Board Of Aldermen - Minutes - 1/26/2021 - P4
Board of Aldermen 01-26-2021 Page 4
There are now more contagious, potentially more deadly strains of the virus entering the United States so we
need to make sure we are careful, wear our masks, enforce our mask ordinance and ask all of all our fellow
citizens to work together to protect everyone. We, of course, want our families and friends to remain safe but we
also want to get the economy open again and the quickest way to do that is to follow the evidence of the
scientists and their research. And they say until the vaccine is available to everyone, masks are the best way to
go. The vaccine roll-out is beginning, people can — in Group 1B that includes citizens 65 and older — can
register for the vaccine through the State Website. The vaccines are being administered at Nashua High South.
That clinic was originally planned as a drive-up only clinic but we received, and | know some of you on the
Board of Aldermen, received complaints or concern from citizens who had registered or wanted to register for
the vaccine who don’t have a car. So we have worked with the State of New Hampshire to make it clear that as
long as the person can get there, whether or not they have a car, at the time of their appointment they can be
vaccinated. Transit is working on a way to make it clear that people can get the mobile vans, the appointment
vans to take them to that test site. So we are hoping that anybody who is registered can get in a vehicle, can
get there and get vaccinated as quickly as possible.
Of course beyond the pandemic, Madam President, we are looking forward to the spring. More vaccinations will
be done by that time. But we are also looking forward, | think, to the opening of our Main Street again to the
outdoor dining. | know there will be Legislation coming to you in the next couple of weeks. | know that when |
drive down through the Main Street of Nashua, | live just a little bit north and drive down to City Hall, | always
miss the outdoor activity that was present through the spring, the summer and the fall. And | very much hope,
want and long for it to come back. | was talking with one member of the Board of Aldermen and | don’t think
we've made it clear, I’ve told a few people privately, but using Public Works Funds, we purchased the barriers
that we rented that last year for a price of $20,000.00. And since the rental fee was $100,000.00 it seemed
worthwhile to buy the barriers for $20,000.00. So we got 2,400 square feet, they are being store out at the
landfill. Now it will cost to put those barriers up and down but at least we will own them and can use them and
consider about how we might be coming forward with a proposal to you as to how we might decorate those
barriers for future years.
Another matter, Madam President, is we have talked in the past about the various things the State is doing at
exactly the wrong time to increase City taxes. That is increasing pension costs and reducing School Aid. Some
people think the reduction in School Aid is related to a reduction in enrollment, that is somewhat true, but the
vast majority of the reduction has nothing to do with the decline in an enrollment. We can talk about the details
but that’s about a $7million dollar loss there. Now | know our Legislative Delegation is very committed and is
working hard to try to correct these things; | appreciate their work very much. There are various bills pending
and efforts are being made in the Legislature and there will be testimony and bills that will be coming to various
committees tomorrow.
But one thing that | haven’t mentioned is that the cities have organized, I’ve worked with Mayors, about 10 or 12
other Mayors around the State; Manchester, Concord, Keene, Seacoast, and have composed and written a
letter to the Governor, expressing and concern because all cities are affected by this, expressing concern on
both fronts, the pension and the education assistance. We hope that will help encourage the Governor to
support efforts to restore funds to the cities and towns.
Finally | thought Attorney Bolton has done not only a very good job as our City Attorney but he did extremely
well with that prayer, just out of memory. It shows how many Aldermanic meetings he has attended, so |
wanted to congratulate and thank him for filling in on a necessary part of the meeting. And that’s all | have,
Madam President.
President Wilshire
Thank you Mayor.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR - None
