City Councilor Bob Hamel is facing criticism for his remarks at a Monday night meeting during a prickly exchange with the head of the union that represents city firefighters.
It is the height of budget season in Laconia, which has a tax cap in place, and the council and fire department have clashed in recent weeks over the cost of overtime for firefighters. ... “You guys really need to calm down, you really do,” Hamel said. “You’re out of control over there and that comes from the top down, from a chief who says he does not answer to the council. It’s a Massachusetts attitude and it needs to stop. We need to work together.
“It was your union, and I know you guys think you can walk on water,” Hamel continued. “There was a man in this town a long time ago who said he could walk on water and he tried it up at the Weirs dock and he didn’t. I know what you guys go through I was a policeman for 10 years and I’ve seen what you’ve seen.”