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Board of Aldermen — 2/28/17 Page 6

MOTION BY ALDERMAN DOWD TO ACCEPT THE FIRST READING OF R-17-092 BY ROLL CALL, ASSIGN
IT TO THE BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND THAT A PUBLIC
HEARING BE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017, AT 7:00 PM IN THE ALDERMANIC CHAMBER

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

Yea: Alderman Wilshire, Alderman Deane, Alderman Cookson
Alderman Dowd, Alderman Caron, Alderman Siegel
Alderman Schoneman, Alderman McGuinness, Alderman LeBrun
Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Lopez, Alderman McCarthy 12

Nay: Alderman Moriarty 1

MOTION CARRIED

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES - None

PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Jim Cutter, 86 Palm Street, Nashua

Dear President McCarthy. Normally someone needs to go before the Infrastructure Committee before appearing
in the Aldermanic Chamber, but it seems Steve Bolton cannot think of how to deal with the Cutter family so here
| am. You have heard our problem was caused by building inspectors in 1950 and 1971, who approved permits
that took 1/3 of the width of our driveway. Since they are city employees, they are to blame per RSA 626:3,
protect of ignorance or mistake. Curtilage RSA 627:9 (i), are those outbuildings that are near directly and closely
connected with a dwelling, together with all the land or grounds around the dwellings such as are necessary,
convenient, and habitually used for domestic purposes. Our lot, 33 x 70 feet, known as 86 Palm Street had a
29” wide strip of a gap/curtilage at the north end and a 10’3” driveway/curtilage south of the house that is
protected by the Fourth Amendment so that none of our property can be taken legally. The Gilbertson’s are
trespassing and should be ordered from our property by a week from tomorrow so we can be in compliance with
Nashua Ordinance 190-193, parking space dimensions. See my letters to the Infrastructure Committee of
December 8, 2016, January 11, 2017, and January 25, 2017. Sincerely, Jim. Thank you.

REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN — None

Committee announcements:

Alderman Wilshire

Human Affairs, Thursday, at 7:00 p.m. right here.

Alderman Moriarty

Pennichuck Water Special Committee, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. in these Chambers.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY ALDERMAN SIEGEL THAT THE FEBRUARY 28, 2017 MEETING OF THE BOARD OF
ALDERMEN BE ADJOURNED

MOTION CARRIED

The meeting was declared adjourned at 7:52 p.m.

Attest: Judith Boileau, Deputy City Clerk

QWeTl2017— My Turn: For decades, state has played major role in high property taxes

a

Opinion > Columns (/Opinion/Columns/)

My Turn: For decades, state has
played major role in high property
taxes

By BILL HERMAN
For the Monitor

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

We are in what has for a long time been one of my favorite times of year. It is the time
when we gather with our friends and neighbors for annual town and school district
meetings to determine the course our communities will take for the coming year.

Perhaps more than most, | enjoy these activities because | have been an active participant
since 1977, when | first served as a supervisor of the checklist.

For the ensuing 39 years, I have been either town moderator, school district moderator, a
selectman or a town administrator.

One of the reasons | enjoy these meetings is because you never know how they may turn
out, what decisions will be made or what people might say.

A few weeks ago while attending my town’s deliberative town meeting, | was particularly
surprised to hear a state representative tell voters there was nothing the Legislature can
do to reduce property taxes.

| was surprised because arguably there has not been an entity that has had a bigger
impact on local property taxes in the past two decades than the Legislature.

One only has to look to the early 1980s when, in response to the Claremont education
lawsuit, the Legislature reached into what had been the local property tax, claimed a part
of it as its own, and established the “state education property tax” as “state” funds to meet
the state's legal obligation toward education.

Since then, the state has held a portion of the property tax as its own.

In Auburn, the state education property tax represents approximately 12 percent of the
town’s total tax rate - not a small percentage for sure.

Even if it stopped there, that would be significant enough. But it doesn’t. In the ensuing
years, the Legislature, has:

hitto/Awww.concordmonitor.com/The-NH-Legislature-anc-property-taxes-8207608 1/4

2272017 * My Turn: For decades, state has played major role in high property taxes

_ Eliminated revenue sharing funds to the municipalities beginning in 2010. That was a loss
of $25 million annually to cities and towns.

Eliminated the state’s long-standing share of local costs for the state retirement system,
which had been provided since the 1940s when separate retirement programs were in
place, and continued in 1967 when the Legislature required the separate programs
become one with the state government. That was an annual loss of $51 million in 2010. If
the state continued to pay its 35 percent share, that would have been approximately $80
million in 2016 due to recent pension rate increases.

Since 1977, the Legislature has reduced the municipal portion of the revenue received
from the meals and rooms tax. The state is supposed to retain only 60 percent of the
revenue, with the 40 percent balance going to municipalities. However, municipalities have
never received close to 40 percent of the tax revenue, and lost $58 million from 2010 to
2017 because of legislative amendments to the distribution formula.

Funding for the state’s share of environmental grants for public wastewater and drinking
water facilities, and also assistance with the closure of landfills, has been declining since
2007, when $17 million was available annually and approximately $7 million is available at
present.

For the past 10 years, the state has ceased funding its share of disaster assistance for
various natural disaster events like floods, severe wind storms or snow emergencies,
where FEMA has assisted the state and local governments in covering the unanticipated
expenses of these circumstances. This is supposed to be a partnership with the federal
government covering 75 percent of the costs, and the state and the local governments
each covering 12.5 percent. But the state has not covered any of its 12.5 percent share,
leaving local governments to cover the full 25 percent.

| know it does not stop on the municipal side. School construction aid has been curtailed
for local school districts, making the approval of potential building projects less certain
with taxpayers.

And the county government has not been untouched either. Over the years, various
programs and/or costs for nursing home care and other service programs have been
shifted between the state and the counties, with the county government usually ending up
with a larger portion of the costs.

in his budget address to the Legislature earlier this month, Gov. Sununu recognized the
current lopsided nature of the state and local government partnership with his budget,
including funding for some specific education and infrastructure programs.

Also, the House Executive Department and Administration Committee, followed by the full
House of Representatives, acted favorably on HB 413, which would begin to restore part of
the state’s share of retirement system costs.

http:/Avww.concordmonitor.com/The-NH-Legislature-and-property-taxes-8207608 2/4

QETI2017 * My Turn: For decades, state has played major role in high property taxes

- What has taken years to pull in one direction cannot be changed overnight. But these are
two good first steps in recognizing the impact the state of New Hampshire has had on
increasing local property taxes.

(Bill Herman is a resident of Concord and currently serves as the town administrator of
Auburn.)

http:/Avww.concordmonitor.com/The-NH-Legislature-and-property-taxes-8207608 3/4

APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR
JUNE 28, 2016

Cable Television Advisory Board

Andrew Cernota (Reappointment) Term to Expire: January 1, 2019
129 Shelley Drive
Nashua NH 03062
Paul F. Johnson (Reappointment) Term to Expire: January 1, 2019

44 Browning Avenue
Nashua, NH 03062

Conservation Commission

Dan Sloan (New Appointment) Term to Expire: December 31, 2017
8 Westfield Street
Nashua NH 03062

Planning Board

Scott LeClair (Reappointment) Term to Expire: March 31, 2019
10 Daylily Drive
Nashua NH 03062

David Robbins (Reappointment) Term to Expire: March 31, 2019

102 Cherrywood Drive
Nashua, NH 03062

| respectfully request that these appointments be confirmed.

Jim Donchess
Mayor

AGENDA MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN FEBRUARY 28, 2017

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14.

PRESIDENT BRIAN S. McCARTHY CALLS ASSEMBLY TO ORDER

PRAYER OFFERED BY CITY CLERK PATRICIA PIECUCH

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG LED BY ALDERMAN-AT-LARGE DANIEL T. MORIARTY
ROLL CALL

REMARKS BY THE MAYOR

RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR

RECOGNITIONS

READING OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARING

Board of AIdermen...............cccccccccccc ccc errr ttre bet etteeteeeeneeeeeeeeees 02/14/2017
Board of Aldermen Mayor’s State-of-the-City.......... cece ccccccceceeeeeeeeeeeentnteeeeeeeeeees 02/21/2017

COMMUNICATIONS

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

PETITIONS
NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS

Appointments by the Mayor
Appointments by the President of the Board of Aldermen

REPORTS OF COMMITTEE

Finance Committee. 0.0... 0c cccccccceccccuececceceecuceceeeveceueeecueeeeeateeeuneeesateeeueeeeeaterseteneaneees 02/15/17
Committee on Infrastructure....0.....ccceccccececcceccececceceececceceueuseeaueceeaeeeeaeeeeanereeanereaerenaes 02/22/17
Planning & Economic Development Committee. ..............ccccccecccccceeesecteeeeeeeeeessstaeeees 02/21/17

WRITTEN REPORTS FROM LIAISONS

CONFIRMATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS

UNFINISHED BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS

R-17-088

Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF LAND ON AMHERST STREET AND ON CHARRON
AVENUE AND THE ACCEPTANCE OF A SIDEWALK EASEMENT ON AMHERST STREET
Committee on Infrastructure Recommends: Final Passage

R-17-089
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman June M. Caron
Alderman Ken Siegel
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja
Alderman Don LeBrun
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT AGREEMENT
WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE PURPOSE OF RESURFACING VARIOUS
FEDERAL AID ELIGIBLE ROADWAYS IN THE CITY OF NASHUA AND TO ACCEPT AND
APPROPRIATE $4,445,000 FOR THE PROJECT
e Committee on Infrastructure Recommends: Final Passage Contingent upon BPW Approval
e Also assigned to the Board of Public Works; Favorable Recommendation Issued 2/23/17

UNFINISHED BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
NEW BUSINESS — RESOLUTIONS
R-17-091
Endorser: Mayor Jim Donchess
DISCONTINUING THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR BUILDING REPLACEMENT OR
RENEWAL DUE TO DISUSE
R-17-092
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman-at-Large David W. Deane
Alderman Ken Siegel
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY TREASURER TO ISSUE BONDS NOT TO EXCEED THE

AMOUNT OF THIRTY-SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($37,500,000) TO
FUND A MULTI-YEAR PAVING PROJECT

NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES

PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Committee announcements:

ADJOURNMENT

APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR

FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Cultural Connections Committee

Mohammad Mustak Arif (New Appointment) Term to Expire: February 28, 2020
12 East Pearl Street, Apt. 3

Nashua, NH 03060

Environment and Energy Committee

Doria Brown (New Appointment) Term to Expire: February 28, 2020
34 Cellu Drive
Nashua NH 03060

| respectfully request that these appointments be confirmed.

Jim Donchess
Mayor

APPOINTMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

FEBRUARY 28, 2017

Hunt Legacy Trustees

Mary Greene (New Appointment) For a Term to Expire: December 31, 2018
38 Concord Street

Nashua, NH 03064

| respectfully request that this appointment be confirmed.

Brian S. McCarthy, President
Board of Aldermen

A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at 7:00 p.m.
in the Aldermanic Chamber.

President Brian S. McCarthy presided: City Clerk Patricia D. Piecuch recorded.

Prayer was offered by City Clerk Patricia D. Piecuch; Alderman-at-Large David W. Deane led in
the Pledge to the Flag.

The roll call was taken with 15 members of the Board of Aldermen present.
Mayor James W. Donchess and Corporation Counsel Steven A. Bolton were also present.

MAYOR’S ANNUAL STATE-OF-THE-CITY ADDRESS

Mayor Donchess

| want to thank everyone for coming tonight. We have a number of guests, so | really, really appreciate
everybody coming.

Good evening President McCarthy, Vice President Wilshire, members of the Board of Aldermen, Board
of Education members, BPW Commissioners, other elected officials, Police Chief Lavoie, Fire Chief
Galipeau, Superintendent Brown, city division directors, city staff, community members, and guests.

First, | want to thank my wife Vicki, daughter Caroline, son-in-law David and new grandson Ajax for all
the support you give me.

A year ago right here | called upon my fellow Nashua citizens to come together, and by using all of your
talents, your know-how, your skills and imagination to join me in the work of making Nashua a great city.
And | told you that | want Nashua to be a city for everyone, for senior citizens and young families just
starting out, for high tech professionals, for artists, for lifelong residents and new Americans. | told you
that | want to make our city government more open to all of our citizens.

Let’s think about everything we have accomplished in just one year by working together. We are growing
our economy and adding jobs. We have new housing in the works. We are improving our schools, and
we are lifting up our downtown. We are meeting the challenge of the opioid addiction crisis. And we are
making Nashua city government more inclusive and transparent for all of Nashua’s citizens.

This past October Money Magazine — based upon its survey of more than 800 communities — honored
Nashua with the 16" spot on its annual list of the “Best Places to Live in America.” In July WalletHub
ranked Nashua the 10" “Best-Run City in the US.” In addition we have maintained our strong bond
rating which is Triple A with the Fitch rating agency.

Working with me we have a Board of Aldermen whose members are thoughtful and dedicated to the
good of our city. | am privileged to be working with them and to be leading 2,800 city employees who
every day are working hard on behalf of the citizens of Nashua.

In short, the state of our city is strong and getting stronger.

On the jobs front, our unemployment rate is a low 2.5%. We are adding more jobs — 300 at BAE
Systems’ South End campus, 150 jobs at Prudential Linen, a new cleanroom services business that will
be opening later this year, and more jobs at UPS. These jobs and the ripple effect they create will add
many millions of dollars to our robust regional economy.