Board of Aldermen 05-25-2021 Page 4
Now in order to make this project possible, the City would allocate HOME Funds, those are Federal Funds that are
used to subsidize and make sure that affordable housing projects can actually happen. And the City has worked
out a PILOT, standing for Payment in lieu of taxes in the amount of $225,000.00 a year. Now the Housing Authority
is a non-profit and therefore may not be taxable at all. But there is a private developer in this project so the City
negotiated with the Housing Authority over a period of weeks and arrived at a figure of $225,000.00 on annual
payment. Right now, Bronstein is not paying anything, no PILOT, no taxes, no payment in lieu of taxes — Zero. So
this is an increase, Madam President of $225,000.00 a year in addition to the very significant increase in the
amount of affordable housing units that will become available in the City.
Now | think there’s some misunderstanding regarding this because some people from the Board of Public Works
Meeting yesterday got the idea that some people think that we are reducing the amount of taxes that the City would
get. Well that’s not really true, because with the HOME Funds, without a PILOT Agreement, without some of the
other features of this development agreement, there will be no project, there will not be any additional affordable
units. Bronstein will continue to pay Zero instead of the $225,000.00 that’s been agreed to under the development
agreement. So | think, all in all, given the need of people in the City for housing, given the economic struggles that
many are undergoing and given the sort of sorry state — Bronstein the site could be in better shape and this will
definitely improve it. Given all those features, the project is a very good one and | hope that the Board of Aldermen
will move forward and approve it.
Madam President, | also wanted to address a rather unfortunate incident in the City, in the last few days, the last
week or so one of our very active, energetic, positive State Representatives has been attacked with hate speech.
In addition to that there have been some tags on the Rail Trail, one of the murals that are also very hateful. Our
State Representative is someone who is a credit to the community and who we are very glad that is part of Nashua.
As you know, we are an inclusive community, we are one where everyone is welcome, where everyone is valued
and no one is left behind, that is our belief. So | want to mention and announce, this is being organized privately,
but there will be a Rally Against Hate coming up on June 2" at Greeley Park | believe in the evening. That is
something that we will use to reinforce the values of the community of inclusion, of everyone is valued, no one is
not part of our community. So | hope people who are in town then can attend that June 2" rally.
Madam President, | assume you saw the recommendations from the Board of Health regarding masks,
recommending that protocols be reduced or eliminated but a strong set of a recommendations covering a number
of circumstances be put in place and there’s quite a bit of detail there. Before | conclude, Madam President, we will
be coming up with the City Lights Award that is going to go to the United Way for all of their important work in the
community. The City Lights Award is something that has been given for a long time and it’s decided upon by a
Committee of Citizens. It is given to a person or an organization in the community who has contributed in a very
significant way. And | want to congratulate United Way for this well-deserved award and | will have the
Proclamation when it comes time to do that.
That concludes my remarks unless there are questions, Madam President.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
Alderman Lopez
So | appreciate the Mayor’s comments regarding the need for vaccination, especially on this Board as we take
a look at applying the Board of Health’s recommendations and looking at the mask ordinance and making all of
those changes that are recommended. It is important to encourage the public to vaccinate particularly
because it was only last week that youths 12 to 16 were fully authorized to be vaccinated and that means that
the vast majority of people who can vaccinate and have access to vaccinations are adults. So this our
responsibility and we need to be a human shield in this case because kids under 12 still can’t get vaccinated. If
COVID-19 starts to outbreak in the community, they are extremely vulnerable.
