Board of Aldermen — 5/09/17 Page 2
REMARKS BY THE MAYOR
Mayor Donchess
First this weekend there was a lot of very exciting and interesting activities downtown. We had the nu muse
music festival which featured a whole number of bands and musical performers with three stages. Paul Shea’s
estimate is that the festival drew 1200 to 1400 people. | was there and saw a number of Board members
there. | was there in the afternoon and in the evening. People seemed very enthusiastic. | think it went very
well for the downtown. One issue was that it was raining very hard through the morning up until about 12:00
p.m. to 1:00 p.m. When we kicked off the pianos, which are another good thing that happened downtown, at
11:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m., it was raining hard. Alderman Siegel came to provide a rendition, but we were all
getting a little bit wet. Had it not been raining so hard through the first part of the day, | think the music festival
would have drawn even more people. Fortunately the rain did abate by about 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m., and then
therefore people began to arrive. | thought it was overall a very successful event. Paul Shea and Ben Reddick
who were in charge of the event did | think an extremely good job with it.
On tonight’s agenda, Mr. President, we have some appointments. Very good people have agreed to serve:
Gene Porter on the Conservation Commission, Lauren Osowski on Cultural Connections Committee, Judy
Carlson for the Arts Commission, and Jay Welch and Efstathia Booras as alternates on the Zoning Board of
Adjustment. | want to thank all of them for being willing to serve and coming in to be sworn in right away. We
really rely on volunteers to make city government effective so | really appreciate their volunteering, and | know
the committee was interested in their testimony when they came before the committee.
Next, | did testify today in favor of the full day kindergarten funding bill. Two versions of the bill have been
pending before the legislature, one sponsored by Governor Sununu, which would provide a $9 million fixed
amount targeted to communities with more free and reduced lunch children, of which we have a good number.
Nashua’s share of that program, if the Governors version were to pass, appears would be $655,000 of
additional adequacy grant to help pay for full day kindergarten. There is another version of the bill which, on a
policy basis, passed the House. That would appropriate $14 million. Nashua would realize more than
$655,000 under that bill, but the amount is a little more fluid, people had a little more difficulty. It appears that
our share of that would be $887,000. If these bills can pass through the House Finance Committee and be
financed, go back to the Senate where there is broad bi-partisan support, Nashua stands to gain significantly
from those efforts. | appreciate Governor Sununu and really the entire state business community who is
supporting this. Tracy Hatch was there with me today to testify in favor of the Nashua business community.
There is a Ward 5 Town Hall tomorrow. | invite anyone who would like to come to that at the Main Dunstable
School at 7:00 p.m. | would very much welcome your attendance.
Finally, | wanted to wish Alderman McGuinness the best and hope that he recovers and gets out of the hospital
as soon as possible.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR - None
RECOGNITION PERIOD — None
READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARING
There being no objection, President McCarthy declared the minutes of the Board of Aldermen
meetings of April 25, 2017, and May 2, 2017, and the public hearing conducted by the Budget
Review Committee on April 24, 2017, accepted, placed on file and the readings suspended.
