A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. in the
Aldermanic Chamber.
President Brian S. McCarthy presided; City Clerk Patricia Piecuch recorded.
Prayer was offered by City Clerk Patricia Piecuch; Alderman Wilshire led in the Pledge to the Flag.
The roll call was taken with 13 members of the Board of Aldermen present; Aldermen Clemons and Siegel were
recorded absent.
His Honor, Mayor Jim Donchess, and Corporation Counsel Steven A. Bolton were also in attendance.
REMARKS BY THE MAYOR
Mayor Donchess
In the past week or so, Nashua was recognized as being the safest city in the United States, among 180 cities
who were rated by WalletHub. They rated all of these communities based on a number of criteria, not only the
crime rate but the rates of health insurance, unemployment rates and many other criteria. | think it’s a great
honor for us. It makes us feel safe in our homes and in our businesses. So | think this is in recognition of what
many people are doing across the community, not only in the city government but certainly our police
department is a big contributor. We’ve got some members of the police department here and many other
people who are working to make the community stronger.
It’s the holiday season, Mr. President. | wanted to mention some of the things that our departments are doing
to celebrate the holiday season. Park & Rec held Santa in the Park on Saturday for many years. Alderman
Schoneman was there, as usual, cooking chestnuts, which was very nice. In addition, the Park & Rec
department did the Senior Lunch at the Radisson on Sunday. Three hundred seniors were there and were able
to celebrate the holiday season with Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, as well as Alderman June Caron,
and other members of the city staff. The fire department is also doing a lot. They will be distributing winter
coats and boots for children at five of the elementary schools, and | think that’s going to take place on
December 21. And then closer to Christmas, they will be distributing a whole number of turkey dinners to
families who are in need. The police department will be working to distribute toys very near to the Christmas
holiday. In addition to this, the police department was very involved in our Community Center holiday party for
seniors and kids, which was held a week ago Saturday. Members of the department picked up 70 Christmas
trees from the lot — as rent for the lease that we have with the Christmas tree lot on Broad Street — and
distributed those Christmas trees to 70 families in need, or who could not otherwise afford the trees, in the
Crown Hill neighborhood on that same day. At the Senior Center, the Lions Club did their annual holiday
breakfast. Alderman Caron was there, as well as Treasurer Fredette who both are very involved in the Senior
Center. They had the breakfast and they did the gingerbread house competition, which was really nice.
So there are many things that are going on with our departments and, of course, with many other independent
agencies throughout the communities to celebrate the holidays.
| did want to mention, Mr. President, R-17-160. | appreciate the endorsement by the Budget committee of that
resolution. It will help us to launch a one-year pilot regarding the recovery coaching of our project with Revive
Recovery, and will help us to strengthen the community’s response to the ongoing national opioid crisis.
Since this is the last meeting before the holidays, | want to wish each member and their families a wonderful
holiday season.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
Alderman Schoneman
| want to echo the Mayors comments about Santa in the Park. | think it's a great event. And just to call
attention to the Friends of Greeley Park who co-sponsored that event with Public Works and Parks & Rec to
