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Votes at a glance: Laconia City Council approves appointments, grants and downtown beautification; schedules public hearing on new ballot scanners
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Laconia City Council unanimously approved an appointment to the Board of Water Commissioners, accepted two state grants, approved downtown TIF funding for beautification and scheduled a public hearing on new electronic ballot-counting devices.
The Laconia City Council on Feb. 24 appointed a new member to the Board of Water Commissioners, approved two state grants for municipal work, authorized downtown TIF money for a beautification project and scheduled a public hearing on replacing the city’s electronic ballot-counting devices.
The council voted 6–0 to appoint Stephen Walsh to the Board of Water Commissioners for a three-year term expiring June 2027. Councilors moved and seconded the appointment with no additional discussion recorded.
The council also approved two state grants: a $20,587.76 award to improve the cybersecurity footprint for the city sanitary sewer system and a $26,350 New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services grant for exotic aquatic plant control in Paugus Bay. Both grants were the subject of earlier public hearings (no speakers) and were advanced through a second reading and final approval by unanimous vote.
Councilors approved using $81,000 from the downtown tax-increment financing (TIF) fund for a proposed downtown beautification project. The downtown TIF advisory board presented the proposal; councilors agreed the work would be put out to bid and that an ongoing maintenance allocation of $10,000 was included in the plan. That funding motion passed 6–0.
On election equipment, the council held a first reading of a resolution authorizing purchase and replacement of the city’s electronic ballot-counting devices and chose the Dominion ImageCast precinct scanners identified through the state procurement process. The council unanimously waived full reading, moved the resolution through first reading and scheduled a public hearing on March 10, 2025, to collect public input before any final action.
The council also discussed designating Hayes Road as an emergency lane during nearby construction to allow continued municipal services such as garbage pickup; members agreed to move the matter toward a public hearing for further consideration.
Votes at a glance - Motion to appoint Stephen Walsh to the Board of Water Commissioners (three-year term ending June 2027): moved by Councilor Susi; seconded by Councilor Jeannie; outcome: approved, 6–0. - Temporary Traffic Order 2025-01 — Juggernaut 5K (July 12, 2025): moved by Councilor Hoffman; seconded by Councilor Cheney; outcome: approved, 6–0. Organizers anticipate ~50 participants; no street closures planned; volunteers and Laconia Police support as needed. - Resolution 2025-O4 — Accept and expend cybersecurity grant for sanitary sewer systems ($20,587.76): outcome: approved, 6–0. - Resolution 2025-O5 — Accept 2025 NH DES Exotic Aquatic Plant Control grant ($26,350): outcome: approved, 6–0. - Resolution 2025-O7 — Use of downtown TIF funds for beautification ($81,000): outcome: approved, 6–0; maintenance budget line noted ($10,000) and project to be bid to landscaping firms. - Resolution 2025-O6 — Authorize purchase/replacement of electronic ballot-counting devices (Dominion ImageCast): first reading passed (waiver of full reading passed); public hearing scheduled for March 10, 2025; no final purchase vote at this meeting.
The meeting moved into nonpublic session following the votes.
