Public hearing on sewer line replacement, Lakes Business Park contract on council agenda

LACONIA — A pair of public hearings are scheduled for Monday’s city council meeting, about emergency repairs to sewer lines serving Belknap House on Court Street. 

According to the minutes of the Dec. 22 council meeting, the council voted 6-0 to schedule the two hearings.

The first public hearing is for a proposed application to the Community Development Finance Authority for up to $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant Emergency Funds, to be used for sewer line replacement and repairs at Belknap House. Belknap House is a family shelter located at 200 Court St.

The minutes state $15,000 of the grant will be retained by the city for administrative and labor compliance costs, and up to $85,000 will be subgranted to the Belknap House.

During the Dec. 22 meeting, the council discussed CDBG funds available to communities through the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority. The minutes state up to $500,000 is available each year for economic development projects, as well as up to $500,000 for housing projects, another $500,000 for public facility projects, up to $35,000 for emergency funds, and up to $25,000 for planning study grants.

That hearing will be immediately followed by second hearing for an Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan for the Belknap House Emergency Repairs/Replacement Project related to the sewer line that services the building.

The council is expected to vote on the matter during the meeting. City staff recommend the project.

The council will also discuss termination of the agreement between the city and the Town of Gilford governing Lakes Business Park, which was originally put into place in 2001.

According to information in the packet, in May 2001, an inter-municipal agreement was signed governing the joint economic activities between the two municipalities related to Lakes Business Park, which is on Hounsell Avenue. Gilford voters authorized the selectboard to negotiate and execute a successor agreement with Laconia.

A proposed motion to authorize City Manager Kirk Beattie to negotiate the successor agreement with Gilford was included in the meeting packet. The successor agreement lays out dissolving the board of directors over the park, and a payment schedule going forward. The agreement would be reviewed by legal counsel, and part of the proposed motion is to schedule a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 9, to gather voter input before action is taken.

Also included on the agenda is a resolution to accept an award totaling $26,405 from the Department of Safety Homeland Security Grant Program to buy tactical weapons for the police department. Information in the packet notes there is no fiscal impact, as the cost is entirely covered by the grant, without any local match required.

The city staff recommends the grant’s acceptance, as well as scheduling a public hearing for Monday, Jan. 26.

The city council meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, at City Hall downtown.