Board of Aldermen 2-25-2020 Page 3
So | mean Mayor you had committed to focusing on finding every possible way to restore the theater and
you got Liquid Therapy in there, you’ve got art studios in the lower level, we are putting sprinklers in to
improve the theater itself. We are looking at a Library Terrace Project. Step by step we have been doing a
lot to support the local theaters, so that’s very encouraging.
And then the last thing | just wanted to comment on the Granite Pathways Program. Granite Pathways was
co-located with the Mobile Crisis Response Team so that was kind of their connection to the community.
They employed a lot of people who had peer experience in recovery that knew firsthand what it was like to
struggle and to need to connect with resources. So | hope the hospital intends to use that model as well or
at least engage the employees that have done the best they can with limited resources. But! would also
say that there’s a much stronger peer recovery resource climate now than there ever has been in Nashua
before; programs like Revive Recovery and Rise Above are really good concentrations of people working
together to build positive lives. We are even starting to see business off-shoots like Rise Barbershop.
So | think we’ve come a long way since the opioid crisis was first identified as such. But finally, I’d like to
reiterate my concern that we don’t just consider it an opioid crisis, because when people enter into
addiction and their life is changed and impacted by those choices and those struggles, it is not just about
the individual substance that they are using. So while we may be calling it an opioid crisis, we have to
remember that it takes people awhile to recover, a long time to rebuild their lives. In the meantime there
are other drugs that are out there, | have personally seen a lot more people using cocaine and
methamphetamines. It’s a very different picture from somebody using opioids. So there still are challenges
that our City faces. | think without the Fire Department we would have never have been able to do as much
as we did. But! hope we look at the problem as it presents itself moving forward, rather than letting
ourselves just look at a slice of it.
RECOGNITION PERIOD - None
READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
There being no objection, President Wilshire declared the minutes of the Board of Aldermen
meetings of February 12, 2020 and February 18, 2020 accepted, placed on file, and the reading
suspended.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRING ONLY PROCEDURAL ACTIONS AND WRITTEN REPORTS
FROM LIAISONS
There being no objection, President Wilshire suspended the rules to allow for the introduction of a
communication received after the agenda was prepared.
Survey by Ryan Hirsch — “Would you support resident overnight Parking Permits on Prescott Street?”
There being no objection, President Wilshire accepted the communication and referred it to the
February 26" Committee on Infrastructure.
From: Joseph R. Olefirowicz
Re: PAC Project
From: Ernest DuVarney
Re: Requesting Feedback - 198 Knollwood Avenue
From: Teresa Moler
Re: In Favor of Performing Arts Center
From: Mary Theresa Freund
Re: In Support of Performing Arts Center
