New flagpole coming to Veterans Square, thanks to Bank of New Hampshire

LACONIA — City councilors may approve the installation of a new flagpole, donated by Bank of New Hampshire, at Veterans Square downtown. 

A public hearing is set for Monday, April 28. 

Councilors learned Monday night that Bank of New Hampshire, which renovated their large location near Veterans Square, would sponsor and donate the installation of a tall flagpole high above the city streets. 

The new pole, procured from High Flying Flag Co. of Greenland, will be satin aluminum with a revolving truck. The company will schedule delivery and installation at the end of April or beginning of May.

The cost of the pole itself is $10,300, shipping and handling is $635, removal of the old pole and installation of the new one is $10,000, and the associated police detail for the ordeal is $5,000, all paid by BNH.

In total, the project costs $25,935. There is no cost to the city, according to a staff report. The bank, in addition to donating the new pole and paying for the installation, offered to manage its upkeep.

“They actually maintain that little island and they’ll continue to do that,” City Manager Kirk Beattie said. 

Councilors approved setting the public hearing unanimously. 

In other business, councilors tabled a vote regarding the city's potential acceptance of Janes Avenue and Hillcrest Drive as public highways — they’re private streets located in the Weirs and near Lily Pond, respectively. 

“There are issues that are still being worked out between the city manager and council,” Mayor Andrew Hosmer said. 

“There’s not an intent to table this for a long time,” Beattie said. “We’re going to finish up, hopefully very quickly, with legal counsel and get this back on as soon as possible.” 

City councilors later scheduled a public hearing on a zoning change for a parcel on Blueberry Lane also for April 28, where developers are seeking to build numerous units of housing. 

Members of the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment approved a variance for the developers of 25 Blueberry Lane, Praman LLC, at their meeting in March. Those developers intend to construct 21 new townhouses on the parcel. 

The variance for residential density changed that parcel to multi-family from what was previously a commercial enterprise.

“The old Beane Conference Center, it’s going to be purchased for residential apartments. It’s not zoned properly for that, they’re looking to move the zoning line. It’s one property over, it’s just adding this property to that,” Beattie said. “It’ll match what the rest of Blueberry Lane looks like as far as residential apartments.” 

And councilors also approved collective bargaining agreements between the city and the police and fire departments at their meeting on Monday, following a non-public session of the council earlier that evening. 

The agreement with the police department and their union has a first-year contract increase of $228,088, which includes $123,938 for cost of living and step increases for union personnel. Of that amount, $75,000 accounts for retention bonuses which expire at the end of the contract and do not carry forward into a new contract unless negotiated that way. 

The agreement with the fire department and their union has a $219,152.13 first-year increase, which includes cost of living adjustment and steps, and an 11.5% insurance increase. 

Councilors approved both agreements unanimously.