CITY OF LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FIFTH MEETING/PUBLIC HEARING
September 24, 2003 - 7:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Peter Brunette called the meeting to order on the above date and time.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
James Baird, Peter Brunette, Sharon Fleischman, Richard Heinis, James Joyal, Linda Peary, and Brenda Schmucker
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:
Mr. Brunette reported that the committee has a website (www.geocites.com/laconiamwac)
And E-Mail: [email protected] Residents are encouraged to visit the site and
send any comments to the committee. Minutes of the meetings are posted at the site as
well as any important information.
SECRETARY’S REPORT:
On a motion of Linda Peary, seconded by Jim Baird, it was voted unanimously to
approve the minutes of the August 28, 2003 Motorcycle Week Committee meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mr. Brunette announced that this meeting would be aired on Channel 25 starting on Saturday September 27, 2003. Mr. Brunette explained that the committee members
were appointed by the City Council and reviewed the Mission Statement. He explained
the special orders for speakers.(See attachment)
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
22 Speakers addressed issues.
COMMENTS
The noise drives residents out of their homes and is intolerable. Decibel meters are needed and excessive noise should not be tolerated.
Traffic on Rollercoaster Road is a disgrace.
Motorcycle Week should be shortened to 4 days because of the traffic inconvenience.
Motorcycle week is booze and broads and more than a few bad apples.
No outside beer tents should be allowed.
Charlie St. Claire should receive a bill for the money Laconia loses from Bike Week.
Local businesses should not pay a vendor fee.
Bike Week hurts some local businesses.
Someone should take responsibility for Bike Week.
Put the vendors at Loudon.
Change the date to a week earlier so graduation and Father’s Day are not ruined.
100,000 visitors come to Laconia before tourism starts. Laconia should give Charlie
St. Claire an award.
Laconia should ask the State for its share of the tolls.
Bike Week helps make money for local organizations that support the community.
The city should be part of the tents and vendors. The city should sponsor a show.
Police Chief Oetinger did a great job.
There were too many policemen.
Decibel readings take 3 policemen and it would tie them up when they are needed elsewhere.
40% of the revenue for State tolls in June is from Bike Week.
Beer tents hire their own security and keep people from drinking on the streets.
Bike Week keeps costs down for Belknap County and brings is over $260 million
dollars to the State.
Bike Week is a great moneymaker for the area.
Bike Week saves the life of the Weirs Beach businesses which are quiet after Labor Day.
Loud pipes and boom boxes are a problem.
Rally and Race Association does a great job and is very helpful.
Traffic is a problem the last 4 days only.
Laconia should take the negative and turn it into a positive.
This year’s Bike Week was the best ever.
The length of the event divides the load.
Bike Week visitors return to the area other weeks during the year. It brings tourism
to our area.
Many residents are employed that week.
The City should look at Bike Week as a business. More revenue means lower taxes.
Rally and Race should pay the City to be at the Boardwalk.
Raise rates.
Have more events on the weekends. Use Opechee Park.
Discuss possible events with the City Manager.
Meet with Sturgis, Daytona, and Rapid City and find out how they make money.
Treat Bike Week as a business.
The little guy benefits from Bike Week.
Bike Week is a great family week.
Bike Week is better 10 days than shorter.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Brunette thanked Cindy Marcotte for running the television program and the people
that attended the meeting and those who spoke. Mr. Brunette encouraged people in the
community to send their comments to our E-mail site.
On a motion of Richard Heinis, seconded by Jim Baird, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon R. Fleischman