Nashua City Council Meeting Summary - December 5, 2025

The Nashua City Council convened on December 5, 2025, to review several resolutions regarding supplemental appropriations, establish expendable trust funds for education and community resources, and address public comments concerning the Riverwalk project progress and recent fire disasters. The meeting included a public comment session, communications, and a series of resolutions passed to fund special education needs, police overtime, capital equipment, and emergency relief.

Consent Calendar

• No items were listed on the consent calendar; all actions were taken as individual resolutions or discussion items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alderman Sullivan: Expressed concern regarding the management of the $21 million Riverwalk project. Alderman Sullivan argued that an emergency purchase order of $281,000 was "self-inflicted" due to poor planning and delays in approval, questioning the lack of clear direction and certainty regarding the project's final cost and completion date. The speaker urged the city to establish a clear, public-facing communication strategy for the project.
• Alderman Burns: Commended the National Fire Rescue for their response to a recent six-alarm fire affecting three buildings but highlighted the tragedy of 30 displaced families. The speaker expressed empathy for the personal loss (photos, documents) and encouraged citizens to donate to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
• Alderman Dow: Praised the fire department's performance and the coordination of mutual aid from surrounding towns that covered local stations during the crisis. The speaker emphasized the importance of the Emergency Preparedness Director's work.
• Alderman Senate: Focused on the emotional impact of the fire on children, noting the need for donations of necessities like teddy bears. The speaker encouraged the community to "pay it forward" during the holiday season.
• General Public (implied): Comments referenced the need to assist displaced residents and concerns regarding the timeline and management of the Riverwalk and performing arts center projects.

Discussion Items

• R25212 & R25213 (Resource Center Trust Funds):

  • Alderman Clemens: Expressed full support for establishing the National Resource Center trust funds but noted a discrepancy between the sponsor (Shawna Kelly) and his involvement in expanding the scope. The speaker stated an intention to work with Alderwoman Kelly next year to expand the fund's scope to cover more issues for the unsheltered population, while supporting the current legislation to avoid jeopardizing immediate funding passage.
  • Alderman Sullivan: Expressed support, stating his expectation upon voting for the camping ordinance was that a resource center would follow. He characterized the funding as a "first step" to match other cities in the state.

• R25214 (IRS Revenue Supplemental Appropriation):

  • Alderman Sullivan: Proposed tabling the resolution until the federal money from the IRS was physically received due to the unpredictability of federal revenue. He argued that the council cannot spend money it has not yet received.
  • Alderman Clemens: Counter-acted the tabling motion by noting that since the resolution was a mechanism to accept the funds, the money could not be spent regardless of the vote if it never arrived. He supported the motion, trusting government correspondence that the funds are on the way.

• R25215 ($3 Million Special Education Trust Fund):

  • Alderman Sullivan: Expressed initial hesitation and a desire to reduce the appropriation amount to $1.5 million but ultimately expressed support after learning about the "unknown unknowns" of student needs, the risk of IEP violations, and potential legal action from families. The speaker acknowledged the anecdotal nature of some complaints but recognized the proactive necessity of the funds.
  • Dr. Andrade (Superintendent): Clarified that the $3 million fund balances potential contract service costs (up to $4 million) against current wage-line budgeting. The speaker explained that the fund is a buffer for unanticipated needs, including displaced children and new diagnoses, rather than an exact amount for the current year.
  • Alderman Clemens: Discussed the structural need for expendable trust funds to avoid the 8-week delay of the budget process when immediate needs arise (e.g., new students requiring expensive special ed services). The speaker argued that this is a proactive investment in the future and not an operational budget increase, expressing confidence in the Board of Education and Council collaborating to protect students.

• R25216 ($300,000 Resources Trust Fund):

  • Alderman Clemens: Expressed a public commitment to securing an additional one million dollars for unhoused population services in the upcoming January ordinance to fulfill prior promises. He clarified that tonight's $300,000 is a step but emphasized that more funding is coming.
  • Alderman Sullivan: Requested that a detailed budget breakdown for the $300,000 appropriation be memorized in the minutes and added as a chart.

• R25218 ($1.5 Million Capital Equipment Reserve Fund):

  • Alderman Sullivan: Opposed the supplemental appropriation, arguing that the existing Surplus Fund Balance (SURF) was sufficient to cover the $11 million in vehicle purchases without an additional $1.5 million, even given that $6.8 million is bonded. The speaker warned against "boiling the frog" by artificially raising the budget floor for future years.
  • Alderman Clemens: Argued in support, viewing the move as a pragmatic "half-dozen the six" approach that allows for flexibility in case of emergencies (like the recent fire or Sky Meadow shooting). He maintained that the financial impact on taxpayers is equivalent whether the money is budgeted upfront or appropriated supplementally, but the latter allows for mid-year assessment of needs.

• R25219 ($1.5 Million Benefits Self-Insurance Fund):

  • Alderman Sullivan: Stated being on the fence regarding the appropriation, questioning if the city was fully staffed to account for the budgeted insurance claims and whether the increase in costs was due to claims or staffing levels.
  • Director Cummings: Clarified that claims drive the costs, not staffing levels, and that the $1.5 million is an adjustment to cover projected claims to avoid a larger (15%) budget increase next year. The speaker affirmed this is a separate fund from the general operational budget.

Key Outcomes

• R25212: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously for the establishment of an expendable trust fund for the national resource center.
• R25213: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously for the establishment of an expendable trust fund for the national resource center funded by donations.
• R25214: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $59,499.98 of unanticipated IRS revenue to the capital equipment reserve fund.
• R25215: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $3 million to the special education expendable trust fund.
• R25216: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $300,000 to the resources expendable trust fund.
• R25217: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $220,000 to the police overtime expendable trust fund.
• R25218: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $1.5 million to the capital equipment reserve fund.
• R25219: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $1.5 million to the benefits self-insurance fund.
• R25220: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $200,000 to the general contingency account for Main Street and riverfront cleanup.
• R25221: Recommended indefinite postponement for the CDBG and Lead Program expenses due to the federal government shutdown.
• R25223: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $95,784.04 for the Lead Paint Hazardous Control Grant.
• R25224: Recommended final passage to the full board unanimously to appropriate $900,000 for police department roof repair and replacement.
• Meeting Adjourned: The meeting adjourned at 10:40 PM.

Discrepancy Note: The agenda listed the Resource Center resolution as R25212, while the sponsor Alderman Clemens mentioned Shawna Kelly as the prime sponsor, though she was absent. Minutes or agenda records should be cross-referenced to ensure the correct resolution numbers align with the intended scope of the resource center expansion Alderman Clemens referred to for the following year.