Board of Aldermen — 2/21/16 Page 3
But as 2016 went on the number of overdoses was continuing to rise to a peak of 45 ODs with 7 fatalities
in October after 7 fatalities in September. So with a great sense of urgency, | called together Nashua
Fire Rescue, Harbor Homes, AMR, the city Health Department, our PD, and our hospitals. And on
November 17, together, we launched Nashua’s Safe Stations Program.
Under Safe Stations, anyone wanting help with addiction can go to any Nashua firehouse 24/7. A
firefighter does a short evaluation and then Harbor Homes picks up each person and develops the best
treatment and recovery option. People in trouble have responded. During the last six weeks of 2016, 48
people reported to a Safe Station. Since the start of 2017, the response has grown to about two per day,
nearly 160 people have reported to a Safe Station since the start of the program. So far the number of
ODs has dropped. In December 23 ODs, 20 in January, and so far 13 in February. Unfortunately we are
still having some fatalities, but far fewer than in September and October.
| am very proud of the way that every day Chief Galipeau and our firefighters, the employees of Harbor
Homes and AMR are rising to this challenge. And to anyone who is here tonight or who is watching, if
you or a loved one have a problem with addiction and you want help, go to any Nashua firehouse now.
We're here to help.
Going forward it is important for everyone to understand that continued Medicaid expansion is critical to
our anti-addiction efforts here in Nashua. This is because in many cases Medicaid is providing the
coverage for the crucial treatment and recovery services that people need. Naturally | am disappointed
to see that the recently proposed state budget does not include any funds for continued Medicaid
expansion. | will be urging the legislature to make sure that expanded Medicaid is in the final state
budget.
The Nashua Police Department is also playing a big role in our anti-opioid campaign by getting drug
dealers off of our streets. Last year, the PD made 749 drug arrests, and Nashua has become known as
a place where it is hard to deal heroin. | am proud of that reputation, one that is well earned by Chief
Andy Lavoie and all of our police officers. And that is not all. Through their community policing approach
at the Police Athletic League and elsewhere, police officers are steering young people in the right
direction. In Nashua we care about all of our citizens and we don’t want to leave anyone behind,
whether they are a Nashuan struggling with addiction, a student with a disability, or a senior citizen trying
to stay in her home.
In our inclusive city one of the most pressing concerns for our seniors is property taxes. | am proud to
say that Nashua is New Hampshire’s most age-friendly community. We offer the largest senior property
tax credit of all the cities and towns of our state. The city also provides strong support to our Senior
Activity Center. One of our aldermen, June Caron, and our City Treasurer, David Fredette, are active in
the management of the center.
And of course, property taxes are a concern for all of us, especially in New Hampshire, where the state
tax structure pushes the costs of government onto the local property tax bills. Still Nashua has the
second lowest equalized property taxes of all New Hampshire’s 13 cities, only Portsmouth’s tax rate is
slightly lower. We are always, the Board of Aldermen, myself, are always looking for ways to save and
spend our funds more effectively.
This year we are switching to LED street lights which will save us $250,000 per year. We are now
moving forward with a plan to buy out the long-term lease on the city-owned Mine Falls hydroelectric
dam. This buy-out will increase revenues to the city, over and above the cost of acquisition and
operations, by up to $400,000 per year.
