Board of Aldermen 10-26-2021 Page 8
Proponents of his change say that a change will give Nashua better control of the police budget. In this budget season,
the Police Department proposed a budget 1.7% over the request of Mayor Donchess. City Hall meanwhile submitted a
budget 2.7% below last year's budget and the City Hall departments were praised held up as examples by the Mayor.
Examples of thrift, cooperation, and fiscal responsibility. Mayor Donchess then submitted a bill to give himself the power
to appoint and remove police commissioners. In October, Mayor Donchess announced that of the $10.5 million dollars of
surpluses from budgeted funds from 2021 fiscal year, which ended June 30", 2.4 million would go back to City Hall
essentially bringing funding for City Hall divisions not down by 2.7 at all but up to an increase of 5.3%. When our Mayor
compares our city departments’ budgets praising one and expressing displeasure at another, he divides and intimidates.
When surplus is used as an enticement in this way to create a narrative of a runaway police budget, then political
influence is on display. This is what it looks like. This referendum item is not needed to control budgets and it's not
needed to gain diversity of race and gender on our boards. Please vote no on #2 on Tuesday. Thank you.
Alderman Tencza
Thank you. So speaking of folks who have left the city recently, | just wanted to congratulate Director Justin Kates who
has left Emergency Management. In my time on the Board, Director Kates has really impressed me as someone who is
just thorough, and diligent, and real asset to the city. Like Director Marchant, | think he's choosing to pursue other
opportunities but certainly he will be missed here in the city and there will be big shoes to fill for whomever comes in and
takes over his position. | always felt like Director Marchant, | was just amazed at his budget presentations, how thorough
he was, and how really how much he knew about emergency management. | always felt that the city was in in really good
hands if it was ever emergency that we needed to respond to as well as his dedication to making Nashua a more resilient
city because we know that unfortunately in the future, there are going to be climate events that are gonna affect us. But
you know if we plan and work together as a city, we'll be able to get through them just fine.
Also, | just want to wish everybody a happy and healthy Halloween this Sunday night. Hopefully people can go out and
enjoy their trick or treating. Even last year given that it's a holiday with that we're all masked up anyways, we could go out
and enjoy the outdoors. But even this year, it's important to stay safe and remember that we should still be safe as we're
going around.
And then finally, | think that next Tuesday's an important day. Thank you to Clerk Lovering and her staff and all the
volunteers in advance for all the work that they're going to do over the next week to get us ready for this election. | think
in a lot of ways, you know, this election, every election is about what kind of tone we want to set for the city. What kind of
leaders we want sitting around here and filling all of our other positions within the city. So please, every election is
important. It's a privilege for us that we get to go out and choose our elected officials. So if you're around or if you're not
around next Tuesday, please come out and vote and make your vote heard. Thank you.
Alderman Lopez
| just wanted to comment that last night Nashua Fire managed to put down a fire at Kinsley House of Pizza. This is the
second fire in two days that has displaced residents. So | would just caution residents and urge them check your smoke
detector batteries, make sure that you're keeping clutter away from heaters. Just be careful. As the weather gets colder
and we started to turn heaters on and you know there's more risk. Nashua Fire is quick, and they're fast, and they get the
job done, and they save lives. Even managed to save the cat but still destruction of property. It's dangerous and it puts
our firefighters in danger. So please just take whatever steps you can to mitigate the risk wherever you can.
A week from Thursday is going to be Veterans Day. We are having a Veterans Day Parade. I'm working with a group of
neighbors who are also trying to make sure that we're doing a meal for veterans who are staying over Dalainis House. So
if anybody would like to participate, you can buy a meal for veterans over at Joanne's Kitchen. It's right around the corner
here. $5 will buy them a ham dinner, macaroni and cheese, southwest style corn. So help us make that a great event for
everybody.
Alderman Clemons
Thank you, Madam President. I'll be brief. | just wanted to remind everyone go out and vote on Election Day which is
coming up on Tuesday, November 2. So this coming Tuesday. Normally | keep off my you probably notice | keep off my
camera because what | joke is that well it's not Halloween | don't want to scare people but now that it is, | figured I'd turn it
on real quick, say hello to everybody, and wish everybody Happy Halloween. Here | am. I'm just joking. Happy
Halloween everyone thanks.
