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.

Uh that's a cost of 1.2 million increase.

Uh the special ed is up 1.8 million dollars.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

New body cameras have to be provided.

Uh that is a cost of 900,000.

So if you add those numbers up, you come up to $13 million or thereabouts before we even get to wages and many other expenses that the city has.

So going into the budget, we asked departments to be as frugal as possible.

And when we receive the requests, and we measured those requests against the assessed value of the city, the result was the tax rate would be up 9%, mostly because of all of these fixed costs that I just mentioned.

So my effort and the effort of our budget team was to cut that increase as much as we possibly could and to at least get it below 8%.

So we've made various cuts.

You will see the budget committee will see, of course, as you go through the budget.

And we've tried to realize savings in various ways.

For example, uh IT between the school department and the city hall has been consolidated, that saves a position.

If uh the school department, even though their increase was six per their proposed increase was six percent, to even to get to that, given these fixed costs that I mentioned, the busing, the special ed, the out-of-district placements, uh, even to get to that, they had to reduce their number of employees by over 50.

So this budget represents a decrease in school department employees by of over 50.

Um I made various cuts uh across the different things to try to get us below eight percent, which I believe we can do if this budget were passed as proposed.

Uh for example, um we proposed only two million dollars for SURF in the hopes that uh we can uh supplement that at the time of the uh if there's a surplus at the end of the year.

Uh we I did cut the school department by an additional half a percent from six down to five and a half.

Uh in the fire department, the fire department had proposed three what are called training officers to implement a new safety protocol, which has to do with the the and they can explain it but uh uh in greater detail, but it has to do with um being able to locate firefighters in a fire scene very rapidly uh using a computer system and a and a person to manage the system at each fire scene rather than just having to call people on the radio one after another.

Uh so it's a considerable uh safety uh step forward.

Uh they propose that uh at a cost of about 500,000.

Uh the budget suggests do implementing that at mid-year, January instead of uh July.

That saves some money.

Uh you will recall that you passed uh a new salary schedule for unaffiliated employees.

Uh the budget suggests that that not be fully implemented in year one, but uh be implemented over two years.

That saves four to five hundred thousand dollars.

Um we've we cut economic development, I think 300,000.

So there are various cuts, and those are just a few of them.

You'll see them throughout the budget.

And uh, you know, anybody can argue with them, uh, these sh these things uh you know are desirable or or needed.

Um, but again, the effort was to try to shave enough to reduce the proposed tax increase at least to below 8 percent from something significantly higher than that.

Um but you, the budget committee will need to struggle with this, and uh the budget doesn't propose a significant reduction in services, no closing of fire station, no laying off police, uh although our there are 50 fewer employees in the school department, but that may of course uh parallel the reduction in students which has occurred over uh a period of time.

So I'm available to answer any questions that any member of the board or the budget committee has regarding the budget.

Uh again, as I've said in prior years, reasonable people can differ about like budgetary items, and somebody can think somebody something is uh not worthwhile uh under the circumstances, and another reasonable person can agree, can disagree.

So uh we'll have to see how the budget committee and the board um reviews this.

I did want to mention something that you saw in the newspaper, which is uh the young man from Nashua South, age 15, a college sophomore.

Uh his nickname is Yuan, and his last name is Bala Guru Morthy.

Um he came in today, and he has uh developed a method of early detection for Alzheimer's, which he believes can help uh detect uh uh Alzheimer's at an early stage.

The way it works is according is I'm just repeating what he what this 15-year-old is telling me.

Uh what um the way it works is that uh apparently the electronic impulses on the surface of the brain uh decrease in strength as a person begins to descend into Alzheimer's, and by measuring those electric impulses, um the device that he has invented uh can potentially determine early on whether someone is at risk for Alzheimer's.

Um he is patenting this device, and he has obtained as a result of this work uh a an internship down at Mass General.

Uh it seems like they recruited him after uh learning uh indirectly about uh what he developed.

So it is amazing what a 15-year-old develop uh educated in national schools can um come up with, and he's not the first one.

So here's someone we should be very proud of and thank the national schools for the help that they've given him to um uh at least uh get you know to to achieve this kind of success.

Uh in any event, uh that's all I have, Madam President.

Thank you, Mayor.

I think you meant he was a sophomore in high school, right?

What did I say?

He said college.

Sophomore in high school, 15 years old.

Yeah, in high school.

High school kid developing something.

It's unimaginable that a high school sophomore could do this, so that's probably why I said college.

But in reality, he's he's uh in high school.

It's pretty amazing.

Response to the remarks of the mayor.

Seeing none.

Right.

Recognition period.

None.

Uh well, I actually have something, and I I meant to bring it up at the last meeting, and I did not.

Director Bagley gave us a certificate uh as public health champions for the city of Nashua.

This certificate is given to the National Board of Alderman for their excellence in public health work and initiatives during the year 2026.

Your hard work and dedication to the health and well-being of the greater Nashville Public Health Region is deeply appreciated.

And it names all of us presented by the Nashville Division of Public Health and Community Services.

So I wanted to share that.

Thank you.

Reading minutes of previous meetings.

There being no objection, I'll declare the minutes of the regular Board of Alderman meeting of October 28, 2025, be accepted, placed unfiled, and the reading suspended.

Communications requiring only procedural actions and written reports from the A-ons.

Done.

Period for public comment relative to items expected to be acted upon this evening.

We have nine people who have signed up.

Or eight.

Tory Markowitz.

So you have three minutes.

Give your name and address for the record.

Hello, my name is Torre Markwitz.

Um I live in Manchester and work in Nashua.

Um speaking in supports of repealing the camping band ordinance I got passed last fall.

I'm not taking that up tonight.

It was on the agenda.

Oh, we're not taking action on it tonight.

Okay.

So this first public comment period is only for stuff we're going to be taking action on and voting on.

The second public comment period is where you can address that.

Would you like me to put your name on the second public comment?

Um, uh Mr.

Keating, same thing.

Yeah, same thing.

This is a comment that in the future.

It would seem when there's going to be a resolution comes in, you're asked for sponsors that that would be an opportunity, and since you are taking action to be able to do that, we're not taking action on the legislation itself.

Thank you.

Um Marilyn Kelly.

Good evening.

I'm here to just give a few words.

Excuse me, may I have name and address for the reference?

Marilyn Kelly, Minneapolis.

Thank you.

I'm here to just say a few words on the R26-016 resolution.

Thank you very much for allowing me to see.

I'm from the land of 10,000 plus lakes.

The Mayo Clinic, incredible parks, and wildlife.

Ah, that's better.

Amazing art, music, and theater, and always we are disappointed in our sports teams.

It's where George Floyd, political assassinations, school shootings, Renee Good, and Alex Pruddy happened.

Where women are strong, men are good looking, and children are above average.

Where we love, value, respect, and support each other.

Where also pain and grieving runs very deep.

This is what makes my community.

As you all know, Minnesota has been showcased in the news.

I would like to share just a couple of personal stories that speak directly to this resolution on your table today.

My husband and I live in currently live in a large multifamily complex.

This was during the heart of the Metro Surge.

One needed to care for her 14-year-old daughter.

This is the age of my Nashua granddaughter and my Buffalo, New York grandson.

She couldn't sleep.

She cried constantly, and she could not have her mom, dad, or brother out of her sight, fearful that they would disappear.

She is not okay.

The family did a welfare check and found his car running with the door open in his driveway.

They are not okay.

They've been stopped, photographed, intimidated.

They are not okay.

Before you make a decision on the resolution in front of you, please take a moment and see the faces of the people you have interacted with today.

Your family, your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, your constituents, and even the people you don't like.

Time is out.

Now go back a day, a week, a year, and a lifetime.

Ma'am, your time is up.

Which of these faces would you exclude from dignity and safety?

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Jamaica Lewis.

Good evening.

Uh Jamika Lewis, 9 Spruce Street.

I'm here tonight to speak in support of resolution R26016.

Nashua is made up of a diverse network of so many individuals who contribute every day to the strength of this community.

This resolution does not challenge federal authority.

Rather, it acknowledges our community's public safety.

Remember this.

Trust, clarity, and communication.

When enforcement lacks transparency or creates fear, it affects whether people feel safe, calling for help, sending their children to school, going to work, or accessing services.

And I know deep down in our hearts, we all don't want that.

So I appreciate that this resolution is asking for transparency and enforcement, clear identification and communication, de-escalation and approach, and coordination with local leadership when possible.

Recently, someone very close to me and someone I love dearly was taken by ICE.

His name is Emmanuel Gomes, and many know him by Manny.

He was detained February 18th, 2026.

He has lived in this country for 55 years, and in an end in Nashua for 25.

During that time, he has built a life here, and many people in this room may know him.

And in and in this city, know his name.

He has three children, and he has four grandchildren.

Three are in this room.

Many of uh many of them have grown up right here in Nashua.

His youngest daughter is a recent graduate of Nashua North High School, and she is now attending the University of Connecticut.

He has been an active member of the church community.

He has been a volunteer, and he has done a lot of community work.

He has also played a meaningful role in my own life and development group and growing up here in Nashua.

Since his detainment, he has been moved three times.

Communication has been extremely difficult.

His health has also declined, and we're worried.

He has caused this has caused stress on his family and their everyday lives, taking on more roles and responsibilities.

What makes this situation even more difficult is his entire family lives here in the United States, and they're all U.S.

citizens.

He has been in cooperation and following his monthly requirements for years.

And yet the way this was carried out created fear, uncertainty, and this disrupted his life and everyone connected to him.

Situations like this create ripple effects.

Families left without answers and unsure what resources are available to them or their rights.

Community members questioning whether it's safe to engage with systems and a breakdown in trusts.

Public safety is impacted if the community is no longer can trust their can trust their leaders.

This resolution is not about preventing enforcement.

This is about people.

It's about families.

Your time is up.

And it's about making sure that in moments like this, our community doesn't lose its sense of humanity.

I urge you to support this resolution and continue advocating for transparency, accountability, and communication, and how these matters are handled in our city.

Thank you so much.

Faith E.

Faith Earritz, two and a half Rona Street in Nashua.

I'd like to voice my support for resolution 26016 regarding transparency and oversight with immigration enforcement in Nashua.

I appreciate that it lists the obvious benefits of having a diverse population that feels safe and welcome in our community, though I would much prefer a resolution that actively refuses cooperation with federal abductions altogether, but insisting on some accountability is at least a step in the right direction that I was happy to see.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Tiana Gomes.

Tiana Gomes.

You're gonna pass?

Okay.

Thank you.

Skylar Wheeler.

I'm sorry?

I can't speak on that.

Okay.

Fred T-Boom.

Good evening.

My name is Fred D.

Boom, 24 Cheyenne Drive.

I'd like to talk about our 26016 because I consider ICE a Gestapo organization.

And believe me, in my youth, I knew the real Nazis.

What I really want to talk about is 2017.

Police contract.

Now I have in my hands a letter from Mayor Donchus.

You all have a copy, I presume.

December 22, 2025.

He asked that every budget be kept below 3%.

And what do we have here?

Resolution 2017.

Police contract.

Every year, beginning this year, the increase is well over five percent.

And we're talking about a 22 to 27 million dollar contract.

Well over 3%.

Similarly, our 26021.

This is new business.

Over 5%.

Certainly a contract he just approved, 2601.

Over 5%.

Does anybody pay attention?

You all complain that you have no control over mandated items in the budget.

Well, here's your opportunity to control.

You can recommend the change by voting a change to the contract allowed in the state law, or you can just vote no and settled back and tell the police come in with 3%.

Very simple thing to do if you have the guts to do it.

Thank you.

That concludes our first public comment period.

Communications requiring final approval.

Communication has been received from Mayor Jim Donchus regarding multi-year contract award, Citrix Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud CO-term.

Alderman Smith.

Yes, I'd like to um place on file and approve a three-year renewal contract or the continued operation of Centrix Hybrid Multi-Cloud or Remote Access with Interest Systems LLC and the amount not to exceed 40 40,500 funding will be through the department.

120 Technology Fund, the general fund, 54 property services.

You've heard the motion.

Is there discussion on that motion?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

We need a roll call.

I'll roll call.

I'm sorry.

Sorry, roll call.

I'm sorry about that.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

Alderman Clee.

Yes.

Alderman Chuss.

Yes.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tebow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alderman Greg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

Yes.

Alderman Senate.

Yes.

Alderman Johnson.

Yes.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Alderman Wilshire.

Yes.

14 years, zero nays.

And that motion carries.

Communication has been received from Mayor Jim Dauntress regarding million dollar contract award 2025 CIPP lining of sewer interceptors.

Change order number two.

Alderman Greg.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to make a motion to accept place on file and approve change order two to the 2025 CIPP Lining Project to expand the scope of pipes that need rehabilitation with National Water Main Cleaning Company in the amount not to exceed 3,393,909.

Funding will be through Department 169 Wastewater Fund Bond 54 property services.

You've heard the motion.

Seeing none, but clerk please call the rule.

Alderman Clee.

Yes.

Alderman Chuss.

Yes.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alliman Gregg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

Yes.

Alderman Senate.

Yes.

Alderman Johnson.

Yes.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Alderman Wilshire.

Yes.

14 yes, 0 nays.

That motion carries.

Petitions.

None.

Nominations, appointments, and elections.

Planning board.

Maggie Harper reappointment term to expire March 31st, 2029.

3 Taft Street, National New Hampshire, 03060.

There being no objection, I'll accept the communication.

I'll accept the appointment by the mayor as read and refer that to the Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee.

Supports of committees.

There being no objection, I will declare the report of the October 21st, 2025 Committee on Infrastructure be accepted and placed on file.

There being no objection, I'll declare the report of the February 2nd, 2026.

Personnel Administrative Affairs be accepted in place down file.

Confirmation of Mayor's appointments.

Cultural Connections Committee.

There being no objection, I'll confirm the new appointment of Jocelyn Kaczynski, 179 Pepperl Road Hollis with the term to expire April 14th, 2029 to the Cultural Connections Committee.

Arts Commission.

There being no objection, I'll confirm the reappointments of Lawrence Ferris, 39 Coburn Avenue National with a term to expire May 31st, 2028.

And Sarah Caesar, 15 Pike Street, Apartment V, Nashville, with a term to expire April 1st, 2028 to the Arts Commission.

Read one of those individuals here this evening.

Please come forward.

Come right up to the attorney's desk and be sworn in.

Come right up.

All the way up.

We're inviting you in.

According to the best of your abilities and agreeably to the rules and regulations of the city charter and the Constitution Laws of the State of New Hampshire.

So help you guys.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Planning Board.

There being no objection, I will confirm the reappointment of Lawrence Hirsch, 12 Salmon Brook Drive Nashville with the term to expire March 31st, 2029 to the planning board.

Is Mr.

Hirsch here this evening?

Mr.

Hirsch will be sworn in at a later date.

Unfinished finished business resolutions.

Second reading of R-26-014, approving a project plan amendment number one to the School Street Tax Increment Finance District Development Program and Financing Plan for the West Pearl Street Streetscaping Project.

Alderman Keeble.

I'd like to make a motion for final passage of R-26-014.

Motion is for final passage.

Is there discussion on that motion?

Seeing none, would the clerk call the roll, please?

Alderman Clee.

Yes.

Alderman Chuss.

Yes.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tebow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alderman Gregg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

Yes.

Alderman Senate.

Yes.

Alderman Johnson.

Now.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Aldwin Wilshire.

Yes.

13 Yayes, 1A.

That motion carries.

And resolution 2614 is declared duly adopted.

Second reading of R-26-016 regarding federal immigration enforcement activity in community safety and well-being.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Thank you.

Madam President, I would like to move for final passage of R26016, and I'd like to speak to it, please.

Alderwoman Kelly.

I am not going to add any additional of my comments.

You all know how I feel, but I have two stories that were sent to me that I'd like to read into the record.

The first one is an anonymous Nashville resident.

A group of men in masks and civilian clothes suddenly surrounded a man walking to the building using multiple cars to box him in.

From where I stood, it looked abrupt and chaotic, so much so that my first thought without was that I was witnessing an assault.

There were no clear warning that I could hear, no obvious uniforms, and the speed of it made the scene feel surreal.

The shock of seeing someone go from walking into court for a legal hearing to being physically overpowered in public has stayed with me.

I didn't realize until much later they weren't kidnappers.

What unsettled me the most is not only what happened to him, but the fear and confusion that spread through everyone nearby.

A courthouse is supposed to be a place where disputes are handled through process and law, not where people feel ambushed.

Even if there was some official reason for what happened, the way it unfolded was deeply disturbing to witness.

I keep replaying the scene in my mind, the masks, the cars, the uncertainty about whether anyone around me really understood what was happening.

One more.

This one is from Reverend Alison Palm of UU, Nashua.

She was unable to be here this evening, but she also had a story to share.

In January, on a Wednesday morning around 9 30, I witnessed one person being detained by ice on Whitney Street in Nashua.

The person had been stopped in their car and had a child in the back seat, who was probably around five years old.

He was wearing an Amanaz Amazon vest and looked like he had been stopped on his way to or from work.

When I arrived, the individual was handcuffed, and it was clear that everybody was waiting.

There are about three agents who were driving an unmarked white van.

They were not wearing any particular identifying clothing that was labeled as ICE or federal enforcement, just plain tan military-style vests.

A Nashua police car came and stopped to see what was going on.

I vaguely overheard them naming that the person had stopped, didn't have papers.

And they were waiting for someone to pick up the child.

A few minutes later, another individual drove up and the child was transferred into their car.

At that point, the individual who's being detained was put in the white band and they drove away.

I spoke briefly with the person who came to pick up the child and stayed with their car as they moved the other car to a safe spot.

As Hid had been stopped in the middle of the road.

They shared that they weren't sure why the individual had been detained as he had permission to work in the United States.

I feel as though I witnessed the most humane way such an encounter could have happened, and it nonetheless felt inhumane.

It was on the surface nonviolent, but nonetheless an act of state violence.

The presence of a child intensifies that.

I can't imagine how scary it must have been for their adult to be stopped, handcuffed, and taken away.

Further discussion.

Clerk Claudol, please.

Alderman Clay.

Yes.

Alderman Chuss.

Yes.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tebow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alderman Greg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd?

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

No.

Alderman Sonnet?

Yes.

Alderman Johnson.

No.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Aldwin Wilshire.

Yes.

12 EAs two nays.

And that motion carries.

Resolution 2616 is declared duly adopted.

Second reading of R 26-017 approving the cost items of a collective bargaining agreement between the Nashua Board of Police Commissioners and the Nashua Police Patrolman's Association from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2030.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes, I'd like to make a motion for final passage of R 26017 like to speak to it.

Alderman Dowed.

Yes, uh this was uh extensive coordination between the police commissioners and the union on uh coming to this agreement.

This does not make the Nashville police the highest paid in the state.

Uh but it does keep them up uh so that they continue to hire because we're last time I checked, we're 13 officers short, and we can't afford to lose other officers through to other uh agencies that would be would be paying substantially more.

So um after discussion with the chief, this is a reasonable contract, and you know, these police officers uh every day are risking their lives and and going into dangerous situations.

I know most of you get the re police reports from all their arrests, and they keep us safe.

So I ask that you support this.

Alaman Teball.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, can I ask through you to the mayor a question?

Um again is the budget going up for the police this year?

Coming up.

What's the question?

What's the budget percentage going up for the police?

Um I my recollection is uh around four percent.

Okay.

So I guess my comment there is even though salary a contract can go up from last year's, that doesn't necessarily mean their budget goes up as as much as the contract goes up because there's other things in the budget of the police that could make it go up and down.

So I just wanted to be clear on that.

Just because their salaries go up doesn't mean it would go up the exact amount.

So if it goes up eight percent or five percent, that's not what the budget's gonna go up.

So I just want to be clear on that because in public comment it was said that this contract was causing the budget to be exactly that.

The number I gave you does not include the body cameras, which is a separate you know, out of the budget item on the out of the police budget item in the in the overall budget.

Okay, thank you.

Further discussion, Aldman Lopez.

Uh yeah, so earlier the mayor uh said in his comments something to the effect of reasonable people can disagree reasonably.

Um so I mean, I just want to point out I am not always a fan of the policy decisions or positions that the police commissioners take.

Uh I think most recently I strongly disagreed with them uh regarding the camping ordinance vans.

Um in the past, I was very much a favor of putting on the ballot and letting the people of Nashua you know vote in referendum on whether or not they should be appointed by the governor or you know, some other mechanism.

And those are areas where we very much disagreed.

But despite all of that, they never failed to show up when I need them.

They're always there to protect our our citizens.

Um so I just want to make it clear because some of the comments being made in the by the public, and I think others probably share my opinion.

We're not afraid of the police.

We value them, we appreciate them, and the idea that we would be more afraid of being over 3% than of having inadequate law enforcement or you know, staff uh not paying people competitively to make sure that we have quality educated police officers.

I don't I can't subscribe to that.

I think if anything we've seen on the national scale, what unqualified law enforcement that lacks transparency and lacks any kind of community connection, how much harm that can do?

So I think it's very important that we continue to invest in our police officers and make sure that we have the best police force that we can for our citizen safety.

Anyone else?

Seeing no one with the clerk call the role, please.

Alderman Clee.

Yes.

Alderman Chats.

Yes.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tebow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alderman Gregg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

Yes.

Alderman Senate.

Yes.

Alderman Johnson.

Yes.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Aldman Wilshire.

Yes.

14 Yay Zero Mays.

And motion carries and resolution 2617 is declared duly adopted.

Unfinished business ordinances.

Second reading of O 26-003.

Expanding the tax increment financing development district under RSA 162-K in NRO 295-11 established by O 03-171 in replacing the tax increment financing development program in financing plan adopted by ODA-18-006.

Alderman Morgan.

I'd like to make a motion for final passage of O-26-003.

Motion is for final passage.

Is there discussion on that motion?

Alderman Sullivan.

Thank you, Madam President.

I had to go back to watch the comments from March 17th.

Uh that's when this was brought before PEDC almost 30 days ago, just to reacquaint myself with the legislation and the comments that had gone on.

Just some highlights.

Two-thirds of the revenue that we're going to realize from the development of this of this property is not going to go into the general fund.

It's going to go into the TIFF.

The BACshaw and the NIMCO properties that are being developed are being developed as it was said in committee because of the quadrant two improvements that were made.

The TIFF did its job in quadrant two.

It's developing.

It doesn't go into the general fund to pay the positions I just laid out.

And to make it uh very specific, we need a DPW garage, a new fire station, a new library, and now the resource center.

That has to come from somewhere, and it's got to come from a growing tax base.

So our tax base can grow and we can afford those things as opposed to putting it on the current tax base that's already taxed.

And this is a 40-year decision.

This TIFF stays in existence for four years.

So for those reasons, I'm going to vote against it.

Alderman Lopez?

Just a question to corporation council and then one probably a request of the mayor.

With regards to the 40-year TIFFs and TIFFs in general, are those permanent statutes that we can't touch, or are those rules that we're making as a city that we can later amend if we want to.

If you if you fund the improvements by issuing bonds, you'll have to pay those off.

And if the term is going to be 30 years or 40 years, unless you find a way to refinance or uh call them and pay them off earlier, you you're going to be in that for the length of time necessary to pay off the bonds.

There are things that can be done along the way to alter the district and the percentage of the increment that goes into the TIFF account.

But you have to be able to pay the obligations.

If there's more money being put aside by the TIFF in a calendar year to pay the obligation, can we vote to have the overage redirected back to the general fund?

I believe so.

Okay.

Um so then my request to the mayor is could we consider or at least have more information specifically on how much of the city's tax property is restrained by TIFFs, how much we will need to pay off of these debt revenues, and if there is any possibility of redirecting maybe money that's being kept in reserve in some of the other TIFF districts towards that.

Oh yes, we can give you a financial report on the TIFFs.

I mean, the the philosophy of the tax increment finance district approach, one that is authorized by the New Hampshire legislature and used elsewhere in New Hampshire and around the country, is that when private when public investment is made, it will stimulate additional private investment and therefore thereby overall uh increase the tax base.

Um Alderman Sullivan uh commented that a couple of the people in the commit the people in the committee testified that uh uh that the two improvements that you're gonna see, NIMCO and Bagshaw, the apartments that will be constructed there, would not have occurred without the riverfront improvements that have already been done.

Um that I believe is accurate.

And the point being that if we hadn't spent money on the river up river a little bit or downriver a little bit, uh we might not be seeing this investment.

Uh this TIFF would pay for similar improvements in the in the region, the ver the um area of the two projects that are going forward.

Uh and none of that can happen.

I mean, just because you create a TIFF doesn't mean that the money is spent.

I mean, none of that can happen without authorization of the Board of Alderman, further authorization specific authorization of some project or whatever is proposed.

Um but uh in the in the end, as the as attorney Bolton testified, you can always undo these.

I mean, to the to the extent the money isn't committed, and right now there's no money committed to anything in this area in this new area.

Um anyway, so yes, we could give you a report on sort of how the these things are out, you know, what the financial picture of um the two TIFFs that we have.

Uh we can give you a report on the financial uh details of those two um those two.

If I can just follow.

Yes.

So as the ward for Alderman, I have a lot of the TIFF districts in my neighborhoods, so I am inclined, representing my neighborhoods to vote for them because they keep money focused on the community that I represent and ideally benefiting the people that I represent.

Specifically with this development, one of the proposed developers actually made a comment that I took a lot of exception to several years ago, where he said the combination of natural elements and scenery and access to downtown makes this a place that you wouldn't want to use on you know affordable or low-income housing.

It's it's nice and it's marketable.

And I was like, excuse me?

This is this is our neighborhoods, people live here.

And if if the public park that we have next door is very scenic, that's great, but that's a public park and that's for everybody.

So I have not really stopped grinding on that particular axe, and I wouldn't want to see money being reserved, presumably to benefit the communities that it is uh you know are improving, and as that ward alderman making sure that my streets are getting paved, my sidewalks are being done, and my sewer interceptors are all being reinstalled.

I want to see that happen, but I also don't want to see the concept of the TIFF used as a slush fund for people who want to attract developers who may not want to, you know, otherwise pay full price, or you know, to add amenities that you know it's great that we have attractive amenities to bring people in, but if we have a crisis, you know, happening among our homeless population, or you know, in the past we've had other regional crises, then I would want to be voting to reserve those funds.

And I think with the budget increase that we're seeing, we're gonna start hitting property owners pretty hard too.

So that's why I am inclined to vote for this, but I would like more information as we approach the budget so that if there are areas where we have contingencies, we can reprioritize how they're being spent rather than just autopiloting from priorities that might have been six to eight years old.

Yes, we can get you the report, and the 20 percent of NIMCO will be affordable.

So the idea that affordable units are being excluded from this area is not whoever said that was not being accurate.

It was only one of the proposed developers, and I am certain the other aldermen that were involved in the project were very much pushing him in the right direction.

But it was a comment that definitely stuck with me.

I'll set thank you.

Anyone else?

Seeing no one, would the clerk please call a roll?

Alderman Clee.

Yes.

Alderman Chuss.

No.

Alderwoman Smith.

Yes.

Alderman Tebow.

Yes.

Alderman O'Brien.

Yes.

Alderman Gregg.

Yes.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes.

Alderman Sullivan.

No.

Alderman Senate.

No.

Alderman Johnson.

No.

Alderwoman Kelly.

Yes.

Alderman Morgan.

Yes.

Alderman Lopez.

Yes.

Alderman Wilshire.

Yes.

Ten years four nays.

And that motion carries.

And ordinance 26-003 is declared duly adopted.

Finish business unfinished at previous meetings.

There is none.

New business resolutions.

First reading of R-26-021.

Approving the cost items of a collective bargaining agreement between the National Board of Education and the Nashua Association of School Principals from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2030.

Additional sponsors.

Given its first reading, I'll assign that to the budget review committee.

First reading of R-26-022, authorizing the city to enter into a license agreement with the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for an air monitoring station at 57 Gilson Road.

Additional sponsors.

Alderwoman Alderman Clee, Alderwoman Smith, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Morgan, Alderman Lopez, and myself.

Given it's first reading, I'll assign that to the Finance Committee.

First reading of R-26-023, authorizing Penetruck Corporation and Penetruck Waterworks Inc.

to borrow funds from the State of New Hampshire drinking water state revolving loan fund.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman O'Brien.

Alderman Lopez, Alderman Dowd.

Given its first reading, I'll send that to the Penetheck Water Special Committee.

First reading of R-26-024 relative to the acceptance of 41,600 from the State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, Homeland Security, and Emergency Management into Fire Grant Activity Hazmat Planning and Training Fiscal Year 2026 grant.

Additional sponsors.

Given its first reading, I'll sign that to the Human Affairs Committee.

First reading of R-26-025 relative to the acceptance of 678,300 from the State of New Hampshire, Department of Transportation State Fiscal Year 2025, and 425,000 from the State of New Hampshire, Department of Transportation, State Fiscal Year 2026 into transit grant activity, transit capital projects.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Smith, Alderman Tebow, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Gregg, Alderman Dowd, Alderman Senate, Alderman Kelly, Alderman Morgan, Alderman Lopez, myself.

And Alderman Clee.

Given its first reading.

First reading of R-26-026.

Authorizing the filing of applications in execution of grant agreements with the U.S.

Department of Transportation for Grants under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 as amended for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Smith, Alderman TiVo, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Dowed, Alderwoman Kelly, and myself.

And Alderman Clee.

Given its first reading, I'll sign that to the Finance Committee.

First reading of R 26-027, establishing an advisory automatic joint committee for the upcoming library renovations and addition project.

Additional sponsors.

First reading of R 26-028 relative to the adoption of the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget for the City of Nashua General Enterprise Special Revenue and Grant Funds.

Additional sponsors.

New business ordinances.

First reading of O 26-004, repealing the prohibition on camping on public property.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Senate, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Smith.

Given its first reading, I'll sign that to the Committee on Infrastructure.

Madam President.

Yes.

Can we refer this to personal administrative affairs too?

It seems like ordinarily we would refer this to that committee.

And last term we referred it to Committee on Infrastructure because it was taking place on a park.

First reading of O 26-005, repealing the prohibition on campers and recreational vehicles on public property.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Senate, Alderman Lopez.

Given its first reading, I'll assign that to the Committee on Infrastructure and the Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee.

First reading of O 26-006.

Repealing address requirement for public comment.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Smith.

Given it's first reading, I'll send that.

Oh, Alderman Lopez.

Given its first reading, I'll sign that to the personnel administrative affairs committee.

First reading of O-26-007.

Amending the unaffiliated employees' personnel policies by adding a medical insurance coverage opt-out stipend.

Additional sponsors.

Alderman Smith, Alderman Tebow, Alderman O'Brien, Alderman Gregg, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Morgan, and myself.

Given its first reading, I'll assign that to the Personnel Administrative Affairs Committee.

We are down to period for public comment, general public comment.

We have four speakers signed up.

Mr.

Keating, did you want to be added to this list?

Yes.

Anyone else who signed up for the first public comment period?

I think they've left.

Okay.

All right.

The first speaker tonight is Katie Lamar.

Hi.

Hi.

My name is Katie.

I'm from Hungzet, but I'm the owner of Grave Troll Games 100 Main Street.

So I own a hobby shop.

Um very collectible toys, figures, trading card games, minis, things of such.

So just to make sure we're all on the same page, the actual laws that you have all written down is any person's partnership corporation whose business is sole in transactional wear and litch lending money secured by taking possessions of property with the interest charge thereon with the right to sell the property if not redeemed.

A person's firm partnership corporation shall be deemed a pawnbroker, whether transaction takes place in the form of a loan by the pawnbroker secured by the property or the sale of the pawnbroker.

Um then you all have secondhand dealer laws as well, which is defined by any person's firm partnership corporation who deals in the retail of buying, selling back and exchanging and dealing with secondhand goods.

Um there is no delineation between the two of them in Nashua because of how the law is written.

Um there's a lot of problems that this kind of injects into my business model.

Um the whole starter thing is like I don't meet the definition of a pawner, I'm not loaning, I am simply buying.

Um, but I would also like to talk about the extreme hold rate in which Nashua has.

Uh Nashua asks that everyone holds items for 30 days, um, looking into various other cities and locations.

The maximum hold time I can seem to find is 21 days.

Um this also leads to another bigger problem, which is found in section 227, which says that every pawnbroker, secondhand dealer will retain possession of all property purchased for a 30-day period.

Um, therefore, provided, however, such items may be disposed of by the purchaser within the 30 days, um, except with written permission from the chief of police.

Uh, because this does not specify where the items come from.

This actually stops me from being able to sell things from accredited distribution networks across the United States, of which I have several.

Um, so all of this kind of just compiles itself into like leading problems.

For example, one of the card games I sell is Magic the Gathering, the newest set comes out on Friday.

By your laws, I would not be able to sell that set um until May 18th when I receive the product.

Um, this is an industry known for notoriously low margins and really high turnover rate.

So holding items for such an amount of time would be pretty backbreaking.

Um, and I'm hoping that you would consider some kind of change as the laws are a little dated and do not reflect the current standings of the industry.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Justin Gerstenfield.

Good evening.

My name is Justin Gerstenfield, and I'm a resident of Ward 5.

I'm here to discuss the fundamental expectations of being an elected official and the unacceptable lack of responsive responsiveness regarding ward five infrastructure.

First, I want to talk about some comments and what I saw in a recent meeting regarding the resource center.

I'm getting a little tired of hearing questions in the chamber for information that is already public.

Part of the job that each person in here ran for was to do research.

From a simple Google research, a simple Google search.

I didn't even have to file a right to know.

If a resident can find these plans in minutes, each person in this chamber could have done that before you walked into this chamber, so that the residents watching the meeting or here could have listened to you do your jobs that you were elected to do when you got here.

Do not show up and expect to be handed facts.

You chose not to look for.

If you continue to ignore these families, they're gonna lose their insurance and their homes.

We cannot treat communications like a void and expect the public to have any reason to trust the city, the board, or you as an alderman.

So I ask you to do the work you were elected to do.

Thank you.

Fred T Boom.

Okay, my name's Fred T-Boom, 24 Cheyenne Drive.

Let's talk about R26028.

Let's take a look at uh paragraph that says that this the um annual municipal budget calculation for fiscal twenty-seven proposed budget is attached.

And I see Don Ann Wright is listening to this on Zoom.

I looked for that attachment and I can't find it.

Why is it not a test note?

Don't answer that in my 20 my three minutes.

But I'm looking for the detachment.

Because we have to know just how much money was appropriated after the fiscal 26 budget was adopted.

You don't know that until you see that attachment.

Is that what's missing?

Mayor Donchess.

The next thing I'd like to mention is further resolved on page two and talks about personal policies.

What does that have to do with the budget?

Why is that included?

In this resolution, Mayor Donchess.

That you sponsored.

Then it talked on the financial.

It says we cannot determine a tax rate.

It looked like we're clearly going over six percent tax increase this year.

Totally out of control.

Your spending on this board is completely out of control.

Now there's a very in a minute left.

There's a very obnoxious item on the analysis.

It talks about court decisions and whether or not the board can have a vote other than a majority vote.

And he mentions a memorandum he written made March 8, 2018.

Well, Journey Bolton, I got a copy of your memorandum.

And guess what?

You quote a Supreme Court, Supreme Court finding 161 New Hampshire 127, 2010.

I'm very familiar with that because I was a party in that case.

I mentioned my name is mentioned at page two as a party.

And two-thirds is perfectly acceptable.

How come this kind of garbage winds up in the resolution?

Mayor Donchess, when are you gonna fire that attorney?

He's malpractising.

It's clearly shown in this resolution.

Ben Heaney.

These are really, really great steps towards building community that works for everybody.

Um and I encourage you to keep up the great work.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Bob Keating.

Good evening.

My name is uh Bob Keating.

Uh live at uh five Coburn Woods uh drive and member of uh JSOP and uh the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville.

Uh asking for your support for the uh the two uh ordinances that uh and uh Kelly has brought uh forth very much uh appreciate that about uh overturning the uh uh the bans on uh camping and the RVs uh on public property.

I'm doing it particularly at this point in time because um you know that on the 15th uh tomorrow that the uh uh the warming station uh will be uh uh will be closed.

Um and uh I want to add for particularly for the for the new other one.

You're probably much aware of it, but we've got five that weren't there as part of the uh ongoing discussion.

And I thought that one of the things it did, and it was a a divided vote as as you know, and it was much discussion and uh input both from the aldermen and the public at at uh at large.

Um and I think that even though it was passed, it was passed with a stipulation that said it couldn't go into effect uh until the warming station uh opened.

And I thought that that was uh you know, a way of trying to to balance those uh you know uh forces.

Uh but here we are.

Uh we were aware that uh things needed to to happen um to make it so that when the warming station, if it was to close on April 15th, that we had things in place to uh protect the people that uh uh were going to be affected, and we're talking in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 people on a on a given night.

We didn't do that.

Um so here we are.

Um and um we're in a position that we shouldn't be in.

And so I I think minimally, however anybody feels on it that you will think about it in terms of uh of the fairness.

We made uh a decision then because we feared what would happen that people wouldn't have a uh place and we didn't do it, and so here we are, and they're gonna be subject to uh fines, uh and um they're not have a place to to sleep, a basic need, uh and they're gonna need to hide for those who can't find it in place.

So I think just minimally at least in the shortest run, if you're not in support of it in general, they just say uh we ought to be able to offer that to people.

That was the intention, I believe, from this uh uh body of ten uh you know before our new auditions.

So I just hope that will be uh uh considered because the warming station has been a significant success in my view.

So thank you.

Okay, that ends public comment.

Remarks by members of the board.

I'm gonna start over here.

Alvin Lopez, three in a row.

I love this seat.

Um, but I did uh I probably shouldn't have started with such levity, but um I wanted to just comment um somewhat on the uh warming station.

Um I think it has been a fantastic program.

Um I think the staff there are to be very commended, very highly commended.

As someone who's worked in emergency shelters and with the homeless for over 20 years now, it is not easy to run a low barrier shelter.

And many of the organizations that I work with had organizational um momentum, institutional knowledge.

They had people there who'd been doing this for many years, who had reputations with the clients that were participating.

Um they they had experience.

And I would say that is not the situation that community um public health uh found themselves in last year.

We were very much starting mid-stream in the middle of the winter where everything was already kind of at crisis level.

And this past year, the warming station started under the pressure of the ordinance, you know, criminalizing that in Canton, which really flooded the system very quickly and to their credit.

The staff really stepped up and they really made it work in a way that we heard from speakers profoundly impacted people's lives in many ways.

Well, accomplishing the primary goal of just keeping them alive through the winter.

And we have no reported fatalities as a result of it.

So I think it's something that we really need to.

I appreciate that public health gave us a recommendation uh recognition.

But I think we really need to recognize the work that they've been doing.

Uh and the work of the individuals that were involved with it.

Um then finally I also wanted to express my condolences to the friends and the family of Samantha Allen.

I know she was very well liked among many city departments, and I'm sure her loss will be deeply felt.

When you go this way, I have to go after Tom and Leon must always say a lot of the same things.

Uh I was just going to comment on the I I chuckled a little about the award to the board for supporting um our public health department, because they are doing such incredible work.

And Bobby is working right now.

Um that's why she's not able to be here.

But I just wanted to shout that out and and just say in return that when you lead with compassion and love and you really are trying to do the work in a really fair and honest way, then it's impossible enough for people not to follow you.

Thank you very much.

I would just like to make a comment um to one of my constituents and no disrespect at all.

Um I just want to let him know that before I even got some one in December, I met with director photo and discussed several of the coverts that were overflowing because I was told by one of my advanced constituents on the different houses, and they did meet with the director in December.

Nothing went for a while because of the weather.

On March 30th, I received an email from him, and it said urgent covert issues, which I had received in January, which also Alderman, Alderwoman Kelly got the same email.

Um I was not an alderman when these things started happening, and I take my position very seriously.

So when I got this on April 1st, I went down to my constituent's house, one of the houses.

I knocked on her door at six o'clock at night.

She wasn't home.

I went back at seven o'clock because I figured the coverts were overflowing because of the rain, the snow, and the ice melting.

We took a walk down Maine Dunstable Road.

I did twist my bad knee that I had broken.

So I'm back in physical therapy again right now.

I want to let them know that I have met with Director Sullivan on this.

I've been with DPW and I took a walk.

Um, I think it was last week going over all the coverts.

I think it was last Wednesday, Wednesday, and the snow and rain and ice, and we walked it, and we have a plan in place.

And unfortunately I couldn't do anything any quicker, but I had to wait for DCW.

I have addressed some signs on West Holler Street and other areas.

I have addressed with some of my constituents on an issue on Penichuk Water.

They called me and I solved that issue with them.

So I feel that I am doing my job that I've been elected to do.

You can't see me all the time out in the public because of the fact that these are conversations I'm having with my constituents, and I don't know if I have permission to have them public.

But I am working as hard as I can.

I am also working on the West Holler Street corridor.

I have some of my constituents that I am meeting with that have some ideas that maybe we can try to do other things.

I've talked to the director about maybe a public-private partnership to try to get things moving over there.

Um when people call me, they see that I respond to them very quickly, and they thank me.

So if anybody has any questions or any concerns, you can use the city email.

My phone numbers on the website, and I try to get out as fast as I can to resolve issues.

Unfortunately, I was not an alderman when this covert issue started.

I took quick response in December before I was even sworn in, met with the director.

Um Director Sullivan can attest that I sat with him on Thursday.

We went over because some of the culvert is on private property, but hopefully, what city's going to do, they're going to start trying to clean out.

They have a plan in place.

And everybody knows if there's a problem to please contact me, and I'm in contact with my constituents.

Thank you very much.

Alderman Senate.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I don't relish doing this, but um I did want to take a moment to clarify the record uh regarding comments that I made um a couple weeks back at our March 24th meeting.

Uh during that meeting, I stated in my comments at the end of the meeting uh regarding the impending closure of the winter warming station.

Quote, we don't have a resource center, and we're about to close a resource for our homeless population.

I think that's abhorrent.

I think that's inhumane, and I think we backed ourselves into this corner.

Uh to my knowledge, upon reviewing the transcript of that meeting and the video, that was the only use of the word abhorrent during that discussion.

Later that week, uh communication was distributed to members of the public that made direct reference to the word abhorrent, stating, quote, some aldermen spoke, agreeing with the public comment, including calling the people who voted to ban camping, which was most of us abhorrent.

I'm aware that residents throughout the city rely on a number of different avenues to keep up with what goes on here in City Hall.

And for that reason, I want to be clear that even the suggestion that I use this language to attack my colleagues is completely and totally false.

Rather, I use these words to express my perspective on a situation that we're in.

I may stutter, I know I stammer, but I make every effort to pick my words in this chamber carefully.

But with that being said, I would invite any of my colleagues who do feel personally attacked by my words in the chamber in the future to please speak with me so that I could do better.

On happier news.

Um since starting this term, one of the privileges that I've had is uh being the liaison to the Nashua Conservation Commission.

I'm learning a lot of things that I didn't know.

Um I was excited to learn at our last meeting that the National Conservation Commission this year will be participating in the 2026 City Nature Challenge.

I know people throughout the city like to get involved, and I think this is a good opportunity.

Uh the challenge runs from April 24th through the 27th.

Uh, from what I understand, the walks in this challenge will take place from 9 to 11 a.m.

Uh participants will be engaged in walks through different conservation sites throughout the city to document existing species of plant and wildlife using an iNaturalist app, which I've never heard of.

Uh interested participants, however, should reach out to the National Conservation Commission through the website or the Facebook for more information.

I'm sure the commissioners would be very happy to have you.

And then finally, I wanted to um uh respond to uh one of the speakers who spoke tonight.

Uh, we had the young lady who came in from um Gravedrol Games store, which I only became aware of recently, and I'm really disappointed because um stuff like that really appeals to my uh Dorky sensibilities.

Um I I just want to let uh her know I believe she left, but hopefully she's listening or um will review this.

Um I'd like to uh I'd like to reach out and speak to her because I believe we had similar legislation that came before this board prior to my coming on that dealt with another sort of um niche dealership um situation, and I I think that we could get that resolved, and as a fan of the things that they're doing at that store, I I'd like to see that resolved for them.

So that's all I have tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Solomon.

Thank you.

Uh this Saturday, mine falls cleanup.

Bright and early.

Uh, there's two cleanups 8 45 at Lincoln Park, 8 30 at Cove Trail, and then the gatehouse will be open from 9A to 11A this Saturday, 18 April.

Have a good night.

Thank you.

Alderman Dowd.

Just real quickly, uh, there's a new housing development going in on Tinker Road.

Uh very dangerous corner.

Um I just want to let the people who live out there know that part of the requirements of the planning board is that topography be totally level, so sight lines are adequate in both directions, uh, so the corner would not be of concern, and that has to be done before any building permits will be allowed.

On this side, Alderman Tebow.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um it's okay, Alderman Center.

You can tell whose newsletter it was, who's mine.

Um, just clarifying that so people can know exactly whose newsletter it was.

Um he was never mentioned, nor was his ward.

Uh and so if he wants to take that, he was the one that said abhorrent, that's fine.

Um I would also say instead of taking up the grievance in here in the chamber, you can come to me, or you can call me, or you can email me.

That's fine.

You don't need to take the grievance up in here with me.

Um, I believe the way people were speaking to some of us who voted for the camping ban was calling us inhumane, whether they said the words exactly or not.

And that's that's my opinion.

And you do not have to read my newsletter, so don't.

It's it's pretty pretty easy.

Um, I wasn't really really gonna speak on that, but you know, coming in and attacking me in the chamber, everybody knows I'm the one that does the newsletter, so you cannot use my name, and still people know.

So you could be a little sneaky like that, but we all know.

Don't worry about it.

You know, and a lot of things have been going around about me.

I've been in the paper, and I'm not compassionate.

So there is multiple people in this chamber that voted for the camping ban.

Yet no one's calling them not compassionate.

I think everybody in this room is compassionate, even Alderman Senate, every single one of you, whether you voted for the ban or not.

Because I know all of you, and I've talked to all of you at different times.

I know how you feel about things.

I would never call another alderman here not compassionate because a decision they made that the majority of the board made.

And I would also not go around saying people aren't compassionate because they didn't extend the warming center when not one of you or anybody on a passport ever put in legislation to extend the warming station.

None.

But yet I am the one that gets front page news that I'm the one that's not compassionate, right?

I could say we're all not compassionate because we didn't extend the warming center.

Because that was the easy legislation.

We could have easily done that.

Anyone could have done it.

Even you, anyone.

All right.

Um so tomorrow we talk about the resource center, and again, people have said that I'm not the compassionate one.

One, the warming station, I have been screaming about, along with Alderman Senate and Alderman Lopez, have been screaming about getting this done year after year after year.

Getting it done earlier.

I'm on record.

If you go back to meetings, I was upset that we didn't start it in November this past year.

Because it gets cold in November.

Again, I was the one saying it in a meeting out loud, so people can hear it.

You can go back to that meeting.

Resource center.

When I said I was okay with putting through, or I shouldn't say putting through, I didn't put it through, I voted for it.

The ban on camping, I was clear.

Last year, nobody's off bed made me change my mind about this.

I wanted a resource center.

That was part of putting in the ban.

If we did that, we had to get a resource center.

It didn't go as quickly as I wanted it.

Again, we don't have that control as aldermen, but it's on its way.

Now it's on its way, yet some people didn't endorse it.

So I don't know if if that means they don't want it.

You know, so most of us went for it.

So I've always said that.

I've always wanted the resource center.

And not only is it gonna be a resource center, but it's gonna have transitional care and a warming station.

That's extra to what we wanted before.

So why is that a bad thing?

It's not.

So I hope people come out tomorrow, speak publicly about one's resource center.

I hope the two committees that are together vote for it, and then we pass it in the board of Alderman.

If I made a decision that someone doesn't like, doesn't make me a non-compassionate person.

My family, my friends, people who really know me know that I am one.

I'm not the only non-compassionate person here.

Um, like I said, come out tomorrow.

Um just be careful when we start thinking about camping bans and repealing them.

Think about the unintended consequences that would have of repealing something uh that that we didn't have before.

Just think about those before we start talking and voting for it.

Thank you.

Uh Alderman Chess.

Uh so I am mostly going to be saying a few apologies here.

Um I uh do apologize for something you were referencing of not getting an extension to the uh warming station uh up uh before before this happened, but um something I guess to to not be around the bush.

Um I'm I'm going to be stepping down uh following this meeting.

Um I have to apologize to a lot of people.

I know people are concerned that that would possibly happen.

Um just because they didn't think maybe this was uh something that I viewed as a priority.

Um apologies, like I I view this as a very important role, uh, which is one of the reasons that I'm I'm making this decision.

Uh I was able to until uh up until my my additional daughter was born, um make the sacrifices for the family time a bit more than I had anticipated, uh, based on based on what I thought was enough due diligence to understand what it took to be an alderman but was still struggling a bit between feeling like I wasn't uh able to do adequate uh adequate research uh to make sure we're spending money well, adequate time for constituents, adequate time for uh my own my own thoughts to to help improve the city.

Um and then once uh my additional daughter came, it it was it was a whole whole new ball game of um what whole whole different balance to what I'm what I'm able to do.

So I I mostly just I don't want to be in a position that apologies.

I take time um effectively.

I just I want to make sure that the city is getting the service that they need, which I don't feel I am able to offer at this point.

Thank you, Alderman Clee.

Thank you, uh Madam President.

Um Alderman Chess, I'm so sorry to hear um the news.

We've had a lot of conversations, and I know you you want to do the best possible job.

You've talked to me about it many times, and I know that you reached out to your colleagues for education and so on.

Um it really does make me sad, and I'm sorry, and I know it had to have an emotional decision for you to make, but I wanted to make sure I said that right away.

And I will leave it at that and talk to you personally later.

I would also like to take the time to um to give my condolences to the family and friends of Samantha Sam Allen.

Um she worked with the um Nashua Fire Rescue as well as parking enforcement, and I had the privilege of getting to talk to and meet um Sam during her time in parking enforcement um with um Miss Stansfield Stan was beisty, she was um um an incredible woman.

I know that when I would call because we had parking issues and so on, she was right there to take care of it.

I knew that um she was knowledgeable.

Um I know that so many people are gonna miss her.

Um I believe she has two daughters that will also miss her, and she is such a um a kind person.

Um I want to say that on the 16th between 4 and 8 p.m.

there will be services for her at the funeral home at 26 Kinsley Street.

I hope that we can all um show our our love.

I know there's a budget meeting that night, but it's not until seven, but um show her family how much she meant to the city and to those around her, let her family and friends know.

Um and I want to leave this on a happier note.

I mentioned this uh last night at the uh finance meeting.

I went out to dinner on Sunday evening, um, and um it was a great dinner, and I was with a friend, a very dear friend, and as we were leaving, my friend noticed that these three girls through the night, these young ladies had been they were sitting by the window, and every time someone would go by they would wave at them.

And uh so my friend asked, Do you know all these people?

They laughed and said, nope, but you know, people look in and we just wanted to um engage with them and say how because they loved Nashua so much, they loved this restaurant.

They came from Lowell, which has many good restaurants, but they came to Nashua because they liked Nashua.

Um, one of them had lived in Nashua for a while and um came back.

She another one I believe said that she either worked or had worked, either works presently or had worked in Nashua again and wanted to come back to Nashua on a Sunday evening to go to this restaurant to be a part of the city.

Um, and they had nothing but kind things to say, so Nashua attracts people from all over, not just people in Nashua, and I just want others to know that they were just such engaging, and uh I couldn't help it, even though I was going the opposite direction or walked out of the restaurant.

I had to go back to the window just so that I could wave to them as they had been doing to everybody else.

And um uh thank you, Madam President.

Committee announcements, Alderman Kelly.

Oh, Alderman Lopez, sorry, sorry.

Whatever.

Very quick, Lopez.

Monday is the human affairs committee.

We have a very very big dockets.

Every who's planning to come, please check out the agenda ahead of time.

Alderman McKelly.

I generally don't point it out because it's always three weeks from our last, but uh, we have our very busy personnel meeting on uh May 4th, and then if I could, I just wanted May 4th, yeah.

Maybe with you.

Okay.

Um the sustainability fair is on um Saturday the 25th at the library.

Um and it should be a lovely time.

I am unable to be there, but it's from 11 to 2 as it starts school vacation week.

I'll be on the beach.

Alderman Dowd.

Yes, uh, since there's no business activity coming before the joint special school building committee this month, there'll be no meeting.

The meeting has been canceled.

Also, tomorrow night we have the public hearing on the resource center bond, and we have a joint meeting of budget and PEC to discuss the two pieces of results resolutions for the um resource center.

Any other committee announcements?

Seeing none.

Oh Alderman O'Brien, do you have a motion?

Yes, I do.

I'd like to make the motion that the April 14th, 2026 meeting the Board of Alderman be adjourned by roll call.

Motion is to adjourn.

tomorrow night we have the public hearing on the resource center bond and we have a joint meeting of budget and PEDC to discuss the two pieces of results resolutions for the um resource center any other committee announcements do you have a motion yes I do I'd like to make the motion that the April 14th 2026 meeting the board of alderman be adjourned by roll call motion is to adjourn would the clerk please call the roll alderman clee yes alderman chuss yes alderwoman smith yes alderman thebow yes alderman o'brien yes alderman Gregg yes alderman Dowd yes Alderman Sullivan yes alderman Senate no Alderman Johnson yes alderwoman kelly yes please alderman morgan yes alderman Lopez no Steven canco Alderman Wilshire yes 12 years two nays we are adjourned at 906 p.m