Finance Committee - 12/04/2019 Page 2
ON THE QUESTION
Mayor Donchess
Mr. Cummings is here to discuss this.
Tim Cummings, Director of Economic Development
Yes thank you Mr. Mayor, for the record, Tim Cummings Director of Economic Development. What you have
before you is a contract that will essentially kick off or start our implementation of the Nashua Riverfront
Development Plan that we did 2, 2 % years ago. It is a Master Plan to redevelop the Downtown Riverfront
Area by putting in most importantly a Riverwalk with some other amenities. Later on this evening, there is a
contract before you that speaks in greater detail. But to do that, we need to open up the Riverfront, remove
some trees, some vegetation that is in the area. We have actually started doing it with some removal of some
invasive species; which is anyone had an opportunity to go and look at the Waterfront after that was done it
actually helped transform the area greatly.
Before you was a contract that went out for an RFP, actually twice. The second time around we had quite a
few respondents. We have interviewed the groups and narrowed it down to Accurate Tree Service which
happened to be the lowest bidder.
Alderman O’Brien
Mr. Cummings | was reading the contract and it says you have to cut the trees down as close as you can to
surface; which is fine for the smaller trees. But are there any large ones that would be any grinding, you know,
| haven't really been in that area. | hate to see something really stay there for 30 years after we try to clean it
up, you know?
Director Cummings
There will be grinding down as well.
Alderman O’Brien
There will be grinding, ok.
Alderman Laws
Director Cummings may be able to clarify this. Sarah Marchant gave us a presentation at Performance &
Economic Development, | believe it was the 19" of November, if anybody is interested it was pretty thorough
and really exciting. She definitely touched on the tree situation; the tree removal. So | just wanted to throw
that out there.
Alderwoman Kelly
| am positive this was probably covered, but | just want to ask about — what is the plan to replace trees as we
go to develop this area, because | know it can be a touchy subject for neighbors especially?
Director Cummings
Yes so in select areas there will be trees reintroduced, appropriately. We have VHB on board that will help us
through that process, that will be later on down the line after we actually do the Infrastructure improvements
that we are contemplating. But yes there will be some reintroduction of trees appropriately along the
Riverfront. But to that point, we have made a concerted effort, outreach to the public, there is signage down at
the Riverfront. We have walked the Riverfront a couple of times.
