OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting Approves Multiple Contracts and Change Orders – August 6, 2025

Board of Aldermen MeetingsWednesday, August 6, 2025
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateWednesday, August 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

All right, we're going to call the meeting of the finance committee to order on August 6, 2025.

0:06

Mr.

0:06

Clerk, would you call the rule?

0:08

Alderman Thibodeau.

0:09

Here.

0:10

Alderman Govea is here.

0:12

Alderman Moran.

0:14

Alderwoman Timmins?

0:16

Here.

0:18

Alderman Clemens?

0:19

Here.

0:19

Alderman Clee?

0:21

Here.

0:21

Mayor Donchus.

0:22

Here.

0:23

All right.

0:23

The first issue is public comment regarding any issues on tonight's agenda.

0:28

Is there anyone who would like to address the committee?

0:33

Appears not.

0:35

So we'll go to communications.

0:36

First communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager, Alderman Govea.

0:40

In regard to change order number six for the Jackson Mills Hydroelectric Project in the amount not to exceed 85,979, funded from bond 81 capital outlay improvements.

0:50

Make a motion to accept place on file and approve change order number six to Maville Americans contracting for storage and labor of equipment in the amount not to exceed 85,979.

1:02

Funding will be through Department 170, Hydroelectric Operations Fund, Bond 81 Capital Outlay and Improvements.

1:09

And Ms.

1:09

Chisholm is here, I believe, on Zoom.

1:12

I am here.

1:13

Can you hear me?

1:14

Yes.

1:16

Great.

1:16

Great.

1:17

Yeah, this is a change order for the contract we have with the turbine manufacturer.

1:23

As you're aware, we had several delays on the project, and as a result, we're required to store the equipment.

1:30

We had chosen to store it in the Czech Republic with the vendor in an effort to make sure we could uh maintain the integrity of the equipment without having it be local and being required to do any of that upkeep and maintenance ourselves while it uh while it sat for a couple of years.

1:47

So this change order is for the final amount of storage.

1:51

Um as you may also be aware, we did finally have the equipment delivered to the property in October of age 24, and it's currently actually up and running.

2:03

So all right, anybody Alderman Thibodeau.

2:10

I was just curious.

2:11

Um, what was the cost of the changes that were required that put the unit on hold that made them have to keep it at the or that we requested they keep it at their facility?

2:24

This is the second change order that was required for storage of the equipment.

2:30

The first one I think was probably in the uh in the ballpark of about 75,000, I think.

2:37

If I may I guess I was unclear, I apologize.

2:40

Um the way I read it, there was something levied on us by the EPA that made it not ready for us to install, so we had to ask them to hold it.

2:50

So I was just curious what the what the cost of those corrections were that made us have to put this on hold.

2:58

Right.

2:59

There was no there was no actual um fee associated with the um the delay on the project.

3:08

We were required by FERC uh to submit an amendment to the license exemption that we have with them, um, and that process took considerably longer than was originally anticipated.

3:21

That was the initial delay.

3:23

Um, and then as you're aware, um we had some uh torrential rainstorms that washed out the the um earth and coffee cam that we had there in front of the facility um several times.

3:34

Um so that was the uh other reason why we had uh additional delay that is anyone else.

3:45

All those in favor of the motion say aye.

3:47

Aye.

3:48

Motion passes.

3:49

Next communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager, Alderman Govea.

3:53

In regard to contract for professional environmental engineering in the amount not to exceed 445,750, funded from grants 53 professional technical services.

4:03

Make a motion to accept place on file and award a contract for assessing and cleaning up Brownfield site to Weston and Sampson in the amount not to exceed 445,750.

4:15

Funding will be through Department 181 Community Development Fund grant 53 professional and technical services.

4:21

Ms.

4:21

Chisholm.

4:23

Hi, Deb Chisholm Sustainability Department Manager managing the Brownfields program with the grant funding that we had received.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works█████████████████████████████████████████████57%
Procedural███████████████19%
Hydroelectric Facilities█████6%
Technology and Innovation█████6%
Water And Wastewater Management███4%
Public Library Services███4%
Economic Development███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Finance Committee Meeting – August 6, 2025

The Finance Committee of the Nashua Board of Aldermen met on August 6, 2025, to approve a series of contracts, change orders, and purchases. All items passed, many with unanimous votes. Mayor Donchus presided. No public comments were submitted.

Communication Items (Contracts and Change Orders)

  • Jackson Mills Hydroelectric Project – Change Order #6: Approved $85,979 to Maville Americans for storage and labor of equipment, funded from Bond 81. Deb Chisholm, Sustainability Department Manager, explained that delays were due to a FERC license exemption amendment and rainstorms. Unanimous.
  • Brownfield Site Environmental Engineering Contract: Approved $445,750 to Weston & Sampson for assessment and cleanup, funded by a grant. Deb Chisholm noted the vendor was selected via RFP. Unanimous.
  • Shakespeare Road Building Refurbishment – Change Order #1: Approved $17,380 to Green Mountain Communication for sandblasting and rubber membrane roof installation, funded from capital projects. Mr. Mansfield explained additional work was needed after pressure washing revealed paint damage. Unanimous.
  • VMware Cloud Foundation Subscription Renewal: Originally $132,240; CIO Nick Mysevich negotiated down to approximately $108,000. Alderman Clemens moved to amend the amount to not exceed $109,000, which was accepted. Discussion noted previous cost of $44,000. Approved with amended amount. Unanimous.
  • 2023 Sewer Rehabilitation Contract – Change Order #12: Approved $655,000 to RWC Enterprises for additional drainage improvements at multiple streets, funded from wastewater fund. City Engineer Dan Hudson stated this is the final change order under that contract. Unanimous.
  • Trash/Recycling Toter Purchase: Approved $145,000 to Toter Incorporated for curbside collection carts, funded from solid waste fund. Superintendent Jeff LaFleur noted carts are over 20 years old; about 3,000 carts could be purchased. Unanimous.
  • Landfill Phase 3 Temporary Cap – Amendment #2: Approved $42,000 to Sanborn Head & Associates for construction quality assurance, funded from bond. Jeff LaFleur explained the cap is temporary to allow future expansion. Unanimous.
  • Library Copier Lease: Approved $5,460 (five-year lease, $91/month) to Toshiba for a multifunction device at the library, funded from general fund. Assistant Director Jen Hosking stated it replaced a broken unit. Unanimous.
  • Riverfront Parks Path Reconstruction – Change Order #3: Approved $369,312 to Morrins Landscaping to connect new boardwalks to existing pathways along the northerly bank, funded from Riverfront TIF fund. Economic Development Director Liz Hannem confirmed this is within the overall $21 million budget. Unanimous.

Record of Expenditures

Approved the record of expenditures for July 11–31, 2025, as compliant with city charter and ordinances. Unanimous.

General Discussion

Alderman Clemens raised a procedural question about the “General Discussion” period, noting it may not be authorized in city ordinances and may duplicate “Remarks by Aldermen.” Alderwoman Clee confirmed she read the Board of Aldermen protocol, which does not include general discussion. No vote was taken; the discussion was informational.

Public Comment

None.

Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

All right, we're going to call the meeting of the finance committee to order on August 6, 2025. Mr. Clerk, would you call the rule? Alderman Thibodeau. Here. Alderman Govea is here. Alderman Moran. Alderwoman Timmins? Here. Alderman Clemens? Here. Alderman Clee? Here. Mayor Donchus. Here. All right. The first issue is public comment regarding any issues on tonight's agenda. Is there anyone who would like to address the committee? Appears not. So we'll go to communications. First communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager, Alderman Govea. In regard to change order number six for the Jackson Mills Hydroelectric Project in the amount not to exceed 85,979, funded from bond 81 capital outlay improvements. Make a motion to accept place on file and approve change order number six to Maville Americans contracting for storage and labor of equipment in the amount not to exceed 85,979. Funding will be through Department 170, Hydroelectric Operations Fund, Bond 81 Capital Outlay and Improvements. And Ms. Chisholm is here, I believe, on Zoom. I am here. Can you hear me? Yes. Great. Great. Yeah, this is a change order for the contract we have with the turbine manufacturer. As you're aware, we had several delays on the project, and as a result, we're required to store the equipment. We had chosen to store it in the Czech Republic with the vendor in an effort to make sure we could uh maintain the integrity of the equipment without having it be local and being required to do any of that upkeep and maintenance ourselves while it uh while it sat for a couple of years. So this change order is for the final amount of storage. Um as you may also be aware, we did finally have the equipment delivered to the property in October of age 24, and it's currently actually up and running. So all right, anybody Alderman Thibodeau. I was just curious. Um, what was the cost of the changes that were required that put the unit on hold that made them have to keep it at the or that we requested they keep it at their facility? This is the second change order that was required for storage of the equipment. The first one I think was probably in the uh in the ballpark of about 75,000, I think. If I may I guess I was unclear, I apologize. Um the way I read it, there was something levied on us by the EPA that made it not ready for us to install, so we had to ask them to hold it. So I was just curious what the what the cost of those corrections were that made us have to put this on hold. Right. There was no there was no actual um fee associated with the um the delay on the project. We were required by FERC uh to submit an amendment to the license exemption that we have with them, um, and that process took considerably longer than was originally anticipated. That was the initial delay. Um, and then as you're aware, um we had some uh torrential rainstorms that washed out the the um earth and coffee cam that we had there in front of the facility um several times. Um so that was the uh other reason why we had uh additional delay that is anyone else.

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