Special Board of Aldermen 09-16-2021 Page 4
Raymond Newman
Please support this resolution
President Wilshire
I’m going to call for one more in favor and then I’m going to switch to opposition.
Sherry Dutzy
My name is Sherry Dutzy. | live at 18 Swart Terrace. | am in favor of changing the City Charter to allow
Police Commissioners to be appointed locally and increase the Commission from three to five. The
argument that this will politicize the Commission is unfounded in my opinion. In the past, we have had at
least on Commissioner appointed by a Governor after doing a fundraiser for that Governor. If that is not
political, | don’t know what is. We've had a Police Commissioner whose real estate dealings were highly
questionable but because of his high profile, he sailed through the process. I’m not saying that either of
these gentlemen were not good commissioners but to say that the current system is perfect is a stretch.
The Zoning Board and Planning Board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by this Board.
They make important decisions that shape our city. No one suggests that these appointments should be
made in Concord due to politicization. Why won’t it work for the Police Commission? Let’s face it. No
system is perfect but if we elect representatives of character, and | believe this Board is such, who truly
serve the citizens of Nashua, | believe that the proposed system can be an improvement by adding diverse
voices. It certainly won’t be any worse than what we have now. There are over 300 commissions in the
State where the appointments are made by the Executive Council and Governor. How much time and
attention do you think is paid to each nominee? Unless it is a high level State appointment like
Attorney/General, | think it is very little. How many people on Zoom and how many in this meeting have
actually attended an Executive Council meeting for a nominee? | would say none. Having the appointment
made locally will provide more transparency and scrutiny by Nashuans and | think that is a good thing.
President Wilshire
For those of you on Zoom, I’m going to call for testimony in opposition and | will get back to testimony in
favor after we switch it up a bit. So I’m going to call for testimony in opposition at this point.
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION
Mike Soucy
Thank you. Thank you Board of Aldermen. I’m not sure | have any reason to thank you today Mayor but
thank you for your service. You're going to hear a lot of why this is a bad idea. I’m not going to discuss
that today. You're going to hear a lot of it. What! want to talk about is the Charter section A-141. The
Charter is very, very clear in its language.
Alderman Klee
Madam President his name and address.
Mike Soucy
I’m sorry. Mike Soucy, 3 Roseann Circle and I’m speaking today as a lifelong resident, and past Alderman,
and retired Nashua cop.
So here’s what the Charter says, “At any regular municipal election in any of the following cities —
Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Laconia, Somersworth, or Berlin if a majority of the governing body of
