Board of Aldermen 01-11-2022 Page 2
This year the amount of school aid is projected to be down over $2 million hitting the hard working taxpayers of Nashua
with another 1 percent tax increase there. So we are watching any Bills that would impact our financial position.
| want to mention House Bill 1432 in which it is proposed that the State never spend even ten cents on commuter rail. We
can talk about commuter rail in more detail but the business community here is solidly behind it. Population very much
behind it. Now we have some traction both at the State level through the DOT doing the final planning phases of the
capital corridor project as well as some attention from Washington. We'll be learning more in the coming weeks on that.
| did have a rather interesting meeting with Chief Rourke of the Police Department. He is looking at some very interesting
things. First of all, we’re talking about for the first time providing hybrid cruisers which they believe perform pretty well. It
will cost a little more but we'll increase the mileage by 7 miles per gallon and over a course of a year at the Police
Department that will make a big difference.
The body cameras which have been new this year seem to be functioning pretty well. In some instances have actually
reduced the level of confrontation. Some of the people that the Police Department is dealing with are little more calm
when they realize that they are on camera. There have been a few technical issues with them which they're trying to work
out with the company. So we may have some interesting things coming there.
Finally Madam President, | wanted to inform the Board about a project being undertaken by Dante Castellano and some
other students at Nashua South. They are, again, for the second year providing $5 per tree. They're working with an
organization called, “Treeplenish” to plant they hope 275 trees at a cost to the homeowner of $5 per tree. Now these are
small trees, small samplings but at a very limited cost and the students will be able to at least plant some of them. This
year the three species are a form of Dogwood, a Northern Red Oak, and a common apple which is probably a crab apple.
So thank you Dante. If anyone out there would like a tree, we’re in contact with Dante so you can contact the Mayor’s
office or Dante directly maybe at the school. Probably the Mayor’s office is the best and we will get any kind of messages
through to him. You can also sign up through the treeplenish website.
So that’s all | have Madam President and before | conclude, | want to welcome, again, we had the inauguration on
Sunday but | want to welcome again our new members. We look forward to a very productive two years.
RESPONSE TO REMARKS OF THE MAYOR - None
RECOGNITION PERIOD — None
READING MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
There being no objection, President Wilshire declared the minutes of the Special and regular Board of Aldermen
meetings of December 14 and December 21, 2021 be accepted, placed on file, and the reading suspended.
COMMUNICATIONS REQUIRING ONLY PROCEDURAL ACTIONS AND WRITTEN REPORTS
FROM LIAISONS
From: Mayor Jim Donchess
John L. Griffin, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer/Tax Collector
Re: Comptroller Appointment
There being no objection, President Wilshire accepted the communication and place it on file.
PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RELATIVE TO ITEMS EXPECTED TO BE ACTED UPON THIS EVENING
Laura Colquhoun
Laura Colquhoun from 30 Greenwood Drive. I’m speaking against Ordinance O-22-002 which calls for allowing Aldermen
participation in meetings through video teleconferencing.
President Wilshire
Ms. Colquhoun, we're not acting on that this evening. We're not acting on that.
