Special Board of Aldermen 06-07-2021 Page 8
Rep. Neuman Some say if the appointment process isn’t broke don’t fix it. | say the appointment process is
broken. Let’s recapture home rule for the appointment of the Police Commissioner and make it responsive to
Nashua. For these reasons | ask you to let the voters vote by supporting this amendment. Thank you Madam
Chair.
Renae Lias Claffrey Yes Hi. Renae Lias Claffrey 32 Deerhaven Drive, Nashua. | support this measure and |
want to say first of all that supporting this does not mean that you are necessarily critical of the current Police
Force. | strongly support the current Police Force. This is really more about State versus local control. |
support this measure because it would broaden the number of Commissioners from 3 to 5 and that would give
us a better opportunity to have the Commissioners fully reflect the diversity of the City of Nashua. In the history
of the State-appointed Commission we only have had one woman serve as a Commissioner and | believe no
people of color and that does a disservice to our City.
| also support it because Police are a big part of this City’s budget and | find it hard to understand why their
funding requests would come in the way they do with the Police Commission the way it is now, to me it seems
like it should be more like Schools. I'd also point out that the current Commissioners would serve out their full
terms, this wouldn’t result in any rapid change and there are lots of checks and balances for the appointees
among the Mayor and the Aldermen. So finally even if you don’t feel really comfortable with the measure itself,
I’d argue to at least think about putting it on the ballot to let the voters decide. Thank you.
Amber Logue-Morgan Hi Amber Logue-Morgan, resident of 20 Locke Street and | do want to speak in support
of this measure. My statement is about the appointments of this position not any individual specifically and
before | do make my statement | want to thank our Police Department for their work each and every day and
specifically over the last year and how they conducted themselves during a very tumultuous year. With a
heightened environment around Police nationwide, what better way to back our blue then to bring this decision
of Police Commissioners local. Currently there are elected officials making these decisions that may not be
reflective of our City’s election. There are nuances and history that exist in any City that someone who does
not live here, would not be able to understand or frankly have the time to care about it as much as our residents
and our locally elected officials will.
We need a Police Commission that is reflective of our City. There have only been a handful of women ever
that have been appointed and currently there are no women and no black, indigenous or people of color. As
pointed out in the State of New Hampshire there is only one town or City that has Police Commissioners that
are appointed by the Governor and that’s Nashua. So that is a reflection as to why we do. Are we afraid of
change? So thank you to those that have brought this up and forward to the citizens of Nashua who like me
may be surprised that this is even a thing. So | ask that personal views aside, that we allow our citizens who
have elected each of you to decide and vote and put this on the ballot. Thank you.
Alderman Caron
Just a reminder these are for testimony in favor of the legislation. Next we have Representative Sherry Dutzy.
Rep. Sherry Dutzy 18 Swart Terrace and | would like to speak in support of the referendum. | will underscore
what the previous speakers have said and briefly this is not a referendum regarding the Police. | think we do
have a strong Police Department and we all appreciate it. | do think it is a good idea to think about expanding
the Commission from 3 to 5. | am a little uncomfortable with 3 and especially since | think a number of the
Police Commissioners basically go around in the same circles. It is just a little bit too comfortable | believe and
opening it up to more diversity | think would be a great idea. So | would hope that we would consider putting it
on the Agenda for the Charter Change because | think the citizens of Nashua should be the ones who are
deciding.
Cathy Abel Hi, my name is Cathy Abel, | live at 41 Manchester Street in Nashua. | have been a resident of
Nashua for 35 years. | am speaking in support of amending the City Charter to have Nashua Police
Commissioners chosen by the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen instead of the current system of the Governor
appointing them. Nashua is the only remaining City in the State to have its Police Commissioners appointed by
