Board of Aldermen 01-25-2022 Page 27
to a lot of Ward 8 people. My Ward may be different than some of your Wards here. Maybe it’s we’re closer to
Massachusetts. | don’t know. | can’t explain that. Maybe the people that are talking to us are talking to us based on what
our political party was. That could be the case too. | will speak to anyone even Mr. Parks.
The last thing | want to actually talk about something good because people want to just be negative. On Sunday my sons
were watching ESPN and they were able to see the number one play of the week was from a Nashua South unified
basketball player — Zach Ostrowski. It was wonderful to see that as the number one. It was also wonderful to see my two
sons going to the TV, put ESPN on instead of Nickelodeon and actually watch this kid steal the ball from Nashua North
and make an incredible basket that made, again, the number one play on EPSN on the weekend. So jumping into the
arms of kids that I’ve coached before from Nashua South when they were younger, it was fantastic. It was a great
moment for Nashua to be recognized nationally and a great thing for Zach. | think unified basketball is a great way for the
city and the city sports to really do something good for kids that need something good. | just wanted to put that out there.
Thank you.
Alderman Cathey
Thank you Madam Chairman. First I'd like to also offer condolences to Donna and her family. I’d also like to offer
condolences to — | just found out that there was a member of my Ward whose family member came down with COVID just
around Christmas and that family member has not returned home yet and has caused quite amount of distress to the
family. If that family wants to reach out to me, I’d love to talk to them. | offer that family my condolences.
Secondly, I'd also in that vein | learned that information from a member of my Ward who called me out rightfully so for not
attending a Finance Committee meeting because | did not want to wear a mask. Truth is, | didn’t want to wear a mask
and | probably should have said “protest” or “protest the mask mandate or mask requirement in City Hall”. | have come to
change my position on that and will be attending all my meetings if possible in person because it gives me the best
opportunity to represent my constituents and talk to other members of committees, and boards, and get that semi face to
face conversation going about whatever the businesses of the committee or the Board of Aldermen. So | apologize for
not representing my Ward in the city well in that manner and to that member of my Ward who e-mailed me, | think him for
bringing that to my attention and moving forward regardless of how | feel about the mask and now for the vote we know. |
will be in attendance.
Thirdly, I'd like to mention — and this probably goes without saying but since I’m new | will say it anyway. | tend to
probably come across I’m going to say passionately when | disagree with something or agree with something. | offer that
to it’s not personal and | respect every one of the Board but when | don’t like something or | definitely do like something,
I’m pretty extreme in that way. You'll probably know about it but its all respect in trying to get things done for the city. |
thank you.
Alderman Gouveia
Thank you Madam President. | would like to thank everybody over the last couple of days in the week who have reached
out about the mask mandate either for it or against it. It was very important to make your voices heard and | do appreciate
everybody who has reached out to us.
Secondly, | would like to thank the Nashua Police Department and its leadership for allowing me to a ride along last night
in the City of Nashua. It was very informative and it’s safe to say we're all in good hands here. So | do appreciate that.
Thank you.
Alderman Dowd
Two quick things. One — Thursday the Joint Special School Building Committee at Nashua High North at 7:00 p.m. We're
going to be presenting to anyone from the Board of Aldermen or the Board of Education that’s not already on the Joint
Special an overview of the middle school project so you know how it started, where it is, and where it’s going.
The other thing I’ve been on boards for over 40 years now. The one thing that makes a board successful is agreeing to
disagree. So when the meeting is over whichever side you’re on, don't hold any grudges against the other side, move on
to the next topic. We vote for certain reasons but it’s not certain in deference to any other Aldermen. So thank you.
Alderman Comeau
Thank you Madam President. | would also like to offer my condolences to Donna and her family. | would also like to offer
my condolences to Alderman Moran. This is the first time I’ve heard that you lost your father. I’m sorry for that as well.
