Calling the personal human affairs committee to order.

Today is Thursday, November 6th, 2025.

The time is 7:10.

We are in the Aldermanic Chamber.

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

Would the clerk please call the roll?

Yes.

Alderman Senate is here.

Alderman Lopez.

Alderman Jetty.

Here.

Alderman Clemens, Vice Chair.

And Alderwoman Kelly, Chair.

I'm here.

Also joining us is uh Alderman Klee.

Um I can't see far.

I'm sorry.

Don Enright.

Dawn Enright.

Um CFO and uh Megan Karen.

Okay.

Uh first up is public comment.

I'm also on Zoom.

Oh, sorry, we also have Alderman Marion via Zoom.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Um okay.

Uh first up is public comment.

If anyone would like to speak on anything we're taking up this evening, please come to the mic.

I think most of the people in the gallery are here for interviews.

Uh communications.

There are none.

Interviews.

Uh first up for the Greeley Park Advisory Committee.

We have Kathleen Lodi, new appointment term to expire November 13, 2028.

12th Bartlett Avenue, Nashua, New Hampshire.

And Richard Smart, new appointment term to expire October 14, 2028, 159 Searles Road, Nashua, New Hampshire.

And maybe on this side.

We want them on that side.

Yeah, because then they can all sit together.

Yeah.

We don't want to be lopsided.

Okay, I don't blame you.

I don't blame you.

Um so just so you know, you're both interviewing for the same, so she'll introduce you.

You know, you can talk and then open it up to um any questions from the alderman as a group affair.

Makes it a little easier.

Okay.

Miss Karen, go ahead.

Uh thank you.

Uh good evening.

Uh for the record, uh, Megan Karen, Chief of Staff.

Uh, just to clarify before I get started, you'd like me to introduce both candidates and then okay.

Um, so we have two nominations tonight for the Greeley Park Advisory Committee.

Uh, the first being Miss Uh Kathleen Lodi.

I'm actually um going to turn it over to um Alder Woman Clee.

Um Ms.

Lodi came highly recommended uh from Alder Woman Clee.

So I'm gonna I'm gonna share the floor.

May I sure uh th thank you, um Madam Chairwoman.

Um I've I've known uh Kathy just about since she uh moved into Ward 3 into Nashua and uh um one of the stories that I love about Kathy is she stalked the neighborhood um because she truly uh loved the uh area.

Um so she she drove around and so on, and and the park was one of the things that she loved.

Um we've we've talked about it with different things that have happened within the park, and um so when it came up to this time, and I had kind of put out that we needed some people here.

Kathy uh was one of the the people that had stepped up.

We've had some really good applicants and and so on, but I do believe that that Kathy and her husband Bob they they have this love for the park, and I I know I keep sounding very redundant, but they go through the park, they um they talk about the different issues with the trees with the different paths and so on, but I'll let Kathy uh speak more for herself.

But I I strongly hope that you will uh support her nomination.

Thank you, Alderman Clee.

Um Alderman Clee has been an amazing advocate for Greeley Park.

Um my story is um I I did I probably for two decades I stocked the neighborhood.

Um I would park.

Um I'm a lover of old homes.

I would park at Greeley, and I'd walk down Concord Street and look at all the homes, and I went to uh the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester, and one of my classes was to study historic uh styles, architecture, and homes.

And uh downtown Nashua was my stomping ground for that.

There were so many examples.

Uh and I just it was my dream to always uh move to the neighborhood.

Um things finally came together in in late 2020, and in 2021 we moved in.

And while I was unloading our moving truck, we got a notice from a developer that there were going to be 44 units going in uh up the street and all up against Greeley Park.

So I was pretty emotional about it for two days, and then I looked up who to see who my alder alderman was, and that's how I connected with uh Alder Woman Clee, and she she came right over, spent two hours with me, and went over everything to do with the neighborhood, the park, and and what our options would be.

And the city is is lucky to have somebody that cares so much about their constituents and the public spaces that we use.

So I I am grateful uh to be considered for a spot on this committee.

Great.

Miss Karen, do you want to introduce Mr.

Smart, please?

Yes.

Uh next we have uh Dr.

Richard Smart.

Um Dr.

Smart's a longtime uh resident of Nashua and an avid uh disc golfer.

He was integral uh to the disc golf course project at Robie Park, which really began as a grassroots effort.

Um and he was one of the driving forces behind it.

He came to the city to advocate for the project and engage the community at large and to really promote the benefits of the activity.

Um we feel that Dr.

Smart understands the importance of recreation and of our public spaces and the role that it plays in our community.

Um we appreciate Dr.

Smart's uh civic engagement and uh feel he's a strong nominee for the committee.

Thank you, Mr.

Smart.

Would you like to add?

Sure.

Um as Megan said, I'm a lifelong Nashua resident.

Uh I was I was born here uh at Nashua Memorial Hospital.

Um I went through the Nashua education system.

Um I left Nashua for a very short time uh only because the things I was interested in were not available um in New Hampshire or or Nashua.

Um after um my education, I returned home.

Um Nashua is home, it's always going to be home.

Uh unfortunately for me, I do have to commute quite a ways to do my job.

Um but Nashua is is where where I where I belong.

Um my reason for joining um this committee is as uh Miss Karen said that I have a very um vested interest in the parks in and around the city of Nashua.

Um I believe that the parks are the people's parks.

Um these parks belong to the people of Nashua and they should be used and respected as such.

Um I'm not here to put disc golf in Greeley Park.

It's not why I want to uh make that very very clear to everyone right now.

Um in fact, I think one of the things we need to do with Greeley is kind of get rid of some of those eyesore baskets that are on Manchester Street.

Uh the time has come that that project has uh lived up to what it was intended to do, and now that we have the proposal to move forward, we're we're excited to uh look at what Greeley Park can be used for and see uh you know how I can best help uh understand the impact of those uses.

Great.

I'll open up to questions.

Hold them in the Senate.

Uh thank you, Madam Chair.

I don't really have a question, but I I will start with a comment to um to Mrs.

Lodi.

Uh you you had mentioned I I guess I would say very uh passively the uh the development that popped up next to Greeley Park and how you reached out to Alderman Clee and became connected.

Um I just want to put into the public record that I feel that you undersold your role in that a little bit because as I recall, you and Mr.

Lodi were very outspoken advocates for the preservation of Greeley Park.

Um that is where your name popped out to me.

I was also sitting back there behind where Miss Enright is now with you during those meetings when I was uh just a member of the public, and so uh I can't speak strongly enough to how appropriate it is that I think you're being considered for this committee and be very happy to support your um your nomination.

Um if I could, Madam Chair, to um to Dr.

Smart.

Uh I know you said you're not here to put disc golf in Greeley Park, but I do just get to um pose the question I've always wondered, and I saw it come up a lot during the um the debate over Roby Park and the disc golf uh course there.

The the arrangement, I won't even call it a course that's uh Greeley that's considered more of a um like a practice scenario, is that correct?

Absolutely.

Yeah, so if you were to to imagine yourself going to uh uh a pigeon putt um for for golf, um that's similar to what that is.

Um so like I said, it served its purpose.

It brought the the idea of disc golf to Nashua, but it it's nothing um near like a course.

Uh it's it's it's just like I said, it's a it's a practice area.

Um and with the installation of the new course, we don't we don't need it anymore.

Um so I think you know that's that's the understanding.

It's always been the agreement that when we had disc golf somewhere else, it would exit Greeley Park.

Well, I think that's uh I think a lot of people might be very happy to hear you say that.

And uh I think your your perspective on Greeley Park would be quite welcome on the committee, so I'm happy to support your nomination as well.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Um for Dr.

Smart.

Uh obviously it's my ward.

I drive by there all the time, quite often, and you may be aware of it.

The the LARPers, the live, you know, the liberal play um people are there with they tend to um use their swords against those as if they're dragons and and and so on, and they set up their tents, they do the whole thing.

That's really the only true activity that I see within that area, and um, to both of you, I I would love to see something more developed there because I think that it's such a beautiful place, and and I had to fight that that um uh the community that was put in there and all the 17 acres of trees that were taken down.

Um the they tried to put um the water pipes through through that area, um, and I was able to negotiate it to go down the fire road and and and so on, took out less trees and it was less invasive in the park.

Is there anything and and this is for for both of you, and I I'll start with uh Miss Lodi.

Is there anything that you have ideas of what you would like to see in that area, whether it be picnic tables or anything like that?

And then Mr.

Smart, if you wouldn't mind.

Dr.

Smart, I'm sorry, I apologize.

The area where the disc golf things are now, the putt putt, as I call it.

Um I I feel like we have opportunities on on both the east and the west side uh uh for things, and and that can be anything from expanding um, I would love to see the gardens expanded, and I don't know if that would mean um carrying it through to the west side, but there's a two-year wait for those garden plots.

I've talked to people who have them, they love the opportunity to put their their hands in the dirt.

Um, and and I think that just uh makes the community a lot healthier, especially as you know, this is a uh a densely populated part of the city, and and we're only going to get more dense, and as more apartment complexes go up, people need a place to walk through.

They need some big trees to see, they need to smell nature, they need to put their hands in the dirt, and if we can give them an opportunity if uh add a few more plots, especially as we change things around, um including DPW moving out of there, there's an opportunity to let the public know that they can they can start in Manchester Street, go all the way through the park, across Concord Street, and get all the way to the river.

And that's fantastic, and I don't think a lot of people know about that, and and I would love to be part of you know, helping market that to the community.

Uh agreed.

Um I think I think almost any use uh of that area would be would be impactful.

Um three things popped into my head right away.

Um there used to be a fitness course there.

Um in the yeah, in and around that area.

There was a there was a fitness course.

Um like I said, I I work in Kendall Square in Cambridge.

Uh they have very very strict ordinances around green space.

Um and what they've been doing with some of their green space is putting in really neat kind of uh things that you know the youth are actually using.

So they put in um what's called a parkour park, um, very much it's set up very similar to uh like a fitness course where you'd have different stations throughout, and it just teaches folks, um, gets them out doing fitness, um doing different types of things in the park that you may not necessarily see.

Um and then the other thing that they did um was they're doing nature walks.

Um so going in and and and maybe tapping into some of the local artists and photographers around Nashua and presenting to the youth what what happens in your city, what what species of animals do we have in Greeley Park?

What what can you expect to see on a walk through this area?

Um so those are kind of the things that popped into my mind when we were talking about you know what what we could use that space for.

Um the idea that you can go from Manchester Street to the river, um, is a phenomenal um way to look at it.

And I think that if you were to sort of create a new entrance um to Greeley Park there, um sort of to attract people to that to that side of the park.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Additional questions?

Well I'll just comment that I appreciate both of you coming forward really as a gem and you sound like you would be great stewards for the um for the park and for the city.

So thank you.

Thank you.

We will take up your nomination just a little bit.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

All right.

Excuse me.

Next up for the Historic District Commission, we have Michelle Ernest, uh new appointment alternate.

Term to expire November 11, 2028, 40 Concord Street, Nashua.

Come on.

So uh next we have uh Dr.

Michelle Ernest.

Uh she currently lives in the historic district and is interested in its preservation and integrity.

And her interest actually uh in serving on this commit commission stems from her experience on the other side going before the commission for certain approvals.

Um so we're we're happy to hear that uh Dr.

Ernest's positive and informative experiences uh prompted her to get involved.

So um I will um turn it over to her to share some of her uh reasons why she'd like to join the commission.

Thank you very much.

I'm delighted to be here tonight and to have the opportunity to uh possibly go on the historic commission.

Uh as she mentioned, I have had the opportunity to go before the commission uh about four or five times now.

Um my mother and I undertook the renovation of my house at 40 Concord Street back in 2015.

I don't know if any of you have seen it back then, it was pretty bad.

Uh it actually had I think some squatters in it.

It was in pretty bad shape when we took it over, and we had a lot of fun doing that renovation.

Uh it is a little bit different house in the historic district because it was built in 1952, so it's not one of the old Victorians, but it's on the blueprint, it's on the foundation of a very historic home that was there.

And uh the uh uh the the building in the back on the next lot, the red house uh used to be part of that lot, and it was their their carriage house, I believe.

At any rate, I've had a uh interesting experience learning about the historic district commission and how they work, and I've lived in the north end of Nashua most of my life.

I grew up in Nashua, went away for a few years when I got married and then came back in 2015.

So historic area of Nashua is something that's near and dear to my heart.

Um my mom Pat Thurber was uh instrumental in starting the Historic District Commission uh a long time ago and served on the board, I think the first few years that it was in existence.

So even though I don't have a lot of experience in historic preservation or architecture, uh I was at the dinner table a lot with my mother going through all of this and have always had a keen interest uh in the beauty and integrity of buildings.

And I would very much love the opportunity to help preserve the historic district in Nashua and to be part of the process for um having it be even more beautiful.

Um I will open that up to questions from the alderman.

Yes, Alderman Senate.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um excuse me, again, not a question, but I I am familiar with 40 Concord Street.

I grew up um just north of Greeley Park myself, actually, and so in trips downtown, whether you know, with my mother on the bike was um always passed by that.

And anybody who isn't familiar um with how that house looked and how it looks now, I can't recommend Google Maps Street View enough because you you can do a before and after comparison, and it it was it sat in disrepair for many many years.

Um I guess I could dovetail that into a question.

Um what was your experience like um when you were undertaking that renovation going before the historic district commission?

Did you did you find that to be a uh a difficult process or one that really helped you understand what um what renovations you were able to um undertake and which ones you were more restricted on?

I think it was an interesting experience on both regards because it was a process I wasn't familiar with uh and the actual process of it having to get all of the parts of it together and create a a document to submit, that was all very interesting and very informative.

Um it was a little uh nerve-wracking to um to go before them and to have things hanging in the balance to see whether or not you'd be allowed to do something, but it was also informative and interesting in that way to find out why they were doing what they were doing and how important it was.

It was a little uh nerve-wracking to um to go before them and to have things hanging in the balance to see whether or not you'd be allowed to do something, but it was also informative and interesting in that way to find out why they were doing what they were doing and how important it was.

So it wasn't a bad process.

Um it was just a little intimidating to start with, I think.

Well, well, thanks for that answer.

And I and I think that experience will probably guide you very well in the decision making process and as a um as a member of that committee to you know hopefully make that a little less intimidating for folks that do come before you with their uh with their own proposals going forward.

So I'm looking forward to supporting your nomination.

Thank you.

Awesome.

Go ahead, Aldwan Jetty.

So I I hope this isn't inappropriate to say, but um I knew your mother.

Oh her name was Pat Skillings at the time that I first met her.

Okay.

Um when I was a uh my first job after I got out of the army was uh I was the uh attorney for uh what was then known as Newham uh Southern New Hampshire Legal Services.

And uh Pat was involved in an organization that was very uh supportive of uh you know of uh of disadvantaged people and uh and she was a great um you know very encouraging and very a great asset to you know my role as uh representing the um the disadvantage you know people who are you know uh uh indigent and um you know we we were uh so uh I had a lot of respect for her and and um you know so I I hope so so I have uh you know a great fondness uh for her and and um I'm glad to see that you're uh stepping up and um you know participating in the community like she did uh back then and uh you know I welcome your uh participation and your willingness to serve on the committee so thank you thank you uh my mother worked with Project Help I believe um long time ago she was very active in uh in social work issues in Nashua so thank you for bringing her up you're welcome thank you for coming forward we'll be taking up your nomination in just a bit thank you very much thank you all right next up for the planning board we have Benjamin Zoller new appointment alternate term to expire November 11 2028 to Pasadena Avenue Nashua good evening Miss Karen thank you so um next we have Mr.

Benjamin Zoller uh he expressed the desire to become more involved uh with the city particularly in its planning um he is a civil engineer by trade um and as you can tell from his resume holds various uh licenses certifications and professional memberships um he has an extensive background with relevant experience um that spans different projects uh across the the country um he understands how city planning affects residents' quality of life and the prosperity of a city um and because of that uh mayor dogis uh feels like he would be um a great addition to the committee so I I'll turn it over to Mr.

Zuller to share a little bit more about himself and why he'd like to be part of the planning board.

Thank you so much.

Not too many prepared remarks just like to mention that I'm passionate about the process of planning.

It's a very important you know uh process to the development of a city and it has to happen in an organized way it's very important to you know solicit input from the public and you know I like to think of development as uh a bowling alley and we would be the guardrails in the bowling alley so to say and that you know develop is very important to the future of our city but it has to happen in an organized way and there has to be input from the city from the public and it's uh you know a process that I'm eager to be involved in so very um very much looking forward to serving uh my city in uh a way that I would see fit okay thank you questions Alderman Jetty uh thank you so uh welcome Mr.

How how do you plan on handling that?

In in instances wherever wherever I would have a conflict of interest, I would recuse myself.

I wouldn't be voting in that situation.

Um, and that's something that I've mentioned to the planning board uh members.

Um I I would like to look at it as you know an asset, and that you know perhaps I can anticipate what developers might say when they come before the planning board.

I would be able to give you know relevant feedback and I'd be able to convey concerns that the city would have and that the public might have about any kind of development that we would see.

Okay, well, thank you for that.

I know you're you know, your um uh you know the skills that you're able to bring to the planning board, you know, are very valuable, and uh and I I think there's you know there's great you know there's that's a good reason to have you on the planning board.

I think you can provide a lot of expertise that uh the they need.

Um something else that um something else that you know it it always bothers me whether it's the you know the planning board or the zoning board, but you know, I can think of specific instances where members of the planning board have um you know you're there to uh you know it's it's it's the Alderman, it's the city who's who uh passes the the zoning ordinances through their elected representatives, the board of alderman.

And um, you know, it's happened more than once where I've seen members of the planning board you know talk about how a particular ordinance um in their opinion was you know no longer appropriate that it outlived its usefulness and they will make changes, you know, or try to approve projects that that don't conform to the ordinances.

And uh, you know, I'm hoping that you can promise me and and the and the rest of the board of Alderman that um you know you will understand that you know we you know we we we passed the ordinances, we set the rules.

Your job is to enforce those rules and make sure that projects that come before the planning board adhere to those rules.

It's not your job to change the rules.

You can suggest recommend to the board of Alderman that they change the rules, but it's ultimately the board of Alderman who have the final word.

And I I'm I'm assuming you understand that, and but um I'd like to elicit from you a promise that you will that you that you do understand that and you will adhere to that and encourage your fellow planning board members to do the same.

I don't believe that the planning board is uh a catalyst for activism.

I believe that it's very much you know a um a crucible in which you know the role should be reviewed and cases should be reviewed against the rules that are on the book, not necessarily facilitating change, you know, when cases are being heard.

There are opportunities for you know new discussions to take place.

I believe the uh the master plan is looked at every ten years or so by the planning board.

That would be an instance where you know we can look at the regs that are on the book and say, you know, is there any you know room for change here?

Is there anything that residents have brought up on a recurring basis that we should look at?

But on a case-by-case basis, on a month-by-month basis, we should be judging cases based on the rules that we have on the book, not seeking activism to change things, you know, with every case that we're hearing.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Do you have all?

I'm good.

That was a great answer.

So thank you.

So I have a question.

Uh you mentioned, you know, community growth and making sure it's appropriate for what the city wants as an alternate or a planning board member.

What how do you find that guidance?

What where do you think that that should come from?

I believe that the residents that have lived here their whole lives, um, the people that are raising a family here today, um, you know, as I am, they should be respected.

Um and you know, development should happen in their city with respect to them and with respect to the lives that they live on a day-to-day basis.

Um I don't think that we should have skyscrapers right next to a single family home.

Um that's not necessarily a project that would be with respect to the community that it would be sitting in.

Um I I think that respect should be given to the people that are here first, and the zoning quote and the zoning code and the planning guidance should be you know looked at through that uh through that lens.

Anything else?

Okay, thank you for coming forward.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

And last but not least, uh, for treasurer tax collector, we have Diane Mulholland, new appointment with an indefinite term for Chesterfield Lane, London, Erie, New Hampshire.

And are you here to introduce?

I see you.

I think I see you.

She's here.

Are you just here for questions?

Are you here to introduce or are you just here for questions?

I'm okay.

I thought it was you, but I can't really see from here.

Go ahead, Ms.

Kairn.

Great, thank you.

Um so lastly, uh Mayor Donchus is uh nominating um Diane Maholland for the treasurer tax collector position.

As you know, uh Don Enright accepted the CFO position in late summer, and we then posted the treasurer tax collection uh collector position um internally and externally.

Uh Miss Mahollan interviewed with several city employees and with uh again with Mayor Donchus.

Uh and we believe we've found a highly qualified candidate for uh this role.

Uh Diane brings over 30 years of municipal experience to us.

She currently serves as the deputy tax collector in Lebanon, and uh she's held several different roles, um, including finance director, uh, I think I believe uh town clerk, uh deputy treasurer, uh welfare director um in in various municipalities um across the state of New Hampshire.

So with that being said, I'm going to turn it over to Ms.

Maholland and uh she can share why she is interested in joining the city of Nashua.

Good evening.

Um I'm Diane Maholland.

I've been the tax collector in Dairy.

Um I've been the finance director in Allenstown and Claremont.

I think I have a well rounded um experience to work well in in Nashua.

Um I've gone through COVID.

We're trying to figure out how to still collect money and work under closed conditions.

I've dealt with an embezzle embezzlement case in Allenstown.

Um I've just been in this for a very long time, and I really enjoy my my work.

I've deeded tax properties, I've worked with residents to do tax payments.

Um I've had to work with the auctioneers to auction property, do buybacks.

Um, and I look forward to uh a new challenge and a new chapter chapter in my life.

Okay.

Um thank you.

I'll open up to questions.

Hold them and Jetty.

Yeah, well, thank you.

Um, looking, you know, where you you've worked before, you've you've uh you've been in some tough situations.

And uh so you you've um you know you've had um you know uh combat experience, I guess you would say.

So um you know, welcome to Nashua, and uh you know I hope that I hope that you find the um uh the conditions here a lot easier to deal with, and that uh that uh you know that you will um enjoy your stay here and hope it's a long one.

Thank you.

Alderman Senate.

Well, thank you, madam chair, and again, welcome.

Thank you.

Um my question to you is um and you know, look again looking through your resume, you you've definitely been in some challenging situations, which lead me to believe that you're um well capable, suited for the job.

My co my question to you would be um as I'm sure many of my colleagues can um attest to.

We we do have a residency in Nashua that uh has a great deal of um value on information.

Um we have folks throughout the community that um have many questions, but especially as they relate to property taxes, their um their home valuations, things of that nature.

And I just um I was hoping that you could speak a little bit to your um your comfort in interacting with the uh with the public in that degree and um how well you feel you deal with um with strong pushes for information.

I'm I rely on the law so I you know I I do very well with speaking with the public and I try to educate them on what the laws are and why we have to do the things we have to do.

Um I try to work with them as much as I can to try to um make it so that they can do payment plans and things like that to get caught up again.

I've been very successful with people that have been behind on taxes to actually get completely caught up.

Um, you know, and I'll work with the assessing department to find out if there's um exemptions and things like that that people will qualify for, but basically, you know, trying to educate the public is the best way to to help them understand what's going on with their taxes.

Oh thank you for that answer.

I y you sound like you have a lot of confidence with that, which um which fills me with confidence.

Uh my follow-up um on that in regard to educating the public is uh I have a background myself in accounting and finance, and I find that one of the trappings that we've uh I even fall into sometimes is assuming that everybody knows what I'm talking about.

Um, which for folks outside the realm of accounting and finance is not always the case.

We have our own terminology and abbreviations that we use, and sometimes people look at me cross-eyed a little bit when I'm trying to explain them.

Um do you feel that you're um uh comfortable uh conveying some of the more in-depth information that um you would be dealing with in a way that uh lay person could understand?

I believe I am you know, with 30 years of trying to explain taxation to people, you you've kind of learned how how people um react to it and what they understand, what they don't understand.

You know, they get very confused with the tax year running April 1st to March 31st.

Um just you know how the assessed value and the tax rate work, and uh you know, you just have to be patient with people and just try to um listen to what they're asking and trying to to get it to a point that they understand.

I've been very successful with trying, you know, calming people down and talking to people.

Well, thank you for that.

It's uh I I imagine in a tax office you don't uh deal typically deal with uh people thrilled with a piece of paper in their hands that bring in to you.

So uh I'm glad to hear that.

I've had people this week coming in looking for tax bills, and I'm like, it's gonna be at least two more weeks.

Well, I'm glad to hear that you have that skill set, and I'm uh looking forward to the opportunity to work with you.

Thank you.

Um so thank you for coming forward.

I have you know upmoved confidence in your ability given your background and also that the people at City Hall have brought you forward.

Um they definitely take their time.

Um so my only question, because I've been told my whole life that you're interviewing us as much as we're interviewing you.

So you've got a great background.

So what about Nashua was appealing for you to want to come and work here?

Well, you're the second largest city in the state of New Hampshire, so that's interesting.

And I've I've followed some of the things that you've done with like your buses.

Um I've actually, when I was in college, I got my degree later in life, and one of the things I looked at was your bus system and the natural gas.

Um, and I just find it very um how do I say this?

Um forward thinking.

It's it's very progressive, and I like that.

And I like the fact that there's um a lot of resources here to to get things done and move forward.

Um and I I feel like I'm gonna really enjoy working with Don.

I've I've known Don for a long time, so that's great.

Great answer.

I don't have anything additional.

Does anyone else from the committee have anything?

Okay.

Well, thank you so much for coming in.

Thank you.

We are moving on.

Thank you, Megan.

Thank you.

Uh to discussion.

Let me read that part.

Yeah, just in case.

So we have a discussion on the formation of a special aldermanic committee on unhoused policy.

Alderman Moran.

Yep.

Thank you, uh, Madam Chair.

Um I guess I can get some case context why I introduced this.

Uh about a year ago after uh grants pass um the Supreme Court uh ruling came down.

Uh um Manchester started working on their uh plan and um myself and Alderman Lope has had a side conversation to see what we could do amongst ourselves as aldermen to get ahead of um what ultimately happened here at the Board of Um Alderman a couple of weeks ago with the no uh camping uh type rooms as uh ultimately uh I met with uh the mayor, uh Chief of Staff Karen and uh the president of the board, uh Laurie Wilshare and discussion and then instead of forming a special committee to look at um housing and unhouse issues in the city a year ago um through uh either a joint effort between the city administration and uh the aldermen or uh just the alderman, it was ultimately recommended that uh Alderman Lopez and I uh have um joint meetings between human affair and um PDC, which we did.

Um and then as we were myself and other aldermen were creating some legislation um as a alternate choice to um um the move along method, um we were faced with some confrontation well, not confrontation, pushback again, and I've experienced it myself throughout my four-year term, and I I know I'm a different type of personality than other aldermen, but the uh reminder that um aldermatic interference.

So after um reviewing the charter that we this section was actually pointed out to me in great detail recently by uh corporation council, I thought the best thing that we could do is use our own authority to form such a committee that has the chairmen's of the um all the committees that would be involved.

That way there's cross-communication of what efforts are being made by each uh committee uh on the actual issue.

Uh and perfect example, remember this camping ordinance that came through ended up in the infrastructure depart um committee.

That is the absolutely worst committee it could end up in, because it really is a human affairs type issue, but it just happens to do with no camping park, which would fall under infrastructure.

So having a special committee that would include the chairman of infrastructure and the chairman of human affairs and others, I think it would do the city justice um to have such legislation in the future that might come forward with the this board or the next board, go through maybe the even that committee um as the board received fit.

But I think there's so much siloing in the city, um, intentional or not, uh policy driven or not, um, it just happens, it's human nature.

And I feel like utilizing the city charter, the strengths that we have as an alderman, a board of aldermen to form such committees to not just offer solutions, but to provide oversight uh of how our uh funding mechanisms are executed by the city department and the vision uh that our constituents have elected us to represent is actually followed through on, followed through on with a more sense of urgency than as uh more of a we'll get to you um when we feel um we want to get to you type of um approach.

So with that, I would open up any questions if what this would look like.

Again, like I said at the first meeting.

We can we can you could start it here at this board, you could bring it back at the next board.

I think it's worth the conversation that the siloing has to end on such serious issues that we're facing, like the house, affordable workforce housing, and um not leveraging uh and uh um the power of cross-communication uh versus this whole well, this is my committee, I'm the chairman, I'll let you speak when I want you to speak type of approach.

I'll set Alderman Rand.

Yes, I am.

Go ahead, Alderman Senate.

Uh thank you, madam chair.

Umderman Moran, um, could you remind me, because my brain's a little foggy this week.

Um, which um which committee chairs are you envisioning um this committee being comprised of I think he said almost all of them.

You we're not getting sound for the same.

Yeah, I think you're muted, Alderman Marion.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

I would uh as I discussed at the previous board, it would have been the uh human affairs um chairman who would also serve as chair of this committee, because this seems right, um uh the chair of this committee, uh personnel administrative affairs, budget, infrastructure, and PEDC.

So buildings, parks, uh planning, zoning, economic development, uh, budget, uh, and administrative uh policy.

Are you else that Alderman said?

For the moment, my wheels are turning.

So I'll respond.

I'm I mean, I know this was sent to me because you brought it up in the meeting and we wanted to have more discussion around it.

Um I have a couple of thoughts.

I do agree that some of these things are bigger than the individual committee that they go on.

Um specifically the infrastructure makes a lot of sense.

Um I'm I'm concerned for a couple of reasons.

One, because I think that Alderman Clemens and Alderman Lopez are really good voices in this space, and they're not here to to talk on this evening because I'm at the meeting was moved.

Um so that's concern one.

And then my other concern is well, a couple of them.

I think that your thought process makes a lot of sense.

I worry about setting up committees um sort of ad hoc like this, and then they kind of run their course.

I mean, even Alderman Lopez can talk about we used to have one on, I think it was called the homelessness kind of right.

So yeah, it was substandard living.

Thank you.

Um so I worry about that, and then you know the other thing that's been on my mind is is it potentially more appropriate to do more of a working group type format where it's not just aldermen around the table, but other people who are involved in these specific city services, and then can come forward like the ad hoc um committee that we that looked at uh all of the different bonding and give recommendations to the full board um so that it's a little bit more flexible to have some discussions, uh, but to your point, making sure that that conversation is not siloed uh by one committee or another.

Those are my thoughts.

Yeah.

Go ahead, Alderman Ryan.

Yeah, so I'll ballot points, and again, uh I think kind of what I alluded to back at the at the last meeting, like this is we're well a little under two months left of the term.

Um whether the the current board moves forward with this or not, or at least the conversation is started, I think that's the most important piece because as we are seeing, we saw it in live action, right?

The ad hoc committee that you just suggested, that's exactly the ad hoc type of approach Alderman Lopez and I uh proposed to the mayor and the president of the board.

Um, and that was turned down.

I think we are clearly in not prevention stage in the city when it comes to this uh issue.

We are certainly working towards it, but uh we're in a reactionary uh moment that I feel that an ad hoc committee or a committee like this, um any shape or way or form that uh comes out of will have support now.

Um you know, it's it's uh, you know, people like Alderman Lopez and I who work in social services and healthcare maybe be seen as alarmist at times.

It's it's just because we can um know patterns and the social science behind uh what is happening in the infrastructure of the of the social service spectrum a little bit closer than others, but I think you guys are in I'm still an alderman, but we're having a conversation that what's clearly happening, there's no real results being driven to resolve the problem because of that silo situation.

And we have these issues going to committees, quite frankly, they don't have heart for it.

Um they have the mind and the uh wherewithal and experience, but not the heart behind it.

Because you're talking about roads and parks.

I it's not a human type of um uh issue that goes to committees like that when you and bring everyone together who has those types of experiences, whether it's human affairs planning, etc., then you combine the heart with the mind and practically the soul, and then you have outcomes that'll uh be better um for everyone involved because everyone's voice is actually being heard and shared equally or equitably in a way that um you're not shut down because you have an opinion um that is um you know not a priority.

I'm sorry that you were unsuccessful in getting this going a year ago because I know we've been this the alarm is the alarm has been being sounded to us for a long time.

So I would anyone can request those right-to-no records of that meeting.

I'm sure uh I know someone was taking notes.

Um, but I represent to what I know to be accurate based on my memory, as I recall.

Yeah.

Alderman said it, go ahead.

Uh thank you, Madam Chair.

And um, Madam Chair, I'm glad you said the word work the uh the phrase working group, because um, you know, I um back at last week's meeting, I I certainly supported this because I think the discussion needs to continue, and the last thing that I want to see fall out of everything that took place over those five hours last week is that we passed an ordinance and then we just sort of drop the ball on this topic again.

Um I think that would be the greatest disservice to the situation that we're faced with.

Um the reason that working group um throws up some flags in my mind and the and they're green flags um rather than red flags because when I think working group, I think back to the um the committee that was formed to study the outdoor dining process, and that was comprised of aldermen and stakeholders.

I don't know if the chairs of select committees is the best approach.

I think the working group model with aldermen who are invested in it and want to see tangible change paired with a subset of stakeholders throughout both city uh city staff and the community to work towards tangible solutions.

I think could be the most successful model for this.

Um I don't know how it is that we go about putting that into place, but right now, as I'm just mulling this over in my head, that's the model that I think is going to come out with the best results.

And go ahead, Alderman Red.

Yeah, and I think um that's exactly what needs to happen is the conversation, what works best for the moment in time.

Uh again, you know, this is just a you know, what can we do that's different that breaks down those silos and just break broaching the conversation and figuring out what actually works best given the scenario uh is what needs to happen.

So the conversation doesn't stall, it should run all the way to December 31st, and then start again on the first uh municipal meeting after uh the first of the year uh and continue onward.

Um there needs to be uh that sense of urgency that continues because as you enter the holidays uh and then the the new year, that passion is gonna wear off, and then again, just like it seems the last four years of my term, and I know it's the previous terms, we have this crisis that seems to always happen around the winter time when uh things get rough uh for that particular uh population.

Uh, we end up on the news.

So we can't feel anymore that it's just gonna cool itself off, that the behind the scenes people are gonna fix everything, because the behind-the-scenes people, the social services, public health, others are just being crushed with um so many different aspects of the the um grant system, funding sources being drunk uh ended, uh cut, uh uh withheld, um, Medicaid rates don't increase, so you can't do billable services uh to meet up with the inflation and the healthcare costs of businesses that buy their insurance.

It's all compounding.

That ignorance is bliss, uh, out of sight, out of mind won't work anymore given the compounding effects of the social economy that we're facing uh right now.

It's uh kind of reminiscent of the social uh issues that we had in the late 90s um in the Clinton era.

I appreciate your passion and I I share it.

Um I know we both sit on the board of the soup kitchen, and um I know for a fact that I'm not gonna let this burn out.

Uh and I'm not saying no, no, no, I know you weren't.

I'm just saying, I'm just saying, don't worry about it.

It's gonna keep going.

Who wants to fizzle out?

Uh, and I don't think it's anyone in that room.

Yeah, I agree.

Um here's what I would like to propose everyone think about.

I think that we have the funding on the table that's coming to budget.

We can discuss that.

There's other conversations going around around a specific new action around a resource center.

I think if we can keep this on our agenda for next time, I'd love to hear Alderman Lopez, Alderman Clemens, and in the meantime, we can also discuss with the president, you know, what their thoughts are on maybe going more of a working group.

Um yeah, more going for towards a working group and who might be sitting at that table.

So that gets us a little bit of time.

We already know that the immediate action is being looked at and hopefully funded.

Um, and in the meantime, we can be thoughtful in how we continue to have this conversation because it's really important and urgent.

Thank you.

And uh I may I follow up.

Yep.

Um, and um I myself uh and others I think are proposing other legislations, and I know uh for myself the whole point of stuff um that I brought forward in the last couple months of the term for me is not having an expectation that anything would actually pass.

It's to give the idea and concept to continue and basically pass the the torch uh to those who have also championed it while I was there in prior to continue with a stronger message.

And I just asterisks to everything that is being talked about is remember uh the continuing um reminding uh alderman about aldermatic interference and referencing um to the city charter because it's not just me other very reputable aldermen who are not as uh um who are jealous advocates like myself are passionate or friction cut like and enjoy friction have also been told the same thing uh and it can it just doesn't feel right to have that highlighted pointing out and within that subsection of that city charter uh portion it does accurately fract uh reflect what power we can with uh execute without uh aldermatic interference and we should continue to look at those when it's appropriate I guess I'll respond to just one other thing which is you know we have some new members coming on the board but you know it is totally within our power to suggest that a piece of legislation gets sent to more than one committee uh for review and I don't think that happens often enough alderman sorry I'm gonna let I don't and then you can go ahead go ahead so thank you uh for you know bringing this up I'm I'm sorry that um you know that we we we are not having this discussion you know four years ago when when you uh first joined the board and and um you know I was on the board at that time I I think you're you're um you know you're you're you're honing in on a particular you know problem and you know housing in the unhoused um but you know you're also uh I think um I may be wrong but I'm I'm also detecting or or maybe it's my own uh interpretation my own thoughts and and that is uh you know you you're kind of commenting on um on you know you know what is the the the role of of the board of aldermen and what and have we been exercising that role um you know a lot of people don't understand you know because they would they watch um you know they watch what's going on in in Concord and in Washington and uh other places and you know they see um uh elected officials uh you know constantly uh you know talking to each other and uh coming up with ideas and coming up with plans and you know lobbying one another and uh that type of thing and um you know when I first became an alderman eight years ago it it came as a surprise to me that we are prohibited from talking to each other um you know technically we can you know we can speak as long as you we can speak to one alderman or to maybe two aldermen uh but you can't speak to two aldermen if you're on a committee of of five and um you know you you know you're the quorum is three and you you could be at a meeting and there's only three of us like tonight there's only three of us on this committee that are here um so you know we probably all have experienced um when we first started as alderman a reprimand from the um the corporation council about um you know not talking uh to each other other than in a public meeting um generally speaking you know there are uh you know a lot of details to it but I'm I'm talking about uh you know the so-called right to know law you know 91a you know and it and um for those people out there who don't know don't understand it prohibits more than a quorum of Alderman from speaking about any issue that that um is going to come before the board so we're supposed to have our discussions at these meetings and you know tonight is an example you know there's nothing on the table there's no resolution that's been uh ordinance that's been proposed you know we're we're talking about you know an idea of something that that might happen and we're discussing it in public um you know the the the way that the law intends it to be done but we don't you know we don't often exercise that because you know I don't know about the rest of you but oftentimes I come to meetings and uh especially when I was you know first um an alderman you know I I remember you know being you know reminded that um you know hey there was a Bruins game going on you know let's not waste a lot of time talking you know we gotta we gotta um we we have places to go and um and the truth is it's it's at these meetings where we're supposed to be discussing things we're supposed to be coming up with ideas we're supposed to be talking to each other about hey I've got this idea how do you feel about it but oftentimes I

You know, I I remember you know being you know reminded that um, you know, hey, there was a Bruins game going on.

You know, you know, let's not waste a lot of time talking.

You know, we gotta we gotta uh we we have places to go.

And um and the truth is it's it's at these meetings where we're supposed to be discussing things.

We're supposed to be coming up with ideas.

We're supposed to be talking to each other about hey, I've got this idea, how do you feel about it?

But oftentimes, I I don't know, I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I feel pressured to you know follow the agenda, you know, don't talk about anything that's not on the agenda.

Let's move on, you know, you know, as somebody says, my you know, the favorite motion is motion to adjourn.

Let's get out of here.

And um, and I think we've done personally, I can only speak for myself.

I think I've done a disservice to to the city and my constituents by not you know insisting on you know spending our time at meetings, you know, fully discussing issues, coming up with ideas, even before something you know is proposed.

I mean, the usual thing is you get an idea, you you talk to legal, and you say, I've got this idea.

They come up with an ordinance or a resolution, it gets submitted, it comes before the board is the first reading, it's sent to a committee, and then you know, the committee, you know adopts uh recommends passage or recommends that it not be passed or amends it and stuff, and and you kind of lose the ability to um you know to come up with something, you know, a good piece of legislation, because you know, I know I've certainly been you know criticized to uh you know uh if I come up with an amendment at the uh you know the board meeting, I I know I'm not the only one who's been reprimanded for not doing the work at the committee.

And um I I know some of us have tried to do things at the committee, and we're told no, go to the go to legal and bring it up at the full board.

And so somebody goes to legal, comes up at the full board, and it's all well this should have been done at the committee.

You know, it's very you know, and and it takes, especially for new Alderman, and uh you know, we're all new at the beginning.

It takes a lot to uh push against the more established, the more experienced people here.

Um so I'm glad you you you've brought this up.

Um, you know, but I I did I did not catch what charter provision you are using to um uh when you say you know we're you know we can create this this committee uh you know can you can you repeat for me the charter provision because um uh um charter section 47-a.

Um, you know, I actually uh have it um I'm not at my office um at the moment, but I have it um hung on the wall as a reminder to never violate um city charter 47-a.

Okay, well I'll take a look at it.

So you know the the you know the idea of uh of this you know of this committee and you're trying to get the uh you know I think you said that you tried to get the president to uh form this committee and and it didn't happen, and so now you're trying to you know do it, you know, have the alderman do it.

I think it's it's a great idea.

You know, it when I was looking at you know various committees, and you know, I came across I don't know how many of us are aware that there is a strategic planning committee.

And it's uh composed of the chairs of the planning and economic development, budget budget review, infrastructure, uh the mayor or a designee, president of the board of education, the chairman of the police commission, the chairman of the fire commission, the vice chair of the public works, and the chair of library trustees.

Um I've never heard of this committee meeting, you know.

I've never heard of the committee.

I've never heard of them meeting.

Um I've never heard of any results of any meeting that they've had.

It doesn't seem to be.

I I'm the chairman of PDDC, and I've never uh been called to sit on that.

Uh no one's ever called that uh meeting for the last four years.

I've been chairman of PDC.

So I'm assuming nothing has been referred to such committee as well.

So thank you for bringing this up.

I'm sorry that we didn't uh you know that we didn't think of this earlier, you know, um in our terms.

And um, you know, maybe uh hopefully the new board will uh you know maybe the new board ought to consider uh doing something to require you know all new Alderman to attend you know a um you know a class on the um the charter and the um the code and you know what their rights are and um uh you know so that they they come into this new term you know with the uh a full understanding of what their uh power is and that they are encouraged and feel comfortable exercising it and uh so thank you Alderman Moran He's got his hand back up okay Alderman Moran.

Uh thank you just to respond to Alderman Jetty Um I thank you for sharing your perspective as well because um as you know I'm not one to shy away from uh a board fight uh uh and it can be hard um when it's a fight not about um it when it's a fight about policy uh and it becomes personal because folks can't separate their persona from the position.

Um it is not about the person who holds the the seat, it's about the seat um effectively working and advocating for the policy, and that may mean letting someone speak who's not on the committee a little bit longer than a committee member, just as anyone comes to PD DC, Alderman Clee, anyone, um they all get everyone gets ample time, and um I don't think I've ever really cut anybody off.

But yes, at the start at being an alderman, even though I had a very contentious start with the joint PDC infrastructure for downtown dining, the assumption there of what your actual power abilities to do is not um really known uh because of that um um system of trying to keep everything um with the experienced longer-term people, which are valuable, but also you're equal to them.

You're equal to them in every manner, whether you're uh a one-term alderman or not, um, because you've been elected by the people to have that same power of vote as they do.

Some people are chairmen, some people aren't.

Uh that doesn't really matter much.

It's that knowing that you can bring forth legislation, whether the city wants to do it or not, you can talk about it in uh public, whether they want to do it or not, unless it might violate some kind of fair negotiation process.

And I hope uh at the last three or four boards I've seen that grip of that olden time way of doing um government slip uh and that control uh uh no longer be as firm as it once was, and I'm encouraged by that because in order for things to actually change, you have to be willing to look at your friend and say, that's a bad idea.

We're not gonna do this.

You're wrong.

Um, but you can still vote your way, even though you're wrong.

And vice versa.

Um you know, that's people's opinions, but these are very important things we're dealing with.

Housing, people need to afford to live here, and we're pricing them out uh because we don't want to confront that the policies of uh of our my party has uh caused devastation uh to the working class people who are being priced out and homeless uh in the city.

I'm gonna tie this up, but um I think that this has been a good discussion.

I think one of the things that occurred to me in the last you know five minutes of discussion is that if we look at it as a working group, that is more a preemptive look at this.

How do we look at policy?

What kinds of things can we recommend?

When we did the working group on the police commission, it was a lot of stakeholder conversations, and then we put forward a you know suggested plan, just like they did with the ad hoc spending.

Um so that has one function.

One of the things that you've brought up, Alderman Moran, um, is you know, the siloedness.

I don't know that that necessarily will fix that.

Um I also think that a committee like this is more reactionary once the legislation's already created and asking how that's vetted and making sure it's not siloed.

So there could be I I think there's a lot of nuance and really good discussion here and I want to keep it going.

Um I don't know if anyone else in the committee wants to add to this before we move on.

Or Alderman Cleek, you're also allowed to speak.

That's fine.

I just didn't see you coming in.

No, no, no, I no, you always give me the chance to speak, please.

I I never felt an either either of your committees.

I've never felt um put off.

So thank you very much to both of you for that.

And I apologize.

I was not here during that discussion, but just hearing the last few moments of it.

I if if you don't mind, I just wanted to add something.

When the city had a severe problem with a particular um, I'll call it a no-tell motel, but that that's not very nice.

Country bar, um, that made headlines and so on.

We did put through um a committee to look at um the um less than stellar housing within the city.

So we have been reactionary um in the past to create committees, and I apologize, Alderman Moran, that uh I couldn't be here to listen to your presentation.

I I had to be up in planning, but um so the the city we have the board of Alderman has put together a um to to look at issues and so on.

We disbanded that um I think two years ago uh simply because there wasn't anything coming forward into it.

So we do have a precedence that we could put through a committee or a work group or whatever to look at a problem, and then once we feel that that problem has been resolved or is no longer an issue, which this particular one is not going to be if we're if it if with the title of the unhoused is uh that'll be a long time going.

Um, but still you can I I think that is within the the body of this um group to be able to do something like that to to put that together.

Um, even if it's just a you know as long as it's needed kind of type of things, and and we have precedence of having done that.

Yeah, and that's been the discussion is that we've definitely done it before.

We don't want to add committees that will just sort of become defunct like substandard.

Right.

Um, but also how do we be flexible in this discussion?

Yes.

Um that should have been happening for a very long time.

Yes.

So I think what we're gonna do is just keep this on the discussion because my initial thing was that I was disappointed that um Alderman Clemens and Alderman Lopez, who are very passionate about this, were not able to be here.

Totally my fault because I moved this from election eve to tonight.

Um so um I think if everyone's okay with leaving it on, let's bring it back up at the next committee meeting.

Um, have some discussions then as well and just keep moving the ball forward.

I look forward to hearing it.

Alderman Moran, are you happy with that?

Yeah, that'd be great.

And I I just would have one more request of the committee if uh you could also keep my legislation regarding um foreign ownership on the table as well uh until um Alderman Clemens returns the committee, I believe he had um comments and put as well.

All right, so noted, thank you.

My favorite partation to license hawkers, peddlers, itinerant vendors license.

None appointments by the mayor.

I'd like to make a motion to recommend the following new appointments to the Greeley Park Advisory Committee.

Kathleen Lodi with a term to expire November 13, 2028, and Richard Smart with a term to expire October 14, 2028.

To recommend the following new appointment alternate to the historic district commission, Michelle Ernst with a term to expire November 11, 2028.

To recommend the following reappointment to the National Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Thomas Monahan with the term to expire October 14, 2030.

To recommend the following new appointment alternate to the planning board, Benjamin Zoller with a term to expire November 11, 2028.

To recommend the new following appointment as Treasurer Tax Collector, Diane Mulholland with an indefinite term, and to recommend the following reappointments to the zoning board of adjustment.

Steve Lionel with a term to expire September 30th, 2028, and Jamon Caro with a term to expire September 11, 2028.

You've heard the motion.

Any discussion on that motion?

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

And that motion carries.

Thank you, everyone who came out for your interviews.

You will be um Donald will reach out to you to come forward for uh confirmation at the board.

Probably next.

Yeah, most likely.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank you.

All right, unfinished business.

There is none.

New business resolutions.

There are none.

New business ordinances.

There are none.

I believe we're leaving Keefe on the table.

I believe so.

I believe we're leaving for an ownership on the table as requested by Alderman Moran.

Correct.

What would you like to do with O25056?

Um Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to remove from the table O25056.

I've heard the motion.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

So now before us we have O25056.

Rules for remarks by Alderman at meetings.

Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion to recommend indefinite postponement.

Thank you.

The discussion uh the motion on the floor is for indefinite to recommend indefinite postponement.

Um that was requested by the um original um maker of this piece of legislation.

So unless there's additional conversation, all those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Okay.

Does anyone from the public wish to speak?

All right.

General discussion.

We just had a lot of it, but anyone else want to add?

Alderman, Jetty.

So I I would just like to comment on the uh uh the ordinance uh regarding remarks by Alderman.

It was you know an ordinance that was um you know intent, I don't remember the all the details, but I I do kind of remember the general feeling that uh since we limit the public comment to three minutes that uh the remarks by Alderman should be limited to three minutes as well, and I just want to you know just you know reminding people of the j discussion we just had that the the you know you know we aldermen are supposed to be talking about things at these meetings in the public, and uh you know, so for you know, for the people who think that we speak, and I know I've been accused of this recently.

I got a an angry email telling reminding me of this.

Um but this is this is our job.

We're elected uh as Alderman to come to these meetings and talk about city issues and you know discuss problems and try to come up with solutions.

It's not it's not true that we can't talk about anything until there is an ordinance or a resolution that's put on the table.

You know, the the discussion by Alderman, you know, there you know, any Alderman at any meeting can bring something up uh the you know if he or she chooses to that's in our rules and it's you know it's part of the process.

And so um you know we can't um you know we can't limit the you know Alderman in discussing things that's their job.

That's the whole purpose of having these meetings is for Alderman to discuss things and and try to come up with solutions.

Um so it's different.

You know, the the public is here, you know.

Um some people think it's their you know constitutional right to come to these meetings and say things.

You know, it's not you know the public does not have a constitutional right to come to a meeting of the board of Alderman and talk about anything they want for as long as they want.

They don't they have a they have a right to express their opinions in public, you know.

They can write a letter to the editor, they can you know write emails, they can they can go to the on the sidewalk and say whatever they want to say that we we can't do anything to stop people from expressing their opinions, but we don't have to allow them to come to our meetings uh you know and take up you know the time the meeting time, you know, with um you know with whatever they want to talk about.

And uh you know, we do allow public comment, and we do have the right to limit it to the three minutes like we have done.

And uh, you know, there are a lot of city councils, a lot of you know, board of alderman, you know, where there is no public comment.

The public can't come.

You can't go up to the state house, you know, at a committee meeting and and just start talking.

You you know that it's only when you're invited, it's only when you you sign.

It's a it's a it's a meeting, it's a public hearing, you know, but the regular meetings of the uh the legislature and the committees, the public is not permitted to speak.

You know, Congress does not allow the public to come and speak at their meetings.

So I think it's you know it's uh I'm I'm happy that the sponsor you know withdrew that that um that proposed ordinance.

Um that's why I feel that way.

Thank you.

Alderman Clee.

Uh uh thank you.

If if I if I may, I kind of want to um uh expound on what uh my colleague just said, and that's Article 3 uh 514B order of business.

514A is ordered business for the full Board of Alderman and 14b is for all the committees within it.

Um technically general comment isn't in there, um, but the um the um remarks by Alderman are and I I a hundred percent agree with what you said.

Um we have to um at times um speak to business that happened here, and if there were 10 items of business, we could not get that out in three minutes to to discuss, you know.

Um perhaps I just had a a meeting uh finance, and at the end of that meeting, oh one of um our colleagues wanted to express why they voted in a particular way.

Um and I would want to make sure that that person had that opportunity to do that.

Um they wanted to know that it was done without malice and so on and what their logical reason was.

Um that's just something on a simple kind of basis, but I I felt that they had the right to have that that opportunity to do that.

Manchester only does one public comment a month, and that is um prior to the beginning of their meeting.

Not all the aldermen are there.

I think I I've expressed this before.

I don't agree with that.

I think if you're gonna have public comment, we should be here to accept the public comment and to listen to what they're saying.

Um I think here in the city of Nashua, we are we are very good in that respect that we give a primary at the beginning for anything that's going to be acted upon.

Um, and then the second public comment is kind of an open open field.

You know, um we we need tough skin at times for some of the the harsh remarks, and maybe sometimes we deserve them, and maybe sometimes we don't.

But regardless, I think we are good.

It is not the constitutional right that they have this, they have freedom of speech, and they can send us emails, they can speak on social media, which most people are not afraid to do.

Um so I too am glad that this was um pulled back and requested for indefinite postponement because I think it would have done a disservice to the people of the city if we weren't able to do our jobs, and speaking such as this is doing our jobs, and I can tell you for a fact there are times that and Alden Jetty, I probably am as long-winded as anybody in this in this horseshoe.

So but there are times when I've had my constituents who have reached out to me and said, thank you for what you said.

Um I didn't know that, or I didn't understand when that was happening.

So sometimes we I may be long-winded, but it's so that I'm speaking to them, not just my colleagues here or the people here, it's the people that are listening.

So I appreciate your comments.

Thank you.

Okay, remarks by Alderman.

I'll just remark that um I want to thank everyone at City Clerk's Office for a great all their great work um for the election on Tuesday.

Um we always run for such a tight ship here in Nashua, and I was grateful for all the people who came out to vote.

All right.

Do I have a motion?

Do you want the honors?

I'll I'll make the uh somebody, it's not my favorite motion, but someone else's favorite motion.

And that is to adjourn.

All those in favor?

Aye, any opposed.

We are adjourned at 8 34.

That was hilarious.