Board of Aldermen 12-28-2021 Page 37
Department and I'll have eight on the Board, sixteen years as a State Rep. | might beat you. | don't know. But anyway, |
wish you luck. I'll tell you honestly engine, it was very good to serve with you. You've done a lot of good things and it's
just been good. To my fellow State Reps, you’re just leaving one and in the true New Hampshire way, you live in New
Hampshire long enough, you'll end up doing time in the House — whether that's the House of Correction or the State
House. So | look forward to as we change to Representative Gathright, working with Representative Smith, and working
with you guys in the future as we move forward. So best wishes. Thank you and Happy New Year to everybody.
Alderman Clemons
Thank you, Madam President. | just wanted to clarify something that one of the speakers had said regarding the mask
ordinance and that was that we did not have a second reading of that. We actually did have a second reading. So it was
read initially by the City Clerk and in the first motion that was made was by Alderman O'Brien for a second reading. After
that, we did have a discussion on it. So there was a second reading. | know that it happened in sort of in a non-traditional
fashion but it did happen. | also, on the other hand, agree that we probably should look to have public comment at our
meetings going forward. | do think that that was a missed opportunity. So | agree with you on that Matt.
One of the other things that | also wanted to point out as well is that | was very happy this evening to see as many people
come out about the affordable housing. | think it's great that we have such a passionate group of people in this city that
care about that issue and I'm ecstatic to see that passed and | hope we can do more on that particular topic in the future.
| want to wish every one of my colleagues who is leaving the Board well. It was great serving with you. You've all done
our city proud and you can rest assured that everybody knows that this is a hard job and, you know, appreciate the efforts
that that you all put forward. With that, | want to wish everyone Happy New Year and we'll see you next year.
Alderwoman Kelly
Thank you. I'll keep it short in true Kelly fashion. But | wanted to echo so many of the words of my fellow Aldermen and
just thanking everyone who has served on this Board. It's been quite an experience, you know, coming in new and having
such an interesting group of people who really did support each other and learn together. It put a huge smile on my face
when Alderman Caron talked about mentoring and that she's seen women on this Board grow because | really consider
her one of my mentors. She sat right next to me with her hats and we talked quite a bit and she taught me a lot when she
was sitting next to me. So she will be missed as well as Alderman Laws, Alderman Tencza, Alderman Harriott-Gathright,
everyone who's outgoing best of luck and thank you for your service. Oh and | will say thank you very much for support of
the inclusionary zoning. It's a big piece of the work that we've been doing and I'm really thankful that is going forward.
Alderman Laws
Thank you, Madam President. | wrote an outgoing speech. | got a down to like 23 minutes so just bear with me.
President Wilshire
| think we have to mute this.
Alderman Laws
| just wanted to thank all of you for your patience, and grace, and say that it's been one of the great honors of my life to
work with you for the last four years. | can't tell you how much | appreciate every one of you and your contributions to the
Board. I'm thankful to my constituents for supporting me. Some outgoing advice for the incoming Aldermen is just don't
let the bastards get you down. Thanks a lot. Happy New Year everyone.
Alderman Cleaver
Thank you, Madam President. | want to say that | am leaving the Board and I'm continuously honored to have been a part
of such a dynamic group of talented and dedicated people. It's truly a remarkable group and | am impressed with
everyone. So it's going to be bittersweet for me not to be on the Board but having served, | was happy to learn how
dedicated and tremendously valuable our city employees are. What a great job the Mayor does and | just want to thank
everybody for the opportunity. It has been tremendous and | wish everybody well, and Happy New Year, and thank you
very much for allowing me to serve.
