Board of Aldermen — 4/25/17 Page 8
NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
O-17-037
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman Ben Clemons
ALLOWING PERMITTED OVERNIGHT ON-STREET PARKING ON A PORTION OF ASH STREET
Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE by President McCarthy
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Tracy Pappas, 12 Swart Terrace, Nashua.
I'd like to preface my statement by saying very fortunately that most everyone on this board conducts
themselves in a pleasant and professional manner. It was a pretty long meeting, last meeting, and right
towards the end | had noticed the Alderman-at-Large who happens to be in state listened and was respectful to
everyone. | would hope that all people around this horseshoe follow the lead of not him, but everyone on this
board. So, | came to this full Board meeting two weeks ago to make a point about having some shared
positions under the purview of the cap and some outside of the cap. | made the point so that in the future the
wastewater department wouldn’t be negatively impacted. | wasn’t taking a shot at any employee. | was trying
to represent the department as it comes under the public works division.
| was interrupted by the ward 9 alderman. | asked the president if | was out of order. He replied not yet but by
saying nothing nefarious was going on, | was insinuating that something nefarious was going on. | want to
remind the president that there was a court case in Alton where a gentleman suggested that all the selectmen
should resign. He was shut down and arrested. Ultimately, the case was brought to the New Hampshire
Supreme Court and the citizen prevailed. As long as citizens adhere to time limits and don’t use foul language,
citizens cannot be shut down during public comment. In the future, in tandem, if a citizen is interrupted, every
board member should say point of order, Mr. President.
In ten years, | have seen firsthand how expensive it is to replace equipment at the wastewater treatment plant.
It is a very corrosive environment physically. | am simply trying to look out for that department as it falls under
the purview of public works. | only referred to that part of the budget. | made no mention of the $9 million from
outside the cap because | thought that was more the business of this board, not mine. Unfortunately, a couple
of aldermen have friendships with some staff. Some of these friendships have allowed them to cloud their
judgment. | try to do nothing more than to represent the ratepayers, and every meeting | attend the ratepayers
and the taxpayers.
In January of this year, the lead foreman of our position, that position was changed to operations manager.
The operations was moved to the new position of Assistant Director of Public Works. That position was never
posted to the public. Nothing changed but titles. | did have questions regarding that since all other cities and
towns | looked into have folks in those positions who are engineers. That is not the background of our
individual. | am sorry | was elected to serve the taxpayers and simply asking questions, and |’m trying not to
act as arubberstamp. | ask you to imagine what it is like to be at my meetings. Imagine if you were here and
members of the public could constantly interrupt you and harangue you while you are trying to make points and
have body language very histrionic and huffing and puffing. It is extremely distracting. | find it intimidating, and
| am getting to the point where | believe it is bullying. I’m tired of going to my meetings and being bullied and
harangued and harassed.
Please note that | did try to handle this via email. | heard nothing from the Mayor or the Board President. | did,
however, hear from the Ward 9 Alderman, both via email and of course right before the meeting had to again
harangue and harass. If he wants to sue me over the word harass, I’ll say bully.
| can’t help but notice that most of this board can disagree without being disagreeable. | respectfully request
the Ward 4 Alderman, the alternate liaison to DPW, replace the Ward 9 Alderman. | believe this individual can
act like a gentleman. Please note | have been accused attacking employees. |’m just simply pointing out other
