Board of Aldermen 04-27-2021 Page 15
R-21-136
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Jan Schmidt
Alderman Patricia Klee
Alderman Linda Harriott-Gathright
Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons
AUTHORIZING DEVELOPER AGREEMENT WITH PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILOT) FOR BRONSTEIN
REDEVELOPMENT
Given its first reading; assigned to the BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE, BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, and NASHUA
PLANNING BOARD, by President Wilshire
NEW BUSINESS — ORDINANCES
O-21-061
Endorsers: Alderman Thomas Lopez
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman Patricia Klee
CHANGING THE LOCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE ON WATER STREET
Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, by President Wilshire
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Laurie Ortolano
Laurie Ortolano, 41 Berkeley Street. I’m addressing the whole Board because | know we’re coming into budget season
and | am not a proponent of maintaining the Right-to-Know Coordinator position in the Legal office. | really feel that
position did not work out the way we had intended it to work out and | really believe that filling Right-to-Knows for the
public should be happening within the departments that carry the information not running amuck through Legal. It’s been
pretty much a disaster for a lot of people trying to do that interface through Legal. It’s complicated. There’s all these
privilege information things. | know you had one lawsuit filed. | filed lawsuit through Attorney Gagliuso on Monday.
There’s two or three more in the cue that are coming in. It’s all because of the way it’s handled up in the Legal office. |
just feel it’s an expensive position and we shouldn't be funding that any more. Let the departments handle the public
requests and when you need legal assistance, provide the assistance. You’re abusing attorney/client privilege and hiding
information from the public when you do it the way that it’s being done right now. A lot of responses that are coming from
the Legal office are just matters of business to type a letter that could be done in the department where there is no
advisement being given by the attorney. They’re writing it and then not technically owning it. The individual from the
department is responsible for actually verifying that the data is done. | have hated the way that position worked. | think
it’s been a huge disservice and an obstacle to the public and certainly to me and | don’t think we need that in our budget.
Also | just need to put out to you folks that | am just appalled at the level of hatred that this City reigns down on members
of the public that point out an issue. Never in my wildest dreams could | have believed that | would have encountered the
level of hatred from the Mayor, Attorney Bolton, Attorney Leonard, and Kim Kleiner. It’s unprecedented to address issues.
What’s happened with my property appeal is just unbelievable. They brought in a guy who committed perjury and we
have a perjury charge that’s really being looked at by the Board of Tax and Land Appeal. The level of the fight | just don't
understand because | was never a person who carried that level of hatred. It was my Attorney Lehman who said to me
you have to understand how much people hate you. It’s been tough. It’s not really funny Alderman O’Brien. It really isn't.
It’s been very costly. A huge cost to the City and it’s just disgraceful. Just disgraceful. | think you have a lot to think
about and a lot to change in how you address people.
President Wilshire
Is there anyone else that wishes to address the Board? Okay | don’t see anyone.
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
