Board of Aldermen 05-11-2021 Page 5
now slightly over 100. A few weeks ago it was almost 250. In the late fall and in January that number went up into
the 600’s. So we are doing better but there’s been a bit of a plateau over the last couple of weeks. Right now, the
Nashua population, 27% as of May 3%, so these numbers are a week old and therefore the numbers are probably a
little higher, but 27% of the Nashua population is fully vaccinated. Our Health Department is continuing to work
hard to reach the vulnerable populations; people less likely to get vaccinated without the outreach by the Health
Department. Also, of course, the State is continuing to offer clinics. Right now, the City Health Department has
administered about 15,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
So, Madam President, we need to continue to exercise caution and urge all of our residents to get vaccinated. It is
a safe vaccine, a lot better than getting COVID-19. | and | know many of the members of the Board have gotten
vaccinated and here we are certainly the better for it. Also we need to continue to exercise caution until we get our
vaccination rates up a little higher with wearing masks indoors and also with social distancing. So we are optimistic
that as more and more people get vaccinated, the extent of the spread of the COVID-19 virus will decline further
but again, we need to continue to exercise vigilance. Madam President, that is all | have. | look forward to working
with you and the Board of Aldermen in terms of trying to come up with a Budget that works for both our citizens in
terms of quality of service and our taxpayers in the sense of the most reasonable tax rate we can arrive at. And,
again, | return to the beginning that the State of New Hampshire is not doing us any favors in terms of hitting us
with all these extra financial stresses right in the middle of a pandemic. Thank you, Madam President.
President Wilshire
Thank you Mayor. Any responses to the remarks of the Mayor? Alderman Lopez?
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR
Alderman Lopez
| have a quick question about the renovations to City Hall. | am not even actually certain when the Governor’s
Order expires that we use at the beginning of the meeting to clarify why we are meeting remotely. But if it
hasn’t expired yet, itis on its way. But the Aldermanic Chamber isn’t really ready for public use either. The last
time | went in there, there was a pretty impressive pile of chairs and furniture and stuff, so | am guessing it has
been pulled into the whole renovation scheme. Do we have a timeline on number 1) when those renovations
are going to be done and number 2) any guidance from Public Health over when and how we should manage
meetings publicly?
President Wilshire
| do have a meeting scheduled next week to meet with the Mayor and a few of City staff to talk about
reopening City Hall, but nothing definite. And all the stuff that was in the Aldermanic Chamber was there
temporarily but it is all gone now.
Alderman Lopez
OH OK, | haven’t been there this week.
Mayor Donchess
| can supplement that a little bit. So as you might have seen, I’m sure you have, the Motor Vehicle area has
been fully renovated and is now being used down on the first floor, still be appointment. The Tax Area has
been completed and substantial work has been done at the City Clerk’s area making it sort of a similar set up
as you see for the Motor Vehicles. Now we think that the work will be done by the end of June so | think our
tentative plan is to open City Hall corresponding when the work is done which means somewhere between
middle and late June. That is the most definite information we have.
