Special Board of Aldermen 09-16-2021 Page 14
Alderwoman Kelly
Alderman O’Brien there are 3 of us on Zoom.
Alderman Lopez
Point of order, | was actually on Zoom. | just was on the telephone one so | was muted so | couldn’t
answer the roll call.
President Wilshire
You can come up now. Thank you.
Laura Colquhoun
My name is Laura Colquhoun and | live at 30 Greenwood Drive. I’m here tonight to say that I’m 100
percent against this Charter change. Our Mayor is trying to shove this change down the throats of all
Nashua residents. The Mayor also had his City Clerk certify this petition when in fact it was not following
the Nashua Charter. The Mayor wants the power at any price and will step on anyone to get it. How did
Alderman Klee who started the petition and had Alderman Harriott-Gathright, Tencza, and Lopez agree to
sign a document in order to not let the Nashua residents know exactly what was in it. Why are these
Aldermen supporting this power grab? Could it be that they also want the power and do not care what the
Nashua residents think? What’s the next step defund the police?
Why would the City of Nashua whose police department is rated fifth best in the nation want to change
anything currently? Nashua residents have three Police Commissioners. They all live in Nashua. They
have the highest ethics and do everything by the book. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Maybe our Mayor just
does not want to write any more letters for Sonia Prince to get her out of trouble. Our Mayor does not bring
up the fact that in the late 1990s Nashua had several aldermen go to jail thanks to the fact that the Police
Department gather the information and gave it to the FBI. Do you really think that our Mayor would give
any damaging information on his friends to the FBI? | think not.
This Charter change is a disservice to every Nashua resident. | do not want the City of Nashua’s name
change to the “Kingdom of Donchess”. Nashua residents must keep the City of Nashua honest. Vote no
on this Charter change. Thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. I’m going to switch back to testimony in favor.
TESTIMONY IN FAVOR
Sumathi Madhure
Thank you Madam Chairman. My name is Sumathi Madhure and | live at 31 Green Heron Lane in Nashua.
| speak as an Asian American who is a long-term resident of Nashua over 30 years. Nashua has grown in
a number of ways over the past few years. There has been a steady rise in the number of people of color
and Asian Americans who contribute to the vibrant community of Nashua culturally and economically. They
have made their home in Nashua and thus have expanded the purview of the Nashua Police Department. |
think it is of most importance that we represent the unique needs of this community especially as the raise
(inaudible) crimes are on the rise nationwide and bringing those individuals to these positions will allow for
more community engagement, transparency, and improve the Police Department relationship with its
citizens. Increasing the number from three to five will allow for the diversity.
