Nashua Board of Aldermen Meeting Summary - January 14, 2026

The Nashua Board of Aldermen convened on January 14, 2026, to begin their work in the 113th city government. The meeting included the swearing-in of Alderman Clemens as Vice President, a statement by Mayor Donchis regarding state-legislative interactions, and a detailed presentation by Energy Manager Doria Brown concerning significant changes to community power electricity rates scheduled to take effect February 1, 2026. The session concluded with routine approvals, the introduction of new legislation, and public commentary.

Consent Calendar

• 2026-2027 Aldermanic Committees: The revised committee structure for the upcoming term was approved unanimously by voice vote following an apology from the Mayor for sending a draft instead of the final copy.
• Communications: Requests for joint conventions received from the Superintendent of Woodlawn Pinewood Cemeteries (Lynn Fournier) and the Board of Library Trustees (Linda Laflame) were accepted, scheduled for January 27, 2026.
• Committee Reports: The report from the September 24, 2025, Committee on Infrastructure meeting was accepted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lori Ordolano: Expressed strong opposition and frustration regarding the handling of the Ethics Review Committee. She stated she was misled by a statement made by Chairman Bush at a December 4th meeting regarding recusal requirements, describing the situation as an "ambush" and an unethical act by a prominent lawyer. She accused the city of using the "art of the ambush" and called for immediate scrutiny of current ordinances and their enforcement. She also raised questions regarding the value and definition of ordinances and citizen rights to enforcement.

Discussion Items

State Legislative Actions & Daniel Webster College Sale

• Mayor Donchis: Discussed his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee regarding a bill to appropriate $20 million to purchase Daniel Webster College from Chinese owner Xinghua Education Consulting. He expressed disappointment that the committee voted 4-2 along party lines not to recommend the bill due to lack of funds. He strongly refuted State Senator Birdsell's statement calling the initiative a "taxpayer bailout" and alleging Nashua City Hall allowed foreign adversaries to buy land, stating the sale was a bankruptcy court auction where the city had no influence.
• Alderwoman Kelly: Noted that the committee members (specifically Chair Senator Gray) were polite during the hearing, but the adverse decision was made immediately after.
• Alderman Tebow: Questioned whether Republican candidate Lily Tang Williams, who previously opposed a sale to Chinese entities, assisted with the testimony for the purchase of the college; the Mayor noted she did not.
• Alderman O'Brien: Criticized the state legislature for failing to return the 75% of state tax income generated by the Greater Nashua area back to the city, contrasting this with the treatment of other communities regarding Keno ticket revenue. He urged the board to demand more from the state regarding infrastructure maintenance, specifically noting the lack of state plows on Route 130.
• Alderman Johnson: Expressed hope that the board focuses on solving real problems rather than allowing constituents to be distracted by "disingenuous ideas" and rhetoric, specifically referencing the false narrative surrounding the college sale.
• Alderwoman Lopez: Supported the Mayor's efforts, calling the housing opportunity lost due to the state's inaction a "real crisis." She criticized Senator Birdsell's subsequent legislation as opportunistic and "hot air" given her role in the initial xenophobic language surrounding foreign ownership.
• Alderman Gray: Reiterated the need to stop focusing constituents on false issues, noting the state's historical failure to support Nashua in the absence of an income tax.

Community Power Energy Rates

• Doria Brown (Energy Manager): Presented rates effective February 1, 2026. She noted that while the program launched in 2023 with savings (15 cents/kWh vs. 22 cents/kWh for Eversource), current rates have flipped due to the utility's ability to compete in the wholesale market.
  • Nashua Community Power Rate: 14.663 cents/kWh.
  • Eversource Rate: 11 cents/kWh.
  • Difference: Approximately 3.3 cents/kWh, resulting in a cost difference of about $21/month for the average bill.
  • She explained the rate increase is necessary to build joint reserves to manage cash flow, as the program has historically used reserves to lower rates but must now replenish them.
• Alderman Johnson: Expressed concern that constituents may not realize they are auto-enrolled or how to opt out of the program if it results in higher bills, and requested better communication strategies.
• Alderman Clee: Clarified that administration costs ($58.9 million in total costs cited) refer to the cost of doing business (staffing, overhead, borrowing for cash flow), not the joint reserve amount ($3.2 million).
• Alderman Sullivan: Raised concerns that if many constituents opt out to avoid higher rates, the attrition could negatively impact the financial reserves and stability of the program.
  • Response: Acting General Manager Herndon confirmed that attrition assumptions are built into their financial modeling and historical data is used to adjust forecasts.
• Alderman McKelly: Inquired about the discretionary adder (0.2 cents) and whether it applies to opt-up green energy products. Confirmed it is a city decision and currently applies only to the base rate, not opt-up products. She acknowledged the program is "close to her heart" despite current financial challenges.
• Alderman Lopez: Thanked Energy Manager Brown for her transparency and honesty regarding the rate increase and the ability for residents to switch providers at any time.
• Alderman Smith: Noted that while 50% of residents receive bills electronically (reducing awareness of rate changes), and others use auto-pay, communication efforts must be robust to reach all constituents without resorting to potentially fraudulent third-party providers.
• Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton: Concluded that the introduction of community power as a competitor likely drove the utility's rates down from 22 cents to 11 cents, meaning ratepayers are still paying less than they might have otherwise, even if the community power program is currently more expensive.

Other Legislative Items Discussed

• R-26-001, 002, 003, 005, 006, 007: First readings and committee assignments were granted for resolutions regarding collective bargaining agreements, retiree stipends, Main Street cleanup funding, municipal bonds for debt refunding, charitable grants, and garage design.

Key Outcomes

• Personnel: Alderman Clemens was sworn in as Vice President.
• Agenda Items Approved:
  • The 2026-2027 Aldermanic committees were approved.
  • Three communications for joint conventions were placed on file and scheduled.
• Legislation Introduced:
  • Five resolutions (R-26-001 through R-26-007) were given first reading and assigned to various committees (Budget Review, Human Affairs, Personnel/Administrative Affairs).
  • One resolution (R-26-004) was removed from the agenda.
  • One ordinance (O-26-001) regarding flag polls on City Hall grounds was given first reading.**
• Decisions Made:
  • The Board accepted that Community Power rates are currently higher than Eversource (14.663 vs 11 cents/kWh) but remains committed to the program. The Board agreed to explore further information dissemination and held off on a final decision regarding future rate structures pending further committee meetings in February, March, and April.
• Next Steps: A special Board meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2026, to continue deliberation on the Main Street cleanup appropriation (R-26-003). Aggregation committee meetings are scheduled for the subsequent months to review financials and participation.