The governing body of the City of Laconia shall be an elected
council and an elected mayor. At its first meeting the governing body
shall choose one of its members as mayor pro-tem to serve in the mayor's
absence. The mayor pro-tem shall at all times retain the authority
to vote as a ward councilor. Each member of the governing body shall
serve for a term of two years commencing on the first business day
following January 1 in each even number year. There shall be one councilor
elected from each ward and a mayor elected by popular vote. All members
of the governing body shall be nominated and elected in accordance
with the nonpartisan election procedures set forth elsewhere in this
Charter. The Mayor shall have the authority to vote only in the event
of a tie vote by the council. (Amended by referendum 11-7-1995,
1,949 yes, 1,081 no; amended by referendum 11-2-2010, 3,334 yes, 1,235
no, effective 7-1-2011)
No person shall be a candidate for the office of Mayor or Ward
Council or who is not a duly qualified voter in the ward or city in
which they seek election. (RSA 49-C:9) (Amended by referendum
11-2-2010, 3,908 yes, 741 no, effective 7-1-2011)
Vacancies occurring in the office of Councilor or Mayor from
any cause shall be filled for the unexpired term with the election
of some qualified person by the recorded votes of at least a majority
of all members of the Council at the next regular meeting or at a
special meeting called for the express purpose of filling the vacancy
within 30 days following the creation of the vacancy. (RSA 49-C:10)
(Amended by referendum 11-2-2010, 3,515 yes, 1,118 no, effective 7-1-2011)
The Mayor and Council shall be compensated based on such sum
as the Council shall determine by ordinance. (RSA 49-C11) (Amended
by referendum 11-2-2010, 3,043 yes, 1,488 no, effective 7-1-2011)
The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the Council, and
the City Clerk shall act as a clerk of the Council. All meetings of
the Council shall be public. The Council shall hold two regular meetings
on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Whenever
a regular monthly meeting falls on a holiday listed in RSA 288:1,
a day of holiday observance as defined in RSA 288:2, a day on which
City of Laconia municipal offices are not open for business, or on
Christmas or New Year's Eve, then the Council shall establish the
alternate meeting date and time. Special meetings shall be held at
the written request of the Manager or a majority of the Council, by
giving written notice to each Councilor either by hand, e-mail or
in the Council mailboxes at City Hall. The Council shall establish
its own rules, and a majority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. The newly elected Council shall assume office on the
first business day following January 1 in each even number year. The
first regular meeting of the newly elected Council shall be on the
day the newly elected Councilors are inaugurated. A special meeting
may be held prior to that date pursuant to the provisions of this
section. (Amended by referendum vote 11-7-1995, 2,743 yes, 310
no; amended by referendum 11-2-2010, 3,893 yes, 739 no, effective
7-1-2011)
Municipal legislation shall be by ordinance. Each ordinance
shall be identified by a number and a short title. The enacting clause
of each ordinance shall be "The City of Laconia Ordains," and the
effective date of each ordinance shall be specified in it. All ordinances
shall be recorded at length uniformly and permanently by the City
Clerk, and each ordinance so recorded shall be authenticated by the
signature of the Mayor and the City Clerk. Ordinance shall be published,
compiled and revised in such manner and at such times as the Council
shall determine. (RSA 49-C:14) (Amended by referendum 11-2-2010,
3,334 yes, 1,235 no, effective 7-1-2011)
Except as herein otherwise provided, the Council hereby established
shall have all the powers and discharge all the duties conferred or
imposed upon city councils in convention, city councils voting concurrently,
or boards of mayor and aldermen acting separately, by chapters 44
to 48, inclusive, of the RSA or other general law now in force or
hereinafter enacted, or upon the existing city councils or board of
mayor and alderman of the City of Laconia by special laws not hereby
repealed. The Council shall have the powers of selectmen of towns
so far as consistent with this Charter. All provision of such laws
pertaining to the powers or duties of any or all such bodies shall
be construed to apply to the Council hereby established unless a contrary
intent or provision herein appears, in accordance with the purpose
of RSA 49-C to confer upon said Council all functions of either or
both branches of the existing city councils, whether legislative,
executive or judicial. (RSA 49-C:15) (Amended by referendum
11-2-2010, 3,334 yes, 1,235 no, effective 7-1-2011)
The Mayor shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial
purposes. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Council.
The Mayor shall have the authority to vote only in the event of a
tie vote by the Council. The Mayor shall serve as the Chairman of
the Laconia Airport Authority. All other duties of mayors prescribed
by law shall be exercised by the City Manager provided for in this
Charter. (RSA 49-C:16) (Amended and passed 11-4-1975 by referendum;
amended by referendum 11-7-1989; amended by referendum 11-2-2010,
3,334 yes, 1,235 no, effective 7-1-2011)
