Nashua Board of Public Works Meeting Summary - May 28, 2026
Nashua Board of Public Works Meeting Summary - May 28, 2026
The Nashua Board of Public Works held a regular meeting on May 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM (presumed) to 5:32 PM, addressing a wide range of city infrastructure, parks, and operational matters. The meeting included public comments, discussion of speed humps on Middle Dunstable Road, approval of numerous contracts and change orders, a decision on a sculpture relocation, creation of a Holman Stadium activation committee, and a non-public session for personnel matters. All votes were unanimous unless noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patrick Como (18 Middle Dunstable Road, 20-year resident) expressed strong support for retaining the speed bumps on his street, citing safety for children, a school zone, and a walkway to Bicentennial. He argued that the $7,000 annual cost (or $700/year) is a small price compared to a child's life, and dismissed DPW truck damage concerns as a matter of driver responsibility. He urged the board not to remove them.
- David Tiller (15 Middle Dunstable Road) supported keeping the speed bumps and added that a dangerous blind curve exists between the current bumps, suggesting that one bump be moved strategically to address that issue.
Discussion Items
- Speed Humps on Middle Dunstable Road (Referral from Board of Aldermen): City Engineer Dan Hudson explained that the aldermen received a resident complaint requesting removal of the speed humps, which were installed over 20 years ago. Public Works generally opposes speed humps due to maintenance complications, but did not take a strong position on removal. The street is scheduled for paving this year, making the discussion timely. The Infrastructure Committee (Alderman, name not specified) reported overwhelming neighborhood support for keeping the humps and recommended leaving the status quo, noting the street is the only one in the city with such treatment. Commissioner Gregg moved to recommend doing nothing now but conducting a full study of alternatives on the street, with stakeholder involvement. The motion passed (voice vote) and the board accepted the recommendation.
- Greeley Park Wading Pool Replacement: Parks Superintendent Brian Conant presented a contract award to Weston and Sampson for $298,200 to replace the heavily used waiting pool, which was shut down in 2025 due to leakage. The new pool will be similar in size and depth, including decking, plumbing, and a filtration system. The pool is expected to be operational for the 2027 season. Approved.
- Wastewater Contracts:
- Three-year biosolids management contract with Waste Management of New Hampshire for up to $3,894,445. The superintendent noted the city is exploring alternative options, potentially shortening the contract. Approved.
- Drop ceiling installation at the wastewater treatment facility by Trusted Maintenance Solutions for $32,812.50. Approved.
- FY27 polymer purchase from Polydyne for $650,000 (pending budget approval). Approved.
- Solid Waste Contracts:
- Litter fence construction on Phase 4 landfill by Charter Contracting for $278,250. Approved.
- Change order #5 for Phase 4 landfill construction: $98,786.28. Approved.
- Change order #1 for SCADA telemetry panel at Phase 4 leachate pump house: $58,586.32. Approved.
- Engineering Contracts:
- Change order #7 for 2025 Sewer Replacement Project (Contract 1) with CRISP Contracting: $1,000,000 to extend on-call sewer repair services through summer 2026. Approved.
- 2026 Pavement Preservation Program contract to Seal Coating Inc. (dba Indice) for $894,875. Approved.
- Change order #1 for 2026 Paving Program (Contract 2) with Sunshine Paving: $350,000 for sidewalk and drainage work on Ledge Street, including rapid flashing beacons near the school. Funding from separate sidewalk and drainage funds. Approved.
- Purchase of 12 UNEX traffic signal controllers from Ocean State Signal for $35,400 (40% discount), to upgrade Amherst Street corridor. Approved.
- Amendment #3 to engineering services agreement for East Hollis and Bridge Street intersection project with McFarland Johnson: $50,000 to finalize design. Approved.
- Sculpture Relocation (Lovewell Pond to Mine Falls Park): The Conservation Commission requested moving a sculpture from Lovewell Pond (within the wetland buffer) to Mine Falls Park. After discussion, the board voted to decline the move, citing the sculpture's popularity, prior approval, and concerns about precedent. The motion passed (voice vote).
- Sculpture Installation at Udiki Farms: The International Sculpture Symposium proposed installing a large 14-foot granite sculpture (two pieces weighing 8,200 lbs each) at Udiki Farms. The board approved the placement subject to approval from a structural engineer to ensure safety. Approved.
- Sound System at Renaissance Park: Economic Development Director Liz Hanum requested approval to install a permanent sound system (six speakers on light poles, plus speakers on the pavilion) for $36,000, to support events such as the farmers market and a new Saturday night music series. The system was tested during the Renaissance on the Riverfront event. Approved.
- Holman Stadium Activation Committee: Commissioner Shea and Alderman Morgan proposed forming a committee to explore activating Holman Stadium for more events (e.g., movies, winter festivals, concerts). The board approved the creation of a committee with the following members: Commissioner Shea (chair), Alderman Morgan (vice chair), Commissioner Lemon, Commissioner Speedia, Director Hanum, Brian Conant, Matt LeBlanc, Grant Morris, and Alyssa O'Mara. The committee will meet publicly and report back to the Board of Public Works. Approved.
Key Outcomes
- Speed humps on Middle Dunstable Road will remain pending a study of alternatives; the street paving will incorporate potential adjustments to hump placement.
- Contracts awarded: Greeley Park wading pool ($298,200), biosolids management ($3,894,445), drop ceilings ($32,812.50), polymer ($650,000), litter fence ($278,250), pavement preservation ($894,875), traffic signal controllers ($35,400), and engineering amendment ($50,000).
- Change orders approved: Phase 4 landfill ($98,786.28 and $58,586.32), sewer replacement ($1,000,000), paving program ($350,000).
- Sculpture relocation from Lovewell Pond declined; sculpture at Udiki Farms approved subject to structural engineer review.
- Permanent sound system approved for Renaissance Park.
- Holman Stadium committee formed with 9 members to develop event programming.
- Personnel: Resignation of Kevin Narrow (Solid Waste Foreman) accepted; non-public minutes from April 21, 2026, unsealed.
- Non-public session held at 5:32 PM to discuss hiring of a public employee, with minutes sealed.
Meeting Transcript
I motion to approve the minutes of the Board of Public Works meeting of April twenty first, twenty twenty-six. All those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Motion passes. Yeah, yeah. Just uh sit right there. There's a mic. It helps it helps record. No, absolutely. I get it. Thank you. Um, good afternoon, everybody. My name is Patrick Como. I'm a national resident of twenty years. I live at eighteen Middle Dunstable Road currently. Uh, been there for eleven to twelve years. Give or take. I actually bought the William Sisters House. If anybody knows that, that's the eight daughters that the house is custom built for. But um, I'm here today just to uh kind of give support to my neighborhood to all the residents that live on eighteen middle Dunstable Road. Um, we actually really love the speed bumps that are there. Uh it's been discussed that maybe you consider removing them. Um I think on my side of the street alone is five families with two or more kids on the other side of the street. There's four families with two or more kids. Uh, we are in a school zone. It's a walkway to the uh two bicentennial. And uh, I don't think as though that would be the greatest. Yesterday in the meeting, we went to the automatic chamber, one of the residents stood up and said, I used to deliver peep newspapers in on the street. She goes, now I live on the street. She goes, I was here before the speed bumps. She goes, It was crazy. So that was kind of cool to hear from the local newspaper lady who's now has children that go to the school. Um we talked about maybe saving a seven thousand dollar line item for a budget. I've been there for ten years. Say seven grand, these speed bumps haven't been replaced. Say they cost the town seven hundred dollars a year to have that speed bump. Uh I think that's a small price to pay for a life of a child that possibly gets hit by a speeding car on that road. Um I have in my 30s, I drove plow trucks for drum hill construction, so not little ones, big ones. And I didn't drive over speed bumps, but I know how to control my truck to make sure that we go over the speed bump correctly. So the whole damage on the truck to the DPW truck, uh, I don't buy it. I feel like if you're a responsible snowplow driver, you know how to do it. So if there is damage to the snowplow truck during said speed hump issue, um again, I would take that cost and I would divide it and say, is this worth the life of the child as we speed through the neighborhood and possibly pick off a couple kids? I don't think it is. It's really all I have to say about it. Um I think it's easy to make the DPW jobs easier. No offense, guys. I would love to plow everything that has no islands in a parking lot, okay? But sometimes we have to make exceptions. And uh, I think the speed bumps on the 18 Middle Dunstable Road would be the exception for the case. They've been there, let's not remove them.
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