A special meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Tuesday, May 14, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. in the
Aldermanic Chamber.
President Lori Wilshire presided; City Clerk Patricia Piecuch recorded.
Prayer was offered by City Clerk Patricia Piecuch; Alderwoman-at-Large Shoshanna Kelly led in the Pledge to
the Flag.
The roll call was taken with 10 members of the Board of Aldermen present; Alderman Gidge, Alderwoman Kelly,
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja Alderman Clemons and Alderman Laws were recorded absent.
His Honor, Mayor James W. Donchess and Corporation Counsel Steven A. Bolton were also in attendance.
PUBLIC HEARING
R-18-073, Amended
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CHARTER RELATIVE TO FILLING
VACANCIES ON ELECTED BOARDS BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE REMAINING
MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD
President Wilshire
| did hear from Alderman Laws, he had a family emergency. Alderman Gidge will not be joining us this
evening. Tonight we have a public hearing on Resolution 18-083 Amended proposing an amendment to the
City Charter relative to filling vacancies on elected boards by a majority vote of the remaining members of that
Board. We are going to open it up for public comment, public testimony I’m sorry, testimony in favor first.
Testimony in Favor
Kimberly McCarthy 1921 Kimberly Drive in Merrimack. | am here tonight to speak in support of R-18-073 on
behalf of somebody who couldn’t be here; my dad the late Alderman Brian McCarthy. Since his name is still
on the Resolution | thought it seemed fair that he had a voice in this conversation. | know my dad supported
moving away from the Special Election format and returning to the appointment by the Boards for the
remainder of the term.
City elections turnouts have often been low, are often low and even lower for special elections and this comes
at the cost to the tax payers of Nashua and it has been time consuming for the Ward Moderators and Election
Officials. So this amendment does not give more power to City Hall and it allows tax payers to remain
represented for as much time as possible. While the vacancy left by my dad’s passing didn’t result in any ties
or close controversial votes, that may not always be the case. His seat was vacant for just over 4 months
while the current special election process ran its course.
The amendments for the Charter would allow a vacancy to be filled within a matter of weeks rather than having
several months for that representation. As | said, | Know my dad supported this legislation early on and | think
he would be agreeable to the changes made since it was introduced. We had a discussion on it, on the issue
last year and he said there was plenty of time to work on it. And | heard that same comment this past April
when it was up in front of the Board of Aldermen, that the Board had plenty of time. Yet the Board seems to be
here tight against the deadline for being able to get it on the November ballot.
| am here tonight because you don’t always get the time and opportunity you think you will. And none of us
can guarantee that we will be here tomorrow. So allowing the Boards of Public Works, Fire Commissioners,
Aldermen and Education to fill their own vacancies will save both time and money for the tax payers and allow
for a more efficient process. So | ask that you vote to move R-18-073 forward. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Anyone else giving testimony in favor?
