Board of Aldermen Page 16
May 24, 2016
Alderman Moriarty
This issue has been easy to see coming, the issue of the pension downshifting. It’s been in the books,
it's been planned, it’s been calculated. Every time a salary contract crosses our desk, it’s on page two.
It’s listed in there. We have the out years, the percentage increases. It’s all been in black and white for
four years, and I’ve been saying this for four years that this is going to happen. The fact that we’re
between a rock and a hard place is our own doing except | voted consistently no for four years now.
Today, after four years of being on the losing end of 14 — 1 votes, for once I’m actually going to enjoy this
victory.
Alderman Siegel
First of all I’d like to thank my colleagues for their kind words and also for the ability for me to have my
liver regrow and not get pecked out. Being the CO of a liquor company, | guess | can find a more
enjoyable way to destroy my own liver. With regard to whether or not this was coming or not, this
legislation and all of my efforts have everything to do with the overhang from the state. That isn’t
something we could have anticipated unfortunately. | suppose years ago when we decided not to fund it
at the state level, we could have anticipated we might run into problems, but this is a burden that we’ve
been handed that we have no control over. So! won’t agree that it was something that we could see
coming per se, so we part company on that. Thank you.
Alderman Caron
On a lighter note, May is “Older American’s” month. The senior center has put out a contest to see if
they can get 300 new members by the end of December. | kindly, if you look in your mailboxes, you will
all find a membership form. For those of you who are under 50, which is a lot of you, I’m sure you know
someone who might be interested in going to the Senior Center. As the staff keeps telling me, it’s not
about bingos and playing cards. It’s about kickboxing and yoga and bodybuilding and a lot of other
wonderful things that they do at the Senior Center. But! agree with my colleagues, Alderman Siegel
went above and beyond trying to get this resolved and next year is another year. Thank you.
Alderman Dowd
| just wanted to thank Alderman Wilshire for running the budget meetings while | was on the mend. |
watched the meeting last night. | thought it went extremely well, and | want to congratulate her for a
great meeting. Hopefully by Thursday | will be back on my feet and able to resume all of my activities.
Thank you.
Alderman Clemons
| just want to take a moment to say thank you to all the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our
freedom. Hopefully we all take a moment to remember on Monday those folks and the families that they
left behind. Thank you.
Alderman Wilshire
| would like to send my condolences to the family of Stephanie Eason-Poisson, who passed away earlier
this week at a young age, | might say. Also on June 13, Chief Justice Broderick has asked to come in to
talk to the Human Affairs Committee and the Board about an initiative called “Change Direction New
Hampshire.” The purpose is to kind of change the culture and the way people think about mental illness
and wellness and mental health issues. | hope you all join us on June 13.
Committee announcements:
