Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - September 4, 2025

The Finance Committee of the Nashua Board of Aldermen met on September 4, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Chair Clee presided. Members present: Aldermen Thibodeau, Gove, Moran, Clemens, and Clee. Mayor Doncius and Alderman Timmons were absent. A quorum was present. The committee considered multiple purchasing communications, including a contentious amendment for parking garage repairs, and held a general discussion on the approval process for change orders.

Consent Calendar

• Annual HVAC Preventative Maintenance: Approved a one-year contract with Palmer and Sicard Inc. for HVAC maintenance at all fire rescue facilities, amount not to exceed $25,196, funded from General Fund 50. Unanimous.
• Parking Garage Office Design Amendment #2: Approved amendment with Randall Paulson for additional utility investigation and EV charging station design for the Elm Street parking garage office expansion, amount not to exceed $70,659, funded from Bond 53. Unanimous.
• Hydropower Engineering Change Order #2: Approved change order with Van Dyce LLC for bathymetric and LIDAR surveys at Jackson Mills and Mines Falls hydroelectric facilities, amount not to exceed $41,700, funded from Capital Improvements 53. Unanimous.
• Wastewater Hydraulic Gate Cylinder Repairs: Approved repairs to the screening and disinfection facility drain chamber hydraulic system by New Hampshire Hydraulics, amount not to exceed $79,650, funded from Wastewater Fund 54. (Note: Agenda misprinted amount as $41,700; corrected during meeting.) Unanimous.
• Pavement Marking Change Order #3: Approved final change order for FY24 pavement marking contract with Markings Inc., amount not to exceed $162,000, funded from General Fund 54. Unanimous.
• Sole Source Asphalt and Aggregates Purchase: Approved sole source purchase from Brock's Industries and Continental Paving, amount not to exceed $147,000, funded from General Fund 61. Unanimous.
• Water Street Guardrail Repainting: Approved contract with Ed Swat Inc. to strip and repaint guardrails from Four Water Street driveway to the parking lot crosswalk, amount not to exceed $60,000, funded from Riverfront TIF Fund 54. Unanimous.
• Record of Expenditures: Approved expenditures for the period August 15–28, 2025, as compliant with city charter. Unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

• None.

Discussion Items

• Parking Garage Repairs Amendment #1: Proposed amendment with Whiting-Turner Construction for unforeseen items (battery-powered emergency lighting, asbestos and lead abatement, security camera redesign, ground wire conduit replacement) at a cost not to exceed $526,972.53, funded from Bond 53. Alderman Moran questioned the large cost swing, and staff explained hidden hazardous materials. The initial vote failed 3–2 (Aldermen Thibodeau, Gove, Moran opposed; Aldermen Clemens and Clee in favor). Alderman Moran (or Clee? – transcript unclear) moved for reconsideration, which passed 4–1. The amended motion then passed 3–2 (three in favor, two opposed).
• Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Services Amendment #2: Approved amendment with Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (CPI) for continued oversight of the parking garage renovation project, amount not to exceed $142,832.20, funded from Bond 53. Alderman Clemens spoke in favor, noting the value of expert project management and that costs remained within the bond. The motion passed 3–2.

General Discussion

• Alderman Moran expressed concern about approving change orders after work had occurred, citing a need for better process and transparency. He noted that the body should not approve funds after the fact, and that the situation could be misconstrued by the public.
• Alderman Clemens clarified that the project could not continue without the amendment, and that contingency funds exist for such unforeseen conditions. He emphasized that the finance committee’s primary role is to ensure funds are available, not to set policy, and that the project had already been approved by the full board.
• Director of Administrative Services Tim Cummings acknowledged the conversation and offered to provide regular project updates at the Infrastructure Committee to improve transparency. He noted that the parking garage project does not fall under a joint committee process, which may contribute to the disconnect.
• Alderman Gove explained his consistent no votes on parking garage items, stemming from his objection to the initial use of a spending cap exemption to fund the project, not the project’s administration.
• Chair Clee thanked DPW for quick response over the Labor Day weekend to a constituent’s sewer basin cover issue.

Key Outcomes

• Approved unanimously: All items listed in the Consent Calendar, plus the record of expenditures.
• Approved after reconsideration (3–2): Parking garage repairs amendment #1 ($526,972.53).
• Approved (3–2): OPM services amendment #2 ($142,832.20).
• Failed initially, then passed: The parking garage repairs amendment first failed 3–2, was reconsidered, and then passed by the same margin.
• Directive: Director Cummings will provide regular parking garage project updates at the Infrastructure Committee.