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Board of Aldermen 08-10-2021 Page 41

Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Dowd,

Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Tencza, Alderwoman Lu,

Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Cleaver,

Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 13
Nay: Alderman Lopez 1
MOTION CARRIED

The meeting was declared adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

Attest: Susan K. Lovering, City Clerk

OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR, BOARD OF ALDERMEN, AND CITY OF NASHUA

RE: R-21-143- Proposing an Amendment to the City Charter Relative to the
Manner of Appointments to the Nashua Board of Police Commissioners

It is with great disappointment that we even feel the need to pen this letter, but
we feel the time has come to express our position publicly.

For those who do not know, there is an effort underway to substantially change
the Nashua Police Commission. It recently has appeared as both a resolution in

front of the Board of Aldermen, as well as a public petition to add a referendum
to the City ballot this November.

There has been much controversy regarding the subject resolution and the
citizens of Nashua have not had the opportunity to discuss and properly
understand its ramifications and nuances.

This is not a stop sign, nor overnight parking; both issues which were studied far
more carefully than this one before their implementation.

This change has potential far reaching & long- lasting ramifications to our city. It
cannot be treated as political football... it is a BUSINESS decision. It is a decision
that will impact the people of Nashua in ways that we need to understand. As
business leaders and community leaders we feel it’s time we weighed in with our
thoughts.

First, the resolution itself was crafted and released for public view in May, just as
we were finding our first bit of relief from the pandemic. It was an emotional
period and most folks were, and continue to be, justifiably distracted. It is a time
when people started to travel and are focused on reconnecting with loved ones
and activities post-pandemic.

There was one Special Board of Aldermen meeting held on June 7, which most
Nashuans never even knew was occurring, to initially discuss the resolution. Even
at this meeting there were strongly opposing positions voiced, and information
prompting further review was presented to the Board.

On July 6, a Special Board of Aldermen/Personnel Subcommittee meeting was
held and, at that meeting, after more discussion, the board UNANIMOUSLY voted
to table the resolution and create a study committee to explore all the potential
impacts carefully... this even included the original proponents of the resolution.

However, even after this meeting, the Mayor himself, as well as some of his
supporters, have been going door to door and outside local spots like the Nashua
landfill and Greeley Park attempting to get a petition signed to put the resolution
on the ballot this November, a few short months from now! This action was
clearly in opposition to the direction of the Personnel Subcommittee; and
definitely too quick to create a study committee and properly dissect the
underlying impacts of passing this resolution. The Mayor declined to participate in
the study committee, and the effort to put this on the low voter turnout, off-year
November bailot continues.

The Police Department and several aldermen have also called for public
discussion of the issue as the appropriate method to understand the issue and its
potential impact.

So, as leaders in the business community and the greater community, we request
the following:

- Withdraw the current petition and re-write the resolution to instead
involve the creation of a formal study committee

- Create the study committee to include aldermen, police, and both
community & business leaders

- Organize moderated community discussions/town halls involving both sides
and open dialogue

- Give this process enough time to work and move a decision this impactful
to the major election in 2023; clearly it is too big for a midterm election
only a few months away

- Take the time to allow all citizens to make an INFORMED decision

- Items to explore should include, but not be limited to:

o Impact on the autonomy of the Police Department in investigations
involving city hall (there is prior history with illegal activity in city hall
that resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of previous
aldermen)

o Impact on the autonomy of the Police Department in hiring and
promotion decisions

o Impact on the police budget and expenditures such as additional
patrol downtown if the new organization is implemented

o Impact to police manpower and its effect on response time

Impact to divisions within the Police Department that would be
eliminated or downsized

Impact on downtown businesses, including those with outdoor dining
Impact on Nashua’s CALEA certification and related issues

Impact on potential increase in civil unrest & gang activity

Impact on real estate values

Impact of increasing Police Commission from 3 to 5 persons,
including the ability to reach consensus to operate

o Impact on recent cities of similar size that implemented this change
within the last ten years

- The study committee must also address the “necessity” of this proposed
change as required by the city charter in RSA 49-B:5.

oO

oo 00 6

We respectfully request that you consider this approach, slow down, and make an
informed and proper decision for the City of Nashua as outlined above.

For those citizens who do not view this issue as a business decision, or who are
not business owners, please consider the potential impact on your property

values and to local businesses that you support.

We also feel it is our civic duty to also offer our support in any of the above
actions, as needed and requested.

Respectfully,

Sandra Cleary, SLC Group Holdings

Rob Parsons, Parsons Ventures

David Roedel, Roedel Companies

Linda Lovering, Lovering Volvo

Jack Tulley, Tulley Automotive Group

Kurt Mathias, Boston Billiard Club & Casino

Victor Bazzani, DC, Bazzani Chiropractic, and Bazzani Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Michael Geha, President, NHPA

Chief Tim Hefferan, Retired, Nashua Police Department

Chief Andrew Lavoie, Retired, Nashua Police Department
Captain Kerry Ann Baxter, Retired, Nashua Police Department
Ed Lecius, Retired, NPD Community Policing Coordinator
Bernie Streeter, Former Nashua Mayor

Gary Lambert, Nashua Fire Commission

Lori Lambert, Concerned Citizen

Brad Kreick, Concerned Citizen

Paula Johnson, former Nashua Alderman

David Schoneman, Former Nashua Alderman
Carl Seidel, Former NH Representative
Di Lothrop, former fundraising manager, health care
Charles Lothrop, Digital Media Specialist
Charles Hall, Concerned Citizen

Jeanne Bausha, Concerned Citizen
Bennie Bausha, Concerned Citizen

Kurt Martin, Realtor

Valerie Martin, Concerned Citizen
Catherine Ackerman, Concerned Citizen
Tom Dionne, Concerned Citizen

Barbara Kelson, Concerned Citizen

Chris Buda, Concerned Citizen

Allisan Dyer, Concerned Citizen

Michael Dyer, Concerned Citizen

Marie Muller, Concerned Citizen

Ed Muller, Retired Math Teacher
Michael O'Connor, Concerned Citizen
Kathleen O'Connor, Author

Laurie Ortolano, Concerned Citizen
Michael Ortolano, Concerned Citizen
Donald Scott, Accountant

Colleen Ward-Concerned Citizen

Frank Thibodeau, Concerned Citizen

James Tullis, Concerned Citizen

Lillian Tullis, Concerned Citizen

Cheryl Walley, Concerned Citizen

Graham, Donna

To: Klee, Patricia
Subject: RE: R-21-143, Change to the Police Commission

From: Mike Ballentine @@igagees Stee
Date: August 9, 2021 at 9:22:51 PM EBT
To: "Clemons, Benjamin" <clernonso@nashuanh.eov>, "Kelly, Shoshanna" <KellyS@nashuanh.gov>, "Klee, Patricia"
<KieeP @nashuanh.gov>, "Laws, Brandon" <LawsB@nashuanh.gov>, "O'Brien, Michael (Alderman)”
<OBrienM@nashuanh.gov>, "Tencza, David" <TenczaD @nashuanh.gov>, “Wilshire, Lori" <WilshireL@nashuanh.gov>
Subject: R-21-143, Change to the Police Commission

CAUTION: This email came from outside of the organization. Do not click links/open
attachments if source is unknown.

Dear Alderman,
This is about R-21-143, the change to the Police Commission.

We were surprised to learn the Nashua Police Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and
Executive Council - unique among New Hampshire cities.

And even more surprised - and disturbed - to see the Police Chief's reaction to the proposed change,
calling the resolution an "abuse of power" (May 24 Police Commission meeting), and sending uniformed
officers and others to the Personnel Committee meeting on July 6.

Please consider:

- The Commissioners should be appointed by our local elected officials, not by the State.
Local will mean better vetting, more people involved in the appointment process, and greater
transparency.

- The Police argument that local control can allow more corruption is curious, as it is being
addressed toward you.
We think that any improper interference, if it occurs, will be much more obvious, and
correctable, at the local level than at the State level.

- The response from the Police and friends is aggressive, arrogant, and designed to intimidate.
Civilian control over military and law enforcement is a fundamental, critical principle in our
democracy, but it depends on civilians willing to exercise control.

The people of Nashua should be allowed to vote on this, and the arguments against that are not
convincing. And we are sad to say that our opinion of our Police Department has been lowered
significantly.

Please advance R-21-143 to the baliot for November.

Mike and Stephanie Ballentine
5 Bartlett Ave

mikeb@btine.com

} THE CITY OF NASHUA “the Cate Cy"

Lori Wilshire

President, Board of Aldermen

To: Board of Aidermen

From: Lori Wilshire, President

Date: August 10, 2021

Re: Formation of Work Study Group Relative to the Police

Commissioners

| have this date appointed the following to the Work Study Group relative to Resolution
R-21-143 Proposing an Amendment to the City Charter Relative to the Manner of Appointments

to the Nashua Board of Police Commissioners and have appointed Alderwoman Kelly as the

Chairwoman:
Aldernwoman-at-Large Shoshanna Kelly, Chairman
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Deborah Novotny
Eva Castillo
Sandy Cleary
Nicholas Dahl
Marylou Blaisdell
Mark Brave
Kendra Soucie
An employee from the Police Department
No meetings have been scheduled yet but as soon as the group convenes they will be listed on

the city calendars.

229 Main Street * Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 + Phone (603) 589-3033
E-mail Wilshire_L@NashuaNH.Gov