Board of Aldermen 06-22-2021 Page 19
athletics for Holman Stadium this year. They couldn't do it last year because of COVID so you’ve got some
new people that will share their names on that wall and | think that’s great.
Another thing is Mayor last night someone asked you a question concerning the Citizens Advisory Commission
and the grant money. | had the answer but knew! couldn’t get up and | was verified by Jason our Chairperson
and both the Girl Scout organization and Salvation Army did not putin applications for any grant money this
year. As you know, this program has been around for a long time and members of the Board and Mayor’s
office do not get involved on howthat money is given out. It's based on what the need is. For a while it was
going to homeless, drug addiction, and things like that. They have worked really hard over the past few years
to make sure the money goes to those organizations that really need it and to take care of the city in the best
way that we can.
Mayor Donchess
Yes thank you for bringing that up. | learned that today that those two organizations didn’t apply.
Alderman Caron
No they did not and wishing you all happy 4" of July.
Alderman Dowd
Yes happy 4" of July. I will try to be at that event. My heritage is Irish and French right back to Ireland and
France and have family ties here well over 100-150 years probably even before that.
The other thing I'd like to say is last night we had the public hearing on the budget. There was a lot of
misinformation that was brought up. The one that | really want to hit on is someone brought up that all of our
new employees were not qualified, not professional and | can tell you having worked with all of our new
employees from the Chief Engineer, to Planning, Park Rec., and several other new employees, they are
fantastic. They are knowedgeable, they knowwnat they’re doing. It took them a little while to get their feet
wet relative to Nashua but they are outstanding. Particularly the new City Engineer. | worked with him
extensively on the school project. He’s doing a great job. He has a lot of work on his plate. | just wanted to
bring that up because | thought that the remarks that were made including our own City Clerk were very, very
disrespectful.
Alderwoman Kelly
Thank you President Wilshire. | wasn’t sure if you saw my hand so thank you. | have a few comments. | also
wanted to just comment on last night’s budget hearing. | was not present in the space but | watched every
moment along with you guys and | had corrections but most of the people beat me to it. Especially the process
around how CAC works and how my committee Human Affairs works is very similar where people bring in
applications each year. It’s not (inaudible) it’s who brings the applications forward and then it goes through a
process to get funded so those committees aren't necessarily choosing between all of the nonprofits. It’s
between the ones that come forward with projects.
| also wanted to congratulate the City and Black Lives Matter Nashua for a wonderful Juneteenth event on
Saturday at the Library. There was a huge turnout. | know! saw Alderman Wilshire, Mayor Donchess was
there, and it was really a great celebration of just joy and freedom. It was a really nice event. So kudos to
everybody for that. It was especially meaningful this year after it has not become a federal holiday.
Did | have anything else? | think that was it. | knowthat the children are definitely looking forward to the way
that we’re doing 4"" of July this year and I’m looking for our display after a year away.
Oh, that was my other comment. | miss a wall of Mayors and | (inaudible) the one woman. | miss Jim and the
whole history on the wall but it looks great in there.
