Search

AGENDA MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN APRIL 25, 2017

1.

2.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

PRESIDENT BRIAN S. McCARTHY CALLS ASSEMBLY TO ORDER
PRAYER OFFERED BY CITY CLERK PATRICIA PIECUCH
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG LED BY ALDERMAN RICHARD A. DOWD
ROLL CALL
REMARKS BY THE MAYOR
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
RECOGNITIONS
READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Board of AIGErmen...............:cccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetcneeeeeeeeeetesenicireeeeeeeesntnireeeeeesereetnnnnnees 04/11/2017
COMMUNICATIONS
From: Larry D. Goodhue, CEO/CFO & Treasurer, Pennichuck Corporation
Re: Annual Meeting of Sole Shareholder — May 6, 2017
° Pennichuck Special Water Cmte Recommends: Election of James P. Dore, Elizabeth A. Dunn

Paul A. Indeglia and John M. Murphy

PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE
ACTED UPON THIS EVENING

PETITIONS

NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS
Appointments by the Mayor

Joint Convention with Edgewood Cemetery Board of Trustees

Joint Convention with Nashua Public Library Board of Trustees

REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

Finance COMMIttCe. 2.2... cece cece cceeeneee eee eeeeeeeeetaeeeeeeeeeeeetieeeeeeeeeeeees 04/19/2017
Pennichuck Water Special Committee................ccccccccccccccceetseeeeeeeeee 04/19/2017
Planning & Economic Development Committee... 04/03/2017
Planning & Economic Development Commiittee..................c cence 04/18/2017

WRITTEN REPORTS FROM LIAISONS

CONFIRMATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None

NEW BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS

R-17-097

Endorser: Alderman Richard A. Dowd

AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY TREASURER TO ISSUE BONDS NOT TO EXCEED
THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,200,000) FOR
ROOF REPLACEMENT WORK AT FAIRGROUNDS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND LEDGE STREET
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
O-17-037
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman Ben Clemons
ALLOWING PERMITTED OVERNIGHT ON-STREET PARKING ON A PORTION OF ASH STREET
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Committee announcements:

ADJOURNMENT

PENNICHUCGCK

PROXY CARD
PENNICHUCK CORPORATION

PROXY for Annual Meeting of Sole Shareholder - May 6, 2017

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Sole Shareholder, the City of Nashua, New Hampshire, hereby appoints LARRY D. GOODHUE or DONALD
L. WARE, as proxies to represent and vote as designated hereon, all shares of common stock of Pennichuck
Corporation (the “Company”) which the Sole Shareholder would be entitled to vote if personally present at the
Annual Meeting of Sole Shareholder of the Company to be held at the Crowne Plaza, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua.
New Hampshire, on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as
directed by the Sole Shareholder. .

3

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” each of the nominees named in Proposal 1.

Proposal 1:

To elect James P. Dore, Elizabeth A. Dunn, Paul A. Indeglia and John M. Murphy
as directors, each for a three-year term, and until their successors are elected and

qualified.
For Against
James P. Dore C O
Elizabeth A. Dunn O O
Paul A. Indeglia CJ CJ
John M. Murphy CI] C]

Authorized Signature:

CITY OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (Sole Shareholder)

By: Date:

Name:

Title:

This Proxy Card is Valid Only When Signed and Dated

APPOINTMENT BY THE MAYOR

APRIL 25, 2017

Conservation Commission

Michael Reinke, Alternate (New Appointment)
2 Quincy Street
Nashua, NH 03061

Gene Porter (New Appointment)
77 Concord Street
Nashua, NH 03064

Cultural Connections Committee

Lauren Osowski (New Appointment)
14A Artillery Lane
Nashua, NH 03064

Nashua Arts Commission

Michael Joseph (New Appointment)
71 High Pine Avenue, #10
Nashua, NH 03063

Judith Carison (Reappointment)
15 Manchester Street
Nashua, NH 03064

Planning Board

Gerry Reppucci (Reappointment)
17 Badger Street, #1
Nashua, NH 03060

Zoning Board of Adjustment

James P. Welch, Alternate (New Appointment)
3 Greenwood Drive
Nashua, NH 03062

Efstathia Booras, Alternate (New Appointment)
44 Balcom Street
Nashua, NH 03062

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

Term to Expire:

| respectfully request that these appointments be confirmed.

Jim Donchess

Mayor

December 31, 2017

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2019

April 1, 2019

April 1, 2020

March 31, 2020

September 11, 2017

October 1, 2018

A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic
Chamber.

President Brian S. McCarthy presided; City Clerk Patricia Piecuch recorded.
Prayer was offered by City Clerk Patricia Piecuch; Alderman Sean McGuinness led in the Pledge to the Flag.

President McCarthy

Before | ask the Clerk to take the roll, Alderman Cookson is participating by telephone and under the terms of
the state law that allows him to do that, he needs to explain why he can’t attend, if he can hear us, and who he
is with, if anyone.

Alderman Cookson stated the reason he could not attend, confirmed that he could hear the proceedings and
stated who was present with him.

President McCarthy

Acknowledged that those present could hear Alderman Cookson as well.

The roll call was taken with 15 members of the Board of Aldermen present.

Alderman-at-Large Mark S. Cookson was not in attendance but participated in the meeting via telecommunication.
Mayor James W. Donchess and Corporation Counsel Steven A. Bolton were also in attendance.

President McCarthy

Before we begin | am going to recognize Alderman Wilshire to make a motion so we can accept procedural
motions without the roll call vote.

MOTION BY ALDERMAN WILSHIRE THAT THE RULES BE SO FAR SUSPENDED AS TO
ALLOW FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROCEDURAL ACTIONS WITHOUT OBJECTION

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

REMARKS BY THE MAYOR

Mayor Donchess

First | wanted to extend my and the city’s condolences to the family of Selma Pastor. Selma passed away this
past week at the end of the week. Her husband, Bernie, died some years ago, but Selma and Bernie were
both leading citizens in Nashua. Bernie is on the mural across the way. He is pictured as one of the figures
next to the Yankee Flyer. Selma served on the school board for a number of years and was for decades on
the Nashua Housing Authority. She contributed a great deal to the community over a long period of time. |
think many people will regret her passing and will think back with fond memories on her life in Nashua.

R-16-049
Endorser: Mayor Jim Donchess
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A TWINNING (SISTER CITY) AGREEMENT FOR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF MYSORE,
KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
O-16-014
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien
ENABLING THE SAMPLING OF BEER OR WINE AT FARMERS’ MARKETS
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Committee announcements:

ADJOURNMENT

Board of Aldermen — 4/11/17 Page 2

Also, Mr. President, | wanted to discuss one of the issues that is on for a vote tonight, a significant one, and
that is the proposed five-year paving plan that is set forth in R-17-92, which was recommended for final
passage by the budget committee. What this will do is enable us to improve our streets, which are
deteriorating, help with potholes which we see throughout the city at this time of year.

The value of our infrastructure, that is our streets, not including sidewalks, is estimated to be at $450 million.
It’s one of the city’s largest assets. We are attempting to undertake a problem that will enable us to maintain
the value of that very valuable asset.

In the past several years, | have, and | think all of us have, received complaints from many citizens regarding
the conditions of streets. Many streets need to be repaved, many have declined in character. A few years ago
we did increase the amount of the paving budget from approximately $1 million or $1.5 million, depending on
the year, up to $2.3 million. At that time, we moved the street paving revenue fund from within the combined
annual municipal budget to outside it, and we have maintained the funding of that program at about $2.3
million.

As a result, we have been paving above four to six miles of streets every year. Now we have the opportunity
to do something more significant and take a big leap forward in improving the conditions of our streets. Over
the course of the last year or so Stantec, which is an engineering firm, has done a paving management study
which has estimated the PCI, or the paving condition index, of all of Nashua’s streets. There are about 1,200
streets in Nashua and about 300 miles of streets. They are recommending an ongoing pavement
management maintenance plan.

We talked through this in some detail with the Budget Committee. | know you have all received copies of the
report. It makes a number of, | think, very telling points as to why we should undertake an improvement in our
initiatives to pave more streets. The state near the beginning of the report that the goal is to save money in
both the short and long term by developing a good road repair program that minimizes expenditures. They
point out that a roadway, and | am quoting again, “A roadway worsens slowly at the beginning of its projected
life.” In other words, once it is paved the condition is maintained for some time and deteriorates very slowly.
“But this level of deterioration increases drastically as the pavement reaches near middle age.” As the surface
gets older, the rate of deterioration picks up. They make this the point, and this is kind of one of the
underlining points of the entire study: “The point where pavement approaches middle age is considered the
critical zone in the pavement’s life.” As the pavement approaches middle age that’s the critical zone. They say
it is relatively inexpensive to keep a roadway in good service up to the point where it reaches middle age but
then after the middle age point it becomes much more expensive to keep the roadway in good service
condition.

They rank the streets and allocate them into five different sort of zones or categories based upon their
condition. This is all based on the PCI, the paving condition index. The best streets are the so-called “do
nothing” streets meaning nothing needs to be done in the short term. The next category are streets which
require routine maintenance. The third category is our streets that require preventative maintenance. The
fourth category are those that require structural improvement, and the fifth category are those that require base
rehabilitation. In other words, almost complete rebuilding.

The report says a road in need of preventative maintenance is in the critical zone of the pavement deterioration
curve. In other words, those in kind of this middle category. It is in this range of the pavement life cycle that
the most cost effective repairs can be made. Further deterioration warrants a significantly more costly
response. They are saying when you get to the middle age, the preventive maintenance category, you really
need to do something right away if you want to prevent much larger expenditures in the future. Of the 300
miles of streets we have here in Nashua, 103 miles are in the preventative maintenance category. In other
words, a little over 1/3. The report says without a preemptive strike, the system will undoubtedly continue to
lose roads from the routine and preventative maintenance category into the structural improvement and base
rehabilitation bands. This very costly loss will present a challenge to Nashua officials if the city wants to retain
its roads in good condition. Again, they are saying that 103 miles, the largest category of streets are in this
preventive maintenance category.

Board of Aldermen — 4/11/17 Page 3

They recommend what they call a network priority ranking. In other words, based upon this analysis of the
condition of each street, the streets where the most significant improvement in terms of prevention of
deterioration be done first so we preserve the most value that we can regarding the maintenance often streets.
The report in conclusion says the overall roadway network in the city is currently in fair condition. The study
shows that the city is in a critical point from a pavement management perspective and future diligence will be
necessary to improve citywide pavement conditions.

It also points out that all of this is based upon a computer model and that the city, once it undertakes a
pavement improvement program, needs to re-evaluate the situation every year. Re-evaluate the streets, re-
evaluate the situation because the deterioration of the streets may not be as quick as the computer projects or
may curve more quickly. The idea is we need re-evaluate as time goes on. The report says it this way: “it is
recommended that roads be reviewed each year to confirm that deterioration is occurring at the expected
computer model rate. Based on these reviews and inspections, an update to the pavement management
software will provide the city with a better understanding of its roadway degradation and confirmation of
appropriate funding needs to prevent it.”

Then it again says that: “If preemptive action is not taken, the large mileage of streets currently in the need of
preservation maintenance will rapidly digress to poor conditions that would subject the city to far more
expensive roadway work.” What they recommend is that we undertake a paving program at the rate of $7.5
million per year which is what is proposed in the resolution.

The resolution sponsored by myself, by Alderman Deane and by Alderman Siegel, and now endorsed by the
Budget Committee, proposes that for a period of five years we authorize the borrowing of $7.5 million in order
to improve the conditions of our streets in order to attack these preventive maintenance problems and in order
to save the requirement that we spend far more in the future.

Of course, the question is: how does this get paid for. For the past several years, we have appropriated into
the special road and highway fund $2.3 million as | said. Two-thirds of this approximately comes from the
revenue high block grant we receive from the State of New Hampshire. $700,000 is revenue that we have
directed from automobile registrations into this user fee based account. Now if we continue to do this, and if
we do the $7.5 million per year of paving, and if we accumulate money in the account when we do not require
it to meet the obligations under the bonds, the projections show that we will rise to a surplus in the account of
about $5 million in year four. Then we will see a declining surplus in the account, but the account will never go
below zero through a 20-year payment program. These will be 15 year bonds, but because the last of the
borrowing would occur in year five, full payment would not occur until year 20.

What we are proposing is a five year plan for various reasons. First of all because the consultant in the paving
study suggests to us that this is just a projection and that we need to re-evaluate the situation every year and
that the reality on the ground, so to speak, could be different than they project in the computer. Number two,
we may achieve additional revenue sources that we don’t have now. For example, the governor’s budget that
is pending now before the Senate, no budget passed the House as you know, so the governor’s budget is sort
of the prevailing document at this point, the default document, the governor’s budget proposes a 40 percent
increase in the revenue highway block grant. If that occurred, this fund would accumulate a much far greater
surplus and would pay for all this not for five years and beyond but for six or seven years and beyond. Also,
we have recommended in this projection that we increase the revenue from the motor vehicle registrations by
$400,000 in year four. In any event, | wanted to give the Board which has not had a chance or was not able at
the budget committee to see the presentation of the consultant, to give you some sense of what they are
saying. They are recommending that we take a preemptive strike, a big leap forward, that we invest now to
save in the future and that we spend money and evaluate the situation every year in order to make sure that
we do not let the value of a $450 million infrastructure decline further than it has so far.

With that, Mr. President, | am recommending that you follow the recommendation of the budget review
Committee that you answer the call of the citizenry and improve paving by adopting a reasonable,
commonsense paving program based upon the scientific analysis of our streets and the value of our
infrastructure.

Board of Aldermen — 4/11/17 Page 4

Secondly, Mr. President, | did want to mention again the wastewater fund. The ordinance in question here is
O-17-31. Under this ordinance which we have discussed before, so | won’t go on in great length, the
wastewater fund would be brought into compliance with the city charter. The city charter says that items need
to be in the combined annual municipal budget or not be in. We have many items that are in, obviously, but
some are items are out like paving.

Items that are out tend to be user based systems where the user, not property taxes, pays for the system. The
wastewater system is one of those systems. If you look at the budget that was passed last year, it is
expressed as a single standalone enterprise fund. But the ordinances don’t handle it that way. The
ordinances have half of it under the combined annual municipal budget and half of it outside. What O-17-31
proposes is that we rationalize the system, establish this as an actual enterprise fund, standalone outside the
combined annual municipal budget. This would also have the effect of increasing the cap space for this
coming year budget where we have all of the pension problems caused by the State of New Hampshire.

With that, Mr. President, | am concluding my remarks.

RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR -— None

RECOGNITION PERIOD — None

READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the minutes of the Board of Aldermen
meeting of March 21, 2017, and the Public Hearing conducted by the Budget Review Committee
of March 27, 2017, accepted, placed on file and the readings suspended.

COMMUNICATIONS

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared that all communications be read by title only.

From: Jeffrey L. Snow, Superintendent, Edgewood Cemetery
Re: Request for Joint Convention with Edgewood Cemetery Board of Trustees

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the communication accepted, placed on file and that
the Board of Aldermen meet in Joint Convention with the Edgewood Cemetery Board of Trustees on Tuesday,
April 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber

From: Arthur L. Barrett, Jr., Chairman, Board of Library Trustees
Re: Request for Joint Convention with Nashua Public Library Board of Trustees

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the communication accepted, placed on file and that
the Board of Aldermen meet in Joint Convention with the Nashua Public Library Board of Trustees on Tuesday,
April 25, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber

From: Celia K. Leonard, Esq., Office of Corporation Counsel
Re: Petition for Street Acceptance: Northwest Boulevard Extension

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the communication accepted, placed on file and
referred to the Committee on Infrastructure

From: Larry D. Goodhue, CEO/CFO & Treasurer, Pennichuck Corporation
Re: Annual Meeting of Sole Shareholder — May 6, 2017

Board of Aldermen — 4/11/17 Page 5

There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the communication accepted, placed on file and
referred to the Pennichuck Water Special Committee.

From: Mayor Jim Donchess
Re: Notification of Entry into Contract for Invasive Species Control and Management

MOTION BY ALDERMAN WILSHIRE TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO
SOLITUDE LAKE MANAGEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,728

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

From: Mayor Jim Donchess
Re: Award of 2017 Paving Program

MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO
E.J. PAVING COMPANY, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,729,148

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

From: Mayor Jim Donchess
Re: Notification of Entry into Contract for FY18-FY20 USDA Wildlife Management Service
Agreement
MOTION BY ALDERMAN O’BRIEN TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO
USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,103 FOR FY18

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