Board of Aldermen 11-10-2020 Page 7
PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE ACTED UPON THIS
EVENING
President Wilshire
Ms. Colquhoun?
Laura Colquhoun 30 Greenwood Drive. My comments will be in regards to the purchasing of the Lot at 36
Buckmeadow Drive and the property at 55 Franklin Street. In reviewing Mr. Donovan’s letter that he sent
out to the Finance & Operation Committee dated October 6, 2020, that was also attached to the Board
package, | would like to know where he received his information because his facts are incorrect. Mr.
Donovan explained that our elementary schools at the end of this past year, left us with no extra
classrooms. However, in not doing his due diligence, he neglected to see what was actually happening in
Nashua currently. The official October 2020 enrollment shows that Nashua currently is down by 860
students. The elementary schools went from 326 students to 165 students. That is a 49.39% drop in
elementary school children. And the City wants to purchase a building for the elementary children; this
action does not make sense.
We can assume that some of these students will not be coming back because their parents feel that their
children are getting a better education than they would be getting with the Nashua Public Schools.
Therefore, why is the City of Nashua purchasing these properties now? Has the City reviewed the financial
loss of approximately $3,200,000.00 at minimum in the financial aid and how is it going to affect our current
budget? These are facts that the Board of Aldermen need to consider before making purchases that are not
currently in our budget and currently do not need.
| also have comments on the Performing Arts Center. The guaranteed maximum price amendment is a
joke because it only speaks of the actual building. If the Board Members actually looked at the two pages
of exclusion, they would realize that the Nashua Taxpayers are going to have to come up with a lot more
money in order to make this project work. Do we have a contractor selected that will do all the excluded
work listed and these tasks have been priced into the project yet? As it is, the City of Nashua is waiving all
permit fees so that Nashua Taxpayers will be responsible for that portion also. This is tax dollars that are
coming out of the Nashua taxpayers’ wallet. What are the total fees that Nashua taxpayers will have to
eat? Where is the money coming from for the wood plaza decking, the metal frame skylights, acoustical
ceiling tile and grid, wall covering, etc.? Can the Board of Aldermen say where this money is coming from
and how much will it cost? Let every board member vote and let it go on the record, because when the City
comes back and asks the taxpayer for more money after this project, | want the taxpayers to hold the
Mayor and the Board of Aldermen accountable. These are questions worthy of answers now. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Anyone else wish to give public comment? Seeing none, Communications Requiring Final Approval.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRING FINAL APPROVAL
From: Mayor Jim Donchess
Re: Multi Year Contract Award - Transit Operation Services
MOTION BYALDERMAN HARRIOTT-GATHRIGHT TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE, AND APPROVE THE
CONTRACT AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR TRANSIT OPERATIONS
WITH FIRST TRANSIT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $372,057. FUNDING WILL BE THROUGH
DEPARTMENT 186 TRANSPORTATION: ACCOUNT 55690 REGULAR TRANSPORTAION SERVICES,
BY ROLL CALL.
