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Record of Proceedings

Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - March 5, 2026

Board of Aldermen Meetings — Thursday, March 5, 2026
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateThursday, March 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:23

Original source
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0:12

That's the only way you learn what's going on.

0:14

Yep.

0:17

You know me, I just can't second here.

0:21

Yeah.

0:31

Hi Ben.

0:37

Are you?

0:38

Good.

0:38

Are we good?

0:42

Just hit record, right?

0:44

It's already it's that's why the red light is on the body.

0:46

So we are recording.

0:48

I'm hoping I shut it off mute, so I think we're okay.

0:51

I'm gonna start the meeting.

0:54

Meeting of the finance committee is held on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at 7 p 701 p.m.

1:01

in the aldermanic chamber and duly notice in two places, including the city's website, in accordance with requirements of RSA 91-A 2 Roman numeral two.

1:13

Um Alderman Clemens has agreed to be our clerk today.

1:18

So Mr.

1:19

Clerk, could you take the roll, please?

1:21

Sure.

1:21

Uh Alderman Clee.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Mayor Donchis.

1:26

Uh Alderman Wilshare.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Alderman Clemens is here.

1:31

Alderman Gregg.

1:33

Alderman Sullivan.

1:36

Alderman Smith.

1:37

Here.

1:38

And so we have four in attendance.

1:42

We have a quorum also present.

1:44

Is Alderman Johnson.

1:46

Thank you very much, Mr.

1:48

Clerk.

1:50

I'm going to open it up to the public.

1:51

I don't see anybody, but is there anybody from the public that would like to speak?

1:56

Seeing none.

1:57

Communications, Mr.

1:59

Clerk?

2:00

From Amy Gerard regarding one sidewalk plow and the amount not to exceed 195,000 five dollars funded from Surf 81 Capital Quality Improvements.

2:09

I'll move to accept place on file and approve the purchase of a MT trackless sidewalk plow with HP Fairfield in the amount not to exceed 195,005.

2:20

Funding will be through Department 191 School Department fund SERF 81 capital outlay improvements.

2:38

Good evening.

2:39

I'm Sean Smith, the plan operations director for the school district.

2:42

Yes, so we're replacing a 2012 sidewalk machine.

2:45

It was a McLean brand.

3:03

They do all our maintenance for these machines, so of course it makes sense to get the same thing.

3:24

That's all I have.

3:27

Exactly.

3:27

And I just want to add that um there was a chance we weren't gonna have quorum and we were really pushing for quorum again.

3:33

Why the importance of this committee to be here when we can.

3:37

I understand sometimes we can't for illnesses or work or something, but it's very important because something delaying this could uh have hurt it with the tariffs, and we don't want to do that.

3:46

So um are there any questions?

3:49

Alderman Clemens.

3:51

Thank you.

3:51

Just in regards to that, this price is is firm.

3:55

Yes.

3:56

Okay.

3:56

Yep.

3:57

Actually it went through Mike Rush and the Street Department to get the pricing.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Procedural█████████████████21%
Public Works████████10%
Water And Wastewater Management██████8%
Procurement Processes███4%
Public Health Services█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - March 5, 2026

The Nashua Finance Committee met on March 5, 2026, at 7:01 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. The committee approved seven communications and the record of expenditures, all by unanimous roll-call votes. The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Sidewalk plow purchase: Approved a contract with HP Fairfield for a MT Trackless sidewalk plow (not to exceed $195,005) for the School Department, funded from SERF 81 capital outlay. The plow replaces a 2012 McLean machine.
  • Pavement management engineering services: Approved a contract with IMEG Consultants Corp (formerly Hainer Swanson) for management and construction administration of the 2026 paving program ($400,000), funded from Bond 53 professional and technical services.
  • 2026 paving program contract: Awarded a construction contract to Sunshine Paving Corporation for Contract Two of the 2026 paving program ($4,972,326.50), funded from Bond 54 property services.
  • Construction materials testing: Approved a contract with SW Cole Engineering for asphalt and concrete testing related to the paving program ($41,330), funded from Bond 53.
  • Class A biosolids upgrade final design: Approved a contract with Wright Pierce for final design (up to 60% plans) of a sludge drying facility ($1,061,779), funded from SRF Loan 53.
  • Landfill gas well raising change order: Approved a change order with SCS Field Services for raising gas recovery wells at Four Hills landfill ($70,150), funded from Bond 54.
  • Murray Field lighting upgrade: Approved the purchase of an LED lighting structure system from Musco Lighting for Murray Field ($205,000), funded from Capital 54.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke.

Discussion Items

  • Sidewalk plow: Sean Smith (Plan Operations Director) stated the replacement is needed because the city's maintenance vendor works on that brand. Alderman Clemens confirmed the price was firm. Amy Gerard (Purchasing Manager) noted the use of a SourceWell cooperative agreement to secure competitive pricing.
  • Pavement management and paving program: Mark Saunders (Deputy City Engineer) detailed that the 2026 paving program covers about 8 miles (50 streets) of mostly local residential roads, with 80% mill and overlay and 20% full reclamation. The original budget of $7.5 million was split into two contracts; only the local-road contract (Contract Two) was awarded due to high bids on arterial roads. The city will rebid or add roads to the current contract for the remaining funds. Alderman Clemens asked about the list of streets (not in packet but available via the city website). Alderman Johnson asked about road lifespan (10-35 years depending on usage) and cost increases. He noted frost heaves and preservation methods.
  • Construction materials testing: Saunders explained that SW Cole tests asphalt plant mixes and field compaction to ensure quality. Alderman Smith supported the practice, referencing past paving problems.
  • Class A biosolids upgrade: David Bouchard (Wastewater Superintendent) explained that the city produces Class B biosolids and faces increasing disposal costs and regulatory pressure. Moving to Class A will reduce volume and expand disposal options. Total construction cost is estimated at $40 million, funded through bonds. Alderman Clemens asked about cost savings and noted that the design contract will provide a cost-benefit analysis. Alderman Johnson clarified that the facility would be near the current biosolids facility, requiring relocation of the maintenance garage as a separate project.
  • Landfill gas well raising: Mr. LaFleur (Superintendent of Solid Waste) stated that raising vertical wells is necessary to maintain airspace for trash placement until Phase Four opens.
  • Murray Field lighting: Brian Conant (Parks Superintendent) said the upgrade will replace outdated lights at the youth baseball field with LED technology similar to other city parks. Alderman Clemens inquired about timing: materials take 12 weeks, so installation will occur after the spring baseball season, during summer.
  • Records of expenditures: The committee acknowledged compliance with city charter and ordinances for the period February 13–26, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • All seven contract/change-order approvals and the record of expenditures passed unanimously by roll call (five votes in favor).
  • No new business, ordinances, or tabled items were considered.
  • The committee adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

That's the only way you learn what's going on. Yep. You know me, I just can't second here. Yeah. Hi Ben. Are you? Good. Are we good? Just hit record, right? It's already it's that's why the red light is on the body. So we are recording. I'm hoping I shut it off mute, so I think we're okay. I'm gonna start the meeting. Meeting of the finance committee is held on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 at 7 p 701 p.m. in the aldermanic chamber and duly notice in two places, including the city's website, in accordance with requirements of RSA 91-A 2 Roman numeral two. Um Alderman Clemens has agreed to be our clerk today. So Mr. Clerk, could you take the roll, please? Sure. Uh Alderman Clee. Here. Mayor Donchis. Uh Alderman Wilshare. Here. Alderman Clemens is here. Alderman Gregg. Alderman Sullivan. Alderman Smith. Here. And so we have four in attendance. We have a quorum also present. Is Alderman Johnson. Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk. I'm going to open it up to the public. I don't see anybody, but is there anybody from the public that would like to speak? Seeing none. Communications, Mr. Clerk? From Amy Gerard regarding one sidewalk plow and the amount not to exceed 195,000 five dollars funded from Surf 81 Capital Quality Improvements. I'll move to accept place on file and approve the purchase of a MT trackless sidewalk plow with HP Fairfield in the amount not to exceed 195,005. Funding will be through Department 191 School Department fund SERF 81 capital outlay improvements. Good evening. I'm Sean Smith, the plan operations director for the school district. Yes, so we're replacing a 2012 sidewalk machine. It was a McLean brand. They do all our maintenance for these machines, so of course it makes sense to get the same thing. That's all I have. Exactly. And I just want to add that um there was a chance we weren't gonna have quorum and we were really pushing for quorum again.

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