Board of Aldermen — 11/28/17 Page 11
Alderman Cookson
My understanding with that lease agreement was that the Mayor, or the Mayor's designee, went back and
negotiated with Absolute Broadcasting; brought forward a lease agreement to Finance, and it ultimately wasn’t
approved that particular evening, then some more work was done on it. And then it ultimately came back to us
to approve. And then you approved it this evening. So I’m wondering — it really sounded like, in the Mayor's
response to my earlier question, was that he assumed Mr. Barbera had discussed this with the Senior Activity
Center, but in fact, we don’t know if that’s the case or not. Is that correct? Through you to the Mayor?
Mayor Donchess
This issue has never come up before tonight; the fact that there might be a disagreement or something. Mr.
Barbera came in, said that the board really wanted Mr. Fredette, whose term is coming up pretty soon, and
ultimately, Alderman Caron, to continue to serve, and asked that we amend the provision of the lease that
requires that they be term limited. | said, great. | think David Fredette does a great job. | know Alderman
Caron does, as well. I’ve been over there a number of times with both of them and it sounds good. So let’s
propose the amendment and proceed.
Tonight is the first time I’ve heard something else. | can’t explain the disagreement or why we’ve got a board
member coming in and asking that we not take action right away. So | don’t really have an explanation for it.
Alderman Cookson
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That’s what | heard was that we don’t take action on it, and we actually engage in
conversation with the Senior Activity Center, which | agree with. | don’t think there would be any harm in us
making sure that the lease agreement is mutually beneficial and has agreed-upon language by both boards —
the Senior Activity Center board as well as this board, and in particular, the Finance committee. I’m of the
mindset that conversation would be beneficial, and I’d much rather see this go to the Senior Activity Center and
go through the proper process and procedure in order to make sure that we’re both mutually agreeable to the
contract that ultimately comes before us to approve.
President McCarthy
Alderman Clemons, am | led to understand that this amendment was proposed by the Senior Center and that
we adopted it verbatim from what they proposed?
Alderman Clemons
That’s my understanding. That's what Mr. Barbera came to speak about at the Finance committee meeting
that evening.
Alderman Dowd
| think sending it back and forth is just delaying it. If they came to us and asked us to do something, went
through Finance, and there was an opportunity for people with concerns to talk about it in Finance and it
passed Finance, | think that we should move it ahead. We have had a hard time in the city, at times, finding
qualified candidates to serve as volunteers in organizations like this. | think the two people that we’re talking
about from the city have done a huge amount for the Senior Center and | think that we should pass this tonight
and send it to them. If the majority of them have a problem with it, it will come back. | don’t see why delaying it
this evening would be a good move.
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
| agree with Alderman Clemons and Alderman Wilshire and Alderman Dowd. Just for clarification, this is only
removing time limits for those two individuals who represent the city, both the representative from the Mayor’s
office and from the Board of Aldermen. If we pass this and we send it to the Nashua Association for the Elderly
