Who's in Charge?
It appears to me that the City of Laconia manages traffic flow and public safety and they do a good job. The revenue from vendor permit fees pays for police overtime. After that, whether true or not, it appears nobody is in charge. For this week(end) to be successful, the Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc need coordination. The same weekend, the Nashua Rotary West runs Rock 'n' Ribfest with 40-50'000 visitors. They pay the expenses and coordinate with several safety agencies. In the end, becaused they volunteer hundreds, if not thousands, of man hours, they make a little profit that they turn over to local non-profits like Meals on Wheels.
I never hear about "profit" in Laconia. I know that restaurants and motels (before all the motels went condo) make some money, but really, where is the community benefit?
The city breaks even, the restaurants are busy for two days and the tent vendors come and go, but give nothing back.
If the Meredith Rotary Club can bring in thousands of people for ICE FISHING
isn't there somebody who can do the same for Laconia. (For the oldsters,We need a new Jim Irwin Sr.)
The City Council is not the body to do this, nor should it be. Their job is to make it easy for a citizens group to do the job.
In my community and I expect may others, the Selectmen and the Town budgets, approved by voters, gives a sum to a private committee to run July 4th or Old Home Day.
Laconia should consider this example.
|