Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee Meeting - September 3, 2025
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Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee Meeting - September 3, 2025
The Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee met on September 3, 2025, at 7:02 PM in the Aldermanic Chamber. The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Shauna Kelly, with a quorum present. The committee conducted interviews for three mayoral appointments, considered several ordinances, and voted on final recommendations.
Consent Calendar
- Communications from Director Bagley (Board of Health recommendation on Kratom) and Nancy Trask (unaffiliated salary schedule) were accepted and placed on file without objection.
Appointments & Interviews
Oscar Velasis – Cable Television Advisory Board (Term to expire June 10, 2028)
- Mayor Donchis introduced Mr. Velasis, noting his extensive media experience as an on-air personality and owner of First Gen Multimedia. Mr. Velasis stated he is passionate about connecting underserved communities and ensuring authentic representation on the board.
- Committee members expressed strong support, citing his resourcefulness, outside-the-box thinking, and proven ability to create programming for diverse audiences. Alderman Lopez noted his transformation of a radio show into a multimedia platform. Alderman Senate highlighted the need for innovative thinking on CTAB due to changing media consumption.
Alyssa Drift – Downtown Improvement Committee (Term to expire July 22, 2028)
- Mayor Donchis introduced Ms. Drift, a downtown restaurant owner (Local Street Eats) with over two decades of experience. She emphasized collaboration among businesses, creating a positive downtown experience, and better communication with the public.
- Committee members praised her investment in the community and her ideas for improving downtown, such as a student fast pass and shared cleanup initiatives. Alderman Clemens noted her work on West Pearl Street.
Christine Malloy – Nashua Revolving Loan Fund Committee (Term to expire September 8, 2028)
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Mayor Donchis introduced Ms. Malloy, a senior commercial loan officer at Triangle Credit Union with extensive lending experience. She expressed interest in helping small businesses that struggle to obtain bank loans.
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Committee members appreciated her financial background and nonprofit involvement (Front Door Agency, High Hopes). Alderman Clemens asked about the loan fund's role, and Ms. Malloy noted it would serve as an alternative for those unable to secure traditional financing.
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All three appointments were approved by a single motion (voice vote, all in favor).
Discussion Items & Ordinances
O25-062: Increasing Tax Credit for Service-Connected Total Disability
- The motion to recommend final passage was tabled at the request of the co-sponsors, who were unable to attend. The committee voted to table the item (voice vote, all in favor).
O25-063: Amending Unaffiliated Employees' Personnel Policies (Salary Schedule)
- Director Cummings presented the legislation, developed over the past year. The committee recommended final passage without discussion (voice vote, all in favor).
O25-051: Prohibiting the Sale of Kratom
- The item was removed from the table (voice vote, all in favor). Alderman Moran moved to amend the ordinance to ban sales to persons under 21, consistent with the Board of Health's recommendation. After discussion, the amendment was approved (voice vote, all in favor).
- Director Bagley explained that a full ban was not feasible locally due to enforcement limitations, and the age restriction was a compromise supported by both advocates and opponents. Alderman Senate raised concerns about enforcement and education; Alderman Clemens asked about penalties (default $1,000 fine) and liability. The committee then recommended final passage as amended (voice vote, all in favor).
O25-060: Prohibiting Banners, Flags, and Signs at Meetings
- The item was removed from the table. Alderman Senate, the prime sponsor, moved to indefinitely postpone, citing reasons in a memo. The committee voted to recommend indefinite postponement (voice vote, all in favor).
Key Outcomes
- Appointments approved: Oscar Velasis (CTAB), Alyssa Drift (Downtown Improvement Committee), Christine Malloy (Revolving Loan Fund Committee).
- O25-063 (unaffiliated salary schedule) recommended for final passage.
- O25-051 (Kratom) amended to prohibit sales to those under 21 and recommended for final passage.
- O25-062 (tax credit) tabled.
- O25-060 (banners/flags) recommended for indefinite postponement.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
We're gonna call the meeting of personnel administrative affairs committee to order. Today is September 2nd, 2025. And we are in the Aldermanic chamber. It is 702. And this meeting has been duly noticed in two places, including the city's website in accordance with RSA 91A. Could the clerk please call the roll? Alderman Tim Senate is here. Alderman Tom Lopez. Here. Alderman Ernest Jetty. He's not going to be here. Alderman at large Ben Clemens, Vice Chair. Here. And Alderwoman at large Shauna Kelly, Chair. We have a quorum. Also in attendance. Yes, also in attendance. We have uh Mayor Jim Donchis, Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel, um Director Bagley is not here. She said she'd be joining by Zoom, so keep an eye out for her. I don't believe I see Nancy. And uh Tim Cummings, uh Director of Administrative Services. Uh and Alderman at large, Mel Maran. The honorable. Okay. Um next up is public comment. If anyone from the public would like to speak, please come up and state your name and address. All right. Communications. Uh communication has been received from Bobby Bagley, Director of Public Health and Community Services regarding Board of Health's recommendation relative to O twenty five zero fifty-one prohibiting the sale of Kratom. Communication has been received from Nancy Trask, Human Resources Manager, regarding the legislation for implementation of unaffiliated salary and compensation schedule for fiscal year 27. Being no objection, I'll accept the communications and place them on file. Um if there is no objection, I'd like to spend the rules to allow for communication that was received after the agenda was prepared. Communication has been received from Alderman Richard Dowd regarding ordinance O twenty five to zero sixty. Um we can go right into interviews. New appointment with a term to expire June 10th, 2028. Um I am nominating, as you already heard, uh Oscar Velasis for the Cable TV uh advisory board. Um Mr. Velas has extensive media experience, uh both as an on-air personality, but also as the uh owner and operator of uh new gen media. Fir Fresh General Montes. First gen multimedia and um has been a spokesperson for uh inclusion uh in the uh local media. Uh he's very knowledgeable about the about cable TV. He's been on the radio and uh been on cable TV and he uh is a great fit there for for the cable TV advisory board. Um and so I will turn it over to uh Oscar to let him tell you a little bit about himself to the extent you're not aware already. Um and so I will turn it over to uh Oscar to let him tell you a little bit about himself to the extent you're not aware already, and of his interest in joining the um the board. Good evening. Um my name is Oscar Velasis, and for those that you don't know me, um I uh five years ago um started a multimedia company here in Nashua uh called First Gen Multimedia. I I saw that there was after starting my radio show called First Gen American, I saw that there was a need for you know bridging the gap between content and and being able to have uh you know connection with the Hispanic community and how and providing um resources and news and language and connecting the city. So uh from there from First Gen American, we started Latinos and Vivo, which was uh the first Spanish um program ever here in this city and I confidently could say in the state. Um Latinos and Vivo provided you know guests from all walks of life, but most importantly, individuals were here within this city uh like Mr. Doncius, like Mayor Doncius, and a lot of aldermen and a lot of important figures with throughout the state um to be able to provide that content, uh, to connect with families and just to be that resource.
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