Board of Aldermen 06-08-2021 Page 19
R-21-151
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman Jan Schmidt
Alderman-at-Large David C. Tencza
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Brandon Michael Laws
Alderman Skip Cleaver
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
RELATIVE TO A BALLOT REFERENDUM CONCERNING SPORTS BETTING WITHIN THE CITY OF
NASHUA
Given its first reading; assigned to the PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE and
SCHEDULE A SPECIAL BOARD OF ALDERMEN meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in the aldermanic
chamber at 7:00 p.m. by President Wilshire
NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES - None
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Laurie Ortolano 41 Berkeley Street. | want to use this time to speak briefly about the Police Commission again
and keeping the Commission the way it is, appointed through the State. As most of you know, over the last
couple of years I’ve put in quite a few Right-to-Know requests. They have been the center of a good bit of
controversy. | want to let you know that I’ve put requests at State Agencies, top government bureaus and other
municipalities. And what | find is for all of those requests | put in, | received what | thought was a professional
response. If my request wasn’t clear, the agency or municipality would call, they would explain what
information is available, allow me to express what | am interested in and provide the information.
The Nashua Police Department has also operated that way and although | might not be in full agreement on
how they have handled some situations involving me, when it has come to my Right-to-Know requests, they
have practiced the utmost courtesy. They pick up the phone, they call and ask for clarification, they explain
what they have for data. And when | have asked questions in writing, the Records Department comes back
with pretty long, lengthy explanations of what | am looking for.
City Hall, on the other hand, is the most oppressive, vindictive, and personal government | have ever worked
with. They don’t respond to Right-to-Knows in the way that any State agency or other municipality does. They
will not pick up the phone, they will not explain what records are available. They will not work with you to let
you know what is available. You are playing a guessing game in Nashua at City Hall and that’s by design,
through a Mayor and a Legal Office. It is obnoxious, it’s crushing to citizens, it closes the door to transparency,
it is oppressive. | am glad that the Police Department is operating like top governmental agencies in the State.
And | don’t want to see the appointments of these Commissioners come from a Mayor and a Board President
because | don’t want them taking on the oppressive form of government that City Hall is practicing right now in
their citizens. | want that Police Department to continue with its professional response to citizen request. And
the other issues that may exist that | may differ on can be worked on and improvements can come and will
come with time. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Anyone else? Beth? Name and address for the record please?
Beth Scaer 111 East Hobart Street. First of all | wanted to correct the Mayor. FB 52 was written by the
sponsor according to the sponsor to protect every cap in the entire State, every city and town and it specifically
protects the spending cap in Nashua and tax caps in Franklin, Laconia, Rochester, Manchester, Somersworth,
