Board of Aldermen 04-12-2022 Page 3
I’m here to speak on behalf of the contract. This contact as | mentioned to all of you that were hear to listen to me last
night, we started preparations for this contract in 2019 and then COVID hit and derailed everything as we tried to settle
this contract prior to its expiration, which we have not had any of our contracts settled prior to expiration since 2011.
This contract did a lot of things. We had a step scheduled that was not sustainable. We moved a lot of people around to
their correct places on that schedule. Last contact, which was expensive to do, and this time we worked very hard to
spread out and have equitable movement across that scheduled which makes it much easier to plan and budget when
you're expecting the same kind of raises from step zero through step 24. Step 24 will be the top of the end of this contract
which is a problem in itself that we'll have to address next time.
I’m going to tell you | was very concerned about whether or not this contract would pass the membership when we were
given the healthcare proposal. It took a lot of education, a lot of time, a lot of understanding, help from Kim Kleiner’s office
and getting this through the membership and I’m happy to report that it passed our membership with a 98 percent
approval rating. Health insurance is scary when you make changes like we are and you hear high deductibles, especially
in our field where we have a lot of people who are families and have children and spouses. It’s a scary kind of thing. I’m
happy to say the cooperation between the city, the Union, and the District to educate our members on the health
insurance changes has been phenomenal and there’s even a lot more interest in the high deductible health plan with
health savings account because it’s not so scary anymore when you hear a $4,000 deductible for a family.
Donna Graham, Legislative Affairs Manager
30 seconds
Adam Marcoux
So in want to thank the Budget Committee for their unanimous support last night. | would pre-emptively thank you for
your support this evening and look forward to signing that contract into effect tomorrow. I’m hoping for those votes.
Thank you.
Fred Ordway
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Fred Ordway, 12 Mason Drive. Thank you for this opportunity to
address you this tonight about the extended outdoor eating. Specifically when we’re looking at the address of 133 Main
Street, which is also known as San Francisco Kitchen. The Task Force in the past unprecedented job of COVID, and
trying to work with business, and trying to remain them relevant during that time period had an amazing breakthrough with
the outdoor seating. At that time, they were allocated two spots in front of the restaurant. It is my understanding that
under this new ruling, they might be only down to one. San Francisco Kitchen is owned by a friend and a fellow Veteran
of mine - Ruben Gomez. He served multiple tours in the Middle East and still serves with the United States Air Force and
can be deployed in the near future also. | hope you take this time to keep the downtown vibrant. With the upcoming
performing arts center coming in, | think where everything is coming in to the right downtown to bring it back to keep it
vibrant. | remember back in the days when Nashua was Money Magazine’s number one city in the year. I’ve been
delivering mail for 36 years in the downtown area with the Postal Service. I’ve seen it come. I’ve seen it change
throughout the time. Right now, we're in the right way. We're doing the right outlook and | would hope that we continue to
keep the downtown vibrant and keep bringing people down and bringing in the income. Thank you and once again,
please vote for two spots out in front of 1383 Main Street. Thank you for your time and have a good evening.
Lina Gomez
Line Gomez, 262 Lake Street. I’m here for San Francisco Kitchen. This is like my third time speaking and it doesn’t get
any better every time I’m up here. First of all, you all know I’m in favor of the barriers. | wish we just had it again like | had
it the first two years but | know there has to be somewhat modifications, some changes to it. So | just hope that | can
keep two spaces in order to accommodate the same tables I’ve had the previous years, keep my employees, and be able
to continue offering the community — serving the community like it has been.
Second, I’m going to make this short, | do want to — like | said before in my e-mails, | want to thank each and every one of
you. | know this is not an easy job dealing with happy and angry residents. It must be very hard on a daily basis and |
know you all have personal lives. Being here long hours, doesn’t make it any easier. | do want to thank you all.
Third, | want to welcome you. Please visit SFK personally or a work meeting but come by and have a nice dinner. Thank
you.
