Whose idea was it? - City manager disputes claim that city proposed sale of former Lakeport Fire Station property

By MICHAEL KITCH, LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — When the City Council discussed the prospect of selling the Lakeport Fire Station this week City Manager Scott Myers took strong exception to the statement by Erica Blizzard, the owner of Lakeport Landing Marina, to the effect that her offer to buy that property was made in response to an overture from the city.

Speaking to the council Monday, Blizzard said "The city approached me about buying the fire station. I didn't come to you guys. I was approached to buy the fire station to square everything away and try to move on." Her remarks were printed in The Laconia Daily Sun on Wednesday. The phrase "to square everything away" refers to a lawsuit Blizzard brought against the city after the council agreed to sell property Lakeport Landing had leased from the city for 30 years to Irwin Marine. In September a tentative settlement of the litigation was reached through court-ordered mediation. Although the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, the opportunity to purchase the fire station is among them.

On Wednesday, Myers issued a statement in response to Blizzard's remarks, insisting that, as the city manager, "I did not initiate any contact with Erica Blizzard of Blizzard, Inc. or any representative of Lakeport Landing Marina about the possibility of purchasing the Lakeport Fire Station and abutting properties." Neither, he continued, was he authorized by the City Council to initiate such contact, nor did he engage any third party to initiate such contacts. "If indeed there was someone from the City who initiated contact with Erica Blizzard regarding the possibility of purchasing the Lakeport Fire Station and abutting properties," he said, "that person is not known to me nor were they authorized by me to do so." In closing, he declared "any position contrary to the above statements would not be accurate."

Myers said that he issued what he called "a statement of clarification" after hearing from several residents who suggested that "things are happening out of the public's view." He emphasized that since the litigation was filed all communication between the city and Ms. Blizzard has been conducted through their respective legal counsels."

Blizzard responded with a formal statement, which reads in its entirety as follows: "There were a number of options explored between Blizzard, Inc. and the City concerning the resolution of the lawsuit with the City. The sale of the fire station and related parcels was the option most appealing to the City and Blizzard, Inc. Both of us worked diligently to develop a mutually beneficial proposal that would result in the City selling us the land and permitting Blizzard, Inc. to develop it in a manner consistent with our needs. Hopefully, this will dispel any misimpression that this idea was solely conceived by the City."