Board of Aldermen 09-28-2021 Page 13
From: Matthew Sullivan, Planning Manager
Re: Referral from Board of Aldermen on Proposed R-21-170, Relative to the Approval of the Imagine Nashua 2021
Master Plan
From: Lisa M. Fauteux, Director of Public Works
Re: Referrals from Board of Aldermen — R-21-165, R-21-166 and R-21-169
There being no objection, President Wilshire accepted the communications and placed them on file.
There being no objection, President Wilshire suspended the rules to allow for a communication that was received
after the agenda was prepared. President Wilshire to recognize Administrative Services Director Kim Kleiner to
speak on the communication.
From: Kim Kleiner, Administrative Services Director
Re: Staffing — City Hall
Kim Kleiner, Administrative Services Director
Madam President, members of the Board. Thank you for allowing me to speak this evening. Recently, the Board of
Aldermen have been made aware of some staff departures within the Assessing Department. The Board has also
received a communication stating several untruths as to why these employees have left the city.
At full staffing, the Department held the Chief Assessor, two Commercial Assessors, two Residential Assessors, a
Customer Service Supervisor, a Department Coordinator, and two customer service staff — a total of nine. Currently, we
have a Chief Assessor, two Commercial Assessors, and one customer service staff member. Three. The city is actively
recruiting, excuse me, four. The city is actively recruiting for all of the open positions.
The professional and knowledgeable staff within the Assessing Department has provided our residents with exceptional
customer service for many years. It is with great disappointment and loss that employees have chosen to leave the city. |
would be remiss in my duty if | fail to communicate the issues which have been shared with me as the Director regarding
their departure. Undergoing an improvement plan, software upgrade, policy review, and revaluation is difficult work but
the staff remained determined to the goals and the objectives set forth by the city. They remained resolved with the
commitment through the most of challenging times. The difficulty arose with the constant unsubstantiated criticisms
raised by a select group of individuals. Employees have been accused of untruths followed outside of the workplace,
based questions on their character, supplied thousands of documents through Right-to-Know requests and if it had
misinformation shared within public comment, the newspapers, and social media.
There was never a mention of displeasure with salary or benefits as a reason for the recent departures. The events over
the past two years caused by a Select few were stated as an unfortunate cause for leaving positions they otherwise
enjoyed. Public employees are often motivated in their work by a desire to serve the residents of the community. These
employees held that desire. To allow the departure of these employees to be labeled as anything else other than the
reason shared by them would be a greater injustice. We as a city, owe our dedicated employees our support and respect
as they carry out their duties and contribute to the success of our community. Together we are all the culture and the
environment which contribute to the success of our employees. Thank you Madam President.
President Wilshire
Thank you Director Kleiner. Period for public comment relative to items expected to be acted upon this evening. No one
has signed up. No one has signed up.
PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE ACTED UPON THIS EVENING
Laurie Ortolano
There was no sign up sheet back there. Was there?
President Wilshire
Yeah, there was.
