Nashua Budget Committee Meeting – June 18, 2026
Nashua Budget Committee Meeting – June 18, 2026
The Nashua Budget Committee met on June 18, 2026, with Alderman Dowd presiding. The meeting covered three collective bargaining agreements and a bond reallocation for school roof repairs. Attendance included Aldermen Johnson, Tebow, Greg, Kelly, O'Brien, Senate, and Dowd, along with Assistant Police Chief Kenny, NSD COO Mr. Gray, City CFO Don Enright, and Alderman Ravan (via Zoom).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gary Hoffman (38 Perham Street, Nashua) spoke in favor of the secretaries union contract, stating negotiations were productive and wage increases were fair despite being on the low side. He urged unanimous passage to finalize the agreement before the current contract expires.
Discussion Items
Resolution R-26-040: Police Supervisors Association Contract
- Motion to recommend final passage. No questions. Unanimous voice vote (all ayes). Motion carried.
Resolution R-26-041: Nashua Teachers Union Secretaries Contract (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029)
- Mr. Gray (NSD COO) provided overview: contract covers about 68 employees. Year 1 base salary increase ~4%, years 2 and 3 at 3%. Step scale expands from 5 to 9 steps in years 2 and 3. Five clerical positions to be removed from this union and moved to non-affiliated contract. No questions. Unanimous voice vote. Motion carried.
Resolution R-26-044: Reallocation of Bond Proceeds for Bicentennial School Roof Replacement
- Purpose: Use up to $1,670,085 of unexpended bond proceeds from five school building improvement projects for roof replacement at Bicentennial School. Motion to recommend final passage.
- Alderman Tebow expressed support but concern about spending on a school that might be closed in the future, urging the Board of Education to decide on school closures soon.
- Alderman Greg asked about time constraints; CFO Don Enright replied that bond refunding must occur within five years of bond sale (oldest 2023), no immediate time pressure, but school department wanted funds for summer 2027 project start. Greg also questioned the exemption of the amount from the spending cap calculation so close to fiscal year end.
- Alderman Dowd gave a statement supporting the project, criticizing the state-mandated spending cap as inadequate for capital needs, citing parking garage and school security examples.
- Alderman Senate stated he was comfortable with the resolution except for the spending cap exemption, which he was unwilling to support, and voted no.
- Alderman Tebow added comments on the difficulty the spending cap causes for using unanticipated funds.
- Roll call vote requested. Results: Yes – Tebow, Greg, O'Brien, Dowd (4); No – Senate (1). Motion carried.
General Discussion
- Alderman Senate clarified that his vote was based on the spending cap exemption, not the project, and noted he had consulted with legal regarding the cap mechanics and numbers.
Remarks by Aldermen
- Alderman O'Brien thanked colleagues for their support during his recent hospitalization and recovery.
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn passed unanimously at 7:41 PM.
Meeting Transcript
In the alternatic chamber and duly noticed in two places, including the city's website in accordance with the requirements of RSA 91-A. Alderman Dowd presiding. Would the clerk please call the roll? Alderman Johnson. Alderman Derek Tebow here. Alderman at large, Greg. Here. All the women at large, Soshauna Kelly. Alderman Lodge, Michael O'Brien is in the flesh. Alderman Tim Senate here. And our Chairman Alderman Dowd. Present. You have one, two, three, four. Five in attendance. Any good. And we're also joined by Assistant Police Chief Kenny. And we have on Zoom. Yeah, Zoom. We have Christoph. NSD Chief of Operating Officer. And also we have Ms. Don Enright, CFO for the City of Nashua. And Alderman Ravan here. So did I get it right? Alderman Raven. Raven. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. And Alderman Ravan. Okay. Okay. So the first item on the agenda is public comment. Is there anyone that wishes to speak in public comment? Name and city. Gary Hoffman, uh 38 Perham Street, Nashua, New Hampshire. I just want to speak in favor of the Secretary contract. You know, we had a very productive negotiation session. You know, your primary concern, of course, is the budgetary aspect of this agreement. The the wage increases are fair. Um on my end, there are they're a little there, they're a little on the low side, but um we understand the city's uh predicament. Um but uh you know we urge you that this uh this agreement be passed uh at the budget committee tonight unanimously uh if we're able to get this done tonight and bring it to the full board of Alderman at the next meeting. Um we can actually get this agreement signed, sealed, and delivered before the current agreement expires, which is uh be a great thing. So just urge you to support it. Thank you. Any other public comment? Okay communications there are none. Unfinished business? There is none. New business resolutions before us this evening is our dash 26-040 approving the cost items of three sidebar agreements between the board of police commissioners and the police supervisors association and EPBA local 25 regarding vacation, sick leave, and personal days. Mr.
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