(59) THE CITY GF NASHUA "The Cate City’
Economic Development
To: J. Donchess, Mayor
From: T. Cummings, Economic Development Director
Ce: J. Griffin, Mayor, K. Kleiner, Director of Administrative Services,
K. Parkinson, Purchasing Manager, & J. Graziano, Financial Manager
Date: August/2020
Re: Memorandum Seeking Approval of $35,167.56 For Jersey Barriers (Pilot) & Explaining The
Current Plan Narrowing Main Street with Barriers.
The purpose of this memo is to provide an explanation and communicate the current plan for continuing
with the narrowing of Main Street and the usage of barriers to assist with the re-opening of Nashua’s
restaurants and businesses in downtown creating a more favorable business climate.
Since the barriers were dropped in May of 2020 there has been widespread acknowledgement that not only
did the barriers do their job in helping get the downtown businesses open, but they also revitalized
downtown and gave new energy to an area that was ripe for re-invention.
The barriers were originally procured with an eye toward being temporary in nature and being functional.
Since that time the City understands and acknowledges that the barriers have been universally embraced,
but some individuals have asked for better aesthetics with suggestions that maybe the barriers could be
painted or personalized. Some of the local operators have added trees and plantings to create a more
hospitable condition.
Due to the outpouring of interest the Mayor, the Director of Public Works, the Assistant Director of Public
Works, the Director of Community Development, the City Engineer and I have been meeting weekly for
the last 6 weeks to discuss how we may be able to continue with the barriers into next season (and possibly
beyond). There are a few specific considerations that need to be understood. First, the funding of these
barriers will need to be decided upon as the current funding source may not be available the installation
and maintenance will be the city’s responsibility, because the city will own the barriers and will need to
store them as well during the off-season. The next iteration will take aesthetics more into consideration as
well, but safety is the highest priority.
To that end, after careful consideration of multiple vendors and products and in consultation with a handful
of municipalities including the City of Boston the decision was made to test or pilot two types of barriers
that met safety and design standards.
The request that is pending approval from the Finance Committee is for $35,167.56 from Crowd Control
Warehouse. This is one of the barrier structures being contemplated and this will allow the city to obtain
20 (10-ft.) curved concrete Jersey Barriers.
The other barricade is a water tank barrier designed. This barrier does not require Finance Committee
approval, because the cost is below $25,000.00, but nonetheless is part of the overall initiative.
Both structures will be put into service in September/October to be evaluated. One set of barriers will be
placed on Main Street (concrete barrier) and the other on a side street, most likely East Pearl Street (water
tank barrier). The evaluation period will be for approximately a month and half before the end of outdoor
dining, which is scheduled to conclude on November 15".
