Special Board of Aldermen 12-14-2021 Page 2
the Beautification Committee the right, the authority to raise funds so that we could return those funds to city coffer to
beautify Nashua in ways that we could work in cohort with, for example, parks and recreation. It's still our dream after
our major fundraiser last summer to beautify a garden in Brian's memory here on this very property of City Hall.
So | also want to thank, most notably, also Nashua Code Enforcement because they have trained all our members in the
technique known as “knock and talk” and that is a wonderful mitigation, cooperative spirit wherein one never knows why
a property might look the way it does. You know you might complain about the neighbor next door who has grass very
high but you don't know maybe his wife had cancer, maybe he works 40 plus hours a week and is a single parent. One
never knows about what are the circumstances behind someone's, you Know, property situation. Many times they have
said to us, you Know, why bother? In confidence they said to us, why bother city enforcement when you as a neighbor
could go to someone and say, can | help? And they're absolutely right. In case you don't know, Code Enforcement is
looking after something like 20,000 properties. So if you want to put well deserved investment in something that has
long lasting effect for all economic development, for all echelons of society by having an aesthetically pleasing
environment for all its citizens investing in a couple more people in Code Enforcement would be well spent.
So let's move on to the PowerPoint. If | could have the next slide, please. This is our creed. This is what the Nashua
Beautification Committee’s mission statement is. It is the mission of the Nashua Beautification Advisory Committee - key
note “advisory” - to identify and develop opportunities that can enhance the visual attractiveness of the City of Nashua.
Towards this mission, the committee is committed to working in conjunction with city resources, residents, and
organization to maximize its efforts. Simple as that.
Next slide, please. Now, this happens to be in my neighborhood. These are things that | like to hope that we could
achieve. Maybe some of our laws could be enhanced - more enforcement. I'm not sure but maybe some of the laws
could be strengthened because many people say, Oh, come on we live in the Live Free or Die State. Why do | have to
care about what my property looks like? God, this is why | moved to New Hampshire. Well, you know, when you live in a
compact neighborhood imagine what the guy next door thinks. This is the person next door. He's a neatnick. Why
should he have to abide by the guy next door who really did have four to five feet weeds in his property? We did have
Code Enforcement come. He was a very belligerent individual and he said ultimately, | don't have a lawn mower. So it is
very tough on Code Enforcement and it's tough on compact neighborhoods. Maybe we can revisit some of the laws and
figure out how can we deal with it because so many people work so hard, modest incomes, but by golly, they can work
day and night and have a beautiful yard and feel so proud of their accomplishments.
Next slide. Now this property is also in dire straits. The grass got much taller but in this case, this is an absentee
landlord. They are buying houses all over the city and | ask you what are the laws in place? I'm not privy to them
perhaps but maybe you are. Can we have some maybe a deeper understanding of such matters for absentee
landlords? Next slide. This is the side of the property in a compact neighborhood - waste metal, garbage. | didn't want
to belabor it but this is just one side of the home. There are four single men living here who work in the trades and this is
what they are leaving on the property. | think it's a darn shame for the beautiful homes and people that live next door
and what they need to look at every day.
Next slide. Now, this is when we broach a new area because | know that you are particularly involved with what
happens in Nashua proper. This is a State issue. So | come to you and say, let's all work together. This is 36 square
miles that we all love whether the State has the authority, whether you have the authority, | just say let's come together
because when you drive into Nashua coming north on Everett Turnpike, this was promised to be a beautiful cascading.
We all know back when the widening was done promised to be a lovely cascading greenery. Bill Boynton told me point
blank before he left the Highway Department, yeah, that was an abject failure. How long are we going to put up with
this? This is in the fall. In the summer, it’s just atrocious. Several blocks worth. | know New Hampshire's getting some
amount of money from the infrastructure bill. Can't we all work together to get this looking right for the people that come
into our State? We are the Gate City. | beg you.
Next slide. Now this is another matter because I've worked with Code Enforcement and they say there are no laws on
the books about dealing with unsightly commercial properties unless they are of injurious nature to the general public
they have no say. This property, which was the, you know, - Amazon is using it now - the old Building 19. We all know
of it on Amherst Street. In the summertime, it is atrocious to look at. Again, another vantage point into our city. Why
must we look at industrial commercial sites that are blighted? People own those. Those are taxpayers in large measure.
There's nothing on the books to have them looking at least somehow respectable. So these are things I'm hoping that
we can work together in the future.
Next slide. This is, again, this is motor vehicles. That's not a lovely Stella Do Oro Lily on the left. That's crabgrass.
That's crabgrass that's as big as a whiskey barrel or our wine cask and those are hundreds of cigarette butts. A lot of
people come from other towns to use that facility for the Department of Transportation. They don't know maybe that
