Special Board of Aldermen 09-16-2021 Page 2
Alderman Caron
Thank you Madam President. Because we have a large number of participants that I’m sure want to speak
in favor or in opposition of this legislation, I’d like to limit the speaking portion to 3 minutes per person and
then when we get to the end if we have time, we can have people come back if they have added
information they'd like to present. I’m making a motion.
MOTION B ALDERMAN CARON TO LIMIT THE SPEAKING PORTION TO THREE (3) MINUTES PER
PERSON BY ROLL CALL
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Caron, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Cleaver,
Alderman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire. 10
Nay: Alderwoman Lu 1
MOTION CARRIED
President Wilshire
Everyone will be limited to 3 minutes because we do have a large audience this evening. | think it’s fair to
everyone that we limit this for 3 minutes.
TESTIMONY IN FAVOR
Sonia Prince
I’m Sonia Prince, 49 Tufts Drive. 1891 was a very long time ago. | prefer not have people from
Manchester, Rye, Concord, Union, and Milford, New Hampshire, decide who our Police Commissioners
should be. As for the false info. being spread about this new Charter change by some members of the
Police Department and a few Aldermen, if you read the petition it clearly states that any elected city Mayor
cannot remove anyone from the Police Commission without the approval of the 15 elected members of the
Board of Aldermen. That’s 15 sets of watchful eyes. Anyone who reads the petition can verify this and
debunk the ridiculous rumors intended to spread fear over a Charter change that has happened in every
single New Hampshire town and city before us.
This petition also includes wording that prevents any Police Commission’s immediate family or a member of
their household to be the Mayor or a sitting alderman or alderwoman during that time. Example the reason
this was added is to avoid conflict of interest. Example — if they voted on the police budget that could be
viewed as a conflict. We currently have a former police officer who is a sitting Nashua Police
Commissioner today. He is married to a current sitting Alderwoman in Ward 6. This petition and Charter
change would assure that this type of conflict of interest possibilities could never be repeated in the future.
Example — especially if maybe that former police officer/commissioner is still receiving any kind of benefits
from the Police Department via something like a pension, dental, or health benefits.
If you look at some of the supporters who want to maintain the existing Good Ol’ Boys status quo, there are
people like former Mayor who is ordered to pay $270,000 fine by the SCC. Another citizen who’s obsessed
with property tax assessments who was charged recently with trespassing at City Hall.
Then you have people who don’t even live in Nashua testifying on their behalf to keep the status quo. Also
people from outside the City of Nashua who are sitting on the stacked bogus so-called “Study Committee”
that was created at the 11" hour instead of in May. If you are tired of the fox watching the hen house, if
you want more transparency, representation, please vote to allow this...
