OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Board of Alderman Meeting - April 15, 2026

Board of Aldermen Meetings — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BodyNashua, New Hampshire
SessionBoard of Aldermen Meetings
DateWednesday, April 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:35:45

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

At large, Shoshana Kelly will lead us in the pledge to the flag.

0:04

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

0:11

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.

0:30

So help us God, Dave.

0:33

I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God.

0:48

Okay, play ball.

0:53

Exactly that's that's a scary thought.

0:57

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

1:01

Alderman Clemens.

1:04

Alderman Clee.

1:06

I am here.

1:08

I am I'm sorry.

1:12

I am um uh attending remotely um and I'm alone in the House, and the reason for it is that I have a um a sick uh pet.

1:24

Alderman Chuss.

1:26

Here Alderwoman Smith.

1:29

Here Alderman Tebow here, Alderman O'Brien.

1:35

President Alderman Greg.

1:37

Here Alderman Dowd.

1:41

Present.

1:42

Alderman Sullivan.

1:44

Here.

1:46

Alderman Senate.

1:47

Here.

1:49

Alderman Johnson.

1:50

Present.

1:52

Alderwoman Kelly.

1:53

Here.

1:55

Alderman Morgan.

1:57

Here.

1:58

Alderman Lopez.

2:00

Here.

2:01

Alderman Wilshire.

2:03

Here.

2:03

Fourteen present, one absent.

2:06

Thank you.

2:07

Also joining us this evening is Mayor Jim Donchus and Corporation Council Steve Bolton.

2:12

Mayor, did you address the board this evening?

2:15

Yes, Madam President.

2:16

So as you see from the agenda, we are introducing the fiscal 27 budget this evening for your consideration and for the consideration of the budget committee.

2:27

As you requested, we're we're submitting this in at the first meeting of April rather than uh in May.

2:36

Uh looking at this, the coming fiscal year, we are faced with some very significant challenges, which are fixed costs which are rising far more than the three or four percent cost of living.

2:52

Uh let me detail a few of those.

2:55

Health care is up 13 percent.

2:57

This represents a 6.5 million dollar increase just by itself.

3:03

That's over 2 percent on the tax rate right there.

3:07

Uh other insurance costs, this is liability, auto, workmen's comp.

3:12

Uh that's up uh 20 percent, or 1.7 million.

3:19

Uh the electricity up over 500, almost $600,000.

3:29

In the school department, school busing is up uh 15 percent again, the cost of school busing.

3:37

This is just the normal routes, not the special ed buses.

3:41

Uh that's a cost of 1.2 million increase.

3:45

Uh the special ed is up 1.8 million dollars.

3:51

Out of district placements, up more than a million dollars.

3:55

Uh in addition to that, um, we have some uh additional uh things going on.

4:03

For example, the supplement to the landfill is up 1.9 million dollars.

4:10

Uh the reason for that is uh the city has undertaken to extend the life of the landfill for the benefit of future generations, uh, which and we are really the only municipally operated landfill in the state.

4:27

Uh and that uh 1.9 million is helping to pay for that is the the debt service on that expansion.

4:34

Um in addition to to that, uh this the body cameras used by the police department uh have uh ended the the contract which provides those cameras has ended or is over after five or six years.

4:50

New body cameras have to be provided.

4:54

Uh that is a cost of 900,000.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████15%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Homelessness████████████12%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Economic Development███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Public Works████4%
Procurement Processes███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Board of Alderman Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Board of Alderman met on April 15, 2026, to discuss the fiscal year 2027 budget, approve several resolutions, and hear public comments on immigration enforcement and camping bans. Key outcomes included adoption of the police contract, a resolution on immigration transparency, and a tax increment financing district expansion.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved a three-year renewal contract for Citrix Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud with Interest Systems LLC, amount not to exceed $40,500. (14-0 roll call)
  • Approved change order #2 for the 2025 CIPP lining of sewer interceptors with National Water Main Cleaning Company, amount not to exceed $3,393,909. (14-0 roll call)
  • Accepted minutes of the October 28, 2025, Board of Alderman meeting.
  • Confirmed appointments to Cultural Connections Committee, Arts Commission, and Planning Board.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tory Markowitz: Expressed support for repealing the camping ban ordinance (not on action agenda).
  • Marilyn Kelly: Supported resolution R-26-016 regarding immigration enforcement transparency, sharing personal stories of fear in the community.
  • Jamika Lewis: Supported R-26-016, detailing the detention of a long-time Nashua resident (55 years in the U.S., 25 in Nashua) by ICE, urging transparency and accountability.
  • Faith Earritz: Supported R-26-016, though preferred a resolution refusing cooperation with federal enforcement.
  • Fred D. Boom: Opposed the police contract (R-26-017) as exceeding the mayor's 3% budget guidance, calling ICE a "Gestapo organization."
  • Katie Lamar (owner of Grave Troll Games): Requested changes to pawnbroker/secondhand dealer laws, citing 30-day hold requirements as harmful to her business.
  • Justin Gerstenfeld: Criticized aldermen for not researching public information before meetings, especially regarding the resource center.
  • Bob Keating: Urged support for ordinances repealing camping and RV bans on public property, noting the warming station closes April 15 and 50-60 people could be affected.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor's Budget Presentation: Mayor Donchess introduced the FY27 budget, noting fixed costs (healthcare up 13%, insurance up 20%, electricity, school busing, special ed, landfill, body cameras) totaling $13M. The initial tax rate increase was 9%; the proposed budget reduces it below 8%. Cuts include: no full implementation of unaffiliated employee salary schedule (saves $400-500K), delaying fire training officers to mid-year, reducing SURF to $2M, and cutting school department by additional 0.5%.
  • Police Contract (R-26-017): Alderman Dowd moved final passage, emphasizing the need to retain officers (13 short). Alderman Lopez expressed support despite disagreements with police commissioners. Alderman Tebow clarified the budget increase is about 4%, not the contract percentage. Passed 14-0.
  • Immigration Resolution (R-26-016): Alderwoman Kelly read stories of ICE detentions, including a child present. Alderman Sullivan and Johnson voted no. Passed 12-2.
  • Tax Increment Financing District (O-26-003): Alderman Sullivan opposed, arguing two-thirds of revenue goes to TIFF rather than general fund needs (DPW garage, fire station, library, resource center). Alderman Lopez requested a financial report on TIFFs and potential redirection of surplus. Alderman Clee supported, noting affordable units in NIMCO (20%). Passed 10-4.
  • Resignation of Alderman Chess: Alderman Chess announced his resignation, citing inability to balance family and alderman duties. Colleagues expressed regret.
  • Camping Ban Repeal (First Reading): O-26-004 and O-26-005 were introduced to repeal camping and RV bans. Referred to Infrastructure and Personnel Administrative Affairs committees.

Key Outcomes

  • Approvals: R-26-014 (School Street TIF amendment) passed 13-1; R-26-016 (immigration enforcement transparency) passed 12-2; R-26-017 (police contract) passed 14-0; O-26-003 (TIF district expansion) passed 10-4.
  • Next Steps: Budget review by Budget Committee; public hearing on resource center bond April 15; committee meetings scheduled.
  • Other: Alderman Chess's resignation effective after meeting. Financial report on TIFFs to be provided.

Meeting Transcript

At large, Shoshana Kelly will lead us in the pledge to the flag. 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, Dave. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God. Okay, play ball. Exactly that's that's a scary thought. Let's start the meeting by taking a roll call attendance, please. Alderman Clemens. Alderman Clee. I am here. I am I'm sorry. I am um uh attending remotely um and I'm alone in the House, and the reason for it is that I have a um a sick uh pet. Alderman Chuss. Here Alderwoman Smith. Here Alderman Tebow here, Alderman O'Brien. President Alderman Greg. Here Alderman Dowd. Present. Alderman Sullivan. Here. Alderman Senate. Here. Alderman Johnson. Present. Alderwoman Kelly. Here. Alderman Morgan. Here. Alderman Lopez. Here. Alderman Wilshire. Here. Fourteen present, one absent. Thank you. Also joining us this evening is Mayor Jim Donchus and Corporation Council Steve Bolton. Mayor, did you address the board this evening? Yes, Madam President. So as you see from the agenda, we are introducing the fiscal 27 budget this evening for your consideration and for the consideration of the budget committee. As you requested, we're we're submitting this in at the first meeting of April rather than uh in May. Uh looking at this, the coming fiscal year, we are faced with some very significant challenges, which are fixed costs which are rising far more than the three or four percent cost of living. Uh let me detail a few of those. Health care is up 13 percent. This represents a 6.5 million dollar increase just by itself. That's over 2 percent on the tax rate right there. Uh other insurance costs, this is liability, auto, workmen's comp. Uh that's up uh 20 percent, or 1.7 million. Uh the electricity up over 500, almost $600,000. In the school department, school busing is up uh 15 percent again, the cost of school busing. This is just the normal routes, not the special ed buses.

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