Board of Aldermen 09-10-2019 Page 24
When you have a vehicle you have to follow the rules of the road. If you park in front of a meter, you have
to pay it. It is what itis. | mean if the Library isn’t worth going to because you have to pay, then don’t go.
That’s really my opinion on this. | think that would be a shame, but | think if you can afford to drive a car,
you should be able to drive through the toll that you through and you should be able to pay for the parking.
Alderman Schmidt
Thank you Madam President, | am not conflicted, not a tiny bit. | think is a marvelous idea, | think it is
marvelous for a lot of reasons. | think it will bring students downtown which they don’t normally do. They go
down to South Nashua; they don’t use the Library because it is not convenient and because nobody is
talking about it. These kids are talking about the Library, that means that they are going to incite other kids
to come down to the Library. And it’s not just about going to a coffee shop; the resources that are available
at the Library are wonderful. The papers that they write? They don’t just need quiet, they also need the
resources that are there. The Library parking lot is only full when there is something going on there big.
Otherwise, there are 10 spots that can be used, nobody would be losing any money on this and by the way,
the Downtown Improvement Committee is amazing. Thank you for the work that you do because it
matters. But this won’t hurt you; this will help you. This will help kids come downtown, get into the habit of it
and be part of the community. | can’t thank the kids enough for doing this, | thought it was a stunning,
stunning show that they put on for us. And really, they care about the City; this is one way the City can
care about them. Thank you.
Alderman Gidge
Thank you Representative Schmidt, you are absolutely correct. | will do anything including give up parking
meters money to get people to come down to the City of Nashua and use the Library. People who read
more are better people, more productive people and if it is .50 cents or a dollar but if we get a thousand
more people a month going to the Library this will be a far better City. Thank you very much for doing it
and | don’t think it is going to pass but | think Schmidt has brought up some very good points. And | agree;
thank you very much by the way kids, guys.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Thank you Madam President. | am not conflicted either but | truly believe that if our young people wanted to
attend the Library they have that $1.75 or $2.50 or whatever the cost it is to come to the Library. One of
the things | noted during the Summer, their bus passes were free, so you know, we give to our young
people to get them downtown or wherever they want to go across the City. And | too believe like Alderman
Clemons said that if you are at that age that you can drive a car, most of them probably have small jobs or
whatever, | think this is the beginning of them giving back to the City, that’s just the beginning of their life,
for the things giving back as well. So for me, | would not be voting in favor.
Alderman Lopez
Alderman Schmidt's comments made me remember something that | almost forgot to say. The Library just
isn’t about parking spaces, books or music or whatever. There are very, very good Library staff that are
there that can be very helpful to students that are doing projects; finding resources, looking for resources.
We even just recognized one of them today. The Library staff is very much in support of this. So | wanted
to point that out as well that the Library is more than just a facility, it is the people who are running it and |
think they do a very good job too.
Alderman Tencza
So | mean if there is anything we can do to do help young kids be excited about microfiche like Mr. Eid
mentioned before, | think we should be doing it. That was my least favorite part of doing research in high
school before the Internet so | am glad another generation has to suffer through that. | would probably be
more persuaded against this Resolution if we didn’t just pass an Ordinance allowing Holiday Parking
