 Main.
Allows the sale of the retail store unit by providing a clear title.
Approved
Approve making Clay Street one-way and designating odd-numbered side as no-parking.
From Bowman Street to Fair Street.
Approved
Conduct first reading of Ordinance 1825-8 (Alcoholic beverages in public).
First reading completed; public hearing scheduled for April 27, 2026.
Approved
Reappointment of Michael Agelopoulos (Library Board of Trustees alternate).
6-0 vote.
Approved
Appointment of Doreen Richards (Planning Board full member).
4-1 vote; two councilors opposed.
Approved
Move to Non-Public Session.
Motion made regarding acquisition, sale, or lease of real or personal property.
6-0
Acceptance of Heart and Hands grant for Laconia Pumpkin Festival.
Amount: $500. Approved via resolution 2026-04.
Approved
Grant agreement for Laconia Municipal Airport restriping.
Approximately $150,000 from NHDOT Bureau of Aeronautics.
Approved
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 10:25 Approval of Minutes
The council reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous meeting held on March 23, 2026.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 12:14 Right to Know Law Violation Disclosure
The Council issued a formal statement acknowledging that members of the Appointments Subcommittee engaged in discussions regarding subcommittee business outside of a publicly noticed meeting, violating New Hampshire's Right to Know Law (RSA 91-A).
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 15:26 Public Comment: Right to Know and Appointments
Multiple citizens expressed concerns, anger, and calls for accountability regarding the reported Right to Know violations and the handling of Planning Board appointments.
Speakers: Sherry Miner, Unnamed Candidate, Unnamed Resident
▶ 50:06 Public Comment: Community Safety and Retention
A resident provided suggestions to increase youth retention in Laconia, including improving safety at Opechee Park, managing geese populations at beaches, and addressing drug paraphernalia.
Speakers: Unnamed Resident
▶ 63:43 Library Board Report
The Chairman of the Library Board of Trustees provided an update on contract negotiations with Spectacle Entertainment.
Speakers: Moriarty
▶ 75:32 Laconia Municipal Airport Grant
Discussion regarding a ~$150,000 grant from the NH Department of Transportation Bureau of Aeronautics to restripe the airport airfield due to wear from snow plowing.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 76:52 City Goal Setting Summary
The City Manager presented a draft summary of the goals set in March, organized into six pillars: economic development, housing stability, community well-being, city vitality, infrastructure, and community pride/identity.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 88:31 Gilford Lakes Business Park Trail
A request for the Town of Gilford to use funds from the Lakes Business Park Capital Replacement Trust for conceptual design of a trail system.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Susi
▶ 91:05 Colonial Theatre Management Agreement
Discussion concerning the upcoming expiration of the contract with Spectacle Management and proposed changes to the agreement, including oversight and nonprofit status definitions.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Bogert, Councilor Conant, Councilor Susi, Councilor Hildreth
▶ 96:01 609 Main Lease and Rent Release
A request to execute a partial release of the city's collateral assignment of leases and rents to allow for the sale of a retail storefront unit at 609 Main.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Bogert
▶ 98:01 Clay Street Traffic Changes
A request to make Clay Street a one-way street and implement no-parking restrictions on one side.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 99:02 Public Alcohol Ordinance
First reading of an ordinance regarding the use of alcoholic beverages in public and the management of a city social district.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Councilor Susi
▶ 115:47 City Manager's Report
The City Manager provided updates on lighting system costs, winter maintenance deficits, and the homelessness subcommittee.
Speakers: Kirk Beaudry
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
Right to Know Law (RSA 91-A) Violations
The Council formally acknowledged that subcommittee members discussed business outside of public meetings, leading to significant public anger and calls for accountability regarding transparency and the integrity of the appointment process.
Board position: The Council acknowledged the violation and assigned mandatory RSA 91-A training for all members and staff.
Internal dissent
Internal tension was evident as Councilor Conant criticized the violation, stating, 'Wrong is wrong. We all took the same oath of office.'
high concern
02
Planning Board and Zoning Board Appointments
The legitimacy of recent appointments was challenged by citizens due to the aforementioned transparency violations, with some requesting that specific nominations be rescinded.
Board position: The Board proceeded with various appointments, despite the controversy and split votes.
Internal dissent
Appointments for Deborah Cheney and Doreen Richards faced opposition from councilors.
high concern
Split votes
Appointment of Deborah Cheney (Zoning Board of Adjustment full member)
5-1
Appointment of Bruce Cheney (Planning Board alternate)
Failed
Appointment of Doreen Richards (Planning Board full member)
4-1
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Assign official Laconia, New Hampshire email addresses to all council members for official business.
Assigned: IT Department · Due: Within -3 days
Schedule RSA 91-A training for all council members and staff via the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Assigned: City Staff / NHMA
Review winter maintenance budget deficit and plan for potential fund movement from the maintenance account.
Assigned: City Manager / Finance Director
Update the goal-setting summary with wording regarding crosswalks/infrastructure and upload it to the city website.
Assigned: City Manager · Due: Before next posting
Review and clarify redundancies and potential conflicts in the Colonial Theatre contract language.
Assigned: City Manager · Due: Prior to public hearing
Discuss the Lakes Business Park Trail design with the Gilford Town Manager regarding homeless/camping concerns.
Assigned: City Manager · Due: Not specified
Ensure the storefront owner at 609 Main is notified regarding their continued requirement to be part of the homeowners/building association.
Assigned: City Manager · Due: Before execution of release
Notable statements
The City Council affirms that no decisions or consensus arriving from any conversations outside of the duly noticed Appointments Subcommittee meeting held on March 20th, 2026 are included tonight's agenda. — Speaker A (on behalf of Council) · Formal acknowledgment of the Right to Know Law violation. ▶ 13:26
It was not my intent to violate 91-A... I was offering that courtesy [of a phone call to the candidate]... so that she wasn't blindsided in a committee meeting. — Councilor Soucy · Apologizing for a phone call made to a candidate outside of a public meeting. ▶ 90:31
Wrong is wrong. We all took the same oath of office in January. — Councilor Conant · Criticizing the violation of the Right to Know Law by fellow members. ▶ 96:54
We want to make sure we're not locking in on the short-term fixes... we're not quite ready to rehab [the runway], so we need to repaint it. — City Manager · Explaining why the airport is requesting a grant for restriping rather than full rehabilitation. ▶ 75:40
When they do this... I just want to make sure that something is done with the trail system when they design it... we know we have a homeless problem up in that area. — Councilor Susi · Discussing the Gilford trail design request. ▶ 88:38
Most of all the changes are in favor of the [City]... it's going in a positive direction. — Councilor Susi · Commenting on the updated Colonial Theatre contract negotiations. ▶ 90:52
If you're going to abstain, it should be for financial conflicts... You're representing your wards, individuals. You're not representing yourself. — Unidentified speaker · Criticizing council members for abstaining from a vote that did not involve a personal financial conflict. ▶ 102:03
Member positions
0 issues · 0 explicit · 0 inferred
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
Partial
The speaker raised concerns regarding recent 91A violations and communications occurring outside of public meetings. They requested that the nomination of Bruce Cheney be rescinded to restore public trust and criticized the inadequacy of subcommittee meeting minutes.
Key concern
Lack of transparency and legal compliance (91A violations) in the appointment process and subcommittee record-keeping.
Board responseA board member asked for clarification on whether the speaker was asking if the board was deliberating on the matter that night or moving it to a different time. The board confirmed they were proceeding with the scheduled recommendations for appointments on the agenda.
The board addressed the procedural confusion regarding whether the appointments were being handled that night, but they did not directly respond to the specific allegations of 91A violations or the request to rescind the nomination during the public comment period.
Moriarty
Not addressed
Speaking as the Chairman of the Laconia Public Library Board of Trustees, the speaker expressed gratitude for the communication regarding negotiations with Spectacle Entertainment. They advocated for a public hearing to allow the trustees sufficient time to review the contract edits before finalization.
Key concern
The need for the Library Board of Trustees to have adequate time to review and react to contract edits before proceeding.
Board responseThe board did not provide a direct verbal response to the speaker's request during the comment section, though they moved toward a motion regarding the event following this section.
While the board acknowledged the speaker's presence, they did not provide a specific response or decision regarding the request for a public hearing during this specific segment of the meeting.
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Report composed by
gemma-4-26b, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-25.