Councilors to take up social districts Monday night

LACONIA —  Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 467 into law in July, paving the way for municipalities to create so-called “social zones” where open container alcohol consumption would be allowed.

The new law went into effect on Friday. 

Councilors will discuss so-called social districts, according to their agenda for their next meeting, set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, at City Hall downtown. 

At their meeting on Aug. 25, the subject breached the walls of City Hall for the first time, when Ward 5 Councilor Steven Bogert referred to the newly-enacted law and suggested other councilors give it some thought. 

“In the State of New Hampshire, they have passed having social areas,” Bogert said. 

“It was an enabling law,” Bogert said. “The cities themselves, or towns or villages, must enact on one of their elections to the city residents — like we did with Keno — and find out if that’s something they wish.”

Councilors, in 2017, approved the inclusion of Keno, a gambling activity, within city limits on the ballot, and voters affirmed it. Now, Keno is legal in Laconia, and many bars and restaurants in the city participate. The creation of social zones would work much the same way. 

Bogert told councilors he’d enjoyed attending the Rev, White & Brew car show downtown, and that it corresponded with an iteration of the Concerts on Canal entertainment series. The event brought scores of people from all ages and backgrounds to downtown Laconia, and Bogert said he’d be interested to see what the city’s voters think about creating social zones, where consumption of alcoholic beverages outside of a liquor establishment would be permitted. 

“I found in the situation where we had a car show, and it was a very lovely car show, some beautiful machines, then we had the Canal Street band going on, people were enjoying themselves, but they were not allowed to venture out of the rectangle,” Bogert said. “You couldn’t enjoy that beverage as you were looking, enjoying the cars.”

Councilors would need to act quickly in order to draft language to be included on the ballot in November — the election is about two months away. Alternatively, if 5% of registered voters sign a petition, the question could make it on the ballot through that mechanism.

Councilors took no action on the question, and discussion was limited to comments made by Bogert. 

“If we get it on the November ballot and allow people to make a decision, do we want to set up some social areas around town? We have a Pumpkinfest that, on certain nights if we grow Pumpkinfest to a Friday night, it might be a night so adults can come downtown in the evening time and enjoy Pumpkinfest, and then Saturday is a family day like it has always been,” Bogert said. “We have opportunities there, but it’s up to the city council to ask that it be placed on the ballot in November so that the people can make a choice.”

In other business, at the Aug. 25 meeting, councilors approved an increase in pay for City Manager Kirk Beattie. 

Beattie’s salary was $154,350, and is now $168,550.20, comprising a 5% merit increase, plus a 4% cost of living adjustment.