Board of Aldermen 3-10-2020 Page 7
Fred Teeboom Good evening, my name is Fred Teeboom, | live at 24 Cheyenne Drive, that’s Ward 1. |
want to comment on O-20-005 which is the titles of members of the Board. This proposed Ordinance is a
prime example of political correctness gone berserk. The Ordinance says “may” meaning this is permissive
text that is meaningless as a directive. No future Board can be held to the procedural effects of the current
Board. This is therefore a completely Ordinance. New Hampshire State Law and Nashua Charter Law is
not changed with this Ordinance. So what about elections when you run either for Alderman or Alderman-
at-Large? How does that relate to all the women or alderperson that you may want to call yourself. Some
of the Aldermen in the Administrative Affairs Committee prefer to be called “councilmen” according to the
minutes. These members have a lack of the understanding of the three forms of municipal government in
New Hampshire; namely City Councils, the appointed City Manager, 11 of the 13 cities in New Hampshire
have that form of Government; Board of Aldermen with an elected Mayor, called a “Strong Mayor’. Two
cities in New Hampshire, Manchester and Nashua have that form of Government and Board of Selectmen
for towns who have a town meeting in all the towns, a couple of hundred have that form of government.
You cannot muddle these legally, well-defined government structures and positions, this arbitrary naming.
But this raises an interesting question, possibly Nashua should change to a City Council form of
government, same as 11 of the 13 cities in New Hampshire and replace the elected Mayor with an
appointed manager with demonstrated, executive experience. This is actually recommended in a
1994/1995 period prompted by independent contractual study of government and financial mismanagement
at that time in Nashua. And that recommendation to go to a council form of government, appoint a
manager was endorsed by then Mayor Rob Wagner. | was an Alderman at the time. This approach would
provide professional management, instead of electing Mayors who may have actually no executive
experience. | am not talking about the current Mayor necessarily but there have been Mayors, you can start
with Rob Wagner, but no executive experience whatsoever.
Alderman Clemons
Can we have order? This is not on the Agenda.
Mr. Teeboom This could be, | appreciate not being interrupted.
Alderman Clemons
Changing us to a City Council is not on the Agenda.
Mr. Teeboom This could be accomplished with a Charter change submitted to Nashua’s voters as an
Aldermanic initiative. As far as | know, RSA 49b, does not require legislative approval. It requires a charter
change voted on by the citizens of Nashua. The political correct fanatics on the Board could be then be
elected and refer to themselves as gender neutral councilors. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Mr. Focus, did you miss a sign-up sheet. Would you like to speak?
Billy Focus Hi Good Evening, Billy Focus, | own Martha’s Exchange in Downtown Nashua. | have been in
the restaurant and bar business for 32 years, maybe a little too long. | am here to speak against the 2:00
AM proposal. | have seen, | Know how this business works, people come in, get there about 11:00, 11:30,
they are pre-gaming, I’m sure you all know what that means. And then at 1:00 AM it is last call. What! see
happening even more pre-gaming, more drinking, going until 2:00 | see absolutely nothing but trouble
coming from this. | also think our fine Police Department wouldn’t appreciate it, | know my employees
wouldn't appreciate it, | don’t appreciate it. So | would like you to think hardily before we make that
decision. Thanks very much and | appreciate it.
