Joint Meeting of Committee on Infrastructure and Board of Public Works: August 27, 2026

The joint meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure and the Board of Public Works was convened on Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 5:50 p.m. at 848 West Hollis Street in Nashua, New Hampshire. Roll call was taken; members present included Alderman Paula Johnson, Alderwoman Benja Flotta Smith, Commissioner Paul Shea, Commissioner June Lemon, Commissioner Matthew Gregg, Commissioner Manny Speedia, Alderman Richard Dowd, Alderman at Large Alicia Gregg, and Alderman at Large Michael O'Brien. Also in attendance were Administrative Services Director Tim Cummings, Public Works Director Photo, Left Field Project Manager Joe Sullivan, and Matt LeBlanc. No members of the public were present for public comment, which was opened and closed without testimony.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the May 28, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote.
• Approval of Invoices: Three invoices were approved unanimously: Left Field services through May 31, 2026 (No. 193097, $15,000); Left Field services through June 30, 2026 (No. 953443, $15,000); and HKT Architects services through June 30, 2026 (No. 0010-02242, $258,316.21).

Discussion Items

• DPW Garage Project – General Progress Update: Joe Sullivan of Left Field reported that the design team has issued approximately 98% complete drawings for pricing to the construction manager (CM). Several addenda have been issued for clarification. A Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) is anticipated within the next few weeks to finalize the budget. The construction budget is approximately $43 million, with a total project budget of $54 million. Permitting is underway, and coordination with the fire training facility relocation and the solid waste facility (Sandboard Head and IMAG) is ongoing. Testing agencies are being solicited for compaction, concrete testing, and structural steel inspections. Alderman Dowd asked about design changes potentially increasing costs; Sullivan and Cummings clarified that no accepted changes have increased the program budget and that the iterative process is clarifying expectations without scope increases.
• Fire Training Facility Relocation: Alderman Johnson asked about the exact location on site and whether the pipe work through Teak Drive has reached the landfill area. The Public Works Director confirmed the location and that the pipe has hit ledge, requiring excavation. Johnson clarified to concerned residents that the widened area is due to equipment access, not a road.
• Approval of Contract Amendment for Left Field OPM Services: Director Cummings introduced an amendment for owner’s project manager (OPM) services through October 2026 in the amount of $101,060 (not to exceed). Joe Sullivan explained the $16,000 difference from the original $85,000 coverage was due to added services: a third-party cost estimate during feasibility, an exterior building envelope study of the maintenance facility, and underground drainage proposals for the new perimeter. The motion to approve was made by Alderman Gregg and passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All motions (minutes approval, invoice approvals, and OPM amendment approval) were passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
• Schedule for Next Meeting: The next joint meeting was set for October 22, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at the same location (848 West Hollis Street).
• Bond Resolution Timeline: Tim Cummings outlined the plan: introduce the bond resolution at the next Board of Alderman meeting; hold a public hearing on September 28, 2026 (during the budget review meeting); seek final approval by the Board of Alderman in the first meeting of October. Cummings also flagged the need for a potential joint meeting in late September to approve the GMP, conditioned on bond approval, to keep the project on track for an October construction start.