1182 Union Ave., Laconia
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010
WEDNESDAY
Laconia schools readying new bullying policy
VOL. 11 NO. 122
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LACONIA, N.H.
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City’s attorney advises tax cap in no longer valid BY MICHAEL KITCH THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — City attorney Judith Whitelaw yesterday confirmed that the New Hampshire Supreme Court decision that the property tax cap adopted by voters of Manchester last year is contrary to state law also renders the Laconia tax cap unlawful. The justices ruled that the tax cap violates state law by requiring a super-majority of
two-thirds of the board of mayor and aldermen to override the limit the cap imposes on the increase in the annual city budget. The justices found that the statutes governing the municipal budget process (RSA 49-C:23) and the conduct of meetings (RSA 49-C:12, I) stipulate that boards of aldermen and city councils conduct business by simple majority votes. They noted that when the Legislature intended to require two-thirds majorities, such as for supple-
mental appropriations and bond issues, it enacted specific statutes prescribing them. The new Republican super-majorities in both the N.H. House and Senate are expected to deal with the court’s decision in 2011 by enacting legislation that would expressly authorize municipalities to enact property tax caps by majority votes. Like the Manchester ordinance, Laconia’s tax cap requires a super-majority of twosee TAX CAP page 12
Main Street bridge tops list of capital improvement priorities for 2011-12
BY GAIL OBER
THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — After listening to a presentation by administrators, the School Board last night said it will have it’s revised policy on bullying ready for a first reading by Dec. 21. Redrafted to be consistent with New Hampshire’s new law on bullying in schools, Board Chair Bob Dassatti said he expects to hold public input and information sessions before then. Policy Committee Chair Chris Guilmett said the subcommittee is working with a sample bullying policy put out by the New Hampshire School Board Association and has tweaked it to be Laconia-specific. The new law also redefines bullying as any single or multiple acts directed against another student said Middle School Assistant Principal Chris Ennis. He said if it causes emotional distress, if it interferes with education, if it creates a hostile environment or if it causes a subsee BULLYING page 12
FREE
BY MICHAEL KITCH THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
Hazel Zimmer (left) of Laconia is shown here with artist Marcy Yerkes, examining some of her work in a window of the now-closed Sundial Shop. Yerkes and a group of other artists are working to fill the vacant or plain storefront windows downtown with artwork or attractive seasonal designs. (Laconia Daily Sun photo/Adam Drapcho)
The smell of something cooking, downtown BY ADAM DRAPCHO THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — Over the course of this year, a symbiotic relationship has developed between owners of downtown Laconia buildings and businesses and a group of local artists looking for a place to market their work. The partnership began in May, when four local artists – Marcy Yerkes, Marcia Haughey, Jeri Bothamley and Mary Lou John – moved into a storefront at 54 Canal Street. The storefront, like several others in downtown, was vacant at the time, and building owner Robert Sawyer offered
them a deal they couldn’t pass up. He allowed them to use the space as a studio and gallery for free, they’d only have to pay for their heat and electricity. In exchange, the artists gave the space a fresh coat of paint and a new look. The work was noticed, and Sawyer was pleased to report that the space was nice enough to attract a paying tenant, an interior designer, who will move in after the first of the year. Sawyer liked the arrangement so much he asked the artists, doing business as the Paintbox Studio and Gallery, for another round, this time in the storefront at 50 see WINDOWS page 12
LACONIA — The city’ Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Committee last night placed the reconstruction of the Main Street bridge, where Beacon Street East and Beacon Street West join Main Street at the Winnipesaukee River, as its highest priority for the 2011-2012 budget. Moynihan said that Dubois & King, Inc. consulting engineers, inspected and evaluated the bridge and reported in June. They found that the main abutments and much of the substructure, apart from one pier at the center, are sound. Director of Public Works Paul Moynihan said the entire superstructure of the bridge — the deck, rails and sidewalks — must be replaced and a pier at the center of the bridge removed. He estimated the cost of the project at $2.5-million, of which the state bridge aid program will pay 80-percent. see CIP page 13
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