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Board of Aldermen 1-28-2020 Page 9

O-20-004
Endorsers: Alderman Thomas Lopez
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderwoman-at-Large Shoshanna Kelly
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
ALLOWING PERMITTED OVERNIGHT ON-STREET PARKING ON EIGHTH STREET
Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE by President Wilshire

PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Lori Ortolano 41 Berkeley Street. | just wanted to share a couple of comments with you. We saw the
report had come out in the paper regarding the Police Investigation getting released. Part of that
investigation had to do with this change that made on property record cards that amounted to a $24 million
dollar reduction on a group of cards. That raised a number of issues because of how that communication
was handled on those cards. The difficulty was the administration, Ms. Kleiner wasn’t forthright on why
those changes were made, which is what pushed it out into an outside investigation.

But my concern is this, that change was done because we changed table data in the AssesPro System.
Tabled data is what changes a group of properties that are coded as a group in that table. So essentially
what you are doing is a mini-reassessment on a group of properties. That is allowed outside of a big
update year, like KRT Appraisal coming in; we are allowed to do these mini-re-assessments. However, |
am very concerned that these mini-reassessments are being done outside of the knowledge of the Board of
Assessors. They don’t approve these changes which is actually shocking to me because they are the
oversight Board for approving changes in large scale assessments and the other area is in abatements,
when abatements come forward.

When we do a KRT or an update, we get all this data that pours out to the public. The public understands
what went on and we can access a lot of information. When a property owner files an abatement, it is a
very public document. Every property owner or every resident of this City can go down to Assessing, pull
the abatement file, see who filed, see what sales comp they used or what data corrections they wanted,
see what appraisal was put in. They can follow the whole process. The assessor who did the analysis, the
analysis done by the assessor and then the action of the Board of Assessors on that property. So we have
this huge public trail that is available that explains to us how a new assessment was arrived at; or perhaps
it was denied and it stayed the same.

When assessors in the office make a table data change and they change a large group of properties and
there’s no documentation done as was the case with this property, that becomes a major concern to me.
And that was what raised the red flag. So you know, | would love to see a policy change in our Board of
Assessors, where they are receiving this information when table data is changed in the model. And it
comes down to the Board so that they are reviewing the group of properties that are receiving this
reduction; in this case it was a $24 million dollar reduction. | think that’s worthy of going to the Board.

Just in the last few weeks, | stumbled on some properties by my house, because as all of you know I’m in
an abatement issue and there was a change made to a group of properties. Each property was cut
$100,000.00. One of them has already been abated by July 1*', it was abated. In October, an assessor
down there, cut it another $100,000.00. | happened to catch it, just by luck. | wrote my questions, said
“how did this happen’. I’m in the same situation | was 16 months ago. | don’t know, there’s no
documentation, | have to do research. Now the new director had said to us months ago, everything is
going to be documented, we are going to document from now on. There’s really no document trail.

Board of Aldermen 1-28-2020 Page 10

Also, there should be some policy in place whereby data changes being made to cards, data changes that
are significant that are going to move a property 25%, $100,000.00, should be going before the Board. We
are not talking about a % bath is really a % and the assessment changed $2,000.00. We are talking about
a $400,000.00 home coming down to $300,000.00; that’s a massive adjustment. There should be a paper
trail that’s clear as can be to describe what went on with those properties and there isn’t. | am frustrated
that | am back in the situation | was 16 months ago with an assessor who keeps saying, “I don’t know, | will
have to do research, I'll get back to you”. It was the same assessor that treated my property that way and |
never got answers and | know | am never going to get answers again on this one. The DRA asked me to
put in a PA71, | have just completed it, | am filing it up there because | am frustrated. | really think we need
to get some policies in place with our Board of Assessors, where they are doing more oversight than what |
see going on down there.

We have some gaps in our Assessing Office right now. And | am absolutely not in agreement with some of
the assessors down there and the skill level they are showing for the work they do. Very concerned. And
when | stumble on this and | see this again, my concerns remained heightened. So | hope that some of
you will join me in encouraging the Board of Assessors to get on board with some policy to create better
oversights for all of us. It upsets me when | hear the Mayor talking about the budget issues and the pending
tax implications for what we have going on because | feel that this administration doesn’t give a darn about
the equity of these assessments.

We have some assessors in there that are slashing numbers that make absolutely no sense and we let that
happen. We burden those that are over-taxed with carrying the burden and then we complain that the tax
rate is going to go up. You know I’ve not been an advocate of opening your door for this list and measure.
It is for reasons like this, | will not tell anyone they should open their door for a list and measure. The only
people who should open their door are people who have blighted properties or who haven’t done upgrades
in 25 years. If you do not have that property situation, keep your door closed and force the assessment
from the street because it is the only way there is going to be equity. Because with a small pool that opened
their door, the 15%, | was the person who opened my door and | got royally screwed and | am trying to get
out of it now. | could not possibly tell anyone else in this City to open your door and do what | did. Close
your door, let them work from the street for all of us. Thank you.

REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Alderman Klee

It is a sensitive issue but when | read the article in the paper, in the Telegraph on Sunday, | was pleased to
hear that our Assessing Department was basically told that the accusations that had been made were
unfounded. And | was glad to hear that. | am sorry that there are people that disagree, but | can tell you
that I’ve been getting phone calls. People that were happy that this City has been vindicated; yes people
aren’t happy from what the Mayor has spoken about, possible taxes going up and so on. But think that
people are willing to listen and to make sure that we are held accountable and that we do what we have to
do.

| disagree with not opening up your door. | think if everybody opened up their door, then there would be
some real equity. So | would like to counteract that comment of “don’t open your door’ and | would strongly
suggest that people open their door and let’s make this as transparent as the people in the City want it to
be. Thank you.

Alderman Clemons

| believe this will be the last Full Board Meeting before the upcoming Primary and | want to remind people
to go out and do your civic duty and vote. As the Mayor mentioned earlier in the meeting, you can register
to vote at City Hall up until tomorrow and then after you can register at the polls on Election Day, just bring
your ID. | hope to see everybody there and hopefully we have a great turnout as always.

Board of Aldermen 1-28-2020 Page 11

Alderman Lopez

Tonight at midnight starts the City’s Annual Point in Time Count. This is the annual time during the year
that we count people who are homeless, either sheltered, unsheltered or at risk. So anybody who is
homeless, please contact a provider tomorrow of all days whether it the Soup Kitchen or City Welfare. You
can also call 1-844-800-9911 for our coordinated access line or the much easier to remember 211.

Alderman Tencza

A number of us had a chance to attend a breakfast earlier this week put on by Director Bagley and the
Public Health Department along with or in conjunction | should say with the Mayor’s Opioid Task Force.
The topic of the discussion was adverse childhood experiences and how we as a community could help
children who are experiencing certain traumas develop appropriately and develop in a way so they are not
at risk for certain other risk factors as they get older. It was a great informative breakfast, | can’t help but
think that the presentation we had earlier tonight about PAL is a perfect example of the types of things we
could be doing here. | think Building on Hope for what they are going to do for that neighborhood, because
that is going to be remarkable. One of the topics that came up repeatedly | think was just surrounding
loneliness of children, teenagers and how they need spaces to get away from their screens and come
together. So PAL, Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc.; all those places are really important parts of our City,
especially for our young people.

Alderman Schmidt

Thank you Madam President. | just want to say that Alderman Tencza brought quite a few very important
issues. One that he didn’t touch on was the people that they are bringing in for the 10 days in May, people
want to help. People are only looking for someone to start something, to join to be part of something
stupendous. | think this is going to be wonderful for this City; wonderful for our feeling about the way our
City cares for us. It is wonderful, just wonderful. Thank you.

President Wilshire

So as you all know the Chamber is going through some renovations. So this is our last meeting. Donna,
this our last meeting this week?

Ms. Graham
Yes.
President Wilshire

And our last meeting in this Chamber until probably the last week in March/first week in April. So what |
would suggest you do this evening is, clean out your desk because the next time you come here, your desk
won't be here. These desks will be gone. | did bring some bags, there are some bags in the office if you
need to carry your stuff home with you but tonight is it. It is the last night we are going to be sitting at these
desks and hoping that the transition is smooth for the renovation. Donna has worked really hard to find
alternative meeting spaces for us, so make sure when you get your log for the week, that you check the
location, because some of them are going to be in 208, some are going to be at Nashua North. | think one
we have at the Police Department in their classroom. So just make sure you check your log for the location
of your meetings.

Alderman Lopez

Will the new places have room for us to bring a small water bottle?

Board of Aldermen 1-28-2020 Page 12
Alderman Harriot-Gathright

What about the code books, do you want us to take those?

President Wilshire

| think Donna can store those in the back, but the stuff that you have in your desks, if you would please
take it out, because we don’t want her taking all your stuff out and having to deal with it. So if you could
please take that tonight that would be very much appreciated.

Committee announcements:

Alderman O’Brien

We are going to have, very shortly, we haven’t had a time certain because | am in communication with my
fellow Chair of PEDC, the Infrastructure and PEDC Committees. We do have something coming up. Right
now, as you know, with what the President said, we are in transition, we are looking for dates certain when
we can get meeting rooms and everything else like that. So | asked members of both committees please
be flexible with us. We will try to give you a heads up long enough to let you know. But there is something

that is coming up that is time sensitive. So if you can be attentive to that, | would appreciate that. Thank
you.

Alderman Caron

Yes thank you. Personnel will be meeting next Monday, February 3" at 7:00 and we will be in Room 208.
Alderman Clemons

Thank you, on that note about Personnel, | know many of us here and also in the public are interested in
the last call legislation. My intention is to table at that committee meeting because there are some other
things that are being worked on in addition to just that legislation. So my hope is that we can bring it up at
the March Personnel Meeting. So just so anybody if you were going to plan on coming for that particular
reason, my intention is to table that and usually that would happen. So | just wanted to put that out there.
ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY ALDERMAN O’BRIEN THAT THE JANUARY 28, 2020, MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
ALDERMEN BE ADJOURNED

MOTION CARRIED

The meeting was declared adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Attest: Susan K. Lovering, City Clerk

SPECIAL BOARD OF ALDERMEN

JANUARY 28, 2020

7:00 p.m.

PRESIDENT LORI WILSHIRE CALLS ASSEMBLY TO ORDER PRAYER
OFFERED BY CITY CLERK SUSAN LOVERING
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG LED BY ALDERMAN ERNEST JETTE

ROLL CALL

COMMUNICATION

From: Lori Wilshire, President, Board of Aldermen
Re: Special Board of Aldermen Meeting

PRESENTATION

Nashua Police Athletic League - “Building on Hope”

ADJOURNMENT

Aldermanic Chamber

Board of Aldermen

City of Nashua
229 Main Street Lori Wilshire
Nashua, NH 03061-2019 President, Board of Aldermen

(603) 589-3030

January 15, 2020

Susan K. Lovering, City Clerk
City of Nashua

229 Main Street

Nashua, NH 03061-2019

Dear Ms. Lovering:

Please be advised | am hereby calling a Special Meeting of the Board of Aldermen for Tuesday,

January 28, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber relative to a presentation entitled “Building on
Hope” by the Nashua Police Athletic League.

Thank you.

a ‘, hifire

Lori Wilshire

President

cc: Mayor Jim Donchess
Steven A. Bolton, Corporation Counsel
David Fredette, Treasurer/Tax Collector

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
O0-20-003
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Bandon Michael Laws
AUTHORIZING STOP SIGNS ON BEACON, BEARD, HIGHLAND AND LOCUST STREETS AT THEIR
INTERSECTION WITH AUBURN STREET
O-20-004
Endorsers: Alderman Thomas Lopez
ALLOWING PERMITTED OVERNIGHT ON-STREET PARKING ON EIGHTH STREET
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Committee announcements:

ADJOURNMENT

Jahmal Mosley, Ed. B. Sarth fVickinney, Ed. 5.

Superintendent Ay Nashua . e Assistant Superintendent
#.. School District

Donna Fitzpatrick, Ed. § ~ . Daniel Donovan

Assistant Superintendent Chief Operating Officer

TO: Board of Alderman — Budget Committee
FROM: Daniel Donovan — COO Nashua School District
DATE: January 13, 2020

SUBJECT: FY20 Additional Budget Amount

During the FY20 Budget process, in a motion made by Alderman Kelly, an additional amount of $65,000
was added to the school contingency account for educational priorities. The purpose of the increase
was for behavioral para educators. Working with the Special Education department we made the
determination that the hiring of a behavior specialist versus adding more para educators would be a
more efficient use of this additional budget amount. Not only does the behavior specialist have the
training necessary to hit the ground running, but we feel they can make a bigger impact on student
needs. That, along with the difficulty we have had recently finding behavior paras in this economy led
us to hiring the behavior specialist position.

We hereby request the additional budget amount be moved into our operating budget in the amount of
$65,000.

141 Ledge Street, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060
T: (603) 966-1000 —F: (603) 594-4350
www.nashua.edu/district/

labrucd Wioskey Ed. ©.

Superintendent

Garth Wiehinney, 2d. 2,

Assistant Superiniendent

Donna Ftepatrich, fd. S faniel Donovan
ASSISEENE Superintendent Chie Operating Officer
TO: Board of Alderman — Budget Committee

FROM: Daniel Donovan — COO Nashua School District
DATE: January 21, 2020

SUBJECT: FY20 Additional Budget Amount

Resolution R-19-185 approved 1 million dollars to “Contingency for Educational Priorities” to be
determined at a later date. The BOE met on January 7, to discuss the spending options and approved
the following:

Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Materials K-5 $693,568.00
Live Scan Finger Printing Solution $9,270.00
New IT Switches at both High Schools $333,775.00
Total Approved $1,036,613.00

The $36,613.00 excess over 1 million will be covered by the FY20 Operating budget — Computer
Hardware fine.

We hereby request the additional budget amount be moved into our operating budget in the amount of
$1,000,000.00.

141 Ledge Street, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060
T: (603) 966-1000 F: (603) 594-4350
www.nashua.edu/district/

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING January 7, 2020

Voting on Motion as Amended:

MS. ZIEHM MOVED, SECONDED BY MS. TIMMONS TO APPROVE THE EXPENSES AS
PRESENTED IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,036,613; $37.000 OF WHICH IS COMING FROM THE
FY20 IT BUDGET IT LINE.

SO VOTED.

Arrangement of tours for BOE members of Nashua School District buildings

Ms. Raymond

asked for this. I asked Dr, Mosley in the fall and 2 years ago if I could have tours of all the buildings. And I asked
if we could have a schedule for the new members have tours of all the buildings, at a time that was convenient for
the schools.

Dr. Mosley

Id be happy to do so. T’ll propose a schedule for people, and they can tell Tara about times that are good for them.
Tl set that up in the next week or two with the Building Principals.. I think it’s a great opportunity, and I'd suggest
you bring your walking shoes. J think that’s a nice opportunity for you to get out and meet faculty and
administration.

Ms. Ziehm
Several years ago we would do a meeting at a different school each time. J just wonder if Administration has any
feelings on that. It was just wonderful.

Dr. Mosley

It’s a very flexible schedule designed for Board members. We'll set up a 1 to 4 week schedule and you can drop by
the schools during those times. You might spend 30 minutes at the high school, and 20 minutes at the middle
school... I really don’t know. We just want to make it convenient for you. The other piece of this is that we do send
out invitations for events district-wide. So if you can’t make it to the schools now, you'll also have an opportunity
to go to events at the schools as well.

Ms, Ziehm

I was asking you, and maybe it’s too cumbersome, but we had our Board meetings at a different school each month.
And they would have an opportunity to give some kind of an overview on anything they wanted to that they felt was
good Jearning for the Board.

Dr. Mosley
I would say that because of the recording of the meetings, the ledger, etc. that would be cumbersome and a
challenge. Because everything is already set up here. I'd have to think about that.

Ms, Raymond

And ] think it would be important to ask Mr. Johnson how nvwch that would entail for him. And also check on the
recording, because we have the recording device here. There is one at Central office, but at other schools. It was
very difficult when we had a meeting at Main Dunstable recently. But we can ask Mr. Johnson.

Ms. Ziehm
Ive already done it, so if it’s too cumbersome that’s fine. I can appreciate what you're saying. I can see there’s a
lot of updated equipment since I was here before.

Ms, Raymond :
Did anyone else have any comments or questions about Dr. Mosicy setting up tours with the Building Principals?
No? Okay.