Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - October 1, 2025
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The Nashua Finance Committee met on October 1, 2025, chaired by Mayor Dodgers, with all members present. The committee approved numerous purchases and contracts, including life safety equipment, wastewater infrastructure, police equipment, and a bomb squad vehicle. Public comment was not offered. The committee also accepted the record of expenditures and voted to enter non-public session under RSA 91A:3 II for emergency functions preparation.
Approved Purchases & Contracts
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA): Approved $1,390,000 for 130 SCBA units (260 bottles) and associated software from Fire Tech and Safety of New England Inc. and Systems Definition, funded through SURF 71 equipment. Fire Chief Steve Bucksteam explained the units are out of warranty and costly to maintain.
- Hatch Monitoring Equipment: Approved $34,496.40 for dissolved oxygen probe controllers, turbidometers, and a pH meter from Hatch Company, funded through WERF 81. Wastewater Superintendent Dave Boucher noted it is an in-kind replacement, sole source.
- WWTF South Emergency Generator Repair: Approved $29,950 for radiator replacement on the SEL emergency generator by Craft Power, funded through wastewater fund 54.
- Vogel Slang Grinders: Approved $40,849 for two sludge grinders from WERSCOR Associates Inc., funded through WERF 81. Superintendent Boucher explained they protect sludge transfer pumps.
- Vogel Slang Sludge Pumps: Approved $60,180 for three sludge transfer pumps from WERSCOR Associates Inc., funded through WERF 81. These pump sludge to dewatering equipment.
- Landfill Temporary Cap Extension Change Order: Approved $77,665 for additional cap installation on Phase 3 with Charter Contracting, funded through bond 81. Solid Waste Superintendent noted more trash was placed, requiring extension.
- Sewer Rehabilitation Program Engineering Services Amendment: Approved $175,000 for engineering services from IMEG Inc. (formerly Hainer Swanson), funded through bond 53. City Engineer Dan Hudson said the contract supports construction observation and planning.
- Riverfront Water Street Lighting Design: Approved $9,850 for pedestrian-scale lighting design from McFarland Johnson, funded through Riverfront TIF fund. Economic Development Director Liz Hannem confirmed it is a contract transfer with the same price.
- Bulletproof Vests: Approved $49,224 for 42 Second Chance SX02 Level II vests from DCF Investigative Services LLC, funded equally by general fund ($24,612) and grant ($24,612). Police firearms training unit explained vests have a five-year shelf life. Alderman Thibodeau voted nay due to the grant funding source; motion passed.
- Hazardous Device Unit Response Truck: Approved $325,000 for a 2026 Ford F-550 chassis with a polyurethane body from CET Manufacturing via Greenwood Emergency Vehicles LLC, funded through SURF 81. Sergeant Tim Roacham stated the current 2004 vehicle is beyond useful life; the polypropylene body has a lifetime warranty and is less expensive than aluminum.
- Police Department Copiers: Approved a five-year contract with Toshiba Business Solutions for 10 Toshiba E-Studio copiers at $94,698, funded through general fund 54. Business Manager Karen Smith noted the cost per copy is nearly half the current rate and reduces individual printers.
Other Business
- Matter Tabled in Committee: A prior item was held again to allow Director Sullivan to obtain vendor assurances about future overages; no motion to remove from table was made.
- Record of Expenditures: The committee approved the record of expenditures for the period September 12–25, 2025, confirming compliance with city charter and ordinances.
Key Outcomes
- All purchase and contract motions passed unanimously except the bulletproof vest item, which passed with one nay vote (Alderman Thibodeau).
- The committee voted 5-0 to enter non-public session under RSA 91A:3 II for discussion of materials related to emergency functions aimed at thwarting deliberate acts causing widespread injury or damage.
Meeting Transcript
No, Amy's gonna text him to get it. All right, we're gonna call the uh meeting of the finance committee to order on October 1st, 2025. Uh Mr. Clerk, would you please call the roll? Alderman Thibodeau? Here. Alderman Govea is here. Alderman Moran. Alderwoman Timmins. Alderman Clemens. Here. Alderman Clee. I'm here. Mayor Dodgers. Here. All right. We have public comment. Does any member of the public wish to speak on any of the agenda items? I don't believe there is anyone. Communications. First from Amy Girard, purchasing manager, Alderman Govea. In regard to self-contained breathing apparatus, SCBA equipment in the amount not to exceed 1,390,000 funded from Surf 71 equipment. Make a motion to accept play sum file and approve the purchase of 130 self-contained breathing apparatus, SCBA units, including all associated software and equipments through Fire Tech and Safety of New England Incorporated and Systems Definition in the amount not to exceed 1,390,000. Funding will be through Department 152 Fire Rescue Fund, Surf 71 equipment. Chief, you're here on this, right? Good evening, Steve Bucksteam, National Fire Chief. This is this evening. This is to replace our self-contained breathing apparatus. For those of you that might not be aware, those are our pieces of life safety equipment. Every firefighter wears one on the scene of a working fire incident. It's our breathing air when we go inside. This will be 130 units, 260 bottles. Each unit has a bottle and a backup bottle to go with it for when they expel the original uh air. Uh the software that they're speaking of in there uh is to coincide with some radio communication software that we have. Uh so we'll have the ability to monitor the members operating on the scene, uh, the level of air that they have within their uh self-contained breathing apparatus. Uh this is planned for in the surf schedule uh and is up for replacement. The units are uh coming out of warranty and starting to cost a significant amount of money to maintain at this point in time. All right, anybody all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed, motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Next item. Um a communication from Amy Girrard. Alderman Govea. In regard to purchase of hatch equipment in the amount not to exceed 34,496 and 40 cents, funded from WERF 81 capital outlay and improvement. I make a motion to accept play sum file and approve the purchase of hatch brand monitoring equipment from Hatch Company in the amount not to exceed 34,496 and 40 cents. Funding will be through Department 169 wastewater fund, WERF, 81 capital outlay and improvements. Mr. Boucher, thank you.
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