Board of Public Works Meeting - August 28, 2025

The Board of Public Works met on August 28, 2025, with Commissioners Shay, Lemon, Greg, Speedia, Mayor Donchus, and Alderman O'Brien present. The meeting covered routine approvals, a special agreement with the Boys and Girls Club, and an extensive discussion about the condition of the library riverwalk area and homelessness in Nashua. Several contracts were approved, and the board directed staff to provide a cost estimate for citywide cleanup of hazardous waste at homeless encampments.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda approved as submitted (motion by Commissioner Shay, all aye).
• Minutes of July 24, 2025 approved (motion by Commissioner Lemon, all aye).

Public Comments & Testimony

• A woman identifying herself as a soup kitchen employee expressed deep concern about the homelessness crisis, stating that shelters are full, housing is unavailable under $1,600/month, and that working homeless individuals use library porta-potties to wash up. She criticized the towing of cars from the Spring Street lot (a state-owned lot) and urged that encampment cleanups not destroy people's documentation. She called for more affordable housing and a coordinated strategy.

Special Order: Boys and Girls Club Street Hockey Court Agreement

• Motion: Commissioner Greg moved to approve the agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua for renovation and use of the street hockey court. The club donated $440,000 for revitalization; in exchange, they will use the court 12–15 hours per week and place a sponsor sign.
• Alderman O'Brien noted the proposal was warmly received at the prior infrastructure committee meeting, with only a question about jurisdiction (city property) answered by Parks staff.
• Commissioner Shea questioned the liability clause (city indemnification despite requiring insurance naming city as additional insured), but risk and legal had approved. The motion passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

Library Riverwalk Area Condition and Homelessness

• Commissioner Shea described the area behind the library as covered in trash, couch cushions, beer cans, medical waste (bandages), and a sleeping woman. He urged a simple, regular maintenance plan (e.g., a staff person with a grabber) to pick up trash, separate from larger homelessness issues. He noted that a proposed position on the agenda (for west-side riverfront maintenance) was removed due to easement complications and lack of TIF funds, but he advocated redirecting efforts to this site.
• Mayor Donchus acknowledged the problem but stated the cleanup of hazardous waste (needles, feces) requires specialized contractors at significant cost (e.g., $5,000–$10,000 per site). He noted that the removed position was for the west side only and that the library site is in the TIF district, but the TIF is running low on funds. He argued that focusing solely on one site while ignoring others (Mines Falls, downtown, etc.) is insufficient and called for a citywide approach.
• Commissioner Lemon agreed that the issue is citywide, citing complaints about human feces downtown and encampments at Mines Falls. He noted that the city’s public health department works daily to help the unhoused but does not clean up after them.
• Commissioner Greg supported a citywide solution, noting that success in services attracts more unhoused individuals from Massachusetts.
• Commissioner (unidentified, likely Commissioner Shea again) reiterated that the immediate trash problem on the path is separate from larger homelessness and could be addressed with a regular maintenance plan.
• Mayor Donchus stressed that any plan would require budget allocation from the Board of Aldermen, given a 6% tax rate increase. He directed staff to prepare a cost estimate for citywide cleanup of medical waste, human waste, and needles at homeless encampments, including input from police and public health.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Agreement with Boys and Girls Club for street hockey court renovation.
• Approved: Wastewater – Repair of screening/disinfection facility drain chamber hydraulic system by NH Hydraulics of Merrimack, NH, not to exceed $79,650 (funded from wastewater fund).
• Approved: Street Department – Sole source purchase of asphalt and aggregates from Brox Industries (Hudson, NH) and Continental Paving (Londonderry, NH) for $147,000 (funded from streets fund).
• Approved: Street Department – Change order #3 to Markings Inc. of Pembroke, MA for $162,000 (funded from streets fund).
• Approved: Parks Department – Purchase of 2025 LED lighting system for Holman Stadium from Musco Lighting for $815,000 (funded from bond activity for stadium improvements).
• Approved: Engineering – Sewer service permits, poll license petition, and drain layers license for WP Davis Excavation LLC (with six-month probation).
• Directive: Staff to provide a cost estimate for citywide cleanup of hazardous waste at homeless encampments, including the library walk area and other sites (Mines Falls, downtown, etc.).

Director's Report

• Updates on Pine Street pedestrian crossing, tree removals, pool closures, summer camp programs, street department work (sidewalk repairs, brush clearing), wastewater pump orders, and household hazardous waste collection (September 27 at 25 Crown Street).
• The Big Belly compactors on Main Street reduced collection from six days per week to two days (Tuesday and Saturday), with significant cost savings.

Commissioners' Comments

• Commissioner Lemon asked about paving and sidewalk work on Lock Street (Ward 3). The director will investigate paving schedule; sidewalk project is in design with federal funds.
• Commissioner Lemon reported a constituent complaint about a person monopolizing pickleball courts at New Searles and using an unofficial sign-up sheet. The director noted that pickleball has exploded in popularity; the city has added courts at Shady Lane and Fields Grove and provides conversion nets for tennis courts to be used for pickleball. Further pickleball court locations are being discussed.

Personnel (Non-Public Session)

• Motion to unseal non-public minutes of July 24, 2025, personnel session (approved).
• Motion to seal the minutes of the August 2025 non-public personnel meeting (approved by roll call).
• Meeting adjourned at 5:29 PM.