City councilors recognize volunteers who make Christmas Village happen

LACONIA — City councilors recognized contributions made by decades of volunteers through Christmas Village at their meeting on Monday at City Hall downtown.

Mayor Andrew Hosmer read aloud a city proclamation, noting the long history of public service associated with the event.

“It was, once again, an extraordinary event. It’s so impressive, the number of people that come together to bring so much joy to so many kids in this city,” Hosmer said. “It is an event, in my mind, that defines community: doing something for others within our community, something bigger than ourselves. I thought we’ve probably gone too long without a proclamation for all of you who make it happen.”

Christmas Village, originally inspired by Santa’s Village in Bristol as a way of telling the story of Noah’s ark, began in 1975. This year, the 49th iteration of the event, was run entirely by volunteers. It’s a free celebration where children are invited to meet Santa Claus, receive a gift, visit with the elves, play games, get their faces painted and make crafts.

“This event is especially important for children who might not otherwise have a Christmas,” the city’s proclamation reads. 

Around 25 adult volunteers and 70 children assisted in organizing the event. 

Human Relations Committee Chair Patrick Wood, who was at one point the mayor of Christmas Village, said the city should plan a special celebration for next year’s event, the 50th.

“It is one of the most magical experiences ever,” he said. “I think the proclamation is great, but 50 years, now we need to plan something really special for next year.”

Councilors also accepted a grant award for special weapons and tactics, or SWAT, equipment for the police department. 

A $10,680 award from the Department of Safety Homeland Security Grant Program will cover 100% of the cost of equipment for the SWAT and special operations unit program the Laconia Police Department is party to. There’s no local match requirement. 

And councilors approved changes to the city’s wage and compensation plan in order to hire a community paramedic.

They added the new position to the city’s wage schedule, and anticipate the fiscal impact will be no more than $193,858.

City Manager Kirk Beattie said any adjustment to the wage and compensation plan is posted for city employees to review and he did not receive any feedback. 

“This fiscal impact here is covered by the grant and it includes everything — benefits, worker’s [compensation] — and at the high end. We assume a family plan, we assume that we’re going to start them at the top step,” Beattie said. “All of those things when we factor in these numbers so we know that it’ll be below that it’ll all be covered by the grant.”

The new community paramedic position is funded through a program offering up to $450,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration Northern Borders grant, which councilors accepted on Dec. 9, to support the first three years of the city’s pilot program. 

The first year is expected to cost $190,000, and the second and third years $130,000 each.

Ward 2 Councilor Robert Soucy asked Beattie how a potential salary compares to those paid to current city paramedics.

“It would be a little bit higher, a little bit higher than the ones who are probably working right now, but it’s an additional certification and it’s also in a different retirement group,” Beattie said. “They’re not getting the same retirement, so the pros and cons are weighed either way.”