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Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P3

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
3
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 3

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 15

Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED

RECOGNITION PERIOD - None

READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARINGS

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the minutes of the Board of Aldermen
meeting of May 23, 2017, and the public hearings conducted by the Board of Aldermen on June 6,
2017, and the Planning & Economic Development Committee on May 16, 2017, accepted, placed on
file and the readings suspended.

COMMUNICATIONS — None
PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE ACTED UPON THIS EVENING
Dick lannacone, 35 Swart Terrace

I’d like to second the comments from the Mayor first and thank everyone. It’s been a hard job. The budget job is
one of the toughest jobs that any community can have across this entire country. Not only the entire country but
look at what’s happening overseas. We need to pay attention. This is a very important vote tonight. This is a
major, major, major move going forward. You know there are a lot of people in Illinois that wish they had the
opportunity to change what they voted on and thought about 20 years or so ago. Many people on Puerto Rico,
many people in Greece. The budget is important. Two things tonight.

First people would love to be able to have a budget without the numbers. | hate to call it “gains” but that’s what
people around town are talking about. Wouldn’t it be nice if we’d have a budget which 3 and 2 does not equal 4?
3 and 2 does equal 5 no matter how you slice it. Or maybe 2 and 3. So that’s the first issue that we really should
be looking at this budget. If people wanted a cap, there should be a cap. No matter what you call it, we don’t have
that.

The other issue was not mentioned as one of the major items but maybe I’m wrong here. | thought one of the
major expenses was putting the money into the pension account. That’s one of our larges expenditures. You
know what fascinates me is that this is not a new problem. This has been going on for years, right? It’s kind of like
this is one of the major reasons again why across this country most of the major problems are being caused from
pensions. Now the State started to recognize this around 2009 and 2011 and did some good work. They made
some changes. A bunch of us were called regularly and asked for changes. We had a system which paid for the
highest three years and they included salaries plus overtime. It finally changed and went to five years. Well that
was a help in the system. They also said okay we want it come fully funded. What’s fascinating to me is that New
Hampshire has this great rate yet one of the things we’re trying to do here is that all the current people now in the
community pick up the tab for things that should have been done a long time ago. All I’m suggesting is that we
probably should look at the alternatives which may come up this year do not lock ourselves in to commitments
which are going to raise was it 3.8 percent.

| think it’s interesting the last 8 years — it might have been 3 years in the history of the social security we had
zero increases. All 3 of them in the last 8 years. No one has had a raise of 3.8 percent at all. It’s typically. |
understand that but we need to look at these items. For example, there’s a possibility now what they did was
they said okay back in 2009 we’re going to get us up to 100 percent funded in 30 years. We're now 8 years

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P3

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P4

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
4
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 4

into it and have 22 years to go. I’ve been asking say look it we need to relook at this thing. | hate to push off
the debt but you know what, we’re hurting right now. We need to spread it out in some way. Then they turned
around unfortunately and they had a right to which they should have done earlier on is they assuming the rate
of return was 7 % right? So what got us into more trouble? They reduced that rate down 7 % and now the
current people, again — think about that in your own 401k is there anything else. What it means to people. So
now we have to come up with this money 7 % and (inaudible) believe me we're not looking for interest to go
soaring. | don’t know what anyone else’s viewpoint but we weren’t looking for them to go sorry. We may be
here for a while, a little bit longer. So every time we go through another year and they’re assuming 7 % which |
can hope they can do, and they did it by taking some chances.

The investments are now down to only 25 percent fixed. They are 75 percent variable. (inaudible) stock
market what’s going on in their investments but you know what 75/25. How can we do this going forward?
First (inaudible) a number of years, a younger period of time when you bought a house you got to have a
budget. | used to do this workshop and I'd say to people okay look at the budget what's fixed? Everyone
raised their hands and all the items basically. Well | can’t my mortgage is fixed. You're not going to pay the
taxes. Do you know what’s not fixed? You made a mistake. You either stand up and the way to correct is you
need to sell the house. That sounds kind of tough but now when you do that, you reduce your mortgage, you
reduce your expenses, etc.

So we need to take a look at this. | Know there’s lots of problems here. Kindergarten for example. How long
have we gone without having it? Now maybe we need to postpone that for another year. This fall they’re
going to look at in this State — and | hope to keep on pushing that — I’m going to look at the committee to look
at possibly again looking at this 22 years left to go to maybe expand it in some way. That’s something we
should be looking for. Don’t lock ourselves in to a budget today. Give us some more flexibility. We're at the
top of it. We need to start down the other side not just this city but many towns and many cities across the
country. Thank you very much.

Peter Kelleher, CEO, Harbor Homes, Inc.

Good evening. I’m Peter Kelleher, President and CEO of Harbor Homes, Inc. | made a full presentation about
the safe station program before the Budget Committee. So I’m here tonight just to try to amplify or answer any
questions that anyone may have about our request. | just would like to thank the support of the city, and the
fire department, ambulance, and everybody that has really stepped up for this very innovative and effective
program. We just received some additional set of bonus information from Southern NH Health Systems that in
the first five months of this calendar year the number of persons that have shown up in the emergency
department for overdoses has decreased by 13 percent since we started the program. | think that’s another
sort of dividend that’s very much related to the operation of this program. There’s many things that we can say
about it but we’re all very proud of the results and proud of the opportunity to work in such close partnership
with everybody that’s playing a key role here. With that, | will answer any questions. | think it’s a very great
program.

PETITIONS — None
NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS — None
REPORTS OF COMMITTEE
Budget Review Committee... ee ceceeeeeecteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenees 05/22/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 22, 2017, Budget Review
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P4

Board Of Aldermen - Agenda - 7/12/2016 - P6

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:34
Document Date
Tue, 07/12/2016 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Agenda
Meeting Date
Tue, 07/12/2016 - 00:00
Page Number
6
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_a__071220…

229 Main Street

i P.O. Box 2019
Cc ' ty of N as h ua Nashua, NH 03061-2019
Office of the City Clerk (603) 509-2010
Fax (603) 589-
ise owe E-Mail: cityclerkdept@NashuaNH.gov
Memorandum
To: Board of Aldermen oes
From: Patricia D. Piecuch, City of)
Re: Request for change of polling site locations
Date: July 7, 2016

Following the February 2016 Presidential Primary Election, | looked at the feasibility of
remaining at our current polling locations for Ward 3, First Baptist Church and Ward 5,
CrossWay Christian Church for future elections. These polling locations have served us well
over the past two years, but as some of you are aware, we did have had some problems in the
past and with the Presidential General in November, felt it would be best to move these polling
locations.

The purpose of this letter is to request approval from the Board of Aldermen to permanently
relocate Ward 3 from First Baptist Church to Amherst Elementary School, 71 Amherst Street
and Ward 5 from CrossWay Christian Church to Main Dunstable Elementary School, 20
Whitford Road.

| spoke with Mark Conrad regarding moving these polling locations back to the respective
schools. Mr. Conrad expressed his concerns, but | stated we would work with the principals in
each school to ensure the safety of students and staff.

| met with Kelley Paradis, Principai, Main Dunstable Elementary School, and we were able to
devise a plan to allow voters to vote in half of the gymnasium during the September Primary
Election in lieu of the cafeteria. By voting in the gymnasium it will allow us to set-up the proper
number of booths allowed under state law. There are other protocols that wil! be put in place to
ensure the safety of the students.

| spoke with Jennifer Scarpati, Principal, Amherst Street School, who did not have a lot of
concerns and will be meeting with her in August to finalize the plans for voting that would take
place in the gymnasium.

The City Clerk’s Office will issue notices of the poll relocations to all registered voters in Wards
3 and 5 by mail and public announcements.

Thank you for your consideration.

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Agenda - 7/12/2016 - P6

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P5

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
5
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 5
Budget Review Committee... ee ceceeeeeecteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenees 05/30/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 30, 2017, Budget Review
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Budget Review Committee... ee ceceeeeeecteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenees 05/31/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 31, 2017, Budget Review
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Budget Review Committee... ee ceceeeeeecteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenees 06/01/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the June 1, 2017, Budget Review
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Budget Review Committee. ........0..0.. ccc ceceeeeeecteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 06/08/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the June 8, 2017, Budget Review
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Finance Committee. ...... 00... ccccc cece ceccceccecccecceucecseeccceceseesusereeeteneteress 06/07/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the June 7, 2017, Finance Committee
accepted and placed on file.

Committee on Infrastructure .......... 00. ccc cece eccccccccccecccecsecececececereceaseress 05/24/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 24, 2017, Committee on
Infrastructure accepted and placed on file.

Human Affairs Committee .0...... 00. cece eccceccecccecececceeceuneeuseeeceseeeeneaeee: 05/23/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 23, 2017, Human Affairs
Committee accepted and placed on file.

Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee........00..0..0cccccccecceccceccseceeeeeeeees 06/05/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the June 5, 2017, Personnel/
Administrative Affairs Committee accepted and placed on file.

Planning & Economic Development Committee. ................ccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 05/16/17

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the report of the May 16, 2017, Planning & Economic
Development Committee accepted and placed on file.

WRITTEN REPORTS FROM LIAISONS — None

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P5

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P6

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
6
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 6
CONFIRMATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS

Business & Industrial Development Authority

MOTION BY ALDERMAN LEBRUN TO CONFIRM BY VOICE VOTE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF

THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE BUSINESS & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:
DAVID DENEHY, 56 SHERRI ANN AVENUE, NASHUA, FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 1,
2019; JOHN STABILE, 48 LUTHERAN DRIVE, NASHUA, FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 13,
2019; AND MARK PROLMAN, 70 CRESTWOOD DRIVE, HOLLIS, FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE APRIL 30,
2020

A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 15

Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED

President McCarthy declared David Denehy, John Stabile and Mark Prolman duly appointed to the Business
& Industrial Development Authority for the aforementioned terms.

Conservation Commission

MOTION BY ALDERMAN LOPEZ TO CONFIRM BY VOICE VOTE THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL
REINKE, 2 QUINCY STREET, NASHUA, AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER TO THE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2017

A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 15

Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED

President McCarthy declared Michael Reinke duly appointed to the Conservation Commission for a term to
expire December 31, 2017.

Downtown Improvement Committee

MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO CONFIRM BY VOICE VOTE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE
FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE FOR TERMS TO
EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2019: RON LAFLEUR, 2 GARDEN STREET, NASHUA; SY MAHFUZ, 227% MAIN
STREET, NASHUA; AND SIMON SARRIS, 142 MAIN STREET, NASHUA

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P6

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P7

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
7
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 7
A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 15

Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED

President McCarthy declared Ron LaFleur, Sy Mahfuz and Simon Sarris duly appointed to the Downtown
Improvement Committee for terms to expire December 31, 2019.

Oath of Office administered by Corporation Counsel to Ron LaFleur.
Nashua Arts Commission

MOTION BY ALDERMAN CARON TO CONFIRM BY VOICE VOTE THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL
JOSEPH, 71 HIGH PINE AVENUE, NASHUA, TO THE NASHUA ARTS COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
EXPIRE APRIL 1, 2019

A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 15

Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED

President McCarthy declared Michael Joseph duly appointed to the Nashua Arts Commission for a term to
expire April 1, 2019.

Oath of Office administered by Corporation Counsel to Michael Joseph.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS

R-16-082
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman Ben Clemons
Alderman June M. Caron
Alderman Ken Siegel
Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja
Alderman Don LeBrun
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy
RELATIVE TO THE TRANSFER OF $20,000 FROM DEPARTMENT 194 — CONTINGENCY,
ACCOUNT #70100 — GENERAL CONTINGENCY TO DEPARTMENT 109 — CIVIC & COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES, ACCOUNTING CLASSIFICATION 56 — OUTSIDE AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING FUNDING TO HARBOR HOMES FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE SAFE STATIONS PROGRAM
Given its second reading;

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P7

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P8

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
8
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 8

MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO AMEND R-16-082 IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REPLACING IT WITH
THE GOLDEN ROD COPY PROVIDED WITH THE AGENDA

ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Clemons
The amendment is increasing the amount from $20,000 to $50,000.

Alderman Lopez

| just want to disclose that as a Harbor Homes employee and actually managing the safe station at Maple
Street, | will be abstaining from the vote.

A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman Moriarty, Alderman O’Brien,

Alderman McCarthy 12
Nay: Alderman Cookson, Alderman LeBrun 2
Abstained: Alderman Lopez 1

MOTION CARRIED
MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-16-082 AS AMENDED
ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Wilshire
| would like to thank Harbor Homes for stepping up and doing yeoman’s work in this effort. | don’t know what
the city would have done without the support and the treatment opportunities provided by the great folks over
at Harbor Homes. Thank you for everything and we appreciate you stepping up.
A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron

Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness,

Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 12
Nay: Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty 2
Abstained: Alderman Lopez 1

MOTION CARRIED

Resolution R-16-082 declared duly adopted as amended.

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P8

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P9

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
9
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 9

R-17-098
Endorser: Mayor Jim Donchess
RELATIVE TO THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
THE CITY OF NASHUA GENERAL, ENTERPRISE, AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
Given its second reading;

MOTION BY ALDERMAN WILSHIRE TO AMEND R-17-098 BY REPLACING IT WITH THE GOLDEN ROD
COPY PROVIDED WITH THE AGENDA

ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Wilshire

The budget Committee added $191,961 to citywide communications for software maintenance to the citywide
communications system. Also the Budget Committee moved to reduce $200,000 from the Mayor’s capital
improvement participatory budgeting line and put that money into the police overtime expendable trust fund for
police overtime in the same amount $200,000. Those are the amendments incorporated in the golden rod

copy.
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Deane
Alderman Cookson, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja,
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez,
Alderman McCarthy 13

Nay: Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty 2
MOTION CARRIED

MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO FURTHER AMEND BY DELETING IN DEPT. 157, CITYWIDE
COMMUNICATIONS, ACCOUNT #54407, SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE, THE AMOUNT OF $191,961

ON THE QUESTION

Alderman Siegel

The Mayor alluded to the possibility of funding this out of escrow. | think that there is a feeling that this is
clearly necessary. We have to have software maintenance on our critical communication systems. | think that
there probably could use a little bit of extra time in vetting this out a bit. Maybe we can get the contract down.

| Know Mr. Mansfield’s been working on this so if we just throw that money over the top, what we’ve done is
effectively increased the budget. Now the moving of the $200,000 into the police expendable trust fund for
overtime has very, very broad support and it doesn’t change the amount of money that we have in the budget.
This particular line item does. So | would suggest that based on the discussions in the Budget Committee
meetings, we all agreed. | believe it was unanimous in fact that we agreed this was an important line item and
an unfortunate mistake to have left it out. It was one of those things that sometimes happens. Let’s not do this
now tonight. | would urge us to remove this as per my motion if that pleases the Board and pick it up later.

A Viva Voce Roll Call was taken, which resulted as follows:

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Deane, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron
Alderman Siegel, Alderman Schoneman, Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun, Alderman Moriarty,

Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 13

Page Image
Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P9

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P10

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
10
Image URL
https://nashuameetingsstorage.blob.core.windows.net/nm-docs-pages/boa_m__061320…

Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 10
Nay: Alderman Clemons, Alderman Cookson 2

MOTION CARRIED

MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-17-098 AS AMENDED BY ROLL CALL

ON THE QUESTION

Alderman Siegel

So right now what we’re left with is a budget that did one thing. We had the budget that came in, we took the
$200,000 citizen’s initiative chunk, and we reallocated in a way that | think it was unanimous in the Budget
Committee that this was more useful for the police overtime trust fund. We already know that the police are
using a lot of money for overtime because we’re short on staff and we are not short on crime. The idea that
well we’re just going to hire more officers actually doesn’t work out economically not to mention the fact that it
isn’t something that we can do immediately.

My experience with looking at the expendable trust fund — one of the things | proposed this by the way under
the same assumption | believe Alderman Wilshire came up with the phrase “crime is like snow, it’s not
predictable”. One of the things when | did propose this, | spoke to Chief Lavoie and | said this is not just a fund
that you just get to dip into. I’m going to trust that if this fund exists, this is a fund of last resort where all other
means are exhausted and typically there’s been funding through attrition, funding through other means to
make up for the overtime issues. It isn’t enough. That’s the bottom line. We just don’t have enough. This
really is something that is necessary. Last year it got pretty much exhausted but | will tell you the year before it
was not touched. Chief Lavoie met his commitment to us when we voted for this. We should meet our
commitment to them and make sure that the tool is available because they’ve already demonstrated that they
use it as a very, very last resort.

| would urge that at the current state of the budget right now is unchanged except for this movement. It’s ironic
because this budget is going to take 10 votes. This is one of, frankly, the stupidest things about the charter is
that raising a line item even by a penny requires 10 votes even if you have the same budget now. So you can
make wiser decisions but be penalized for those wiser decisions. That does not serve the taxpayer. Let’s not
kid ourselves. Taking that $200,000 and moving it away from a discretionary fund allocated by a bunch of
people potentially on Facebook and putting it in where it belongs in police overtime funding which protects all
of us is in that benefit. Why would we penalize the taxpayers by not voting on it? Again that’s the only change
that’s left in this budget right now and it’s a change that was supported unanimously at the Budget Committee.

Alderman Clemons

I’ve weighed this budget out a lot and it’s been a tough decision for me to come to on how I’m going to vote.
The reason for that is because | was extremely disappointed in the school department for basically ignoring the
requests of some aldermen, the community, as well as the Mayor and going forward with the layoffs of several
custodians and a curriculum coordinator. | think that this is going to be to the detriment of our schools. | think
that every one of those positions are necessary and it’s unfortunate that they are being cut.

Just so that the public knows when | first heard about the budget cuts, | went to the Mayor’s office and | told
him that | thought that it was a shame that in an economy like we’re in that we would be laying people off. He
agreed. Went to the School Board and actually gave the School Board an extra percentage over what they
had proposed to basically not have any layoffs. The School Board ignored the Mayor. They ignored me. They
ignored the community and went ahead and spent the money somewhere else. That to me doesn’t sit right.
Nevertheless, | went on and went to the Budget Committee last week and fought the good fight to try to see if
the Budget Committee would entertain a motion to increase the budget to try to save those jobs but
unfortunately the reality is is that even if we were to put that money back into the school department, the
school department can turn around and spend it any way they want just as we saw the Mayor gave them a little
bit extra to help not lay people off.

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Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P10

Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 6/13/2017 - P11

By dnadmin on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 21:55
Document Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Meeting Description
Board Of Aldermen
Document Type
Minutes
Meeting Date
Tue, 06/13/2017 - 00:00
Page Number
11
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Board of Aldermen — 6/13/17 Page 11

With that being said, my first inclination was to not support the budget on principal and say I’m going to stick
with the people that are losing their jobs and vote no. At the last Budget Committee meeting however, it
became apparent to me that — and | had known this but the dire situation that the city is in facing a lawsuit on
this potential budget, facing the fact that should that prevail we could be in for hundreds of layoffs. Perhaps a
school that would close, fire department would have layoffs, maybe we’d have to close a fire department,
police department, same thing. | really have to weigh my vote. I’m going to vote for the budget but | don’t want
those individuals who are losing their position in Nashua to think for one minute that | didn’t fight for you. |
fought for you. | fought for your jobs and they mean something, you mean something to the city, and your work
means something to the city. It’s a mistake. It’s a mistake that the School Board is letting you go. With that
said, | will be supporting the budget and I’m doing it because doing that is the lesser of two evils. Thank you.

Alderman Lopez

| just want to thank Alderman Clemons for his comments and his conviction as well as Alderman Siegel for the
same. | think this budget is not meant to be easy. There’s particular items that must not have been easy for
people to have to consider. | think it’s unfortunate that the Board of Education went the direction that it did with
the extra money and | appreciate the effort on the Mayor’s part to try to save those jobs.

Alderman Schoneman

| appreciate the comments that are made and whatever happens with those custodians | would want them to
know that | understand that it’s not easy to lose a job for anybody at any time. Itis a tough economy and we'll
certainly give them that consideration and know that they served well while they were here.

| will not be supporting the budget. | approve of the amendments and | voted for the amendments. | think that
trying to find the city wide communications money at some stage in the future is wise. | think that’s a wise
expenditure. | think swapping the $200,000 out of the participatory budgeting into police overtime is probably a
good choice too. I’m not going to support it though even though those are good decision because there are
other things that play here that | think | simply can’t support. One is | believe the overall spending is too high.
My personal opinion. | think taxpayers at least the ones I’ve heard from believe that the spending is too high.

Secondly a vote in favor of this budget is really a vote in favor of how we got here. | do not approve of how we
got here. How we got to a budget that’s higher that can pass with 8 votes now 10 with this by | think
manipulating the spending cap via the sewer fund | think was wrong. | did not vote for that measure. | cannot
vote for this because of how we got here. | think the spending is somewhat too high. Not all too high but how
we got here is wrong and | can’t support that. Thank you.

Alderman Moriarty

Regarding the layoffs, |’d like to say they have my sympathies. Me and 500 BAE Systems who have been laid
off in the past 7 years from Southern NH understand what you'll be facing.

Regarding the budget — so if we go back to this fall, what | remember hearing is that it was like a $1 million or
$2 million gap to close. Somehow that $1 million or $2 million gap to close turned into a $9 million spending
spree. There’s a lot of fat in this budget. In particular, you might remember so when Mayor Lozeau was
putting together the budget, each year | would sort of wonder how the heck did she manage to close that
budget when everything was going up faster than the capital (inaudible). What she managed to do is benefits
— health care in particular — were going down. So for the good 2, 3, 4 years in a row the benefits — health
insurance were either down or steady. But what we have this year is for the first time since | remember, we
have a $3.7 million increase in that same line which is a 15 percent increase which hasn’t happened in a while.
So the pensions of course that the $2.2 million that we’ve read about that says it out of our control. 1’ll grant
that. There’s a line item in there for salaries — a $2.2 million increase contingency for salary increases that
have not yet occurred. Some people might be unaware of the mechanics of how that is. There’s a
contingency negotiation line that is usually a couple hundred thousand dollars that is used if there’s a union

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