Irwin Marine asks to join city in lawsuit over land sale

LACONIA — Irwin Marine has asked the Belknap County Superior Court to join the suit against the city brought by Erica Blizzard, who owns and operates Lakeport Landing marina, challenging the decision of the City Council to sell the Elm Street property her firm has leased from the city since 1985 to Irwin Marine.

Attorney Joseph Driscoll, IV, representing Irwin Marine claims that it's an interested party since the council accepted its offer to purchase the property and authorized a purchase-and-sales agreement, which has yet to be concluded. The firm has placed funds in an escrow account in anticipation of closing the transaction.

Representing the city, attorney Walter Mitchell has assented to the request of Irwin Marine to intervene.

Blizzard, who is represented by Bron Bedard of Concord, claims that Cit Manager Scott Myers exceeded the authority granted him by the council when, rather than conducting "informal conversations" with both Lakeport Landing and Irwin Marine about the conditions of a sale, he solicited the "highest and best offers" from each in a letter he said was not "a comprehensive bid document". Blizzard has asked the court to rescind the action of the council and remand the issue back to the council with instructions that any sale must comply with the City Charter.

Irwin Marine offered to pay $528,000 for the 0.81-acre lot and building at 21 Elm Street. Lakeport Landing offered $331,400.

Thirty years ago Lakeport Landing constructed a two-story building on the land, with the understanding that it would become the property of the city at the end of October 2015.