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Record of Proceedings

Special Board of Alderman Meeting on Unsheltered and Downtown Bathrooms - October 10, 2025

Board of Aldermen Meetings — Friday, October 10, 2025
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateFriday, October 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:34:51

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

9th, 2025 at 7 p.m.

0:01

in the Aldermanic Chamber, which has been duly noticed in two places, including the city's website, in accordance with the requirements of RSA 91A.

0:10

The prayer will be offered by City Clerk Dan Healy and Alderman Jetty will lead us in the pledge to the flag.

0:16

Almighty God, we have the high honor in the serious duty to manage the affairs of our beloved city.

0:23

Fill us, oh God, with a spirit of unity and understanding, which enables us to face our multiple problems with a serene mind, with justice and charity for all, so that any and all decisions made by us will always be for the betterment and greater happiness of all our fellow citizens.

0:41

So help us God.

0:42

Amen.

0:44

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

0:50

Which stands one under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:04

Let's start the meeting by taking a roll call attendance, please.

1:08

Alderman O'Brien.

1:09

Present.

1:13

Alderman Moran.

1:14

Present.

1:16

Here.

1:17

Aldwin Govea.

1:19

Here.

1:20

Alderman Lopez.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Alderman Sullivan.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Aldman Clemens.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Alderman Senate.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Baldwin Jetty.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Albin Tebow.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Aldman Clee.

1:34

Here.

1:35

Aldwin Dowd.

1:37

Present.

1:37

Alderwoman Kelly.

1:39

Here.

1:39

Almond Wilsh.

1:41

Here.

1:42

14 present, one absent.

1:44

Thank you very much.

1:44

Also joining us this evening is Mayor Jim Donchis and Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton.

1:49

So tonight we um we had well let me back up.

1:53

We had a listening session at the public library a couple weeks ago about these these issues.

1:59

We did not put public comment on our agenda so that we could get through the discussion of what the city can look to do to help resolve this issue.

2:09

So it's going to be more of a discussion amongst the board and city staff, but we wanted people here so they know what we're doing.

2:17

You can give us feedback after if uh if you heard something that you weren't, you know, that that didn't work out.

2:24

So I'm gonna uh I'm gonna stick to that this evening, and I'm gonna turn it over to the clerk communication.

2:36

Communication has been received from Laurie Wilshire, President Board of Alderman regarding calling special board of alderman meeting on October 9th, 2025, relative to a discussion on unsheltered in downtown bathrooms.

2:50

There being no objection, I'll accept accept the communication and place it on file.

2:54

Discussions and or presentations.

2:57

Mayor?

2:58

Yes, thanks.

2:59

Thank you, Madam President.

3:01

So I'm going to just um introduce uh Liz Hanneman a minute, um, but before that, just uh talk a little bit about how we've gotten here.

3:10

Uh the first um well, the main concern here is the effect of the homeless unhoused population of people downtown.

3:20

Not all of them, but some of them, particularly who disbehave misbehave at uh various times, and interfere with, as you've already heard, uh the people, patrons downtown as well as the businesses.

3:36

Um and we've heard in two listening sessions, first one uh organized by Alyssa O'Mara of the Great American Downtown with some city people, including myself, uh, and then uh a follow-up with the board of Alderman.

3:53

You've heard these many of these concerns directly from our downtown business community.

3:59

And of course, the downtown business community is essential to the city's success, and we want to make sure that uh everyone prospers and reach the appropriate balance between compassion for people who uh do not have the resources to enable them to have a sufficient place to live and the interests of the other citizens of the city.

4:26

Um so um we have come up with a few ideas that we're just going to present.

4:33

These aren't cast in stone or anything.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████████37%
Homelessness██████████████████████████26%
Public Health██████████████14%
Public Works████████████12%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Procedural██2%
Accessibility█1%
Public Health Services█1%
Traffic And Parking█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Special Board of Alderman Meeting on Unsheltered and Downtown Bathrooms - October 10, 2025

The Board of Aldermen held a special meeting on October 9, 2025 (recorded as October 10, 2025 UTC) to discuss the impact of unsheltered individuals downtown and potential solutions, including increased police presence, a downtown clean team, and public restroom options. The meeting featured presentations from city staff and discussions with public health and police officials.

Discussion Items

  • Overview: Mayor Jim Donchis introduced the issue, noting two prior listening sessions with downtown businesses. The main concerns are safety, cleanliness, and human waste. Proposed solutions include a downtown clean team (modeled after Manchester's program costing ~$530,000/year), increased police enforcement (16 hours/day at ~$30,000/month), and public restrooms.
  • Public Restroom Options: Economic Development Director Liz Hannem presented three options:
    • Permanent Portland Loo: $185,000 per unit plus $100,000–$200,000 for foundation/utilities (total ~$285,000–$385,000). Annual operating cost: ~$145,000 for daily cleaning. Features 360-degree visibility; police can see feet from vehicles. No heating; designed to discourage lingering.
    • Mobile Trailer Units: $100,000–$150,000 each (ADA accessible). Operating cost ~$130,000–$145,000/year for three units. Less visible; require more monitoring.
    • ADA Porta-Potties: ~$3,000 each, but high operating costs and safety concerns (e.g., fires, drug use).
  • City Hall Bathrooms: Previously piloted extended hours (open until 8 PM) but had issues: people sheltering, substance use, and one overdose requiring Narcan. Public Health officials cautioned that monitoring is essential, as a fatal overdose can occur in ~15 minutes. ADA accessibility is also a concern (stairs only).
  • Transit Center Bathrooms: ADA compliant but require constant supervision. Available during normal transit hours (8 AM–5 PM). Previous misuse led to closures.
  • Pine Street Extension Encampment: Public Health reported ~75 people living at Mine Falls. Police recorded 117 confirmed responses to that area in July–September 2025, including overdoses, fights, and drug offenses. Porta-potties placed there have had fewer complaints than downtown.
  • Police Enforcement Pilot: Deputy Chief Brian Kenny described a pilot program with officers on Main Street for 16 hours/day. Downtown businesses reported a small positive difference. However, police expressed concern that adding amenities like bathrooms could incentivize more unsheltered individuals to remain downtown.
  • Clean Team: Director Hannem noted Manchester's contract at $530,000/year for a 6-day/week, 14-person team. Nashua is exploring a similar model.
  • Legislation: Police Commissioner Jim Tolner indicated two pieces of legislation will be in the next meeting packet: one addressing open containers and another regarding overnight camping. He urged prompt action.

Key Outcomes

  • No formal decisions were made; the meeting was a discussion to gather input from the Board and city staff.
  • Aldermanic comments revealed a split: Several aldermen favored the permanent Portland Loo (e.g., O'Brien, Moran, Lopez) citing durability and safety. Others (e.g., Clemens, Tebow, Kelly) favored using existing City Hall or transit bathrooms as a lower-cost interim solution, with increased monitoring.
  • Concerns about cost and effectiveness: Many aldermen noted that a single bathroom would not solve the human waste problem entirely and questioned the $400,000 investment given competing needs (e.g., police staffing, warming stations).
  • Next steps: The Board will receive proposed legislation at the next regular meeting. No timeline for a restroom decision was set.

Public Health and Police Perspectives

  • Public Health Director Bobby Bagley and Housing Services Officer Latonia Mucielli emphasized that a drop-in resource center (welcome center) would more comprehensively address the root issues, including providing bathrooms and connections to services. They submitted two capital improvement requests for such a center, but funding was not prioritized in the current budget.
  • Police Deputy Chief Kenny reported that the downtown enforcement pilot has cost ~$30,000/month and shown modest improvement. He noted that the department is understaffed and struggling to recruit new officers.
  • Fire Department (Assistant Chief Adam Pulliot) stated they would respond to emergencies regardless of bathroom location, but had no recommendation on the type.

Statistics and Costs Referenced

  • Portland Loo unit: $185,000; installation: $100,000–$200,000; total ~$385,000.
  • Mobile unit (3 stalls): $100,000–$150,000 each; annual cleaning: ~$145,000 for three.
  • ADA porta-potty: ~$3,000 each, but high servicing costs.
  • Police enforcement pilot: ~$30,000/month.
  • Manchester clean team: $530,000/year.
  • Pine Street encampment: ~75 people; 117 police responses in 3 months.
  • Cost per jail day for homeless: $131; hospitalization: $1,200; supportive housing: $72.

Meeting Transcript

9th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber, which has been duly noticed in two places, including the city's website, in accordance with the requirements of RSA 91A. The prayer will be offered by City Clerk Dan Healy and Alderman Jetty will lead us in the pledge to the flag. Almighty God, we have the high honor in the serious duty to manage the affairs of our beloved city. Fill us, oh God, with a spirit of unity and understanding, which enables us to face our multiple problems with a serene mind, with justice and charity for all, so that any and all decisions made by us will always be for the betterment and greater happiness of all our fellow citizens. So help us God. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. Which stands one under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Let's start the meeting by taking a roll call attendance, please. Alderman O'Brien. Present. Alderman Moran. Present. Here. Aldwin Govea. Here. Alderman Lopez. Here. Alderman Sullivan. Here. Aldman Clemens. Here. Alderman Senate. Here. Baldwin Jetty. Here. Albin Tebow. Here. Aldman Clee. Here. Aldwin Dowd. Present. Alderwoman Kelly. Here. Almond Wilsh. Here. 14 present, one absent. Thank you very much. Also joining us this evening is Mayor Jim Donchis and Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton. So tonight we um we had well let me back up. We had a listening session at the public library a couple weeks ago about these these issues. We did not put public comment on our agenda so that we could get through the discussion of what the city can look to do to help resolve this issue. So it's going to be more of a discussion amongst the board and city staff, but we wanted people here so they know what we're doing. You can give us feedback after if uh if you heard something that you weren't, you know, that that didn't work out. So I'm gonna uh I'm gonna stick to that this evening, and I'm gonna turn it over to the clerk communication. Communication has been received from Laurie Wilshire, President Board of Alderman regarding calling special board of alderman meeting on October 9th, 2025, relative to a discussion on unsheltered in downtown bathrooms. There being no objection, I'll accept accept the communication and place it on file. Discussions and or presentations. Mayor?

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