UDRIVE IT NH.COM
KEEP CHECKING,
NEW
ARRIVALS DAILY!
S EARCH L OCAL D EALERSHIPS O N O NE S ITE
Friday, OctOber 25, 2013
friday
— Ward 6 —
Felch stands between Bolduc & a 16th term on City Council
VOL. 14 NO. 102
LacONia, N.H.
527-9299
Free
Commission won’t guarantee Gilford a dollar for dollar tax credit In 2013, Mutual Fire Aid cost will be removed from county budget & be billed directly to municipalities By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — The Belknap County Commissioners this week announced that while the $554,000 appropriation for the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association (LRMFAA) will be
stripped from the 2014 county budget they recommend to the Belknap County Convention, they cannot ensure that the overall budget will be reduced by an equivalent amount. The LRMFAA includes 36 municipalities. The 25 in Car-
roll, Grafton, Merrimack and Strafford counties are billed directly by the LRMFAA according to a formula consisting of a fixed charge along with factors for both total population and assessed valuation. Laconia and the 10 townships of
Belknap County have not been billed directly by LRMFAA. Instead, their total share of its budget has been included in the county budget, apportioned among them based solely on their share of the total assessed see MUTUaL aid page 14
Coming up for supper
By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — In perhaps the most keenly contested of the six races for City Counci,l the voters of Ward 6 will choose between incumbent Armand Bolduc, seeking his 16th consecutive term, and Tony Felch, who has campaigned on the theme that “it’s time for change.” “I don’t just work in Ward 6. I work in all of them,” said Bolduc, who also served a term as mayor from 1984-1986 when the councilors elected the mayor from among their number. Apart from longevity, Bolduc’s visibility is as a mainstay of the annual Christmas Village and leading figure in the Lakeport Association, make him a formidable opponent to any challenger. “It’s name recognition,” said Felch, a Lakeport resident who has managed the Mountain View Apartments for the past 22 years and serves as president of the Leavitt Park Association. “I voted for Armand for many see Ward 6 page 13
Use your Medical flex $ on glasses!
A large rainbow trout leaps out of the water in search of food at a pond on the grounds of Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough. (Mark Chertok/for The Laconia Daily Sun)
Majority of Briarcrest residents siding with the Mooneys By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
LACONIA — Following a meeting at their community center last night, 107 homeowners at Briarcrest Estates signed a petition in support of an effort to forestall the sale of the manufactured housing park to the Lakemont Cooperative, Inc., which was formed by other residents of the park. The rift among residents has widened and
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE EYEGLASSES, SPORTS GLASSES, COMPUTER AND SUNGLASSES
BELKNAP MALL • 603-527-1100
OIL & PROPANE CO., INC. Laconia 524-1421
deepened since July when Mark and Ruth Mooney, the owners of the park, accepted an offer from Hometown America, Inc., which owns 41 parks with 19,000 households in 11 states, to purchase the park for $10 million. In accord with state law, which entitles tenants to make a counter offer and requires the owners to bargain in good faith, a group of residents incorporated as the Lakemont Cooperative to match the $10 million offer.
3.39 99**
Fuel Oil 10 day cash price* subject to change
In response, the Mooneys petitioned the Belknap County Superior Court to approve the sale of the park to Hometown America, Attorney John Giere, representing the Mooneys, claims that since most residents oppose cooperative ownership, approving the transaction would serve the best interests of the majority in keeping with the intent of the law. see BriarCrEST page 14
The function room, catering and full bar of Laconia Country Club are available for the holiday season! Call Ryan at 524-1274 and ask about our special holiday pricing for your event.
LASER CAR WASH Express $6.00
Gilford
Deluxe $8.00
Works $10.00
Mart
Rte. 11 Gilford, NH • 524-8014