City buildings will soon have reserved parking for veterans

LACONIA — Parking spots reserved for veterans will soon appear in front of city buildings, following the proposal's unanimous approval by council Monday night.

Councilor Mike Conant (Ward 6) made the proposal to implement these parking spaces to honor veterans in the city. Proposed permanent locations include City Hall, the Laconia Public Library, and each ward's polling location.

Mayor Mike Bordes moved to approve the request to provide veterans reserved parking, seconded by Conant.

“This really came about at polling locations. I watched several folks with veteran plates not able to find a handicap spot because it was a busy day, and I just didn’t think that was right. I thought we owe it to them, to our veterans, to honor them with a spot,” Conant said.

At city-owned properties, it is anticipated there will be one spot per location. For events like polls, where the city does not own the property, Conant suggested temporary signs, which could be bolted and unbolted at these temporary locations.

“There will be a couple places, like our voting places we don’t actually own. We certainly rent from them, so we can work with that,” said City Manager Kirk Beattie.

Beattie spoke with Public Works Director Nate Guerette about the temporary signage idea, which could also be used for a “multitude of things throughout the city.” Beattie also discussed working with the Laconia School Board on securing temporary spots ahead of election season. He plans to make a list of potential locations for further discussion.

Bordes was eager to approve the request. “I think this would be an excellent move for the City of Laconia to show gratitude to our veterans,” Bordes said. “If we put it through here as a tester, we may move it to the state level.”

Bordes also serves Laconia as a Republican representative to the Statehouse.

“Just to make sure that we don’t fall into some rut on this, do we have to allocate any funding, or where is it going to come from?” asked Ward 2 Councilor Robert Soucy.

Beattie reported this would be a “relatively low cost” for the city — only the production of signs. A lot of them can be made by city staff, with reusable signs, within the current budget.

Bordes called for a role call vote, and Councilors Jon Hildreth (Ward 1), Eric Hoffman (Ward 3), Mark Haynes (Ward 4), Steven Bogert (Ward 5), Conant and Soucy all voted in favor of reserved parking spaces for veterans.

The proposal will be sent to the Public Works Department to begin work on installation of signs. Beattie will also be in touch with City Clerk Katie Gargano, will work to update documents about implementing veteran spots at city-owned parking lots, as well as working to get them clearly reserved and marked at polling locations ahead of time.