Post by Logan on May 8, 2016 4:20:53 GMT -6
LACONIA — With the New Hampshire Senate preparing to vote next week on legislation that would foreclose efforts by the city to purchase the former Laconia State School property on North Main Street and instead authorize leasing it for a substance abuse and recovery center, the mayor and City Council, surprised by the proposal, are scrambling to frame an appropriate response.
Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee endorsed the proposal introduced by state Sen. Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith), who chairs the panel, as an an amendment to House Bill 1695 by a vote of four-to-two, with senators Andrew Hosmer (D-Laconia) and John Reagan (R-Deerfield) dissenting. The Senate is expected to vote on the amended bill when it meets next week.
Mayor Ed Engler said the City Council will discuss the issue when it meets on Monday, May 9. He said he will prepare a resolution expressing the council's opposition to the legislation for the councilors to consider. At the same time, he said that he is encouraging Hosmer in his opposition to the proposal as well as contacting members of the House of Representatives who represent the city.
The property consists of about 200 acres bounded by North Main Street to the east, Meredith Center Road and Eastman Road to the north and Ahern State Park to the west and south and divided roughly in half by Right Way Path. Among the 26 buildings on the site, an appraisal commissioned by the state found less than a handful salvageable.
Read more: laconiadailysun.com/newsx/local-news/94445-what-a-tangled-wevb-we-weave
Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee endorsed the proposal introduced by state Sen. Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith), who chairs the panel, as an an amendment to House Bill 1695 by a vote of four-to-two, with senators Andrew Hosmer (D-Laconia) and John Reagan (R-Deerfield) dissenting. The Senate is expected to vote on the amended bill when it meets next week.
Mayor Ed Engler said the City Council will discuss the issue when it meets on Monday, May 9. He said he will prepare a resolution expressing the council's opposition to the legislation for the councilors to consider. At the same time, he said that he is encouraging Hosmer in his opposition to the proposal as well as contacting members of the House of Representatives who represent the city.
The property consists of about 200 acres bounded by North Main Street to the east, Meredith Center Road and Eastman Road to the north and Ahern State Park to the west and south and divided roughly in half by Right Way Path. Among the 26 buildings on the site, an appraisal commissioned by the state found less than a handful salvageable.
Read more: laconiadailysun.com/newsx/local-news/94445-what-a-tangled-wevb-we-weave