City Council — June 22, 2026

The Council reviewed minutes from the June 8th meeting and budget presentation minutes from May 26th, June 1st, and June 8th. No corrections were submitted to the Clerk.

All sets of minutes were accepted as distributed following roll call votes.

Doreen Richards expressed concerns regarding the public social media presence of event leaders, noting it should reflect the city's values of respect and inclusiveness. She suggested creating written standards for conduct for those leading major celebrations like the July 4th parade.

The comment was received by the Council; no immediate action was taken.

Speakers argued that the current zoning (some dating back to 1995) does not align with the new Master Plan, particularly regarding affordable housing, historical character preservation, and density controls in RR2 corridors. They suggested an appropriation of approximately $150,000 to modernize the ordinance.

The Council listened to several advocates for a zoning rewrite; the matter was not formally voted upon in this segment.

Sue Higgins cited broken sinks, dispensers, lighting, and chairs, as well as floor issues and uncleaned rugs, stating that the city's investment is not being properly maintained.

The comment was received by the Council.

A resident questioned why impact fees were being used if $32,000 was already budgeted for the project and whether the issue was caused by new development. The School District Business Administrator clarified that the $32,000 is a placeholder for various needs and that impact fees do not affect the tax rate. Councilor Conantt argued that since $32,000 was already budgeted, the city should use that allocation and only use $33,000 in impact fees rather than the full $65,000. The City Manager confirmed the budget exists for signs and the project is within scope.

The public hearing was closed. The Council approved a friendly amendment to reduce the impact fee allocation from $65,000 to $33,000.

Residents argued that the city has historically maintained these roads as public ways (plowing, trash, etc.) despite their legal status as private. They requested a regulatory workaround to avoid the annual 'band-aid' of emergency declarations and requested formal public acceptance of the roads. There was confusion regarding whether a 100% abutter agreement was required by law or by previous Council direction. Members noted that the issue has been ongoing for too long.

The hearing was conducted. The Council approved the emergency lane designation and an exception to allow solid waste collection at the curb on these avenues.

The City Manager will prepare a packet regarding the history of this issue for the July 27th meeting to finalize the decision.

The Mayor reported that Motorcycle Week went well and praised the DPW, Police, and Fire departments. He also mentioned an upcoming listening session with Concord Hospital.

The report was delivered.

Resolution 2026-09 involves the acceptance of the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $11,756.

The Council moved to schedule a public hearing for July 13, 2026, for this grant.

Public hearing scheduled for July 13, 2026.

A brief discussion occurred regarding residency requirements for board members, with a speaker arguing that length of residency should not be used as a disqualifying factor.

Multiple appointments were approved for the Planning Board, Human Relations Committee, Historic District Commission, Licensing Board, and Laconia Putnam Fund.

Councilors discussed implementing one reserved spot per location, including permanent spots at City Hall and the library, and temporary spots at polling places. It was noted that reusable signs could be used to minimize costs.

The motion to approve the request was passed.

The City Clerk and City Manager will collaborate to finalize the list of parking locations.

Significant debate occurred regarding the creation of a Deputy City Manager position and a new IT-centric position. Councilors expressed concerns about taxpayer burden and the necessity of new roles, though some noted the need for cybersecurity expertise. There were also discussions regarding TIF (Tax Increment Financing) allocations for lighting, security cameras, and downtown beautification.

The Council amended the budget to remove the $100,000 for the Deputy City Manager position and added $35,000 to the downtown TIF for beautification. The amended budget and various fund appropriations were adopted.