Board of Aldermen 08-10-2021 Page 26
right. | believe strongly that this discussion is still worth having and I’m looking forward to really examining this and having
a true vetted community conversation on this because | think it’s a good time to have it. This could be the right piece of
decision. There could be an even better solution that we can come to by bringing all parties to the table. So I’ve endorsed
city commission that has been put together has a great group of people from lots of different areas not just Nashua, not
just the police, and everyone who is on there we’ve done a good job of balancing the conversation so it’s not going to be
one sided. I’m looking forward to having that conversation regardless of how anyone around this horseshoe votes and
whether or not it goes on the ballot.
| can tell passion has been used. | think there’s a lot of passion around this on every front. | always appreciate that
passion because that means that as a community we’re listening, and thinking critically, and coming to the table, and
asking tough questions of each other. I’m looking forward a lively conversation in the work study group. Thank you.
Alderman Clemons
Thank you Madam President. | just wanted to state for the record that | haven’t heard an alderman express that they
weren't open to exploring change. | believe that that was insinuated by some previous speakers. That’s not the case. |
think that it’s disingenuous to say such a thing particularly when the group who is wanting the study group has been vocal
in saying let’s put the brakes on this and look at what all of our options are. | think that’s just an important clarification to
get out there. Thank you.
Alderman Dowd
Yeah | just wanted to explain that when | gave my initial comments and actually wasn’t my intent at that time to table. It
was also never my intent to stop discussion on the motion. It was my intent to allow the committee time to meet, and
discuss, and come back to us with a report before we took final action on this. The only way | saw at the time was to table
it until the committee meets and not indefinitely and not until the end of the year. The committee should start meeting and
come to some conclusions.
If we pass this tonight, the committee is going to come up with a recommendation but the horse is out of the barn and too
late. If we really want to do this right, we should give the commission a chance to meet and come back with
recommendations. | just don’t think the current wording going on the ballot, which | believe is pretty close to the wording
on the private — it’s exactly the same, does not give the people voting on it enough information to make an informed
choice. It’s somebody saying we have to do this and people are following along with that. There have been a lot of things
pointed out to me in the last few days that there are things that the commission needs to talk about and formulate some
things together like | know that a couple of the aldermen anyway have had trying to put in legislation for changes to this. |
think the only way you can get to the correct approach to make changes is to have the commission meet, get all the facts
together, and make an informed decision. The only way | saw how to do that was to table. | didn’t want to table it and
actually stop conversation on this. | was hoping that we would allow the commission the chance to meet and come back
with positive recommendations. | think that’s the fair and honest way to go to just throw this on the ballot to me is not the
way we should be doing things.
Alderman Lopez
Yeah | just kind of was conscious of the fact that the public watching and maybe members of the audience aren’t fully
aware of the communication that we’re all talking about with the commission. So | mean in a summary without naming all
the people who are appointed to it because there’s a good spread in my opinion of citizens that will be able to discuss it
from the voters perspective, the commission that — and maybe | should just let you speak to it Madam President would be
a better idea since you’re the one who created the commission.
President Wilshire
Right and | did that so that all sides of the issue could be heard so that the people that don’t watch our meetings or don't
get a knock on their door that they get all the information they need and that’s basically what I’m hoping this commission
can do is to put out there all the options, all the sides of this. If it goes on the ballot, why does it need to go on the ballot
right now? What's the hurry? What's the rush? If it’s a good idea now why won't it be in two years when it comes up to
the full municipal election? If it’s a good idea, it will stand up.
Alderman Lopez
So just to articulate to the public, the work group being started is to be chaired by Alderman Kelly. Alderman Dowd would
participate and the Police would have also representation. Then all of there’s 6 or 7 private citizens. So this would not be
