Special Board of Aldermen 06-07-2021 Page 6
before a Governor. Choosing to ignore an opportunity is not the same as being excluded from the process.
Saying Nashua is the only remaining city with Governor appointed local Commissioners is true. | suggest
that be viewed as a positive as there are other New Hampshire police departments struggling to manage
the very change you are not contemplating.
Accountability. Every meeting as the Chief said is open to the public and for the last five months we have
held in-person meetings. Senior level staff at the police department participate on numerous local nonprofit
boards which lends itself to successful community policing. Each Commissioner is local, resides in
Nashua, and is responsible and responsive to the citizens in the exact same way as each member of the
Board of Aldermen.
As the Board of Aldermen are aware, the survey was incorrect with respect to the police department
budget. The Board of Commissioners proposes a budget in the exact same way that Nashua Fire and the
Board of Education does. The Mayor and the Board of Aldermen approve the final police budget. The
Commissioners do not. As | have always said, any business or municipality at times will have issues or
bumps in the road that need to be addressed. It is how you handle those situations that will prove the value
and integrity of each institution.
Over the course of time, the Commission has dealt with a few of those situations and has done so with the
utmost consideration of its citizens, staff, and city. | was just saying to some folks the other day, imagine if
you were at a Mayors convention and one Mayor says, my police department has one of the highest
CALEA scores nationally and last year has recruited the most diverse police class in the city’s history.
Despite the national climate is at full complement and actually it’s the only PD in the State with such a
distinction, and they have an outstanding relationship with the nonprofits and social service agencies.
Don’t take my word for it, ask them. And then this mayor says, as | always tell my community, we enjoy
living, working, and playing in one of the safest cities in America. People — that Mayor is Jim Donchess and
that city is Nashua. Why would you change it? You have local control but some of you are proposing is
total control. The only question we should be asking is how this legislation is deemed necessary and
worthy of a Charter change. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Chairman Caron
Thank you Chairman Tollner.
Before we get started, I’d like to acknowledge that Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton is here. Do we have
any board members that have any questions to the prior speakers before we get started to the testimonies?
Okay, seeing none.
Alderman Lopez
Madam Chair, | just wanted to let you guys know that | had showed up. | was a little late. Sorry.
Chairman Caron
Thank you Alderman Lopez. Alderman Lopez has shown up at 7:24. Thank you.
Okay, then we will start with testimony in favor and please remember that you must give your name and
address and you have three minutes to speak. Try to keep all your information as concise as you can. So
we will start. We'll warn you at 30 seconds I’ve been told. Thank you.
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION
Greg Murphy Good evening. I’m Greg Murphy from 231 Salmon Street in Manchester, NH. By way of
introduction | want to let the folks know that | appreciate the opportunity. | am currently the accreditation
