Search

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 13
President Wilshire
Alderman O’Brien.
Alderman O’Brien

Thank you Madam President. | think the Mayor, in his opening remarks, spoke real brilliantly on what is going
on here and any elongated comments from me would be wagging the dog. But the thing is looking at this, I’ve
always believed in my tenure as an Alderman we have the business of running the City but also the future.
This is part of the Green Lake that runs right from the downtown that goes into the Mine Falls area. | think it
would be a shame if we let it go and it would be developed. | think the people of Nashua would probably be
very happy with the $325,000.00 spent on this. And plus giving our four-footed friends a little bit of a place
inside the City that they can go out and behave like good little puppies that they are. So therefore | hope
everybody goes with me and vote for this. | don’t think we are barking up the wrong tree. Thank you Madam
President.

President Wilshire

How do you top that? The motion is for final passage of Resolution 21-145, is there discussion on that motion?
Alderman Lopez?

Alderman Lopez

Yeah Alderman O’Brien just took the role of the guy with the puns. But while the Animal Dog Park Advisory
Committee has been working on this continuously for a year, | do feel the need to point out that it is because of
their work that we have this opportunity. The opportunity isn’t for just their work. | think it is important for us to
take advantage of this for the reasons that Alderman O’Brien pointed out. | think the way that the Dog Park
Advisory Committee has shed light on this particular land, far exceeds the specific goal of a dog park. As the
Mayor pointed out, that’s part of Mine Falls that a lot of people consider to be Mine Falls. It’s their entry into
that experience. The Bike Paddle Run relies completely on that. There’s any number of races and
recreational events that rely on that exit point. For it to be turned into a future parking lot or sold to a developer,
there was a lot of shock when UPS took down a lot of trees near Mine Falls. People didn’t realize that Mine
Falls, beyond that border those trees were actually on other people’s properties. And then recently it
happened again.

We need to protect Mine Falls and that means to buffer it as much as possible and create that natural green
space that is available. | think that’s a more important consideration here because that piece of land is pretty
good asset for the City to grab with the opportunity that we have with the friendly relations that we have with
the Mill Yard Association. We should take advantage of that. It is also potentially real estate that someone
might be eyeballing because of its proximity to the Broad Street parkway. So if we don’t want to see Mine Falls
whittled away, and we want to preserve it as the natural jewel that it is, we really need to take this into account.
We really need to take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you.

President Wilshire

Anyone else? Alderman Jette?

Alderman Jette

Thank you Madam President. | received some feedback from constituents about this matter and | tried to
explain it at the Budget Review Committee meeting. This Resolution is not to purchase this land, this
Resolution — we already voted to purchase the land at our last meeting. This Resolution is to come up with the

money that we already committed to pay for the purchase of this land. | voted against the last Resolution to
purchase the land, not because | think it is a bad project. | just felt that we were putting the cart before the

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 14

horse, we had a public hearing, | thought we should wait for the public hearing and hear what the public had to
say about this.

| was outvoted and the Resolution that we adopted at the last meeting | think was a good one. Even though |
voted against it, because | think it is a very strategic purchase. Our Director of Community Development,
Sarah Marchant, spoke about how important it was to acquire this land. Director of Economic Development,
Mr. Cummings, also spoke highly in favor of it. Our Capital Improvements Committee has put on this, this
purchase of this land, they have given it the highest rating, an A1 Rating. And the dog park part of it hasn’t
even been decided yet, even if it is used it is only going to be a portion of this. It’s over 4 acres, the dog park, if
it comes to be, will only be about an acre.

Also on this land there is an antenna. And it is an income producing, there’s a lease for that antenna that
currently | think the rent is somewhere, it’s over $25,000.00 a year. So we have already committed to
purchase this. The question is where is the money going to come from? And the administration has identified
surplus money from the Broad Street Parkway Project where there is $325,000.00 is available, it’s not new tax
money, it doesn’t affect the tax rate at all. Yes, | suppose during the discussion | think CFO Griffin said the
$325,000.00 could be applied to the tax rate for 1 year; what effect that is going to have on the tax rate | think
is pretty small. And | think years from now, as others have pointed out, to think that the City has an opportunity
to buy this land for $325,000.00. If we don’t do it people are going to say, what could you have been thinking?

The Resolution we adopted at our last meeting to buy the land was a good one. And where do we come up
with the $325,000.00 if it’s not from this excess money that is not new tax money it is going to have to come
from somewhere else, you know, the General Fund. And that will be tax money that will affect the tax rate. |
can’t help but point out that we just voted to borrow over $3 million dollars for sewer replacement and lining of
the sewer pipes, very much needed project. But we have agreed to borrow over $3 million dollars without a
peep, without anybody saying anything about it and here we are, people are upset because we are going to
spend $325,000.00 of money we already have on this very worthwhile project. So | hope that the people who
have contacted me in opposition to this understand. | heard what you said about it but | think this is a smart
thing for us to do so | am going to vote for it. Thank you.

President Wilshire
Alderman Harriott-Gathright.

Alderman Harriott-Gathright

Thank you Madam Chair. From what | understand in the meeting that | did attend the funding is coming from
the Broad Street project. But one of the questions | had, | remember | asked the question as in terms of
affordable housing, could we purchase this property, could we put housing on that and | was told that the land
was not that type of land that we build property on. | don’t know exactly the details about it but it wasn’t the
type of land that we could add say apartment building or something of that nature. So | know the Directors and
Capital Improvement gave us great information and | appreciate. So | will be one to vote for this. Thank you,
Madam President.

President Wilshire
You're welcome. Alderman Schmidt?
Alderman Schmidt

Thank you Madam President. Alderman Harriott-Gathright the land is actually in the flood plain which means it
always has a capacity to flood so housing there would be a terrible mistake. Just a few points, Ward 1 has
access to this wonderful park. We have parking there, we have a bridge over the river, children can play in the
fields nearby, it is wonderful. Wards 3 and 4 could have access to the park legally, having parking area, have
a place for their dogs to play, place for runners to come and go and if we don’t do this, they won’t have that. It

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 15

will not be accessible to them. It will belong to someone else, gates will go up and people will not be allowed
to go through there. | think Wards 3 and 4 deserve the same kind of access to the park that Ward 1 enjoys. |
really hope everybody can vote for this and | thank you for the opportunity to speak.

President Wilshire
You’re welcome. Alderman Klee?
Alderman Klee

Thank you Madam Chair. | wasn’t going to speak on this because I’ve spoken ad nauseum about it. But! want
to repeat some of the things that have been said and | know Alderman Jette and | appreciated him bringing
back the Mayor’s remarks of if we don’t purchase this now and then later on someone says, why not? We
have heard that about Daniel Webster College, we have heard that about many other things. And the bottom
line is we can’t please everybody. This is $325,000.00 and to me $10.00 is a lot of money but anything that we
can do that is going to enhance this, | can tell you personally as a person who uses the park regularly that is
one of my loops. | have mentioned it before, | go out of the park from that exit through the mill yard and then
back into the park. Without that exit, if someone were to gobble up that land and basically close off the park,
that actually does have an effect. And | believe that Alderman O’Brien or one of the other Aldermen mentioned
about the races etc. that go on. It would change the complexity, it would change the whole feel of this park.

| think it’s necessary, | think we would literally have a closed off entrance there. | appreciate what Alderman
Schmidt also said about this being an entrance to Ward 4 and Ward 3. That is one of the entrances that | do
use and | often use the entrance from Ward 1 as well at Lincoln Park. | uses the one over by Stellos’ Stadium
and the Y. But this is the walking entrance for Ward 4. This is extraordinary important to maintain this and to
not have someone put in — whether it be a gravel parking or whatever it would be — to close this end of Mine
Falls and then later on we will have residents who will turn around and say, it was only $325,000.00. | never
like that word “only” but that is what we are going to hear. So | am going to be voting in favor of this. The dog
park is an ancillary portion of it. We already had permission from the mill yard so this is not the driving force to
purchase this land. The mill yard had already given permission for the dog park. This is just purchasing the
land because it has become available, the dog park is ancillary and | really wish that it didn’t have that name in
it but it does and we just need to deal with. So thank you so much.

President Wilshire
Thank you. Alderman Clemons.
Alderman Clemons

Thank you Madam President. | am having difficulty here with my video. Here we go. | just wanted to briefly
comment that the dog park has been around or the idea of having a dog park or the want to have more dog
parks have been around since I’ve been on the Board in 2008. In addition to that, we as a City should keep
improving and should keep improving the lives of our residents. And one of the ways to do that is to create
new parks, new public spaces for people to enjoy. It is actually in my opinion a responsibility of our City
Government. So | believe that this is a worthwhile venture. | think that the dog park is a good idea. | think that
there is going to be a lot of people who will utilize it and enjoy it. | understand that the City is facing a lot of
pressure from the State and that there are a lot of other spending priorities that need to happen.

But we are a City that we need to look at everything. We need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same
time. | think we are able to do that. | think this is a creative financing option for this to make it happen and | fully
support it. | think it is the right thing to do and | think people will really like the fact that we did this 5, 10, 15,
100 years from now.

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 16

President Wilshire

Anyone else? Seeing none, the motion before us is for final passage of Resolution 21-145. Would the Clerk
please call the roll?

A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,
Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,
Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 13
Nay: Alderwoman Lu 1
MOTION CARRIED
Resolution R-21-145 declared duly adopted.
R-21-146
Endorser: Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
AUTHORIZING PENNICHUCK CORPORATION AND PENNICHUCK EAST UTILITY, INC. TO ENTER
INTO A TERM LOAN WITH COBANK, ACB
Given its second reading;
MOTION BY ALDERMAN LAWS FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-21-146, BY ROLL CALL
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,
Alderwoman Lu, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,
Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 14
Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED
Resolution R-21-146 declared duly adopted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS — ORDINANCES

O-21-062
Endorsers: Alderman June M. Caron
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
ESTABLISHING A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF 3 CROWN STREET
Given its second reading;

MOTION BY ALDERMAN CARON FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF O-21-062, BY ROLL CALL

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 17

ON THE QUESTION

Alderman Caron

And may | speak?

President Wilshire

Alderman Caron.

Alderman Caron

Yes thank you. So the Corpus Christie Food Pantry is on Crown Street and they reached out to me because
they do have a lot of handicapped people to see if we would be willing to put one handicap space for their
clients who come in to the facility which is maybe about three times a week for three or four hours. And | hope
that we get final passage on this very important parking space for them. Thank you.

President Wilshire

Thank you. The motion is for final passage of Ordinance 21-062 by roll call. Is there further discussion on that
motion? Seeing none, would the Clerk please call the roll?

A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderman Dowd,

Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,

Alderwoman Lu, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,

Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 14
Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED
Ordinance O-21-062 declared duly adopted.
O-21-063

Endorser: Alderman Jan Schmidt

ESTABLISHING A NO PARKING ZONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF NEWTON DRIVE

Given its second reading;
MOTION BY ALDERMAN SCHMIDT FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF O-21-063, BY ROLL CALL
ON THE QUESTION
And may | speak on this?
President Wilshire
Alderman Schmidt?

Alderman Schmidt

Thank you. | just wanted to let everyone know that this is a request by DPW. There’s a space that is
absolutely is required for them to turn their trucks around and | appreciate your support on this.

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 18

President Wilshire
Anyone else? Any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, would the Clerk please call the roll?
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderman Dowd,

Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,

Alderwoman Lu, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,

Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 14
Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED
Ordinance O-21-063 declared duly adopted.

NEW BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS

R-21-149

Endorser: Alderman Thomas Lopez
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman June M. Caron
Alderman Jan Schmidt
Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons
Alderman-at-Large Brandon Michael Laws
Alderwoman Elizabeth Lu
Alderman Skip Cleaver
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire

APPROVING THE USE OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FUNDS BY NEIGHBORWORKS OF SOUTHERN NEW

HAMPSHIRE FOR 40 ASH STREET
Given its first reading; assigned to the HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, by President Wilshire

R-21-150
Endorser: Mayor Jim Donchess

Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman June M. Caron
Alderwoman Elizabeth Lu
Alderman-at-Large Brandon Michael Laws
Alderman Skip Cleaver
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire

AMENDING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ANNUAL ACTION
PLANS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2021 AND 2022 RELATIVE TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BLOCK GRANT (“CDBG”)
Given its first reading; assigned to the HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, by President Wilshire

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 19

R-21-151
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman Jan Schmidt
Alderman-at-Large David C. Tencza
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Brandon Michael Laws
Alderman Skip Cleaver
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
RELATIVE TO A BALLOT REFERENDUM CONCERNING SPORTS BETTING WITHIN THE CITY OF
NASHUA
Given its first reading; assigned to the PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and
SCHEDULE A SPECIAL BOARD OF ALDERMEN meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in the aldermanic
chamber at 7:00 p.m. by President Wilshire

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES - None

PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Laurie Ortolano 41 Berkeley Street. | want to use this time to speak briefly about the Police Commission again
and keeping the Commission the way it is, appointed through the State. As most of you know, over the last
couple of years I’ve put in quite a few Right-to-Know requests. They have been the center of a good bit of
controversy. | want to let you know that I’ve put requests at State Agencies, top government bureaus and other
municipalities. And what | find is for all of those requests | put in, | received what | thought was a professional
response. If my request wasn’t clear, the agency or municipality would call, they would explain what
information is available, allow me to express what | am interested in and provide the information.

The Nashua Police Department has also operated that way and although | might not be in full agreement on
how they have handled some situations involving me, when it has come to my Right-to-Know requests, they
have practiced the utmost courtesy. They pick up the phone, they call and ask for clarification, they explain
what they have for data. And when | have asked questions in writing, the Records Department comes back
with pretty long, lengthy explanations of what | am looking for.

City Hall, on the other hand, is the most oppressive, vindictive, and personal government | have ever worked
with. They don’t respond to Right-to-Knows in the way that any State agency or other municipality does. They
will not pick up the phone, they will not explain what records are available. They will not work with you to let
you know what is available. You are playing a guessing game in Nashua at City Hall and that’s by design,
through a Mayor and a Legal Office. It is obnoxious, it’s crushing to citizens, it closes the door to transparency,
it is oppressive. | am glad that the Police Department is operating like top governmental agencies in the State.
And | don’t want to see the appointments of these Commissioners come from a Mayor and a Board President
because | don’t want them taking on the oppressive form of government that City Hall is practicing right now in
their citizens. | want that Police Department to continue with its professional response to citizen request. And
the other issues that may exist that | may differ on can be worked on and improvements can come and will
come with time. Thank you.

President Wilshire
Anyone else? Beth? Name and address for the record please?
Beth Scaer 111 East Hobart Street. First of all | wanted to correct the Mayor. FB 52 was written by the

sponsor according to the sponsor to protect every cap in the entire State, every city and town and it specifically
protects the spending cap in Nashua and tax caps in Franklin, Laconia, Rochester, Manchester, Somersworth,

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 20

Derry and Dover. So the Mayor is incorrect at FB 52 is written just to cause trouble for Nashua. And also the
spending cap didn’t just drop out of the sky on to the Mayor’s head. It was passed by the voters of Nashua.
And that seemed like it came out of nowhere and doesn’t reply to him and this Board of Aldermen but the City
residents voted for it and it was never rescinded and this Bill just repairs what was broken by a previous Bill.

And also for Pride Month | wanted to let the Mayor know that Save Women’s Sports is still a very serious
concern of mine. He took down my flag and Alderman Schmidt helped him in that. | wanted to let him know
that according to Mary Higgins in South Carolina they now have full transgender cycling women’s teams that
go to these races. When girls line up they are lining up with 5 men; 5 men in a biking race and those 5 men
crush the women. This is what you, Alderman Schmidt and Mayor Donchess, are supporting. And then from
Beth (inaudible) Save Women’s Sports she says, these women call me a warrior for being in this spot today
and | gladly take that title because my words are my sword, the truth is my shield and today this room feels like
a battle to protect reality. So forgive my sharpness of my sword. | would rather by rude than a liar, despite
death threats, | stand here today because there is great power in that truth. Simply put identities don’t play
sports, bodies play sports. Set a precedence that tells women and girls they matter. We are women here
saying no, why is that not enough? Thank you.

President Wilshire
Alesha Houston?

Alesha Houston Thank you so much. | want to appreciate the entire Board of Aldermen for taking a moment. |
am at 139 Westwood Drive in Nashua. | wanted to speak in opposition to the changes to the Commission that
are being suggested for our Nashua Police Department. | want to remind all of the Board of Aldermen that are
here this evening, that our Police Department is one of the most recognized and successful Police
Departments with their training and all of the pieces that make them our Nashua Police Department and that is
recognized nationally. | just feel like if everyone could just take a moment and think that if it's not broken, why
would we try to fix it. | don’t see that adding additional Commissioners to this is going to change anything. | see
that the people that are the most qualified for these positions, and | am saying this as a female, the people that
are the most qualified for these positions should be the ones that we receive these positions. | know that there
is a lot of division in Nashua right now. And | would just welcome everyone to come together and look at what
Nashua looks like right now and let’s focus on the areas of opportunity and one of those areas of opportunity is
not the Police Commission. Let’s leave them the way that they are and lets them continue to protect and serve
our City. Thank you.

President Wilshire
Steven Scaer.

Steven Scaer Hi, | am Steven Scaer, 111 East Hobart Street. Since this is June | wanted to ask the City to
consider honoring fathers for Father's Day. May was Mental Health Awareness Day and we know that
fatherlessness is a leading cause of mental health disorders in children. We know that children who don’t have
their dads at home are twice as likely to commit suicide, 32 times as likely to run away from home, 9 times as
likely to drop out of school, 20 times as likely to exhibit symptoms of mental health behavioral disorders, 10
times as likely to end up in a chemical abuse center, more likely to face abuse and neglect at home and 4
times as likely to live in poverty.

| appreciate everything the City and the State does for young people suffering from mental health problems,
but no amount of money spent on extra hospital beds for the State or therapists or on-line therapies can ever
compensate for the crisis of not having a dad at home. Four out of ten children right now are being born out of
wedlock and black communities have been especially hard hit as Barack Obama noted in 2008 with now 7 out
of 10 black children being born out of wedlock. What real social justice would mean is providing each child
with his or her dad in the home and nothing else makes up for that. So with so many children suffering from
not having fathers at home, I’d ask that this Board considering honoring the fathers that have stood through the
trials and temptations of being a modern dad to raise their own children by recognizing Father’s Day.

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 21

President Obama said that what makes you a man is not the ability to make a child but the ability to raise a
child. Fatherhood is an unappreciated job, fathers are often derided and Nashua owes a debt of gratitude to
those men who are stepping up and raising their own children. Thank you.

President Wilshire

OK | don’t see anyone else from the public looking to speak.
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Alderman O’Brien

Thank you Madam President. | wasn’t really going to mention it too much because quite frankly | am still trying to
digest. But as many of the people at home know, the other political hat that | wear is | am a State
Representative. And despite what some people may think, please allow me to tell you what | know. | was there
and | was able to give the floor speech. This thing with the tax cap there was something about it that did not
have an override provision in it. lt was discovered in a court case and instead of fixing the City Charter what we
had when those particular people lost their court case, they brought the issue, via the Senate to be heard and
then it came into the House where it was vetted. But when it came to the floor, we did make a motion to table it
and it came out 180 to 180 to table and the speaker basically came out and voted on the side because it was a
tie which would have probably delayed the Bill and he voted in favor and the Bill passed.

What | have an issue with, this is a Bill that solely bull eyed Nashua, nobody else, no other communities they all
have override position in their Charter, Nashua does not. This is somebody showing up to the construction site
and repairing something you didn’t pay for. | see it is nothing but partisan politics, | often wonder about these
people that fly the yellow flag the flag that says “Don’t Tread on Me” but yet to come up the whole State of New
Hampshire to vote on what we want to do here with our Charter. To me the Municipal Charter is a very sacred
government, we follow it. Underneath my desk here and next to my seat mate we do have it and try to run our
government by it. But it is sad when there’s a right way and that is going out and getting 1,500 signatures or an
Aldermen of this Board to sponsor it to make a referendum change instead of running up to the Legislature and
changing it in a very backdoor type of manner.

So like | say, I’ll leave it at that, | am very disgusted. It has to go down in my 14 years in the State House of one
of the most disgusting things, very rarely in the House of Representatives, it is sort of like herding cats. But when
you have 400 Representatives but to have a tie like that, and to have the speaker break a tie is extremely rare
and to do it on the side of politics or partisan means it was greatly disappointing. Again, | think | am very proud
all 27 Nashua Representatives that the people of Nashua elected to speak their voice in the State House did not
support this measure. And not one Nashua Representative, duly elected by the citizens of Nashua did not
support this or never asked to even sponsor this. So again, totally disgusted; from time to time we see that up
there. | am still again trying to digest it and hopefully at a later date probably we will feel better about it, but right
now it was a very shameful moment for bipartisan politics and running the State when the great State of NH has
to put on the boxing gloves and go after one particular City, the City of Nashua. Thank you Madam President.

President Wilshire
Alderman Klee?
Alderman Klee

Thank you Madam President. And | have to correct a couple of statements that Alderman O’Brien and State Rep
O’Brien made. The actual vote was 186 to 185 and there was not a tie at the beginning the Speaker actually
created the tie to make it 186 to 186 which is absolutely unheard of by creating the tie the table went down and it
went on to pass. That was a division vote so for all of those that are listening that was a division vote that was a
nonpartisan vote. That meant Republicans, Democrats voted to do the table, they continued on to pass and
there is other things including reconsideration, each time they didn’t call for a division, they called for a roll call.

Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 22

They called for a roll call to bully certain individuals into voting the way they wanted to. And this is proof positive
when the Speaker created the tie and it went down, the next vote that went on went to do exactly what they said,
because they were determined that they were going to win. And for those people who do not think this was for
Nashua, read the Bill, notice who it points out by stating “all up beyond this date”. That was Nashua and only
Nashua.

They put in a paragraph about super majority and for complete transparency, this is my Committee that heard
this. Municipal County Government heard this particular vote. It was very specific. If you listen to the audio, you
hear Nashua, Nashua, Nashua. At one point someone finally does turn around and say, well, you know, others
were at risk. Others were not at risk because if you go in and you look at it they are absolutely not at risk because
they do not have the same issues. What this did was, this said to Nashua you will put in a spending cap you will
not have an override. Because we don’t have an override, we have two excludable items. This means that if the
City were to get a grant that would bring us over the spending cap we could not take that grant. This would not
hurt the taxpayers but we could not spend that money. That’s what this does. This is basically saying to
Nashua, we don’t care if you are going to raise the taxes, you can’t spend that money. It’s a three year running
average. So for those people who say this was to affect other — Franklin, etc. etc. — no it’s not. It was significantly
put towards Nashua. And anybody who doesn’t believe it read it. Read it. Listen to the speaking point that were
made. | along with | am sure my other 26 other Reps were quite alarmed by this. | have never seen one
community targeted and my Committee over and over and over again said the State was not meant to fix what
the citizens felt was wrong with the City. It should not have been fixed in Concord, it should have been fixed her
in Nashua. There are ways of fixing. So | am sorry for going on so long, but | did decide | needed to clarify that.
Thank you.

Alderman Dowd

Just two quick things. One | would like to request if we can get the people that are responsible for the pension
fund in the State down here to talk to us. It is my understanding that they earned less on the pension fund this
year that you can earn in a savings account; that’s ridiculous. And the way that they are running it is not
conducive to any city or town in NH. And it’s not just cities, it is also towns. So I’d like to have them down here
and answer some questions. The other thing is | do want to express my condolences on the loss of former
Mayor Don Davidson. | Knew Don for a number of years, we didn’t always agree, but we agreed to disagree. He
was a pilot with Eastern Airlines, he owned a fixed base operator establishment at the Nashua Airport when | was
Chairman of Airport Authority. He was an Aldermen, President of the Board of Aldermen, a Mayor and also on
the Fire Commission. So like | said, we didn’t always agree on things but | am sorry to hear of his passing.

Alderman Caron

Yes thank you. | too would like to extend my condolences to the Davidson’s family and the loss of Don. Mayor
Davidson, | worked with him, he could be contentious at times, but he is the one that brought in the Nashua Pride
to Holman Stadium which started that ballpark to come alive again after so much time with nothing going on
there. So he as we were talking the other day, Commissioner Tolner and | when there was this big controversy
about taking the recreation basketball program within the City, this room was filled to capacity with parents,
children and everyone coming out. And Mayor Davidson realized that this wasn’t the way to go and kind of
backed off and | have to say | was very proud that he realized that a mistake was made and rectified it. So | think
that tells you what kind of a person he is and as Alderman Dowd says, you don’t always have to agree but
sometimes you can make the corrections that you need to and compromise. So | always chuckle about that one,
hopefully we never have to see that again. Thank you.

Alderman Harriott-Gathright

It has been a while since | put my hand up but | just want to say ditto to Alderman O’Brien but even more so to
Alderman Klee because that’s exactly what | wanted to say that we did not have a tie we actually would have
stopped that Bill had it not been for our Speaker. And that’s important because typically that doesn’t happen. |
don’t think in my 3 terms I’ve ever see that happen what he did, because that was a downright out partisan type
of situation. It was non-partisan but he made it partisan. So that’s all | need to say. Thank you.