Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026
Nashua Finance Committee Meeting - September 3, 2026
The Nashua Finance Committee met on September 3, 2026, to consider a series of purchasing and contract approvals. Alderman Will Share and Alderman Clements were absent due to family and other commitments. The meeting included multiple motions to accept and approve various purchases, contracts, and amendments, all of which passed unanimously. A public comment period featured criticism of city administration.
Communications and Discussion Items
- Special Events Permitting Software: Emily Martisella, Director of Emergency Management, presented a three-year agreement for $39,000/year with a vendor specializing in municipal special events permitting. The software will streamline approvals across 15+ departments and allow users to clone previous applications. Approved unanimously.
- Fire Rescue Vehicle Replacements:
- Purchase of an all-wheel drive Ford Transit van (12-passenger) to replace an F-150 for the training division, not to exceed $77,277.28. Funded through Fire Rescue Fund. Approved.
- Purchase of a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup with utility box, graphics, and emergency lighting to replace a deputy fire chief's vehicle, not to exceed $98,630.88. Funded through Fire Rescue Fund. Approved.
- Four Hills Landfill PFAS Pilot Project: Contract with Stearns, Conrad, and Schmidt (SCS Field Services) for infrastructure improvements for leachate PFAS removal/destruction pilot test, not to exceed $400,143. Funded by 100% state grant. Approved.
- Landfill Gas Telemetry Monitoring: Contract with Sanborn Head & Associates for FY2027–FY2029 telemetry monitoring and support, not to exceed $87,750. Funded through Solid Waste Fund. Approved.
- Landfill Gas Collection System Modification: Engineering services contract with Sanborn Head for design and construction quality assurance for 2026 gas collection modifications, not to exceed $74,000. Funded through Solid Waste Fund bond. Approved.
- Landfill Temporary Cap: Engineering services contract with Sanborn Head for design and CQA for 2026 Phase 3 temporary cap, not to exceed $46,500. Funded through Solid Waste Fund bond. Approved.
- Recycling and Trash Carts: Purchase of carts and lids for curbside collection for FY2027 from Toter Inc., not to exceed $145,000. Superintendent LaFleur noted carts are 23 years old and stock is maintained for potential catastrophic failures. Approved.
- Signs and Pavement Paint: Sole source purchase of signs, posts, pavement paint, and replacement parts from Permaline of New England, not to exceed $38,000. Funded through Streets General Fund (corrected to Department 161). Approved.
- Asphalt and Aggregates: Sole source purchase from Brox Industries and Continental Paving, not to exceed $147,000. For daily operations, not part of the paving program. Approved.
- Flow Monitoring Amendment: Amendment #1 with ADS Environmental Services for real-time CSO discharge notifications to subscribers, a new EPA permit requirement. Amounts: $46,500 total ($28,700 in FY2027, $8,900 in each FY2028 and FY2029). Funded through Wastewater Fund. Approved.
- Biosolids Management Feasibility: Contract with Hazen and Sawyer for evaluation of long-term biosolids management and disposal at Four Hills Landfill, not to exceed $116,462.73. Funded through Wastewater Fund. Approved.
- Resource Center Design Study: Amendment #2 with Icon Architecture for a limited design study for a resource center (transitional housing/warming station), not to exceed $40,000. Funded through City Buildings Fund. Tim Cummings noted the study could begin mid-September and will include public engagement and cost estimates. Alderman Solomon questioned the CIP request; Director Bagley clarified the original CIP included shelter beds but funding was reduced. Approved.
Public Comment
Lori Ortolano criticized the city administration, listing numerous employee departures, resignations, and terminations (including Kathy Forner, Janet Grazio, Nancy Trass, Joanna Pennick, Johnny Ill, Michael Coley, Ms. Liddy, and David Sullivan). She questioned leadership, HR benefits staffing, community development lead program allocation, and the comptroller's qualifications. She also referenced trauma counseling and suggested Director Cummings may be a source of employee distress.
Record of Expenditures
Alderman Sullivan moved to accept the record of expenditures for August 14–27, 2026, as compliant with city charter. Approved.
Non-Public Session
The committee voted unanimously (by roll call) to enter non-public session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3, II(d) to discuss real property acquisition/sale/lease. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM.
Key Outcomes
- All motions (special events software, vehicle purchases, landfill contracts, cart purchase, sign/asphalt purchases, flow monitoring amendment, biosolids feasibility, resource center design study, and record of expenditures) were approved unanimously.
- The committee entered non-public session for property discussion.
Meeting Transcript
So the first issue is public comment returning union. I think all of these are anyone else that want to make public. All right, communication is the first meeting for the major purchasing manager or something. I think we're good. We're good. Good. Back in action. Um I should have mentioned earlier that Alderman uh Alder Woman Will Share could not make the meeting tonight because of a family issue. Um and she contacted me as such, so just want to make sure we have that. Mr. Mayor. Alderman Clements have reached out to me as well that he was unable to make it. Okay. Anyway, Ms. Marticello. Yeah, um, so good afternoon, everyone. Emily Martisella, I'm the director of emergency management here in the city. Uh speaking on the special events permitting software, I'll just keep it really simple. We have fifteen plus departments that sign off on special events, and our current procedures through a series of many, many emails, uh, which is ownerous both for all the departments, but especially for anyone trying to plan a special event, um, and having to sift through um sometimes, you know, dozens of emails um from all of us. So for the past several years, the special events group has been looking at specialty software. We evaluated all the stuff we currently have, um, and it it didn't it didn't meet any of the requirements from both the departments and what a user would like. And uh we settled on a company that specializes in municipal special events permitting. That is what they do. Uh they're they're really really good at it. They have a lot of expertise and and they exclusively work with municipalities. Uh so they've been really, really great to work with. Uh we have a uh looking to do a three-year agreement with them for 39,000 a year, which gets us um the special events permitting software, uh, which can allow us to do different types of permitting, but we're gonna start with special events. Um, and all of the departments have signed off on it meeting their needs and requirements, which is also I think a great um nod that the software is gonna work because everybody agreed this this was gonna be good for what they needed because each department has their own statutory sign-off requirements. But I'm happy to answer any specific questions about it. Alderwoman Cleve. Uh thank you. Uh, I'm glad to see this as a person in I know um Alderman Lopez has that had done some of these events. It it is arduous for us to track okay who has not responded yet in trying to chase down the the okay's before it finally gets to the city clerk and and so on to get that final approval in that permit. So I'm glad to see that this is I've sifted through a lot of emails before, so thank you for this. Daniel like Alderman Clee that as a user you can clone your last application so you don't have to start over. Oh no. So when Alderman Lopez is does his block party each year, he can just copy it from the previous year and update a few things and then submit it. So it's gonna be really great for both ends of the process. And hopefully, you know, we're trying to have more events and just make it easier for people to do that and for the departments to sign off accordingly. I think we'll be. Thank you. All right, all those in favor of the motion say aye. Aye. Opposed motion passes. Thank you. Next communication from Amy Giroud purchasing manager, Alderman Sullivan. Like to make a motion to accept place on file and approve the purchase of one all-wheel drive Ford transit van with seating for 12 to replace the F 150 super crew cab pickup truck for Nashua Fire Rescue from Gropony Ford and Global Public Safety. And the amount not to it not to exceed 77,277.28 cents. Funding will be through Department 152 Fire Rescue Fund, SURF 81 Capital Outlay Improvements. Good evening, Adam Pulliot Assistant Fire Chief.
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