Board of Aldermen 2-25-2020 Page 2
But working with the hospital, given the resources they are putting into this, given the fact that the response
here is stronger overall in terms of the availability of treatment and everything else, is stronger than it was three
or four years ago. | think the hospital is a good partner to be working on this. It could mean that at least the
number of people reporting into the Fire Stations would go down. That is, in fact, already occurred; the peak
was about 4 to 5 reports a day; now itis about 1 % to 2 reports a day.
In any event, | am suggesting that it is good news that the hospital is involved, someone that we can work with,
interested in what we think and how the community will react to anything that they want to do. So | think our
response, our community response, will only be strengthened by getting the hospital in as the primary mover of
the State’s approach rather than out-of-town agency that we never, even over a couple years, got to know very
well. So | am sure there will be more information on that, but | wanted to update you.
More briefly Madam President, the sprinkler project at the Fire Station is going to begin about March 23 and
should take through the middle of May. You recall that we are sprinkling the remainder of the building that does
not currently have sprinklers; that includes the Streeter Theater and the Lobby and the downstairs area. That
will make the building far safer and will open up some other uses that haven’t been allowed because of the lack
of fire suppression system.
Next, the City Academy begins on March 9"". We have a number of people signed up but there is still more
room if anybody would like to go, anybody that you know would like to go. It is a great opportunity to learn more
about City Government. Some of the people certainly have graduated from that and have gone on to, well there
is one member on the School Board and things like that. So it is a good place to learn about City Government; |
would encourage anybody to think about attending that.
Finally, Madam President, JaJa Belle’s, a well-known downtown institution, | want to congratulate them because
they moved from their former store front on Main Street over to the corner of Temple and Main. They opened
their new store for the first time today so | highly recommend to anyone who'd like to check it out, the space is
really nice and, of course, they are a very important participant and contributor to Nashua’s downtown.
And with that, Madam President, | will conclude my remarks.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
President Wilshire
Thank you. Remarks to the response of the Mayor?
Alderman Lopez
Just to clarify on behalf of JaJa Belle’s they are on the corner of Factory and Main.
President Wilshire
Microphone.
Alderman Lopez
OK so JaJa Belle’s is on the corner of Factory and Main; Temple is on the other side. So just so if people
get confused, it is under Graffiti Paint Bar sign. | know that they plan on moving that but | just don’t want
anybody to miss it. It is also encouraging to hear that we are working on the Streeter Theater, | know that
you referred to it as the old fire station because that’s where the original fire station was located. But it is
also important because when we were talking about the Performing Arts Center bond and we were talking
about the role that they would play as an economic driver, a lot of people were concerned about “what we
do about the local theater companies” and “how are we supporting local arts”.
