Nashua Board of Public Works Meeting - September 30, 2025

The Board of Public Works met on September 30, 2025, to approve a series of equipment purchases, contracts, and operational items. The meeting was chaired by Mayor John Douglas, with Commissioners Shea, Lemon, and Speedia present, and Commissioner Greg absent. Alderman Dowd also attended. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda: Moved by Commissioner Shea, seconded by Commissioner Lemon. Passed unanimously.
• Approval of Minutes (August 28, 2025): Moved by Commissioner Lemon, seconded by Commissioner Shea. Passed unanimously.

Wastewater Department Items

• Item A – User Warrants: Approved as presented.
• Item B – Purchase of Hatch Monitoring Equipment: Approved in the amount of $34,496.40 from Hatch Company of Loveland, Colorado, for process monitoring equipment (DO probes, turbidity meters, pH meter) at the wastewater facility. Funding via Department 169 Wastewater Fund.
• Item C – Repairs to South Emergency Generator: Approved at $29,950 from Kraft Power of Uber Mass for radiator replacement due to corrosion. Funding via Department 169 Wastewater Fund.
• Item D – Purchase of Two Vogelsong Grinders: Approved at $40,849 from Westcore Associates Inc. of Rentham, Massachusetts, for in-line grinders to protect sludge transfer pumps. FY26 scheduled purchase.
• Item E – Purchase of Three Vogelsong Sludge Transfer Pumps: Approved at $60,180 from Westcore Associates Inc. for replacement of aging pumps. FY26 scheduled purchase.

Parks Department

• Item A – Purchase of 2025 Massey Ferguson Tractor: Approved at $102,488 from State Boy Toys LLC of New Boston, New Hampshire, via Sourcewell contract. This replaces a 1999 Kubota tractor used for athletic field maintenance. The old tractor will move to back-line service. Funding via Department 177 Parks and Recreation Trust Activity SURF.

Solid Waste Department

• Item A – Change Order #1 for Landfill Cap Extension: Approved at $77,665 for additional work to complete the temporary cap on Phase 3 landfill, including gas collection. Revised contract total not to exceed $861,955 with Charter Contracting Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Funding via Department 168 Solid Waste Fund Bond Activity Gas Expansion.

Fleet Department

• Item A – Purchase of John Deere Articulated Dump Truck: Approved at $703,500 plus $5,000 for radio installation, from United Construction and Forestry. This is a scheduled replacement for the solid waste department's aging dump truck, essential for daily landfill operations and Phase 4 development. Funding via bond (Department 168 Solid Waste Fund Bond Activity SURF). Discussion occurred regarding the use of bonding versus cash from the Capital Equipment Reserve Fund (SURF). Assistant Finance Director Carolyn O'Connor explained that large items are often bonded due to limited SURF funding (~$5M/year). The city plans to increase SURF budget from $2.5M in FY26 to $5M in FY27. The existing truck shows corrosion; delivery is expected within two weeks as a cancelled order is available.
• Item B – Purchase of Two 2026 Ford F-350 Pickups: Approved at $98,473 each (total $196,946) plus $5,000 for radio installation, from Gripponi Ford via New Hampshire State bid. These are for the street department, used for snow operations and special projects. Two older trucks will move to back-line. Discussion about outdoor storage and salt corrosion. Commissioner Shea suggested auction proceeds should go to SURF rather than general fund.
• Item C – Purchase of One 2026 Ford F-350 Pickup: Approved at $104,558 plus $5,000 for radio installation, similar to Item B but with ladder rack and different bumper. For street department foreman.
• Item D – Purchase of John Deere Excavator: Approved at $295,400 plus $5,000 for radio installation, with trade-in. Replaces a 2012 Caterpillar excavator used for emergency digs. Funding via Department 161 Streets Fund SURF.
• Item E – Purchase of John Deere Backhoe: Approved at $211,000 plus $5,000 for radio installation, with trade-in. Replaces a 2015 Caterpillar backhoe used for daily operations and snow fighting. Comes with 7-year/4,000-hour warranty.
• Item F – Purchase of Two 2026 Ford F-250 Pickups: Approved at $62,256 each plus $5,000 for radio installation, from Gripponi Ford via state bid. For parks department foreman, replacing older trucks moved to back-line for snow operations.

Engineering Department

• Item A – Sewer Service Permits and Fees: Approved as submitted.
• Item B – Poll License Petitions: Approved as listed in staff report.
• Item C – Drain Layers License for Underground Testing and Services LLC: Approved for Goffstown, New Hampshire, with a six-month probationary period per Nashua City Code 255-19.
• Item D – Engineering Services Contract Amendment with IMEG: Approved at $175,000 for the 2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Program, covering construction and future bid packages. Funding via Department 169 Wastewater Fund.
• Item E – Moratorium Restoration Waiver for Liberty Utilities (Lake Street): Approved to allow center-line paving instead of curb-to-curb due to minimal impact from gas main replacements. Liberty Utilities representative Ian Crabtree explained the work on Russell Street and Lake Avenue required only partial widening of Lake Street.
• Item F – Hardship Request from North Street Properties (50 Franklin Street): Approved to excavate and replace a water main on Franklin Street to add two apartments to a vacant commercial space. Derek Lawton of North Street Properties presented the request.

Administration / Director's Report

• Update on Bridges: Final paving completed on Veterans and Taylor Falls Bridges on September 5, 2025.
• Parks: Fall plantings installed on Main Street; record attendance of over 3,300 at the Wheels and Wings event on September 20, 2025, with donations for 68 Hours to End Hunger. Next event: Boo Bash at Greeley Park on October 18, 2025.
• Street Department: Rebuilding press box at Holman Stadium, clearing brush on Mill Pond Road, pavement marking for additional handicapped spaces, and repairing catch basins on Chester Street.
• Waste & Recycling: Household hazardous waste collection on November 8, 2025 (last of season). Four Hills Landfill closed on October 13, 2025 (Columbus Day). Curbside oversized item pickup ends October 17, 2025; soft yard waste continues until December 5, 2025. New mural at recycling center by Positive Street Art.
• Commissioner Inquiries: Commissioner Shea asked about overwintering canna lily bulbs; the director agreed to investigate. Commissioner Shea also raised safety concerns about sight lines at Exit 8 and Buckmeadow Road; the director will address.

Commissioner Comments

• Commissioner Speedia praised the Wheels and Wings event, noting it was well-attended and family-friendly.
• Commissioner Shea expressed concern about the federal push to rename Indigenous People's Day back to Columbus Day, stating it is not aligned with the city's values. Alderman Dowd noted that the city ordinance still designates Indigenous People's Day. Director Tim Cummings clarified that a 2024 state law requires municipalities to refer to the holiday as Columbus Day on official communications. Commissioner Shea suggested exploring whether there are punitive measures for non-compliance and whether the board should establish procedures for dissent.

Personnel

• Item A – Unseal Non-Public Minutes (August 28, 2025): Approved unanimously.
• Item B – Retirement of Matt Iserman: Accepted, effective September 19, 2025.
• Item C – Retirement of Michael Cole: Accepted, effective September 10, 2025.
• Item D – Resignation of Tenzin (Mechanic First Class): Accepted, effective September 19, 2025.

Non-Public Session

• The board voted by roll call to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3, II(b) for the hiring of a public employee. All commissioners present voted in favor. After the session, a motion to seal the minutes was approved by roll call (all in favor) until the need for confidentiality no longer exists.

Key Outcomes

• All 17 motions on the agenda were approved unanimously.
• The board approved over $1.7 million in equipment purchases funded through SURF, bonds, and departmental budgets.
• The board granted a moratorium restoration waiver to Liberty Utilities and a hardship waiver to North Street Properties.
• The board accepted two retirements and one resignation.
• The board entered non-public session and voted to seal the minutes.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:30 PM (joint meeting scheduled afterward).

Note: No public comments were received.