Board of Aldermen 11-27-2018 Page 2
So in essence we are really going to have to pay for whatever we do this year, next year. In other words, if
we were to do the entire thing this year, it would cost us $700,000.00 this year, $700,000.00 next year, but
all of that would have to be paid for next year so it would raise taxes by $1.4 million. Now we have young
families, we have others that are struggling to pay taxes, so it seemed the most measured approach to do
this in a two-step manner so that our seniors would get some relief this year, more relief next year and we
would be able then to account for it in next year’s tax rate.
So Alderman O’Brien and some others are sponsoring it, | think it is the way to go and | hope you will pass it
as it is proposed and as the Budget Committee endorsed it
On another subject, Madam Chair, the Holiday Stroll was this past weekend, Saturday night, many of you
were there. | thought it was, as usual, a really great event, it is a tremendous and wonderful opportunity for
Nashuans of every neighborhood, of all ages, to get together and share downtown and share the feeling of
community. We had thousands of people walking down Main Street carrying candles, every year it is a very
beautiful sight, | think it makes many people very happy and therefore it is a great event. This was the 25"
Holiday Stroll, Alan Manoian who was the one who conceived of this 25 years ago and he spoke on
Saturday night and who said that there were 400, 500, 600 people the first time. He was very glad, of
course, to see all the progress and all the growth in this wonderful event. So again | just thank everybody
for coming out, it was a great time and just again | think it demonstrates what a wonderful community that
we have.
That is all | have Madam Chair.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
Alderman Lopez
| just want to get my response done now so that we don’t have to debate on it later. So | was the one
who kind of took exception to not just providing the blind and elderly tax credit in one go. But in the
context that the Mayor put it tonight it makes a lot more sense. When we were reducing the budget for
City Welfare, Family Assistance | did not like that but Alderman McCarthy and Alderman Dowd
explained the concept of sticker shock and what was going to happen when everybody saw their
property revaluations and why it was imperative that we keep our eyes on the impact to the overall tax
payer. Sol understand what is being said here, | am most concerned about people on fixed incomes
trying to hold on to their houses, but as the Mayor has explained that’s not likely to affect that
demographic. | appreciate the explanation.
RECOGNITION PERIOD
R-18-093
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Board of Aldermen
RECOGNIZING ALEXIS DURANT FOR HER DEDICATION AND VOLUNTEER WORK
WITH THE HOMELESS
Given its first reading;
There being no objection, President Wilshire suspended the rules to allow for a second reading
of R-18-093
Resolution R-18-093 given its second reading;
MOTION BY ALDERMAN LOPEZ FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-18-093
MOTION CARRIED
Resolution R-18-093 declared duly adopted.
