OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Nashua Board of Alderman Meeting Summary: January 27, 2026

Board of Aldermen Meetings — Wednesday, January 28, 2026
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateWednesday, January 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

I'm going to call the regular meeting of the Board of Alderman to order on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 7.30 p.m.

0:15

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

0:23

The prayer will be offered this evening by City Clerk Dan Healy, and the pledge will be offered by Alderman Clee.

0:30

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

0:37

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

0:56

So help us God.

0:58

Amen.

0:59

I pledge the United States of America.

1:10

Liberty and Justice for All.

1:19

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

1:22

Alderman Clemens.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Alderman Clee.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Alderman Chess.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Alderwoman Smith.

1:31

Here.

1:32

Aldman Tebow.

1:33

Here.

1:34

Aldman O'Brien.

1:35

President.

1:37

Alderman Greg.

1:38

Here.

1:39

Aldwin Dowd.

1:40

President.

1:42

Alderman Sullivan.

1:45

Alderman Senate.

1:46

Here.

1:47

Alderman Johnson.

1:49

Present.

1:51

Alderwoman Kelly.

1:55

Alderman Morgan.

1:57

Here.

1:57

I'm joined by Zoom.

1:59

I am alone, and it's due to my daughter being sick.

2:04

Alderman Lopez.

2:06

Here.

2:07

Aldwin Wilshire.

2:08

Here.

2:09

Thirteen present, two absent.

2:11

Alderman Sullivan is on travel.

2:13

Alderman, uh Alderwoman Kelly is sick.

2:17

Is that everybody?

2:19

I think so.

2:21

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

2:25

Mayor, did you wish to address the board this evening?

2:27

Yes, Madam President.

2:30

First, I wanted to address the recent storm that we had over the last couple of days, and say that uh the public works Lisa Frodo and her crew did a great job on this immense storm.

2:46

You know, before this particular storm, there had already been 15 so-called snow incidents to which public works responded.

2:55

Uh those would include sleet and rain, you know, ice and others, and snow.

3:00

But they'd already responded 15 times, which is unusually high for this time of year.

3:06

And now they had a 36-hour storm, uh 18 inches or so of snow, and people were out there long hours, and then after the storm was finished last night, uh, people were out today clearing the sidewalks uh adjacent to schools and elsewhere.

3:24

And again, they did a great job, and I think they should be congratulated for that.

3:30

Um Madam President, I also wanted to speak to a an item that is on the agenda tonight, which is the approval of the uh mural for the riverfront project, uh the Renaissance Park uh mural.

3:46

The some questions came up at the finance committee, which did approve this unanimously, but uh uh regarding what exactly the TIFF is, so I thought I would um I thought I would address that.

3:58

The um tax increment financing districts are authorized by the New Hampshire legislature by New Hampshire law, and the point of those is to um use public money to stimulate private private development.

4:18

Uh specifically, umce a district is declared to be a tax increment financing district, then any improvements uh increases in property values that occur within the district.

4:34

The increased taxes based upon those those improvements or increased value is devoted to the TIFF taxing to the district to make public improvements, which in turn are designed to stimulate uh additional private investment.

5:00

So in this particular instance, um we began looking at the riverfront in 2016 when I attended a mayor's institute of city design, which is a uh cooperative venture between the U.S.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Tax Increment Financing█████████████13%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Homelessness█████5%
Public Library Services████4%
Public Works███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Nashua Board of Alderman Meeting Summary: January 27, 2026

The Board of Alderman convened on January 27, 2026, at 7:30 PM to address the aftermath of a severe 36-hour winter storm, acknowledge Alderwoman Lori Wilshire's record tenure, and deliberate on the Riverfront Renaissance Park mural project. The meeting featured strong support for Public Works Department efforts, significant debate regarding the $105,000 cost of the mural and its funding via Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and the awarding of contracts for a postage meter and library trustee positions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved a five-year lease and maintenance agreement with Pitney Bowes for a new postage meter at the National Public Library, not to exceed $4,571.40, funded by the General Fund.
  • Accepted reports from the September 30, 2025, September 29, 2025, October 1, 2025, and October 6, 2025 committee meetings (Joint, Planning & Economic Development, Finance, and Personnel Administrative Affairs respectively) to be placed on file.
  • Accepted Mayoral appointments for the Ethics Review Committee, Board of Health, and the Board of Library Trustees (Patricia Dresner), with the Board of Library Trustees appointment confirmed by joint vote (18-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Lawrence Barra Savett (National Arts Commission): Expressed full support for the mural selection process, noting the robust committee review of 21 submissions and the unanimous selection of artist Jay Graham. Stated the project includes community engagement plans and that the funding source is strictly for capital improvements, not operations or maintenance. Expressed hope for board approval.
  • Alderman Tebow: Stated she does not fully support the mural at the proposed cost, citing constituent concerns that $105,000 could house 10 people, and expressed hesitation regarding the budget priorities for downtown versus neighborhood needs, though she acknowledged she may be overruled.
  • Bob Keating: Expressed strong opposition to the current funding allocation relative to the homelessness crisis, stating that the city needs to devote more direct monies to permanent housing. Argued that the mural's cost represents significant housing potential and that years of talk have failed to solve homelessness.
  • Bill Ferriel: Expressed concern regarding city budget accuracy, specifically questioning the $5 million discrepancy between planned and actual automobile registration fees in previous years. Argued that the budget should reflect clear historical trends rather than "moving targets," and suggested that accurate budgeting could allow for increased police and fire services at lower tax rates.
  • Alderman Lopez: Expressed concern for homeless residents during the recent storm, highlighting safety risks with snowbanks and plows, and reiterated the need for emergency shelter solutions.
  • Alderman Johnson: Expressed agreement with the need for regional cooperation on homelessness and thanked the community for their support.
  • Alderman Senate: Reiterated thanks for DPW but urged citizens to stop illegally dumping snow onto city streets, noting it creates hazards and increases DPW workload.
  • Alderman Morgan: Expressed gratitude to citizens for checking on neighbors and to DPW for a clean response, noting zero complaints received.
  • Alderman Smith: Expressed appreciation for the board's challenges regarding budgetary values, emphasizing that while the mural is desired, the community expects the city to prioritize housing, education, and healthcare in its spending decisions.
  • Alderman Clee: Congratulated Alderwoman Wilshire, thanked DPW, and advised residents not to leave vehicles on the street during snow events to avoid towing.

Discussion Items

  • Recent Winter Storm: Mayor Jim Donchis and multiple Aldermen (Johnson, Tebow, Lopez, Senate, Morgan, Clee, Clemens) expressed full support and deep gratitude for the Department of Public Works (DPW), Police, and Fire/Rescue for managing a historic 36-hour, 18-inch snowstorm and 15 prior snow incidents. Alderman Johnson noted specific observations of crews clearing hydrants and roads.
  • Renaissance Park Mural & TIF Finances:
    • Mayor Donchis: Stated full support for the project, explaining the TIF mechanism: borrowed money paid by future property value increases within the district, which cannot be diverted to other uses. Detailed the committee process involving 21 applicants and the selection of Jay Graham.
    • Alderman Lopez: Expressed support for the mural's artistic value and community engagement (youth workshops) but stated skepticism regarding the high price tag ($105,000) compared to his past experience with murals costing under $5,000. Argued that local artists should be prioritized, though acknowledged the necessity of compensating artists as business people. Expressed concern about potential structural work on the wall the mural is painted on and the risk of wasting funds if the wall requires demolition.
    • Alderman Clee: Expressed support for the mural, agreeing that a blank wall invites vandalism. Supported the higher cost as necessary for high-quality work and anti-graffiti protections. Stated hope for future local artist inclusion but acknowledged the need to move forward.
    • Alderman Johnson: Expressed strong opposition to the $105,000 cost, stating he cannot support the expenditure at this time despite acknowledging the beauty of the art. Cited constituent frustration regarding the focus on downtown capital improvements over pressing issues like homelessness outside the downtown area.
    • Alderman Senate: Expressed opposition based on the same cost concerns and the "outsourcing" nature of the contract, feeling a disconnect between the price tag and the community need.
    • Alderman Morgan & Alderman Clee: Both expressed general support for arts and the specific project, with Morgan noting the value of the artist's history and Clee emphasizing the structural integrity and anti-graffiti aspects of the contract.
    • Alderman Smith: Expressed concern that the expenditure reflects the city's values, suggesting the funds might be better spent on housing or education, though she understood the constraints of the TIF fund.
    • Structural Inquiry: Alderman Johnson and Lopez raised the possibility that the wall supporting the mural may require structural repair or replacement due to ramp issues. Mayor Donchis clarified that the contract is for funding, not immediate construction, and the board would investigate structural issues before painting commencement.
  • Committee Process: Alderman Lopez clarified he was not present for the final narrowing of candidates due to schedule conflicts, though the committee ultimately voted unanimously (using ranked choice) for the selected artist. Alderman Clee and Mayor Donchis confirmed the committee's robust selection process involving renderings and interviews.

Key Outcomes

  • Mural Contract Awarded: The Board voted 9 Yay to 4 Nays to award a contract to Jay Graham Studios, LLC, for the Riverfront Renaissance Park mural, not to exceed $105,000, funded by the Riverfront TIF Fund. (Nay votes from Aldermen Senate, Johnson, Morgan, and Lopez).
  • Library Trustee Elected: Patricia Dresner was unanimously elected (18-0) by the joint convention of the Board of Aldermen and Library Board of Trustees to the open seat on the Library Board of Trustees.
  • Budget & Planning Adjustments:
    • The Special Budget Review Committee and public hearings previously cancelled due to weather were rescheduled to Thursday, February 12, 2026.
    • An infrastructure meeting was rescheduled to February 4, 2026.
    • A Penetheck Special Water Committee meeting was scheduled for Thursday to interview a trustee candidate.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM by a vote of 12-1.

Recognitions

  • Alderwoman Lori Wilshire: Proclaimed the longest-serving Alderman in Nashua history for her continuous service since 1998 (with a brief defeat) and her tenure as President of the Board of Alderman since November 13, 2018.
  • Gloria Timmins: Resolution (R-26-008) introduced for the first reading to rename the Arlington Street Community Center as the Gloria Timmins Community Center.
  • Holocaust Remembrance Day: Alderman Morgan noted the observance of the day and the importance of remembrance.

Note: While the header of the transcript indicates the date as Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the first sentence of the meeting call states the date as January 27, 2026, while the prompt metadata lists the timestamp as 2026-01-28. The summary reflects the spoken date in the transcript.

Meeting Transcript

I'm going to call the regular meeting of the Board of Alderman to order on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 7.30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber, which has been duly noticed in two places, including the city's website in accordance with the requirements of RSA 91A. The prayer will be offered this evening by City Clerk Dan Healy, and the pledge will be offered by Alderman Clee. Almighty God, we have the high honor and the serious duty to manage the affairs of our beloved city. Fill us, oh God, with a spirit of unity and understanding, which enables us to face our multiple problems with a serene mind with justice and charity for all, so that any and all decisions made by us will always be for the betterment and greater happiness of all our fellow citizens. So help us God. Amen. I pledge the United States of America. Liberty and Justice for All. Let's start the meeting by taking a roll call attendance, please. Alderman Clemens. Here. Alderman Clee. Here. Alderman Chess. Here. Alderwoman Smith. Here. Aldman Tebow. Here. Aldman O'Brien. President. Alderman Greg. Here. Aldwin Dowd. President. Alderman Sullivan. Alderman Senate. Here. Alderman Johnson. Present. Alderwoman Kelly. Alderman Morgan. Here. I'm joined by Zoom. I am alone, and it's due to my daughter being sick. Alderman Lopez. Here. Aldwin Wilshire. Here. Thirteen present, two absent. Alderman Sullivan is on travel. Alderman, uh Alderwoman Kelly is sick. Is that everybody? I think so. Also joining us this evening is Mayor Jim Donchis and Corporation Counsel Steve Bolton. Mayor, did you wish to address the board this evening? Yes, Madam President. First, I wanted to address the recent storm that we had over the last couple of days, and say that uh the public works Lisa Frodo and her crew did a great job on this immense storm. You know, before this particular storm, there had already been 15 so-called snow incidents to which public works responded.

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