We're going to call the meeting of the finance committee to order on January 21st, 2026.

Madam Clerk, would you call the roll?

Sure.

Alderman Vince Smith.

Alderman Sullivan.

Alderwoman at Large.

Greg here.

Alderman at Large Clemens.

Here.

Alderman Smith is here.

Alderman Smith.

Here.

Okay.

Alderman Clee is here.

And Mayor Donches.

Here.

I'm sorry, you're not on the list.

I apologize.

Alderman Wilshire.

Here.

And Alderman Alderwoman Johnson is also here as not as a member of the committee, but just as an alderman.

All right.

So first thing is public comment.

Is there any member of the public that would like to speak to the committee on any of tonight's agenda items?

I don't doesn't appear so.

So we'll go to communications.

First communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager.

Alderman Clee.

I think before we start, Mr.

Mr.

Mayor, I think we need to nominate a a new clerk.

Okay.

And as he is not here, I am going to nominate Alderman Sullivan.

All right.

Any other nominations?

No other nominations.

All those in favor of Alderman Sullivan for clerk, say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes, and he will be the clerk.

Communications.

First from Amy Girard purchasing manager, Alderwoman Clee.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I motion to accept place on file and approve the purchase of two 2025 Ford Maverick hybrid pickup trucks from Garponi Ford in the amount not to exceed $74,604.

Fund Surf slash 81 professional and technical services.

Good evening.

Here to represent Director Smith, who couldn't be here tonight.

We're here before you tonight for two 2026 Ford Maverick pickups to replace an aging 2007 Chevy Malibu and a 2008 Ford Escape.

We'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Alderman Clemens.

Thank you.

These um these are not uh are they electric hybrids or are they just hybrids?

They are just hybrids.

Okay.

And my second question is why um are you going from a from a sedan to a pickup?

Um I'll speak strictly in my case because one of them would potentially be my vehicle.

Sure.

Uh I have the Malibu and the back of my trunk with the equipment I need is like literally Tetris, trying to get things in and out.

Okay.

Um I also have stuff in the back seat that includes uh we have um two large cases for reunification equipment um for supplies and stuff like that.

I keep traffic cones and um gates and first aid stuff, all different things in my vehicle.

Um the custodial supervisor may need to get um supplies back and forth.

I again I can't speak too much on that vehicle, but okay, thank you.

All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye, motion passes.

Have a good evening, thank you.

Next communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager.

Um Alderwoman Clee.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I motion to accept place on file and approve a five-year lease and maintenance agreement with Pitney Bowes for a new postage meter at the National Public Library in the amount not to exceed $4,571 and forty cents.

Funding will be through Department 179 library fund general fund slash 55 other services.

Ms.

McCormick.

Good evening, everyone.

Uh we are this is a replacement postage meter.

That's a five-year lease, as you've read.

We primarily use this for our books by mail program.

We have about 60 residents who enjoy that service.

All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next communication from Amy Gerard purchasing manager.

Alderman Alderman Klee.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I motion to accept place on file and approve change order number four with Vernonatis LLC for additional scope for the contract, which includes an additional 30% to final design of the upsteam fish passage, as well as construction cost estimates and permitting support at Jackson Mills in the amount not to exceed 239,300.

Funding will be through Department 170 Hydroelectric Operations Fund Capital Improvement Slash 553 professional and technical services.

Ms.

Chisholm.

Hi, good evening, Deb Chisholm, sustainability manager.

I am here in front of you once again asking for uh change order to approve additional funding to support the existing contractor that we have working on fish passage uh design for both Jackson Mills and Minefalls hydro projects.

Um this particular change order number four is regarding um the upstream fish passage at Jackson.

Um and the reason that we did it this way um was to essentially be able to sharpen our pencils with the conceptual designs at the beginning and get buy-in from the um agencies, the federal and state agencies that are required to approve our design.

Um so we've got some um initial uh approval from them and now we're going to move forward uh with the uh actual 30 to full design of the upstream fish passage.

We'll be working um with that same contractor.

They've already done the design for the downstream fish passage, um, and so what we're gonna try to do is meld both of those uh projects together uh to sort of do them simultaneously to provide some um efficiencies when it comes to permitting and construction and uh state and federal approvals.

So this particular change order um is a little bit less than what the the other ones have been uh because we are going to sort of be melding things together for for Jackson.

Alder Woman Clee.

Uh thank you uh Mr.

Mayor.

And just for the public that listening as we're in a new legislative year, um this fish passage um is a requirement, is it not to get the permits and so on in order to be able to do the net metering and so on as we've been doing?

Is that correct?

That's correct.

The requirements came from um when we changed out the old turbine recently at Jackson, uh the requirement for us to amend our uh our license exemption there was to have approval from the fish agencies, and that's when they jump on us with the stipulations that require um updated fish passage.

Yes.

Um also just kind of for edge of edducation.

Um, what types of fish are we looking at?

Um we're looking at herring and we're looking at um eels.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

Alderman Clemens.

Yeah, uh so in the motion um it says uh for an additional scope for the contract, which includes an additional 30 percent to final design.

What does that what do what exactly does that mean?

So currently the status of the design for both upstream and downstream fish passage at Jackson are at the conceptual stage.

So they have provided me with a document that provided several options for both.

And having selected one to move forward with, we have approval from the what I refer to as the fish agencies, the state and federal agencies, to move forward with a particular design.

So at this point, they will take it from the conceptual to final design.

The first reporting back to the fish agencies along that path is the 30 percent design.

Then we'll provide them 90 percent design, and then we'll provide uh they'll provide final design.

So is the is the total cost going to get I guess my question is is the total cost the not to exceed the 239, 300.

Is that going to get us a final product as far as design goes?

Yes.

Okay.

All right, I don't see anyone else.

Um, Alder Alderman Johnson.

Thank you very much.

Since I wasn't on the board the last term, so what is do we have an idea what is the total cost of this project at this point?

Well, currently what this particular contract that's that the contractor that's responsible for doing all of the um engineering and design work for us that we're at almost well, we're at almost a million dollars.

Um I don't have firm numbers yet for the actual construction of either upstream or downstream for Jackson or for Mine Falls at this point.

I don't have those numbers.

Go ahead.

Is there any state of federal funding coming in on this grants, or is this just Nashua?

Currently, this is just Nashua.

Just Nashua.

We are always on the lookout for funding though.

Okay, thank you.

All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

New business resolutions or ordinances, we have none, so we will go to tabled in committee.

Is there a motion to take from the table alder woman Clee?

Um, yes.

Um I motion, I'm sorry.

It doesn't have it in here, but um I motion to take from the table the Riverfront Project Renaissance Park Art Bureau in the amount not to exceed 105,000 dollars funded from Riverfront TIFF Fund 70 Project Contingency.

All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Motion passes, and we have before us the communication.

Uh Alder Woman Clee.

Communication from Amy Girard purchasing manager.

Yes, I motion to accept place on file and award a contract to Jay Graham Studios LLC to paint a 200 by 20 feet tall mural along Water Street in Renaissance Park in the amount not to exceed 105,000 dollars.

Funding will be through Department 183 Economic Development Fund Riverfront TIFF Fund 70 project contingency.

And Ms.

Hanum is here via Zoom.

Yeah.

Um Liz Hanum, Economic Development Director.

Um I believe Lori is in the room from the arts commission.

She's not.

No, she's not.

No, okay.

So um I I guess I'll do the whole thing then.

Um so just some reminder uh that this is there are um a few small projects left to finish out the river walk um within that uh quadrant two area.

Um the mural is one of them, and that is the long wall that's right next to um the new pavilion.

Um we had a great um opening at the winter stroll this year, but um that wall is very gray and plain, and so we're worried about um graffiti for one.

Um but uh we went through a process um to find the right uh artist for this.

Um the arts commission kind of took the lead on this and created a committee with um city staff, arts commissioners, um residents from Clock Tower, as well as um the uh Rish Lou Club who uh kind of sponsors the Renaissance park area.

Um so through that we put out an RFP for the the mural.

Um it's 200 feet long and up to 25 feet tall.

Um received 21 proposals uh and we selected three finalists uh that would put together a full proposal with um color and uh renderings of the actual mural that they would paint.

Um the committee decided unanimously on Jay Graham studios and the funding um source that this will come from is uh that the riverfront TIF uh bond.

Um so this source of funding can only be used for capital projects related to the river walk.

Um so it cannot be used for other things.

Um but this mural was was planned since 2017 or so.

Um but are there any questions?

Um and I believe we have the chair of the arts commission here.

Oh, she is here.

She just came in.

Okay, yes.

You have to go into the microphone.

Oh, sorry.

Hi, yes.

I think I think Liz probably covered what I was gonna cover.

You went a little faster than I expected today, but I'm happy to answer any questions as well.

And you um would just describe your role in this whole thing?

Sure.

So um I cheered the.

Name and address, sure.

Laurie Spirit's event, 39 Coburn Avenue Nashua.

Um did Liz share the the composition of the committee.

Um a little bit.

But um if you could go over uh the the we're kind of creating a new um way to kind of vet public art um that the city would pay for.

So if you want to go over that, that would be great.

Um sure.

So apologies if I repeat a little bit of what she said, but um the composition of the committee was um uh Alderman Tom Lopez, um, two members of the National Arts Commission, including myself, um, one resident of Clock Tower Police, which is of course adjacent to the site, um, two members of the Richlia Club and um four city staff members, so Liz Hannum and Amy Girard, and um they were non-voting members, and we also had representatives from the Department of Public Works and the Sustainability Department.

So really good representation um across the city and across organizations in the city.

Um so I I did hear Liz say that we had 21 submissions in response to her call for artists last June.

Um the committee evaluated them against a set of criteria that we agreed upon, and from that selected three finalists.

Um we after they were selected, we met with the finalists and um shared our priorities and thoughts um on their work and um gave them a chance to ask questions, and then we voted once again with the criteria in mind um on the uh on the finalists.

And as Liz mentioned, we it was unanimous vote, so we felt really good about the um the um outcome and about the process.

We had really good robust discussion about um each of the artists.

Uh Alderwoman Clee.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I just want to share.

I'm um I had been the um liaison to the arts commission, and and this year I'm the alternate to the commission.

And at the last meeting, one of the questions that I had asked about artwork that we do in the city, the painting and so on, was the um the taking care of it because we see oftentimes that we commission artwork, but then it kind of degrades and so on, and this has that built into it as will future ones, and I was quite pleased to hear that.

I think that's extremely important that we don't just commission something and then it deteriorates and it looks worse than having the gray wall.

Um so I'm I'm very was very happy to hear that.

Um Alderman Johnson.

Thank you very much.

Um what are we going to do if this is vandalized like the trash cans were downtown?

Um with graffiti all over it.

How are we going to prevent that?

Because I mean, we spent a lot of money on that for the cans.

I think 103,000, and then we have graffiti all over it, and you know, this is we're spending money, good money to make this area beautiful because I will tell you the history.

I remember when Georgie Hippoff started that whole area.

And now we're building up more on it.

So I just want to make sure that we don't see graffiti again.

Yeah, that's a great question.

Liz, do you want to take that or sure?

Um, so as part of the RFP, we made sure that um graffiti uh clear coding was included in any what everyone's proposal.

Um so they receive three quotes of that, uh so we can remove graffiti up to three times without any um any more maintenance.

Um so they essentially every time you um you take graffiti off, you're kind of removing a layer of that anti-graffiti paint.

Um, but all we have to do is repaint the the anti-graffiti paint um after three times.

So um we do have a plan to uh make sure that it stays pristine.

Um and a maintenance plan that uh was provided as well with the the artist.

Thank you.

Alderman, please.

Uh Greg Greg.

Alderman Greg.

Um thank you.

So I just I have a concern.

I know that this has been you know talked about and planned since 2017, and obviously um financial situations have changed since then, and this is a lot, it's a lot of money um to pay for artwork.

We did have just the big uproar over the trash cans.

I personally understand why you wouldn't want something plain, you know, because it shows dirt and stuff, but I am concerned about spending, you know, we we also want to spend how like 200,000 for cleanup and stuff down there in Main Street, and so this other hundred thousand dollars.

What happens if we don't put the art?

I mean, yes, we have a blank wall, but I've lived in houses where I didn't paint my walls for a long time.

So what happens to this money?

Is that something that could be used then for reappropriated for the cleanup in that area, or it's just this can only be spent on the mural and then that's it?

Um it's money coming from the TIFF, the tax increment financing district, so it could be used for anything within the district.

Um can I uh put one caveat on that?

Yes, put up caveat on it.

Yeah, so um this is actually coming from the bond.

So it can only be used for capital projects on the riverfront.

So it it can't be maintenance or clean team type activities, even within the TIFF district.

So that would be a different source of funds.

That would be the the TIP cash account.

Um, so this is just for capital.

So technically, if we didn't um spend the hundred thousand dollars on a mural, um we could spend it on some other capital project.

Um but we this was planned, so um, it's part of the 21 million dollar bond.

Um so the the one thing that we never want to do with um a big gray wall is leave it blank.

Um dirt and things like that, definitely, but um graffiti is always gonna be um more enticing with big blank walls than it is with um artwork on it.

So that's another reason why we like to put artwork.

Um this is going to kind of speak to the nationalist history as well as um Renaissance Parks history that the um French Canadians that came um to work at the mills here, so um that's that is what it's for.

Did you did you follow what she meant about the bond issue?

Yeah, no, I I totally I totally follow that.

I just I look at this and I think oh my gosh, like that's just it's it's uh in the scheme of a 21 million dollar thing, is that a lot?

No, but it's still just a lot of money, and when we're looking for money in so many places, I just I don't know, it's tough, but these are decisions that were happened a long time ago.

So Alderman Clemens.

Yeah, so I broke it down.

I I looked at um what the square footage of that was, and basically this breaks down to about four a little less than four cents per square foot of the of painting.

So for every square foot, it's about four cents.

So to me, that is a is a very good deal, considering the fact of how big of an area it is.

Um it's going to improve the aesthetics of that park.

It's gonna improve the aesthetics of the area, and it to me, yeah, it it's money well spent.

Uh all the one and clee.

Uh thank you, uh Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I wanted to kind of comment about the graffiti.

Um, I kind of wish um Alderman uh Lopez had been here.

Um, one of the things that he's taught me about um the artwork within the city is it tends not to be graffiti.

The those uh trash cans were just very controversial about um they they were AI printed, they weren't painted.

Um so that's a completely different type of thing than the artwork.

Um they tend not to be graffitied, they um they look at graffiti as art.

Um, and as as it was stated, having this very gray wall could put tagging and graffiti, um, which could be gang um type related and so on.

We want to detract from that.

We don't want that within the city.

When I think about just when we put up the barriers and we actually had graffiti artwork, the outrage that the um citizens came out and yelling, you know, how dare you put this there, um, as the ward three alderman having the graffiti up on one of the buildings um where Fodies is and so on, that's a private property, I can't do anything about it.

Um, I get a lot of um people who just drive through that area saying, why aren't you cleaning that up and so on?

So we would be constantly cleaning the graffiti if we leave this blank canvas, and I think that in the long run would end up costing us more.

So I really do think that this is something they've really planned for the potential for graffiti on it.

Um they they've planned for um so many other things.

I think the the one that was chosen that gives the history of the city, the area is gonna speak a lot to um people who come to visit.

Um I personally love the artwork within the city.

It could be used somewhere else.

Technically, it can't be.

It can only be used within this area for as it was stated a capital project.

Is there another capital project that's going to come through, possibly?

But I still think in the end, the cost for this to have to clean it up, and we are asking basically you have a blank canvas here, come in and tag it and do whatever you want.

I think that's more costly in the end.

So I will be supporting this.

I think the um my interpretation of the graffiti on the trash cans was that it was a protest, really.

They could because the impression that people had was that we paid for AI generated art, which in fact we did not.

We got that for free.

So I think people thought the kind of the message was well, if you're gonna pay for AI, why wouldn't you pay artists?

What the answer was sh w was we didn't pay for it at all.

Anyway, I I think that was more than just I think it was more than just you know random teenagers or something.

I think that was intended as a some kind of message.

Okay.

Uh Alderman Johnson.

Thank you.

The reason I asked that because you just don't know that in this day and age, somebody could be upset with the city, come by with spray can and just spray the mural.

We've spent 105,000, and I agree with Alderman Greg.

I think it's a lot of money.

Unfortunately, it's a bond.

We can't use it for anything else.

But I do hear people talking about the cost of the river walk when so much other uh projects need to be done around the city.

And so I just wanted to make sure that if we're doing this mural, then we have some protection on this wall that in case somebody got upset with the city and started spraying on it, that we're not gonna have spent the 105,000, and then we don't have any way to clean it up.

So thank you for the information.

Um Alderman Wilshire.

Thank you.

Um, in the warranty here that is uh with our agenda tonight, it says J.

Graham Studios is prepared to assess damage per square foot as laid out in an agreement upon commission.

It says all murals are sealed in two coats of mural guard, which holds a 10-year warranty of up to a hundred graffiti removals and UV protection.

That's not what you said, Liz.

You said something about three coats and you still with us, Liz.

No.

We lost our okay.

Well, so much for my question.

She did say three coats, so she did say.

She's coming in from Costa Rica.

She's coming back.

She's back in theory.

Yes, sorry about that.

Did you hear the question?

Or did you hear could you repeat, please?

Sure.

Under the warranty on the J.

Graham studios, he's it says it's prepared to assess damage per square foot as laid out in an agreement upon commission.

All murals are sealed in two codes of mural guard, which holds a 10-year warranty of up to a hundred graffiti removals and UV protection.

Oh yes.

So I'm sorry, I I guess I thought it was three, but um I stand corrected.

So it was it is two coats.

Um, but obviously you can um clean it a lot more than I thought.

Um I apologize.

Okay, thank you.

Yes.

All the woman clean.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Also, I just wanted to reiterate one of the things about this is it's the TIFF.

Um so the money within the TIFF cannot be used anywhere else within the city.

Um so that that needs to be really clear.

So when we say, you know, there are other projects within the city, absolutely there are.

Um there are other projects that you know, in some in some instances are more worthy of uh financing and and and monies, but we can't use these.

It was a contract that was long before I I came on the board, but I believe for those aldermen that are here, it was a contract to get um developers to come into that area and do that.

It was kind of uh, you know, you come here, do this, and we will take um the TIFF money and so on and use it for betterment and beautification of that area.

If I'm kind of vaguely saying this, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I just wanted I wanted to say I appreciate the clarification, and I think that a lot of people are asking these questions, so it's good to have this kind of all discussing it and not just kind of assuming that it's one way or the other.

So thank you.

All right, anyone else?

All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Um all right, next we have record of expenditures.

Alder Woman Clee.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I motion that the finance committee has compli complied with the city charter and ordinances pertaining to the record of expenditures for the for the period from January 2nd, 2026 through January 15, 2026.

All those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Motion passes.

General discussion.

Is there any general discussion?

Uh public comments.

Any member of the public want to address the committee?

I don't see anyone.

Remarks by Alderman.

Any Alderman have remarks?

Alder Woman Clee.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, I just want to make a general um comment um about how good the people in the city of Nashua really are.

Um today I put out um a call to my constituents that there's someone in need of help with shoveling and snow removal and so on.

And honestly, within 15 minutes of sending that message out, I must have a half a dozen people reach out to me saying that they wanted to help.

And while this person is able to pay, um, there were people who are saying, I'll pay for it, I'll take care of it.

And it just warmed my heart.

I truly love this city that we live in, and I think it is filled with kind people.

Social media may say differently, but it's a handful of people that are saying that the general population here in Nashua are good, kind people.

So thank you.

Alderman Greg.

I just wanted to take a minute to um tell everybody to stay warm and uh take advantage of the warming um stations if you are outside, because I know we have a big storm coming this weekend, so I want to preemptively well thank DPW for this last weekend and what they're about to do.

It it's a lot to coordinate that and going down to the streets department and seeing it and seeing how they have to try to coordinate it.

It's an impressive thing, and I just appreciate all their hard work.

Great.

Anyone else?

Alderwoman Clee.

Uh, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

At this time I would like to motion for adjournment.

All those in favor of the motion say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes, and the meeting of the finance committee is adjourned at 7.32 p.m.