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Council defeats motion to disband Appointments Committee after residents decry secrecy
Summary
After sustained public comment alleging documentation and 91-A transparency problems, the Laconia City Council voted 4-2 on April 27 to retain its Appointments Committee and reassigned two members; debate split councilors over transparency versus committee efficiency.
Mayor Bordes opened debate on a motion to disband the Appointments Committee and return interviews to the full council. Councilor Conant moved to disband the three-member screening committee and have candidates interviewed at full council meetings; Councilor Bogert seconded the motion. Mayor Bordes said public interviews before the full council would increase transparency following alleged recordkeeping problems and potential RSA 91-A violations.
Several residents addressed the council during citizen comment, urging change. Sue Higgins told the council she found two procedural and documentation violations when reviewing Appointments Committee records in response to a 91-A request and said minutes were incomplete. Doreen Joyal-Richards and John Adams also supported disbanding the committee. Doug Lambert recommended that interviews be held at full council meetings because those meetings are recorded and streamed.
Councilors split over the trade-off between transparency and efficiency. Councilor Hoffman and Councilor Haynes defended the committee, saying it allows more informal, informative interviews and helps vet candidates before the full council. Councilor Hildreth and Councilor Soucy expressed concern about procedure and recordkeeping and supported improvements such as recording subcommittee meetings. Councilor Conant said the public deserves to see candidates interviewed by all councilors.
On a roll-call vote the motion to disband failed, 2-4 (Councilors Bogert and Conant in favor; Councilors Hildreth, Soucy, Hoffman and Haynes opposed). Immediately after the vote Mayor Bordes announced that Councilor Hildreth and Councilor Soucy were removed from the Appointments Committee and Councilor Bogert and Councilor Haynes were appointed to that subcommittee.
The council did not adopt a new set of procedures at the meeting; members suggested the Government Ordinances & Operations Subcommittee could review committee structure and recording practices.
