Board of Aldermen 01-11-2022 Page 5
O-22-001
Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman-at-Large Melbourne Moran, Jr.
Alderwoman-at-Large Shoshanna Kelly
Alderman Alex Comeau
Alderman Tyler Gouveia
Alderman Derek Thibeault
Alderwoman-at-Large Gloria Timmons
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
DISSOLVING THE SUBSTANDARD LIVING CONDITIONS ALDERMANIC SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Given its first reading; Assigned to the PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE by President Wilshire
O-22-002
Endorsers: Alderwoman-at-Large Shoshanna Kelly
Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons
Alderwoman-at-Large Gloria Timmons
ALLOWING ALDERMEN PARTICIPATING IN MEETINGS THROUGH VIDEO TELECONFERENCING TO BE THE
PRESIDING OFFICER AND CONDUCT THE MEETING
Given its first reading; Assigned to the PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE by President Wilshire
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Laurie Ortolano
Hi. My name is Laurie Ortolano. | live at 41 Berkley Street. | finished a Right-to-Know lawsuit regarding Nashua’s
assessing records in December in Superior Court. One of the challenges involved the records return by the contracted
appraisal company responsible for creating the 2018 assessments. The contract signed by the city and the company is a
boilerplate document development by the DRA and widely used by municipalities around the State. The contract calls for
all documents and property record cards used to create the new values be returned to the city when the contract ends. |
filed a Right-to-Know to inspect these documents and was denied by the city under 91-A exemption for draft material and
confidential information. | contacted many Chiefs throughout the State, the DRA, and attended Assessing Standards
Board meeting in Concord. | questioned everyone on the confidentiality and draft nature of the information. Not one
person backed Nashua’s decision to make those records exempt from public disclosure. | wrote back to the city three
times presenting a new argument each time on the importance of these materials being public. These records provided
an audit trail for the work done by the hired company and allowed a property owner to verify that Nashua created equity in
these new assessments.
After three months of denials, | added this to my lawsuit. | then wrote formal Right-to-Know requests to four towns to
request to inspect the records returned by their hired appraisal companies. Unlike Nashua, my requests were answered
in a matter of hours. One request — this was the Town of Moultonborough where | own a home. Chief Hughes who
served as the Director for the DRA invited me up to inspect these records expounding that they are your records. Chief
Michaud from Hudson granted written access to the records and the Wolfeboro assessing clerk also welcomed me up to
inspect the records. | finally contacted the assessor in Littleton, New Hampshire. Why did | pick Littleton? Because the
Littleton assessing office is contracted to KRT. The same company we hired to do our 2018 assessment. The contract
language for the return data was identical and KRT did the same type of 2018 update as was done in Nashua. When |
called the Littleton assessing Chief Dorcette from KRT, | wondered how far my reputation reached. Mr. Dorcette
immediately stated that these records if we still have them available are public records and affirmed his remarks in writing.
Why did Nashua deny...
Donna Graham, Legislative Affairs Manager
30 second.
Laurie Ortolano
When Ms. Kleiner was placed as Acting Chief of the Assessing office, | objected strongly. She did not have the skillset to
be qualified for such a technical position. Ms. Kleiner assured the Board that she would consult with Chiefs around the
State to verify that her work was compliant. In December under cross examination in court, Ms. Kleiner stated that she
