Special Board of Aldermen 06-07-2021 Page 9
the Governor. It seems an outdated system to me because the current Police Commission does not reflect the
diversity of Nashua. Nashua is the most diverse City in the State of New Hampshire; 73% white; 13%
Hispanic; 8% Asian; and 4% Black or African American. There are more women than men in Nashua, 97 men
for every 100 women. But all three Nashua Police Commissioners are middle-aged white men which does not
reflect the make-up of the community.
Another concern for me is taxes. Police Commissioners have significant power over the Nashua City Budget,
indirectly by their ability to appoint Police Officers and set their salaries. When people complain about Nashua
taxes they need to ask if part of the problem may be the Police Commission consistently asking for budgets
that increase spending at a rate above the cost of living more than other City Departments. The Mission
Statement of the Nashua Police Department says that it strives to approve the quality of life in the community
and to protect people and property in the partnership with the citizens of Nashua. What better way to act in
partnership and to have the elected, local officials; people who Nashuans have elected or chosen serve as
Police Commissioners instead of people appointed by the Governor. | like knowing who my local officials are
and this is why | support amending the City Charter. Thank you.
Mike Ballentine Thank you Madam Chair. Hello everyone. | am Mike Ballentine, | live at 9 Bartlett Avenue. |
support this Resolution, | think local control is almost always preferable for local issues. The Police are as local
issues as you can get. If | imagine a person having trouble with the Police | would expect them to be able to
resolve that with the Department or the Chief or the Commissioners or then our local officials. But that’s not the
way it works. The chain of control, the chain of accountability goes from the Commissioners up to Concord. In
my experience the local level, Aldermen and Mayor are visible, accessible, transparent, much more than the
Counsel and Governor. It makes sense because they are closer to the community, so local is better than State
in my mind.
| also like increasing the number of Commissioners to 5. Along with local control and more people involved in
the appointment process, | think that will make it easier for the Commission to better reflect our City’s
population. So | think this should pass and be send to the citizens for a vote. Thank you.
Bernadette Halloran Hi everyone. | live at 2 Clocktower Place in Nashua. | am in favor, well first | want to say
thank you Chief Carignan and his predecessor Chief Lavoie. My interactions with the Police Department has
all been very positive. | think they do a great job and | feel very safe in Nashua.
(Background Interference)
Alderman Caron
Could you hold on Bernadette?
Alderman O’Brien
| just muted him.
Alderman Caron
We are trying to find out where the background noise is coming from. Thank you. You may start again.
Bernadette?
Ms. Halloran Let me gather my thoughts please.
Alderman Caron
OK we thought we lost you.
