Council seeks public input on Colonial contract, public drinking

LACONIA — Councilors will seek input from the community about a contract to manage the Colonial Theatre, as well as an ordinance to allow social districts, during their meeting Monday.

The Laconia City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 27, at City Hall downtown.

According to the council meeting agenda, the first of two public hearings will center around a city contract with Spectacle Management, Inc., the company currently operating the Colonial Theatre. The 5.5-year contract is set to expire June 30, and city staff are already in discussion with Spectacle leaders on new terms. Spectacle Management was the only company to respond to several requests for bids on the contract.

A second public hearing will be held about the creation of a social district downtown. A social district is a specific area designated for outdoor drinking of alcohol. The proposed ordinance around the district is accompanied by a proposed management and maintenance plan, included in documents prepared for the council meeting. If created, Laconia could become the first city in the state to have a place for outdoor drinking, made possible by a new law created last year.

Councilors will hear a request to use impact fees to fund replacement of a part of the public library’s heating and cooling system critical for its function. The amount would not exceed $9,283, and the request was made by Deann Hunter, the library director.

Also before the council Monday will be a request to disband the Appointments Committee. Created in February 2022, the subcommittee was tasked with vetting recommended appointees to the city’s boards and commissions. The request comes from a staff report submitted by City Manager Kirk Beattie, but does not include who made the request.

Councilors Jon Hildreth (Ward 1) and Robert Soucy (Ward 2), both members of the committee, were recently criticized by members of the public, who said their handling of recent taps for the zoning and planning boards was improper, and violated public records law.

Following disclosure of an email detailing discussion which took place outside of a properly noticed meeting, Mayor Mike Bordes said all councilors will be required to take training about public records laws in the Granite State.

Beattie is also expected to give councilors an update on the anticipated development of the former Laconia State School property on Parade Road.