The Laconia Daily Sun, June 22, 2011

Page 1

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

wednesday

City’s deal with Baldi is off with her appeal of order to raze Weirs building

VOL. 12 nO. 16

LaCOnIa, n.H.

527-9299

FRee

Divide over Gilford schools just grows wider & deeper By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

GILFORD — The special meeting of the School Board, held last night in response to petitioners seeking an explanation for the board’s refusal to comply with an adopted warrant article eliminating the position of school superintendent, widened and deepened the rift between the board and

its antagonists. From the outset, what moderator John Cameron said was “intended to be a discussion with questions, answers and some dialogue” became another round in the conflict between the board and its critics, which ended with hints that the next round may be fought in court. Attorney Gordon Graham sought to explain that state

law vests school boards with the authority to determine the structure of SAUs. Since the board is the governing body, he said that the vote could only be advisory. Likewise, he said that although voters could increase or decrease the School District budget, they could not compel the School Board to either apply or withhold funds from specific line items.

Kevin Leandro, perhaps the board’s most dogged antagonist, insisted that in 1998, when the Gilford SAU was established as an independent entity, the only plan for its administrative structure that was approved by both the voters and the New Hampshire Department of Education (DOE), provided for the provision of “superinsee GILFORd page 9

Don’t spill a previous drop

LACONIA — The process of razing the Wide Open Saloon and Motel at the Weirs came to a sudden halt last week when, at the eleventh hour, Brandi Baldi, the owner of the building that burned in September of last year, appealed Laconia District Court see BaLdI page 7

Weirs Beach Lobster Pound Route 3, Weirs Beach 366-2255 www.wb-lp.com

Fresh Steamers & a Beer for $10!

5th grader Kaitlynn Mize starts a mad dash for her team during the Tea Party Relay at Elm Street School’s Alice in Wonderland-themed Field Day on Tuesday morning in Laconia. (Karen Bobotas/for the Laconia Daily Sun)

Beane family will convert Kingdom Hall into conference center By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

LACONIA — Russell Beane, the president of Wilkinson-Beane Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, plans to acquire the building at 35 Blueberry Lane that houses the local Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall and convert it into a conference center.

OIL & PROPANE CO., INC.

On Monday the Zoning Board of Adjustment, granted a special exception to permit the change of use from a house of worship to a conference center. The board conditioned its approval on the planting of a vegetative buffer to screen the parking from neighbors and the expiration of the special exception with any change of ownership.

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Only Steven Bogert, who chairs the board, dissented, expressing concern about the impact on nearby residents and property values. “Home values,” he said, “are the only thing middle-class Americans have left.” Built in 1971 and expanded in 1986, the 5,764-square foot building offers seating see Beane page 11

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