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Council splits on future of Human Relations Committee; matter referred back for ordinance revisions
Summary
After hours of debate, the council did not repeal the Human Relations Committee. Instead it voted to send the matter back to the Government Ordinance Committee to draft revisions to the ordinance, following divided views over repeal, modification and public hearings.
A lengthy exchange at the Feb. 9 Laconia City Council meeting ended with the council directing the Government Ordinance Committee to continue work on the recently created Human Relations Committee ordinance rather than moving immediately to repeal it.
The debate began after the Government Operations subcommittee moved to repeal Ordinance 5‑25‑32/5‑25‑33; some councilors urged a public hearing and community input before any action. Councilor Soucy said he favored reworking the committee's size and appointment process rather than eliminating it entirely. "I don't like the idea to striking it," Soucy said, urging a review of purpose and membership.
Councilor Haynes moved to postpone the repeal indefinitely; that motion tied and required the mayor's tiebreak. After a sequence of motions — requests to schedule a public hearing, to postpone indefinitely, to table, and ultimately to refer the item back to committee — the council voted to send the issue to the Government Ordinance Committee to develop revised ordinance language, membership structure and guardrails for future public hearings.
Supporters of revision said the current ordinance as written (including a 13‑member composition) is unworkable and needs to be scaled with clearer mission and appointment rules. Critics said the committee deliberations had already generated substantial public input and urged the council not to waste resources on repeated hearings.
Councilors who supported additional committee work emphasized that any ordinance changes will return to the full council and require public hearings before final adoption. No repeal occurred at the Feb. 9 meeting.
Next steps: Government Ordinance Committee will draft suggested edits to Ordinance 5‑25‑32/5‑25‑33 and return recommendations to the council for public hearing and final action.
