Special Board of Aldermen 09-16-2021 Page 16
Brady Owens
Hi. My name is Brady Owens and | live on 16 Danbury Road, Nashua. I’ve been a resident for
approximately 11 years here. As you probably can guess by my accent, I’m not from here. I’m here in
opposition. The testimony right in front of me was a great segway to mine. I’d like to know what's the
problem. What problem are we trying to solve? That’s Donchess and this petition has never stated that
there is a problem. We live in a fairly safe city. So to me the police are doing their job. I’m all for local
control. I'm all for independence. It seems that Nashua was set up to have State control over the
Commission for some reason. I’m not you know based — again, I’ve only been here 11 years — but you
know doing some quick searching, you find out that there was some serious problems in the government
here and that probably precipitated the fact that the State government took over nominating the Police
Commission and (inaudible) true, I’m not a fan of Sununu either but the process is definitely broken.
What’s the problem? Why do we need to make this change? Why now? That is a question that no one
has answered. So I’m just here to say that | think this process is broken. | do believe in voters and | do
believe in giving voters a chance to voice their opinions but you know if | go into a ballot and I’m there to
make a choice, | want to know what the problem is. Why do we need Nashua needs to take over
appointing the Police Commission? Why now? I'd also like to know why did Nashua get it taken away. So
that’s my testimony. Thank you very much.
President Wilshire
Anyone else who wants to speak in opposition?
Andrew Lavoie
Good evening. I’m retired Nashua Police Chief Andrew Lavoie and |’m here tonight to ask citizens to vote
no on the Police Commission Charter change. Previous speakers tonight and on previous nights have
clarified the supposed issues and red herrings that have been put forward to the public by the Mayor on
some of those in favor of this Charter change. Although they were few in number, | won’t spend my very
short time addressing all of them.
The Board of Aldermen Personnel subcommittee voted to table this Charter change and form a committee
for further study. The full Board of Aldermen voted against the Charter change being on the ballot. Faced
with these two losses, the Mayor disregarded the Board’s decision and advice and supported a petition
drive to once again attempt to get the measure on the ballot. It is my opinion that Mayor Donchess’
behavior on this issue is refusal to accept the will of the Board of Aldermen is in itself a prime example of
why the Nashua Police Commission should be free of local politics. What happens if this change passes
and the Board of Aldermen don’t confirm the Mayor’s Commission pick? Will he once again refuse to
accept their decision?
The Mayor has publicly stated that one reason he sought this Charter change was the fact that there was
only one female Police Commissioner in the history of the Police Commission. Another reason he feels
that local influence will better control the police budget. | have the utmost respect for the Nashua Fire
Department and I’m only stating facts to clarify a point. The Nashua Fire Commission has never in their
history had a female Fire Commissioner.
The Nashua Police Department submitted their fiscal year budget more than $200,000 above the Mayor’s
request. The Fire Department submitted their budget over $400,000 above the Mayor’s request. The
Police and Fire Commissions submitted those budgets because it is their responsibility to seek appropriate
funding for their departments and the Board of Aldermen agreed with them. If those are two of the issues
that were so important to the Mayor that he had to change the Nashua Police Commission, why hasn’t he
commented on changing the Nashua Fire Commission? | for the record am not advocating for any
changes to the Nashua Fire Commission process. I’m making the point that as my opinion that the Mayor
