2026-10-26 - Board of Aldermen Special Meeting

00:09I'm going to call a special meeting of

00:10the Board of Aldermen to order on

00:12Monday, October 26, [clears throat] 2026

00:15at 7:00 p.m. in the Aldermen Chamber,

00:17which has been duly noticed in two

00:18places including the city's website in

00:21accordance with the requirements of RSA

00:2291A.

00:24The prayer will be offered tonight by

00:25Aldermen O'Brien and Aldermen Senate

00:27will lead us in the Pledge of

00:28Allegiance.

00:30>> Almighty God, we have the high honor and

00:32a serious duty to manage the affairs of

00:35our beloved city.

00:37Fill us, oh God, with a spirit of unity

00:40and understanding which enables us to

00:42face our multiple problems with a serene

00:45mind

00:46with justice and charity for all

00:49so that any and all decisions made by us

00:52will always be for the betterment and

00:54greater happiness of all our fellow

00:56citizens. So help us, God. Amen.

01:00>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

01:02United States of America and to the

01:05republic for which it stands, one nation

01:08under God, indivisible, with liberty and

01:11justice for all.

01:15>> Let's start the meeting by taking a roll

01:17call attendance, please.

01:24>> Alderman Clemens

01:25>> Here.

01:26>> Alderman Clay

01:29>> [snorts]

01:32>> Alderman Ravan

01:33>> Here.

01:34>> Alderwoman Smith

01:41Alderman Thibault

01:42>> Here.

01:43>> Alderman O'Brien is present.

01:46Alderman Gregg

01:47>> Here.

01:47>> Alderman Dowd

01:48>> Present.

01:50>> Alderman Sullivan

01:51>> Here.

01:52>> Alderman Senate

01:53>> Here.

01:54>> Alderman Johnson

01:55>> Present.

01:55>> Alderwoman Kelly

01:57>> Here.

01:58>> Alderwoman Morgan.

02:02>> [clears throat]

02:03>> Alderwoman Lopez.

02:04>> Here.

02:05>> And President Wilshire.

02:06>> Here. Alderwoman Morgan was called me

02:09and let me know she was not feeling well

02:11and won't be joining us this evening.

02:13>> You have uh 12 members present.

02:15>> Thank you.

02:16I'm going to turn the meeting over to

02:18the chair of the budget committee,

02:19Alderwoman Dowd.

02:20>> Okay, we have several public hearings

02:22this evening.

02:23Um

02:24when I call for testimony in favor,

02:27please come up and and

02:30give your reasons for being in favor of

02:32this

02:33resolution. And same thing, if you're in

02:36opposition, give your reason for

02:37opposition. And please keep it to those

02:41uh subjects only.

02:44So, the first is R 26064 amended,

02:47authorizing the mayor and the city

02:49treasurer to issue bonds not to exceed

02:52$5,173,428

02:56for the purchase of capital equipment.

03:08>> Good evening. Michael Rush, fleet

03:09superintendent. This bond resolution is

03:12to secure funding to purchase plow

03:14trucks, uh fleet service trucks, and

03:16foreman trucks for the street

03:18department. I'm happy to answer any

03:20questions you have.

03:21Um

03:22most of the vehicles that are being

03:24replaced are at end of life, and there

03:26will be trade-ins for the vehicles that

03:28are purchased.

03:29>> So, any clarifying questions? These

03:31items are all on the surf list.

03:33And I believe all were approved the

03:35other day at the Department of Public

03:37Works.

03:37>> That is correct. They have all went

03:39through the Board of Public Works for

03:41approval already.

03:43>> Clarifying questions? Alderwoman

03:45Johnson.

03:46>> Thank you very much. Good evening, Mr.

03:48Rush. How are you this evening?

03:50>> Good evening. I'm well. How are you?

03:51>> Good.

03:53Um so, when you're saying this is end of

03:56the life, how many years do they

03:57basically last for your vehicles?

04:00>> Uh it varies depending on the type of

04:02equipment. Uh plow trucks are somewhere

04:04around 7 to 10 years

04:06um where that we look into replacement

04:08and then they get moved to the backline

04:10fleet and then the backline fleet

04:12vehicles are usually traded in towards

04:14the newer purchases.

04:18>> Um

04:20>> Follow up?

04:22>> So, yes, please. So, they're about 7 to

04:2410 years.

04:25>> Correct.

04:26>> Okay. And they're kept up pretty good

04:28with maintenance all the time?

04:30>> We do the best that we can. Um they are

04:32exposed to a heavy salt environment,

04:34these particular trucks.

04:36Um

04:37you know, we do have a wash facility. Um

04:39we also have an undercoating program

04:41that we instituted about a year and a

04:42half 2 years ago.

04:44Um so, we're still waiting to kind of

04:46see the effects of that. We seem to

04:48think that it is helping

04:50um preserve the equipment. Um the

04:52vehicles that are up for replacement

04:54were not part of the program at that

04:55time.

04:56>> And we hope to get more years out of

04:58them because we're building the new

04:59building.

04:59>> Absolutely.

05:02>> Follow up?

05:02>> Yeah, one more, please. So, when you say

05:05that they go to the backline fleet, so

05:08what are they more used as emergency

05:10vehicles if something breaks and then

05:12come

05:13>> [clears throat]

05:13>> yeah, so the backline fleet is used for

05:15when we take other trucks out of service

05:17for maintenance

05:18um or something breaks.

05:20Um the true backline trucks are not

05:22actually backline in the winter. They

05:24all plow trucks are utilized during

05:26winter. We don't consider to have any

05:28spares once we have a winter storm.

05:32>> All set?

05:33>> Yes, thank you. May I ask a question of

05:35you, Mr. Chairman?

05:36>> Sure.

05:37>> Um

05:38I saw

05:39um

05:40CFO and Mike here.

05:42>> Yes.

05:42>> Can I ask a question?

05:46That pertains to this.

05:48>> Thank you.

05:53>> Don Enright, CFO.

05:55Actually,

05:56if you ask your question and then after

05:58we have other items because it's not

06:00just the street department, so we have

06:02um treasurer

06:04um Mahlon that would like to speak to

06:06the resolution in total. [clears throat]

06:08Question?

06:09>> Okay, and may I So, when we're done with

06:11the

06:11public [clears throat] hearing, we can

06:12get the answers during the budget

06:14meeting then?

06:15>> Yeah.

06:15>> Yeah.

06:16>> Okay, that would be perfect. Okay, um

06:18just so you can so she can have the

06:20questions so it can be prepared for

06:22when, okay? Because I don't want to hear

06:24we'll have to get back to you.

06:26Um thank you very much. Um with these

06:28maintenance fleet vehicles,

06:31um

06:32I would like to know for the 7 years

06:35Well, how much how long are we bonding

06:37this for?

06:38>> 7

06:38>> 7-year bond? 7-year bond, that's what I

06:40thought. 7-year bond, I want to know

06:42what the full interest is going to be on

06:45the bond versus leasing with the option

06:49to buy. Lease with the option to

06:50purchase, that type of thing.

06:53Lease option purchase.

06:54>> I understand the question um

06:56that you want to know what it's going to

06:58cost for the payments on the bond for

07:00these vehicles over the 7 years. Uh we

07:04have an estimated amount on the

07:06resolution as to what it's going to cost

07:09in terms of the lease.

07:11The treasurer's office does not um

07:13investigate leases. I don't know if they

07:16have done some

07:17>> That would be something that we would do

07:19in our department. We have [snorts]

07:20never done that in our [clears throat]

07:21office.

07:22>> Okay.

07:23>> Why not?

07:24>> it's information that we currently do

07:26not have. Um

07:29but we could research it further.

07:31>> Okay, one more question. The only reason

07:34I had asked you about the cost for the

07:36full term, I thought maybe

07:38that the city or the departments would

07:41start looking at least with the

07:43purchase, which a lot of other cities

07:45and towns do because it is a more of a

07:48cost-saving measure from what I

07:49understand. Thank you very much.

07:51>> Okay.

07:53Alderman Lopez.

07:54>> Um I just wanted to ask um the plows

07:57being replaced, are the plows is the

07:59full apparatus being replaced? Is the

08:00truck, the plows, both? Or are we

08:03keeping plows and not trucks?

08:04>> It's a It's a complete unit to include

08:06um pre-wet system and a brine system.

08:09>> Okay.

08:09>> With the plow equipment. So it is it's a

08:11fully Yeah, it's a whole setup.

08:13>> Okay, just checking.

08:15>> Any other amplifying questions? Alderman

08:17DeBoer.

08:17>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is

08:19probably This is for you, really. Um

08:21the

08:22expected expi- expiration date of the

08:24vehicles in the surf schedule, is that

08:27in the budget book this year or is that

08:29Is that somewhere where cuz I've seen it

08:30before somewhere?

08:31>> It's in the budget book.

08:32>> It's in the budget book, so that's where

08:33we can see

08:34>> surf list schedule.

08:35>> And how how would does it also have like

08:39how long each vehicle could last?

08:43Expiration date?

08:45Or is it just based on the schedule when

08:47we bought something, when it's now due

08:49to be replaced?

08:51>> Yeah, I mean the the in the surf list,

08:54when they buy something, there is an

08:55estimated amount of time it's going to

08:57last.

08:58That doesn't always

09:01come out to the exact date because as

09:03you said, you know, they get wear and

09:04tear, so they could be sooner or could

09:06be later.

09:08But that's why we keep these as backups

09:10so that that

09:12uh we're not waiting till the vehicle

09:14falls apart to try and replace it cuz

09:15the replacement time as I understand it

09:17is 14-18 months.

09:19>> Mhm.

09:19>> About that. You can't just buy it off

09:21the lot.

09:22>> Yeah.

09:23Understood. Thank you.

09:24>> Just to clarify that a little a little

09:26bit. Um for the record, Michael Rush,

09:28fleet superintendent. So when when just

09:30because the vehicle comes up on a surf

09:32replacement every 7 years, doesn't mean

09:34that we always look to replace it. We

09:36evaluate that equipment. We put We put

09:38time and effort in before we put it

09:40forward to actually go through the

09:42process of purchasing. So, some vehicles

09:44may not be in that condition and we push

09:46those off a little further out, you

09:48know, 8, 9, maybe 10 years.

09:50>> Yeah.

09:50>> Uh not every vehicle is the same,

09:52different conditions, uh different

09:54drivers.

09:55Uh so, all those, you know, affect how

09:57the vehicle comes up for replacement.

10:00>> Great. Thank you.

10:00>> All set?

10:01>> Yep.

10:02>> Oliver and Sullivan?

10:04Do you have something?

10:05>> I was actually just going to make a

10:06comment cuz I have the budget book up

10:08here. It does list the expected lifespan

10:10of each vehicle.

10:12On [snorts] the in the budget book.

10:14>> Alderman Revane?

10:16>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Mr. Rush,

10:18couldn't you,

10:19since I'm the newest member on the

10:21board, could you explain what these

10:23these equipments are and how many people

10:28are going to wear the protective

10:30clothing? Cuz that's that's the largest

10:33item

10:34here that you're asking for.

10:36>> Uh so, yeah. So,

10:37>> the fire department. Not Not That's not

10:39his area.

10:40>> Yeah, that's

10:41different department.

10:42>> He's only tra-

10:44the equipment that's for the street

10:46department.

10:47>> Oh.

10:48My apologies.

10:49>> No worries.

10:50>> On the resolution

10:51>> I'll reserve my question.

10:52Thanks.

10:53>> resolution, it lists all the equipments

10:55and who they're respons- whose they

10:57belong to.

11:00>> All set?

11:03>> Thank you.

11:04>> All set?

11:09>> Good evening.

11:11I'm sorry I'm short.

11:16>> You're not alone.

11:16>> I think I'm okay.

11:18Can we just take it

11:19>> hear you.

11:20>> Okay. Good evening. Diane Mulholland,

11:22Treasurer and Tax Collector.

11:23>> [clears throat]

11:24>> The city is requesting authorization for

11:26the Mayor and City Treasurer to issue

11:28general obligation bonds in the amount

11:30not to exceed $5,173,428

11:35to fund the fiscal year 27 capital

11:38equipment replacement fund purchases

11:41identified in the resolution.

11:43These purchases support essential

11:45equipment needs for the fire, police,

11:47school, general government, and street

11:49departments.

11:50The city's current surf trust fund

11:53balance is approximately $3,000,000.

11:56While this balance provides funding for

11:58equipment replacement, the city's

11:59long-term replacement schedule reflects

12:02significant future capital needs.

12:05Based on the current replacement

12:06schedule, projected equipment

12:08replacement costs for fiscal year 2028

12:11are approximately $14,000,000,

12:14including enterprise funds.

12:16Whereas the fiscal year 2027 projected

12:18surf needs were around 12,000,000.

12:21Given the substantial cost of replacing

12:23essential equipment and the need to

12:25maintain reliable municipal services,

12:28bonding provides a means of financing

12:30these capital purchases whilst spreading

12:33the cost over the useful life of the

12:35equipment.

12:36This approach also helps preserve

12:38available surf resources for other

12:40scheduled replacements and future

12:42capital needs.

12:44Author authorization to bond is

12:46therefore requested to support the

12:47fiscal year 27 equipment replacement

12:50program,

12:51maintain essential city services, and

12:54manage the city's long-term capital

12:56replacement obligation responsibilities.

12:59I'll be happy to answer any questions.

13:01>> Does anyone have any questions?

13:04Amplifying questions?

13:07Nope.

13:08Uh we're going to go through the

13:09different groups?

13:12>> I'm sorry.

13:13>> Uh

13:14No, we're not going to go through fire

13:15and police. Okay.

13:19>> Not unless people have specific

13:21questions about them.

13:24>> Does anybody have any particular

13:25questions for fire or police?

13:28Councilman Sullivan.

13:29>> Thank you.

13:30I did have a question on

13:35the compressor station four.

13:38>> [snorts]

13:39>> It's listed here for 216,167

13:43in the surf plan.

13:47In the approved budget for fiscal year

13:492027, the total cost was listed at

13:52326,845.

13:57In the budget, it says there was going

13:58to be a grant of 261,477

14:02and we would pay cash

14:05in the amount of 65,368.

14:07I'm curious to know uh

14:10the difference. What happened?

14:12Thanks.

14:19>> Dawn Enright, CFO.

14:21Um the the grant with that was an

14:23oversight on uh the budgeting process

14:26that there the grant funds were not

14:28available and the uh fire department was

14:32um taking two or three units in

14:36replacing that one. So, it was not clear

14:40in the budget what was actually being

14:42purchased. So, we took the opportunity

14:44in this resolution to clarify exactly

14:49what they are purchasing, not what they

14:52are replacing.

14:54So, that's why it and also to compensate

14:57for the grant not being available and

15:01with the funding is still exactly what

15:04it was uh funded for in cash.

15:08Um they're not spending any more I'm not

15:11I'm not cash. I apologize. In the

15:12bonding, they're not spending any more

15:15um than what was written in the budget

15:18for the bonding for the fire department.

15:21>> Okay. Thank you.

15:22>> All set?

15:23>> Yep.

15:24>> Any other amplifying questions on this

15:25resolution?

15:28Seeing none,

15:30I will now call for testimony in favor

15:33of R-26-064

15:35as amended.

15:39Seeing none, I'll now ask for testimony

15:42in opposition to R-26-064.

15:55>> Gloria Ordelano Nashua.

15:57Um

15:59I'm going to be speaking in opposition

16:00to all bonds tonight. And the reason I'm

16:03going to be doing this, well, one,

16:06this came up at the last hearing I was

16:08at, I think around the 6th of October.

16:11Um and it was a question raised by an

16:13alderwoman regarding um how bonds are

16:16coming off the table. And it was

16:18mentioned by Director Cummings that in

16:21the ad hoc committee meeting, the debt

16:22meeting, the whole balancing of bond

16:25debt we were taking in um was played off

16:28against bond debt moving off the table.

16:30Does everyone have a copy of that? And

16:32is there Is that Where's that table

16:35available for the public to see all the

16:39new bonding between these two hearings,

16:41roughly 90,000,

16:43uh excuse me, 90 million in bonding,

16:45versus what is coming off the table? And

16:49when will these bonds be sold?

16:53>> I believe that last question is in the

16:55resolution itself, and it's

16:58uh FY27.

17:01>> Okay, so it's in

17:02a year, or maybe even less, could be

17:04less. And then, does everyone know

17:07the bond schedule for all bonding in the

17:10city, what finishes, what comes off the

17:12table, and what goes on? And where is

17:14that available to somebody like me.

17:19>> Um Ms. Enright, do you want to address

17:21that cuz

17:29>> Dawn Enright, CFO. Um the bond uh the

17:32bond schedule can be found in the back

17:35of the um budget book and it shows you

17:37how much when it matures, the year in

17:39which it matures, and it shows you what

17:42we're paying in that fiscal year.

17:45>> Thank you.

17:49>> Okay, and so do you Does somebody run

17:51those numbers to look at what comes off

17:52the table by next year versus the what

17:54comes on the table? If most of these are

17:56going to be sold, let's say this 90

17:58million by 2027 or maybe I I know a lot

18:02of times bond sales get postponed. I've

18:04seen that happen before. For whatever

18:06reason, interest rates fluctuate. Do we

18:09know Do you know that, you know, what

18:13goes in and what what goes on the table

18:15and what comes off the table essentially

18:16balances out from a tax rate standpoint?

18:19Is the board

18:20aware of that?

18:22>> [clears throat]

18:23>> That's probably something that's handled

18:24by the finance department as it should

18:26be. The Board of Aldermen keeps in touch

18:30with bonding, so

18:33>> Okay.

18:34Um I'm not going to support, as I said,

18:37any of these

18:38um bond issues tonight. And the reason

18:40I'm not supporting them is because I

18:43have been an advocate for open records

18:45and transparency in this city for 6

18:47years.

18:48And I have reached out to individual

18:50board members

18:51to ask for help when I get locked up

18:55and I don't get records.

18:57And virtually nobody has lifted a

19:00[ __ ] finger, and I am so tired of it.

19:04And I don't care what you think.

19:07>> from using such language?

19:09>> No [ __ ] way. It's my constitutional

19:11right.

19:13>> Okay.

19:13>> We'll take that for the record.

19:14>> Thank you.

19:16And the court ruled a couple weeks ago

19:18that any attempt by the city to put a

19:21protective order or protect my speech

19:23was denied.

19:24>> All right, you're getting off subject.

19:26So, please stick to why you oppose this

19:29resolution.

19:30>> I sent you all a request response this

19:33morning from the city for a simple

19:36request for records involving a fire

19:38department investigation.

19:40And I have been playing the game of

19:43chase the records

19:44>> nothing to do with this resolution.

19:46>> It does. It tells you why I'm not

19:48supporting any spending in this city

19:51because there's no transparency and

19:53accounting, not just for financial

19:55records, but to any right to know

19:57request you put in. And I have asked

19:59people for help. Shoshana Kelly, I've

20:01asked you. You [ __ ] turned away and

20:04didn't do anything. Ethics Committee,

20:06you did nothing.

20:07John, you haven't fought it in this

20:09chamber at all.

20:11Not at all. You have not fought it,

20:13Senate.

20:14I look over here. Anyone who plans on

20:17running for mayor, and you're sitting in

20:19this chamber,

20:20the number of times I'll be calling that

20:22man a [ __ ] [ __ ] for not dealing

20:24with my records is the same thing

20:26language I'm going to call each one of

20:28you.

20:29How many times do I have to ask for

20:31records and fight through an

20:33administration that doesn't give them to

20:34me?

20:36You pay Mr. Parent $90,000 a year

20:40to sit at home. And the only one who

20:42showed any compassion to it was Paula

20:43Johnson.

20:44>> off topic. Please

20:46summarize and then sit down.

20:48>> I don't want to see this city city spend

20:51a penny on bonding. Not a [ __ ] penny

20:54to bond anything until you figure out

20:57how to open records in this city. Until

21:00you figure out when a right to know

21:02request comes into this city to Mr.

21:03Parent or anyone else that a citizen

21:06gets a lawful response

21:08because you haven't [ __ ] figured that

21:10out in 6 years.

21:12And if you don't think I'm not tired of

21:14it, I am.

21:16I've had it. Every one of these bonds

21:18I'm coming up to talk to it. Try to

21:20interrupt me and I'll tell you to [ __ ]

21:22off.

21:30>> You want to put

21:31it on Lori.

21:33It's Lori's meeting.

21:35>> [sighs]

21:36>> All right.

21:36>> Classy.

21:37>> Anyone else in opposition?

21:40Seeing none.

21:42Testimony once again in favor.

21:45Seeing none.

21:47Once again, testimony in opposition.

21:50Seeing none.

21:53I'll now now close the public hearing on

21:55resolution R-26064

21:57amended at 7:21 p.m.

22:01And I'll open the public hearing on

22:02resolution R-26067

22:05at 7:21 p.m.

22:08R-26067

22:09authorizing the mayor and the city

22:11treasurer to issue bonds not to exceed

22:13$3 million for the design and other

22:16ancillary costs to renovate the Nashua

22:18Public Library.

22:21Director Cummings.

22:22>> Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the

22:24record, Tim Cummings, director of the

22:26administrative services.

22:28Uh I'm up here this evening and um as um

22:32my um

22:33consultant comes up to join me in a

22:35second, I'm hoping that we can pull up

22:37the slide deck that we prepared

22:39>> library

22:39>> for you for for the library. And as she

22:43approaches, um

22:45Kayla Gallo, the owner's project

22:46manager, is going to uh speak to the

22:49speak to the slides this evening. But

22:51I'm going to uh take the liberty at this

22:53point, uh Mr. Chairman, to um

22:56uh ask that you favorably recommend uh

23:00this this resolution this evening. This

23:02is a

23:03uh request for design service monies to

23:05be able to keep the library project

23:08building project on track.

23:10I believe it's important to know before

23:12we get into this conversation. The prior

23:14speaker had referenced something that it

23:16had nothing to do with the the

23:18resolution at hand, but I do feel

23:20compelled to just say that the city did

23:22respond to the right to know request and

23:25provide multiple records. Now maybe it

23:27wasn't enough. Maybe it wasn't

23:29sufficient. But certainly there were

23:31were records provided and we'll be happy

23:33to provide additional records that are

23:35legally appropriate for us to do so. As

23:38noted, it had to do with the a personnel

23:41employee matter and that is obviously

23:44very sensitive. So we have to be

23:46careful in in how we

23:48produce produce those records, but we

23:50certainly will fulfill our legal

23:52obligation. So with that those comments

23:55being ended Miss Chairman, I will hand

23:57it over to Kayla Gallo

23:59to speak to this petition this evening.

24:01Thank you.

24:08>> Good evening everyone. Can you guys hear

24:10me?

24:11>> Yes.

24:13>> I am Kayla Gallo. I'm a project manager

24:15with Left Field. We are Thank you.

24:20We are the owner's project manager for

24:22the Nashville Public Library project.

24:28So just to go over the project team,

24:31I myself and my team have been working

24:33with the city. We've been working with

24:35Design Lab Architects and Consigli

24:38Construction throughout the schematic

24:40design phase.

24:49So far the architect and their

24:51consultants have worked on a 3D scan of

24:53the building. We've done a site

24:56assessment. We've worked through 100% of

24:59the schematic design plans.

25:01We've also worked with a consultant to

25:03do a hazardous material assessment. Um

25:07we've meet we've met with the trustees,

25:09library staff, and all city departments.

25:11We've been exploring temporary spaces.

25:14We've been coordinating with court with

25:16the courtyard project, and we are

25:18currently in the process of our first um

25:21estimate.

25:28>> [clears throat]

25:29>> Just to go over what the next steps are.

25:32Um we'll be continuing with design

25:34development.

25:36Eventually, we'll be getting into

25:37construction drawings and bidding.

25:40We'll be finalizing a temporary

25:41location, preparing for permits,

25:44and we will be working with the city

25:47um to to have additional meetings and

25:50page turns with the trustees and the

25:51city departments.

25:56So, this is an overview of what phase

26:00one

26:01um was requested within the

26:03million dollars.

26:05Um we used just about $800,000

26:09of the 1 million through schematic

26:11design. We have roughly $200,000 left

26:14over, which we will be using

26:17for our next phase.

26:19We're recommending that the city budget

26:21is an

26:22the budget the city budget's an

26:23additional $3 million to continue to the

26:25design and bidding phases of this

26:28project.

26:30Funding will be used on the owner's

26:32project management contract, designer

26:34contract, construction management

26:37contract amendments for services through

26:40design development, construction

26:41drawings, and bidding.

26:43We also

26:45have put money aside in this budget for

26:48administrative and legal expenses,

26:50temporary space, moving, storage fees,

26:52and then any other related costs,

26:55um and owner contingency.

27:01Thank you.

27:03>> Any uh

27:05questions?

27:09Alderman Johnson.

27:10>> Thank you.

27:11Uh through you, Mr. Chair, I have

27:13questions for um Director Cummings,

27:16please.

27:17>> Director Cummings.

27:19>> It was just brought up about moving and

27:21temporary space.

27:24Where would we put a library into

27:25temporary space? Um

27:28>> Well, that's a great question, if I may,

27:29Mr. Chairman.

27:30>> Yes, go ahead.

27:31>> We don't have a space identified just

27:33yet, but certainly uh that is something

27:35that we are exploring.

27:38Uh both the municipal buildings that the

27:40city owns as well as

27:42um non-city owned buildings, so we can

27:45provide uh library services while the

27:49while the building is is under

27:50renovation. And as we advance the

27:53design, we will further develop the plan

27:56and the in and be able to report it back

27:58to you as part of the overall project.

28:03>> Alderman Killing. Uh you have follow-up,

28:05Alderman Johnson?

28:06>> Yes, please.

28:08Thank you. So, if we can't use a city

28:11building, then somewhere along the line

28:13you're going to have to come back and

28:14ask for more money for rent

28:17for the project? Cuz we're going to have

28:19to house the

28:20the um the library somewhere.

28:23>> It I believe the plan would be is to

28:25include the rent in the total project

28:27cost that we're anticipating.

28:29>> way, either you're going to have to come

28:30back, but then you would probably change

28:33the numbers would probably change if you

28:35have to include rent into the total

28:37amount of the budget. It's already

28:39included in there.

28:41>> Uh so so again, I want to be clear

28:44again, Tim Cummings, Director of

28:45Administrative Services. We're talking

28:46about an approximately a $45 million

28:48total project cost. And so,

28:51it would be anticipated that the the

28:53that this particular expense would be

28:55part of that $45 million that we're

28:58talking about. Um and we would look for

29:02authorization to spend that money in

29:04that way

29:06uh either with

29:08some of this design money if available

29:10and if if we felt appropriate or during

29:13construction or at the start of the

29:14construction project when we come back

29:16before you for our third request for

29:19for bonding.

29:21>> I'll ask the remainder of my questions

29:23during the meeting. Thank you. Thank

29:24you.

29:25>> I'll go with Kelly.

29:26>> Uh thank you. As this is a public

29:27hearing, I we've heard excessively about

29:30this project, but I'm not sure that the

29:32public fully understands who these line

29:34items are. So,

29:35I believe Consigli is construction

29:37management, Design Lab is architect, but

29:39can you just

29:41quickly overview so people understand

29:42what those line items mean?

29:43>> Absolutely. So, Left Field is obviously

29:46our team. We're the owner's project

29:48manager.

29:49Um we have been assisting you guys the

29:52the city within the entire We'll we'll

29:54be helping with the entire project.

29:56Design Lab is the architect. UEC is um a

30:00consultant that we hired for the first

30:02phase to do a haz- a hazardous material

30:04assessment

30:06um of the building.

30:07GSI is a geotech consultant to do

30:11testing um on the site around the

30:13building. And then Consigli is the

30:15construction manager.

30:18>> Thank you. Just want people to have that

30:19context. I appreciate it. Yep.

30:21>> Any other questions? I'll go with

30:22Alderman Sullivan.

30:23>> Just a big picture question for the

30:25public hearing. When do we expect to

30:27break ground on this project?

30:31>> Greg Cummings.

30:33>> If all goes according to plan, we would

30:35like to do it for next fall. You know,

30:37if we could sometime a year from now be

30:39under be under construction, that would

30:41that would be our our goal.

30:44Thank you.

30:44>> Thank you.

30:46All right. Any additional questions?

30:49Thank you.

30:51>> Thank you.

30:54>> All right. I'll now open the

30:56public hearing for our 26067 by asking

30:59for testimony in favor.

31:04>> Good evening, everyone. I took the first

31:05place in line. Jennifer McCormick, I'm

31:07the director of the library and I'm also

31:09a resident of the city. I live on Lunch

31:11Street.

31:12I'm here tonight to ask you to vote

31:14favorably for this bond, which provides

31:16funding for the next phase of design of

31:18the library renovation, and will allow

31:21all of us together to continue

31:23developing plans for a building that

31:24benefits the city, our customers, and

31:27the staff.

31:29The renovation that we're proposing

31:30offers the city the city an accessible,

31:33energy-efficient, and flexible municipal

31:36building. It replaces our aging HVAC

31:39system, our drafty windows that are

31:42older than me,

31:43uh leaking brickwork. It introduces a

31:46sprinkler system and updated fire panel

31:49to provide a safe and secure environment

31:51for staff, customers, and our

31:53collections.

31:54And it will also provide an appropriate

31:57climate-controlled space for the

31:58materials in our local history

32:00collection.

32:01The impact will be lower utility costs,

32:05lower repair costs, and improved safety

32:08in a building that is accessible for

32:10everyone.

32:12The design that we are working on is

32:14also responsive to customer demands for

32:16library services. The library staff and

32:19trustees have spent a great deal of time

32:21asking the community what they want from

32:23their library, and this is what we

32:25heard. They want more meeting spaces,

32:28more rooms, and more variety of spaces.

32:31Expanded space for youth services, and

32:34for us that means kids and teens. They

32:37want a generous collection of books and

32:38materials.

32:40They want a workshop space for all ages

32:43to use a variety of technologies.

32:46They'd like a more convenient entrance

32:47closer to the parking lot, and they want

32:49a safe building that's easy to navigate.

32:52Each of these priorities is addressed in

32:55the design that we're developing. And

32:57the additional funding will let us keep

32:59going on that in designing an important

33:01community asset.

33:03The renovated library will also provide

33:05better working conditions for library

33:07staff and make it easier for them to do

33:09their jobs and serve our customers.

33:12They'll have well-lit offices with

33:14adequate ventilation.

33:16Reliable and responsive heating and

33:18cooling in all staff spaces, so we no

33:20longer have to use space heaters during

33:22air conditioning season.

33:25Provides program prep and storage

33:27adjacent to the spaces where they

33:29provide programs. And it offers them

33:32enhanced security in the form of an

33:33improved video security system and

33:36keyless entries on all interior and

33:38exterior doors.

33:40So, in conclusion, approving this bond

33:42or recommending the approval of this

33:43bond

33:45will allow the Board of Trustees, the

33:47Board of Aldermen, and all of us staff

33:49to continue working together on

33:51developing plans for a public library

33:53that serves the whole community. Thank

33:56you very much.

33:57>> Okay.

33:58Anyone else testimony in favor?

34:00>> Yes, I'm going to say something.

34:07>> Linda Laflamme, uh

34:09resident of the city of Nashua and

34:11chairman of the Board of Library

34:12Trustees.

34:13Um once again, Jen has done a fantastic

34:16job encapsulating

34:18what this could mean for the city. And

34:21what I would like to add is a note of

34:22urgency.

34:24Because I think it's easy with a big

34:26project like this to think, oh, well,

34:27that's not happening until next fall and

34:30then you get

34:32But if we don't pass this first

34:36uh bond request, that will delay us.

34:41And then that delay will compound costs,

34:44not only because as we all know

34:45nothing's getting cheaper on a building

34:47project, but also we may end up spending

34:50money to solve the same problem twice.

34:52The HVAC systems are at end of life,

34:55they're beyond end of life. It's getting

34:57to the point where we can't get parts

35:00for some of them anymore. As I Whoops.

35:02I gestured. As I said [clears throat]

35:04uh back when we talked about the

35:05facility study.

35:08As we're a heating and cooling station,

35:10if we don't have a heating or cooling

35:12system that's functional, we're going to

35:14have to fix it.

35:15And then

35:17if we do end up getting approval for

35:19these funds later on down the line,

35:21we'll have spent

35:23the same money to fix the same problem

35:25twice. So,

35:28the building has done very good service

35:30since the 1970s, but we need to give it

35:33a modern makeover. And this is the first

35:36step and I hope you'll approve it. Thank

35:38you.

35:40>> Thank you.

35:42Any other testimony in favor?

35:48>> Good evening. Uh my name is Scott

35:49Jaquith. I live at 22 Syracuse Road in

35:52Nashua. I'm also a Board of Trustees

35:54member.

35:55Um

35:56Public libraries um provide lifelong

35:59learning and literacy to an entire

36:00community. For the last 50 years, I've

36:03benefited from the public library in

36:05Nashua. Uh as a toddler, my parents

36:07brought me to public shows at the

36:09library. And then as a school-age

36:11student, I couldn't wait for the

36:12bookmobile to come to my neighborhood.

36:14Uh middle school and high school, I

36:16would get dropped off at the library to

36:18meet with uh friends and um and peers

36:21and work on research projects. As a

36:23former educator in Nashua, I would uh

36:26use the library for field trips and help

36:28students get their first library card.

36:31And in 2024, I actually defended my

36:34doctoral dissertation at the Nashua

36:36Public Library. So, for the for the last

36:3850 years, the library has been a place

36:41of lifelong learning and literacy for

36:43me. And I really want it to last another

36:4550 years for uh the future generations.

36:49Um but the library is under is in need

36:51of dire repair.

36:53Um not just the aesthetic repairs, but

36:55as you heard uh safety concerns as well

36:58as ADA compliance concerns. Uh

37:01we can't wait um at this point um

37:04because I think it's going to cost us

37:05more in the future. Uh so, I do realize

37:08that you have a lot of big ticket items

37:09on the table that you guys have to

37:11consider, and that can't be an easy job.

37:13Um but the library, again, as I started,

37:17is a place of lifelong learning and

37:19literacy for the entire community. Thank

37:22you.

37:24>> Anyone else testimony in favor?

37:31>> Good evening. Good evening. I'm Patty

37:34Dresner. I live at 24 Cathedral Circle

37:37here in Nashua.

37:38I'm also a library trustee.

37:41Um I have lived in Nashua for 38 years.

37:45And we I have taken my family to the

37:47library for those 38 years. Same

37:51building. Our building is over 50 years

37:53old.

37:55I have

37:58I would like to encourage

38:00the residents of Nashua. Alderman, I

38:02know some older

38:04uh persons have gone for tours. I'd like

38:06to encourage those who have not to go to

38:09learn about the changes, the new

38:12offerings that our library has.

38:14Um but also

38:17to look and see where the building is

38:21failing. We have leaking

38:24uh brickwork where in the children's

38:26library parts of the

38:28uh department is

38:30uh

38:30uh blocked off because we have leakage

38:34there. We have historic documents that

38:36have had to be moved because of leaking

38:39uh windows. Um I am at the library

38:42frequently. I always dress in layers

38:44because I am never quite sure whether

38:46I'm going to be too hot or too cold.

38:50Um

38:52That's really I I'm not going to repeat

38:55what um

38:56uh library director McCormick has

38:58already said.

39:00Um

39:01>> [clears throat]

39:01>> I support it and I wish that we can move

39:04forward for future generations

39:07um with a

39:09a better, more efficient

39:12facility. Thank you.

39:16>> Okay. Anyone else testimony in favor?

39:20Seeing none, testimony in opposition?

39:27>> Hi there. I'm Stephen Scare.

39:30I agree that the library needs to be

39:33replaced or renovated. It's in rough

39:35space a rough place.

39:37I'm going to urge you to slow down. My

39:40first concern is

39:42I don't want to go forward with this

39:43until we address the problem of

39:46homelessness.

39:47And the for for a couple of reasons.

39:49First of all, that's what we spend most

39:51of our time here listening to and

39:53talking about. And when I go through

39:55downtown, that's the most salient

39:57feature is people sitting around. Um

40:00people dealing with some serious issues

40:01with nowhere to go during the day. But

40:04it's especially relevant to the library

40:06because unless you address that, what

40:08we're talking about is building a $50

40:10million

40:11um daycare center for people in need,

40:14people who are homeless. So, I'd like to

40:16see that being the spending priority and

40:19I don't think the libraries

40:20I'm going to turn out the use of it at

40:22the way we want to unless we address

40:24those needs.

40:26I'm also just pulling way back from

40:28this. It made sense when the Hunt

40:30library was built in 1903 to have it

40:32built downtown and to replace it there.

40:35The population center has moved. This

40:37isn't a convenient spot for most people

40:41in Nashua anymore. I don't think so.

40:43I if if you were just wipe the slate

40:45clean, I don't think this is where you

40:47would you would put a library. Now,

40:49you'd put it where more children are are

40:52living, more more families are living,

40:54too.

40:56I'm concerned also because

40:59if you move forward on this, I'd like to

41:02see you consider some of the tradeoffs.

41:05And for spending, I think this city has

41:07difficulty with tradeoffs. For example,

41:10when Elm Street um was no longer useful

41:13because of sentimentality or the love

41:15for the theater, we we kept that around.

41:18I mean, that could be providing housing

41:20to people

41:21and we're spending money for that

41:23because well, it's nice to have that.

41:26And also, we're keeping public schools

41:28open that should be closed. Well, no one

41:30likes to have a public school closed. I

41:31know that's rough, but financially, it

41:33doesn't make sense. And for everything

41:36that we decide to keep open because it's

41:38a beautiful or maybe we open a

41:39performing arts center,

41:42that we can see the beautiful buildings

41:44that we have. I have no doubt the

41:45library would be absolutely lovely when

41:48it's done.

41:49But but what it means what we can't see

41:51is the individual cost to people in

41:54their homes that it's going to be maybe

41:56a family trip that someone doesn't take,

41:58maybe to visit children or

42:00grandchildren, um a college that someone

42:02doesn't get to go to, a home repair that

42:05someone has to put off, or even a

42:07medical treatment that someone chooses

42:09not to have because

42:11it's a big check, folks, when you're

42:13writing these for the when you're

42:14writing through these things. So, if you

42:16did go forward, I'd like to know

42:19what the trade-off is going to be. Are

42:21we just going to keep on spending and

42:22spending? Or do

42:24does something else go with this?

42:27So,

42:28in the long run, yeah, I I realize that

42:31in the short run, maybe we would be

42:32spending a little more money by holding

42:34back,

42:36it's worthwhile to make a

42:38It's worthwhile doing that to make a

42:40wiser decision. So, I'm urging you to

42:42hold off so that you can make the right

42:44decisions and be really careful about

42:46what the impact's going to be on the

42:48taxpayers

42:49amidst the other expenditures and needs

42:52that the city's facing. Thank you.

42:56>> Any other testimony in opposition

42:58relative to this resolution?

43:01>> Lori Ordway Nashua. Um what Mr. Shard

43:05just said really nailed a lot of my

43:06thinking on this library.

43:08I think the big deterrent of the usage

43:11of our library downtown is the homeless

43:13in this issue and how it's being used

43:15right now by that population. And I

43:17don't have any problem with the city

43:19deciding that downtown Nashua is going

43:21to be our homeless center. That is how

43:23we're setting it up. That's with all the

43:25services. That's fine.

43:27But I don't think it's where the library

43:28belongs anymore.

43:30And I think you have better choices to

43:32move the library to a different location

43:34that would be widely more accepted and

43:37used and wouldn't be in competition with

43:40this really difficult situation and that

43:43you have to solve.

43:44I mean, the library could become your

43:45resource center.

43:47And it's about a 50,000 square foot

43:49building. Well, you have elementary

43:52schools you're looking at closing.

43:54Um and excuse me, I think it's about 80

43:56I I can't remember how many 87,000

43:58square feet and it's roughly

44:01um or 57 50 years old. You've got a

44:04bunch of elementary schools and some of

44:05them you're looking at closing that are

44:07that same age.

44:08You also have done more to keep your

44:10elementary schools up, even though

44:12they're needing more work, far more than

44:14the library has received. So, upgrades

44:17to HVAC or the non-leaky roofs, uh

44:20getting on those issues. You've done

44:22more to maintain the schools than you

44:23have the library. So, the possibility

44:27that a school could become a library

44:29seems reasonable to me, and the parking

44:31would be all over the place. I mean, you

44:33know, plenty of parking associated with

44:35the school. How about a building just,

44:37um you know, a two or three-story

44:39building, office building that would be

44:41open to become a library, not in

44:43downtown, because I don't think downtown

44:46is the children center, either. I don't

44:48think it belongs there.

44:50And I think you'll get a lot more use if

44:53it's not downtown Nashville where it's

44:55located now.

44:57Um so, I would like to see the design

45:01the brakes put on on this.

45:03Uh you've got a gap study analysis going

45:06on for the resource center and the

45:07homeless issue. Develop that. Talk about

45:10what you're going to do. What's going to

45:12happen during the day? If you end up

45:13buying fault 14 Mulberry Street again,

45:16that's tiny.

45:17There's no even yard space around that

45:20building for people to hang out in. It's

45:22a concrete pad 10 ft wide around that

45:25building. There's no virtually no land.

45:28I think you're going to have the same

45:29issue where you're going to have a lot

45:31of homeless people using the library and

45:34accessing the library for space.

45:36And how much benefit would it be to

45:38staff not to have to deal with these

45:40issues,

45:41with this population in the building,

45:43for police support or Narcan or dealing

45:46with people who passed out or bathroom

45:48issues. Those would all go away if you

45:50moved the building.

45:52And it would just lighten the whole

45:54perspective on how um the public feels

45:58about sort of running the gauntlet to

46:00deal with this issue of getting to the

46:02library.

46:04I just don't think it's the right place

46:06for the building anymore and I don't

46:08think the total cost designed for 3

46:11million is small.

46:12The project could be 50 million or more.

46:14That's large.

46:16And I don't think it's a right space for

46:17a library anymore. Um one other comment,

46:20Director Cummings felt the need to

46:22clarify that my right to know respect

46:24requests that I had um mentioned in the

46:27first public hearing had been responded

46:30to.

46:30You know, he's just doing a CYA tactic

46:33for you here.

46:35If you looked at the four-page letter I

46:37gave you today, it was 11 back and forth

46:40because I didn't receive adequate

46:41responses.

46:43And right now, this request as Director

46:46Cummings said involves a sensitive

46:47personnel issue. Well, they removed

46:50legal from that issue and now it's

46:52Director Cummings.

46:53>> getting off topic. That has nothing to

46:55do with this resolution.

46:56>> Neither did his comment.

46:58>> Yeah, it didn't.

46:59>> It His comment didn't either and you let

47:01him put it out there.

47:02And I don't want him to have the last

47:04word to say, "She got everything. I

47:06don't know what her problem is." You

47:08could have read it.

47:10You could have read what I wrote.

47:13Tim Cummings is the Donald Trump "You're

47:15fired" of City Hall. He's the hirer,

47:18he's the firer, and now he's the lawyer.

47:21My request on whether a personnel uh an

47:23investigative file into the fire

47:26department on an employee that an

47:28attorney was hired on can be released to

47:30the public is going to be determined by

47:31Director Sullivan. I mean, by Director

47:33Cummings. Not by legal. They removed

47:36legal. My response today back to them

47:39was, "Why is Attorney Bolton or somebody

47:41in the legal office not involved with

47:43that? You have to apply the legal

47:45statute, you have to apply a balanced

47:48test, and you have to apply Supreme

47:50Court case law."

47:51And legal cut themselves out. So, you

47:53know what happens on November 10th? I

47:55get another response saying we need more

47:57time because we're going to have to go

47:58to another office.

48:00Do it now.

48:02I

48:03Attorney Bolton's office responded to

48:05that request letting me know under the

48:07right to know law they don't have to

48:08answer questions. Of course they don't.

48:11I knew that.

48:12But now they've offloaded the legal

48:14opinion to Director Sullivan.

48:17And if you go to court and you put

48:18Director Sullivan on the stand and you

48:20ask him why he answered that way, the

48:23attorneys for the city are going to jump

48:24up and say, "He's not a lawyer. You

48:27can't ask him that. You need a lawyer to

48:28answer that."

48:30But you got him writing the legal

48:32opinions.

48:34That's what I'm opposed to and that's

48:36what I wrote to you today.

48:37He's the Trump firer, the hirer, and now

48:40the city attorney. He's wearing a few

48:42too many hats. Thank you.

48:46>> Any other testimony in opposition?

48:51Seeing none.

48:53Once again, testimony in favor.

48:57Seeing none. Once again, testimony in

49:00opposition.

49:01Seeing none.

49:03I close the public hearing in resolution

49:05R-26-067

49:07at 7:49

49:09p.m.

49:11>> [clears throat and cough]

49:11>> Open the resolu- the public hearing on

49:15R-26-068

49:18authorizing the mayor and city treasurer

49:20to issue bonds not to exceed $1 million.

49:23$1 million

49:241 million 500,000 for the design,

49:26construction, and equipping of a fire

49:28training facility.

49:32Chief.

49:33>> Good evening. My name is Steve

49:34Buckstein, Chief of National Fire

49:35Rescue.

49:37Our training grounds are an integral

49:39part of National Fire Rescue's operation

49:41to maintain a high-performing fire

49:43department

49:45which requires a place where

49:46firefighters can regularly practice,

49:47maintain, and improve their skills.

49:50This investment is directly tied

49:52firefighter safety, our operational

49:54readiness, and the quality of service

49:56that we provide to our community.

49:59Our fire training facility earns us

50:01additional credits for our ISO

50:03evaluations and contributes to the

50:06department's overall rating.

50:09The nearest alternative sites for us to

50:11have access to this level of training

50:13are in Concord, New Hampshire, and

50:14Boston, Massachusetts.

50:17Use of those facilities would require

50:19additional travel, staffing,

50:21coordination, and would remove resources

50:23from the city of Nashua.

50:25Maintaining a local facility supports

50:28consistent, realistic training while

50:30keeping our personnel and apparatus

50:32within our community.

50:35Our existing training grounds currently

50:38occupy a site that is designated uh

50:40really close to the public works garage

50:42that's due to be constructed.

50:45Public works has worked with us to

50:47identify a uh land

50:49within the landfill property.

50:52Our current live fire training prop has

50:55approximately 15 years of use on it.

50:57The original builder's cost to

50:59disassemble it, relocate it, and

51:02reassemble it at the new location

51:04exceeds the cost of a new structure

51:06itself.

51:08We plan to reuse certain portions of

51:10that prop on the new uh site

51:14that uh won't involve live fire

51:16training.

51:18Our goal is to purchase a new

51:20three-story uh prop for live fire

51:22training and rescue evolutions.

51:24The funding will be used for that

51:26purchase, site preparation, geotechnical

51:29services,

51:30foundation, and necessary paving,

51:33relocation of the existing training prop

51:36and what we can salvage from it, as well

51:37as electrical service, exterior

51:39lighting, and some

51:41uh fencing.

51:44A high-performing fire department

51:45depends on sustainable on sustained

51:48preparation.

51:50Our training facility provides the

51:53setting that where that preparation

51:54takes place.

51:57This project preserves an essential

51:59operational resource that supports our

52:01ISO rating as I stated

52:04and maintains access to training within

52:06the city of Nashua so the resources are

52:08still at our disposal for use.

52:11Replacing the aging structure is the

52:13most economical approach based on the

52:15original builders assessment

52:18and I respectfully request the the uh

52:20support for this investment in

52:22firefighter safety, skills maintenance,

52:25and our ability to protect the residents

52:26of the city.

52:28Thank you.

52:29>> Any clarifying questions from anyone?

52:33Alderman Clements.

52:35>> Thank you.

52:36>> Um just briefly

52:37when this new facility comes on and

52:39maybe that maybe you do this with the

52:41existing one but um

52:44>> [cough]

52:44>> is [clears throat] this something that

52:46other other communities can access and

52:49use or is it strictly for Nashua?

52:52>> Other communities do have access to it.

52:54Uh it doesn't happen that frequently uh

52:56but we do

52:57allow other communities to utilize it.

52:59The original prop was purchased uh under

53:02a grant program. Uh so we

53:05sought the support of uh some of our

53:06regional partners to achieve that.

53:08>> And and that would continue I assume

53:10with the new one.

53:11>> Correct.

53:12>> Okay. Thank you.

53:13Any other clarifying Yes, uh

53:14>> Alderman Sullivan.

53:15>> Thank you. Uh

53:16Chief Buxton in the uh 2026 CIC report

53:21this project was listed at 1.98 million

53:25and you're requesting 1.5. I was just

53:27curious to know what changed.

53:29>> Uh we scaled back some of the uh

53:31originally when we looked at that some

53:33of the props that we were going to

53:35purchase were in addition to what we're

53:37doing in at this point in time.

53:40This is what we're comfortable with

53:41achieving at this point in time.

53:42>> So, it's a scale back.

53:44>> Yes, to a degree.

53:46>> Any other questions?

53:48Thanks, Chief.

53:50>> Thank you.

53:51>> [clears throat]

53:51>> All right, now I'll open up testimony in

53:53favor of our 26068.

53:58Seeing none,

54:00testimony in opposition of our 26068.

54:12>> Gloria Ortolano, Nashua.

54:14Um

54:15>> [clears throat]

54:16>> can you tell me why

54:18these resolutions cannot be written to

54:21say

54:22that we're going to issue bonds or use

54:25surplus money available at the end of

54:27the year. They're going to be sold in

54:282027, whenever.

54:31Why can't it have the language to allow

54:33you to use surplus funds so you don't

54:35have to bond the amount that is small

54:37enough that according to your ad hoc

54:40committee, you would pay cash for rather

54:42than bond. Why?

54:46What's the answer to that?

54:48I asked it the last time, October 6th.

54:51And it didn't change the language.

54:52Anyone got an answer?

54:54>> Alderman Dowd.

54:56Alderman Clements.

54:57>> I can try to answer it. We can always

54:59use cash

55:00by submitting another resolution to do

55:03so

55:04or through the escrow process, and

55:07therefore not take out one of these

55:09bonds Excuse me, one of these bonds if

55:11we wanted to.

55:13If we didn't want to.

55:15>> Okay, that's never been done in the past

55:17that I can tell. I'm not aware of it for

55:20the amount of, you know, million,

55:22million five bonds.

55:24Director Cummings mentioned,

55:27um I I believe at the last hearing, that

55:29the reason we keep bonding this low

55:31amount is because it takes a while for

55:35this process to work where you can pay

55:38the cash for the million or the million

55:41five or two million. Why is that? What

55:43what does it take?

55:45We've been at this ad hoc committee for

55:473 years, three budget cycles. What does

55:50it take to be able to have the money to

55:53do that?

55:56Maybe Director Cummings can answer that.

55:58>> [cough and laughter]

56:01>> Well, if he wants to.

56:05>> Sure, I'd be happy to answer that. Tim

56:06Cummings is Director of Administrative

56:07Services.

56:09Um so, we have been making progress

56:11incrementally on in

56:14improving what we are spending in our

56:16operational budget when it comes to

56:19capital expenditures. A couple years

56:22ago, we were only spending something

56:24like a million dollars um in our in our

56:28capital expenditures. We, over the last

56:31couple years, have slowly grown that. We

56:33are now, I can report to you, spending

56:35approximately $1.4 million.

56:38I would uh recommend and suggest to you

56:40that we continue to incrementally

56:43increase that number up to something

56:45like two-ish million dollars, maybe a

56:47little bit more. It's going to take

56:48time, as you know. We're balancing that

56:51against many other competitive needs,

56:53and I certainly don't begrudge any of

56:55those other needs. It will take time,

56:57but we are we are working towards that

56:59goal. Thank you.

57:03>> That response tells me it's going to

57:05take a long time. You're doing a lot of

57:07million-dollar bonding,

57:08two-million-dollar bonding to to grow

57:11that money

57:12could take a decade or more.

57:14It's not going to be there on a regular

57:16basis. I think you really have to look

57:19at surplus money at the end of the year,

57:21which is running very high year over

57:24year, to start paying down these

57:26paying off these bonds and not bonding

57:28the money because you don't have to

57:30because it's there for you to take. So,

57:33and once again, I'm not going to support

57:34this

57:35um because of the bond amount, because

57:37of the way it's written, and also

57:39because there's no transparency in this

57:40city to obtain records and have

57:43accountability for city money through

57:45right-to-know requests. And the issue

57:47that I brought to you today is in fact a

57:48fire department investigative report

57:51that was finished in January of 2026

57:54that I cannot get my hands on. Couldn't

57:56even get the invoices correct

57:59that I still fight and work and wait to

58:01get, and I don't think I'm going to get

58:02the proper response, and I don't believe

58:04I have. Thank you.

58:07>> Any other testimony in opposition?

58:10Seeing none, once again, testimony in

58:13favor?

58:14Seeing none.

58:16Once again, testimony in opposition?

58:19Seeing none.

58:20I'll now close the public hearing on

58:23resolution R 26068 at 7:58

58:26p.m. and open up the hearing on

58:29resolution R 26069

58:31at 7:58 p.m. R 26069 authorizing the

58:36mayor and city treasury issue bonds not

58:39to exceed $1 million for the design and

58:42other ancillary costs to replace the

58:44Pine Hill fire station.

58:48Chief.

58:48>> Good evening, Steve Buxton, Chief

58:50National Fire Rescue. I'd like to uh

58:53respectfully request the committee

58:54support for design funding for the

58:56replacement of the station five on Pine

58:58Hill Road.

59:00Um this request advances the planning

59:02needed to establish a suitable site,

59:03develop the station design, and prepare

59:05a reliable preliminary project budget.

59:09Uh fire station is essential operational

59:11facility.

59:13Its design must support firefighter

59:14readiness, personal safety, and

59:16effective service to the community.

59:18As many of you know, in 2024, National

59:21Fire Rescue participated in building

59:22condition assessment study

59:24and long-range planning covering all of

59:26our department facilities.

59:29Throughout that programming and planning

59:30process,

59:32Station 5 replacement was determined to

59:34be best and most effective course of

59:36action.

59:38The process established a program design

59:41identifying spaces and functions needed

59:43in the replacement of the station. In

59:462025,

59:47you gave us funding, excuse me,

59:49[clears throat] for a feasibility study.

59:51A

59:52A potential parcel has been identified

59:55and the team worked with an

59:56architectural firm to develop exterior

59:58renderings reflecting

1:00:00the preferred program design.

1:00:03This requested funding we will uh

1:00:07will allow us to advance that

1:00:08preliminary work into site evaluation

1:00:11and other

1:00:12design options. At this point in time,

1:00:15I'd like to ask Joe Sullivan from

1:00:17Leftwich to come up and speak to it a

1:00:19little bit further for you.

1:00:24>> All right. I'm Joe Sullivan. I'm a

1:00:26project executive for Leftwich and we're

1:00:27serving as the owner's project manager

1:00:29for the kind of fire station.

1:00:32Um I just wanted to The chief gave a

1:00:35you know, a pretty detailed

1:00:38evaluation of exactly, you know, how we

1:00:40got here and what he's looking for. I

1:00:42just wanted to provide a couple of

1:00:44slides just to reiterate back in

1:00:46September of 2025, we presented

1:00:49to the group just

1:00:51um

1:00:52the process, the steps that were taken

1:00:54and and the next steps necessary to make

1:00:56sure this project goes forward.

1:00:59Um introduction as as I indicated,

1:01:01Leftwich is the owner's project manager.

1:01:03City Nashville, Nashville Fire

1:01:05and Rescue and the Board of Fire

1:01:07Commissioners, they're the other groups

1:01:09that we've been working with closely.

1:01:11The The issue all comes down to that,

1:01:14you know, they engaged into a long-term

1:01:16facility assessment and it was

1:01:18determined that Station

1:01:205

1:01:22was in need of a number of different

1:01:24operation and program deficiencies.

1:01:27Through that process, they they engaged

1:01:29an architect to determine what what

1:01:31actual program was needed. And that

1:01:33included, believe it or not, all of the

1:01:37evaluation of how many calls within

1:01:39those districts, how many, you know,

1:01:41staffing was necessary. And it's pretty

1:01:43lengthy process to to get to a point

1:01:46where you turn around and say, you know,

1:01:47this station is not a station that can

1:01:50be renovated easily or cost-effectively.

1:01:53Building a new station is necessary.

1:01:55They went through a number of different

1:01:57program meetings. They met with a number

1:01:59of different staffs. They looked at all

1:02:00of the call analysis and came up with a

1:02:02a conceptual design

1:02:05that was needed to replace that station.

1:02:07Station five was originally constructed

1:02:10to service the nearby residential area,

1:02:12currently district five, but it

1:02:14overlaps. Every single department, every

1:02:16single station overlaps from one

1:02:18district to the other. It's just nature

1:02:20of mutual aid from one to the other. If

1:02:22if an

1:02:24apparatus gets called out to a specific

1:02:26area and there's another event, the

1:02:29other districts come out and help.

1:02:31Looking at the station, I personally

1:02:33toured it. And we actually had some

1:02:35public outreach related to the the need

1:02:37of replacement. And, you know,

1:02:40I can tell you categorically a lot of

1:02:42support was around the replacement of

1:02:44that station.

1:02:45We looked at a number of different

1:02:46sites. Part of the pro

1:02:48parts and proposals that to look at

1:02:50every

1:02:51um

1:02:52location available to the city to see

1:02:54what made the most sense.

1:02:56And keeping the station within that

1:02:59proximity to service district five,

1:03:01there was a parcel, the Alpine Road

1:03:04airport-owned piece of property. They

1:03:07looked at with the designers to come up

1:03:10with a one-story because of the

1:03:12restrictions of the airport. And four

1:03:15apparatus, there was an EOC emergency

1:03:18response center, as well as living

1:03:20quarters for the fire department and

1:03:23office space for them to perform the

1:03:25services appropriately.

1:03:27The conceptual design was fitted on that

1:03:30particular parcel just to make sure it

1:03:31fit, make sure the restrictions and the

1:03:34and the setbacks were met. We actually

1:03:36met with the airport on several

1:03:37different occasions to see, you know, if

1:03:39it if it made sense

1:03:41on that particular property and you

1:03:43know, they they made some input where,

1:03:45you know, possibly having a

1:03:47gate on the rear side of that fire

1:03:49station that they could better serve the

1:03:50airport. And that was essential for the

1:03:52airport. They were they were lighted

1:03:53that, you know, we were going in that

1:03:55direction.

1:03:56The fire commissioners um

1:03:58really spent a lot of time doing an

1:04:00evaluation with the department to

1:04:02determine what their emergency

1:04:03requirements and program needs were

1:04:05going to be.

1:04:08Contemporary modern design, this is a

1:04:09basic conceptual design. You can see the

1:04:11outlay of it. It it meets the city's um

1:04:15you know, architectural integrity within

1:04:17that. It's durable, stable. It's low

1:04:19maintenance materials will show its

1:04:21longevity for this particular fire

1:04:23station for a long period of time.

1:04:25Natural landscape buffers to, you know,

1:04:28offset the department's program and

1:04:31operation needs, as well as being

1:04:32sensitive to the neighborhood and

1:04:34residential area.

1:04:35And it provided a really welcoming and

1:04:39inviting public access to the residents

1:04:41of city of Nashua.

1:04:44The next steps, as the chief indicated,

1:04:46it's basically to perform site due

1:04:48diligence, topographical, boundary,

1:04:50utilities, site survey, environmental

1:04:53assessment of the of the conditions of

1:04:55that particular lot. Geotech

1:04:58investigation grade is actually

1:05:01gradation of soils, make sure soil can

1:05:03bear a new fire station and the

1:05:05requirements. And then wetland

1:05:07delineation.

1:05:09That's

1:05:10the presentation.

1:05:12Part of the cost as the chief indicated

1:05:14outlines uh

1:05:16services for the OPM designer land

1:05:19acquisition allowances

1:05:21um site investigation. Um, there's also

1:05:25cost estimates that we want to make sure

1:05:27that we're uh staying within our budget

1:05:29and within the means of the city for

1:05:31that particular program needs. With that

1:05:34I'd accept any questions.

1:05:36>> Any questions?

1:05:37Any amplifying questions? Helen Cleary.

1:05:40>> I think you just and I apologize um for

1:05:42not being here. I was in that HDC

1:05:44meeting. Um,

1:05:46what is the size of this district? I

1:05:48mean when I look at that map it looks so

1:05:49much bigger than all the other locations

1:05:52and so on.

1:05:52>> question. What's the size of it?

1:05:57>> It's big.

1:06:00>> It's big, yeah. I could see that on the

1:06:01map, that's why I asked.

1:06:02>> National Fire Rescue. I can't give you a

1:06:03square uh mile, but it is our biggest

1:06:06district.

1:06:07>> It is the biggest district.

1:06:08>> Correct.

1:06:08>> And and one of the older less renovated

1:06:11fire stations other than Amherst Street,

1:06:13but

1:06:14>> That is correct.

1:06:15>> Okay, thank you.

1:06:19>> Any other amplifying questions?

1:06:23Seeing none, thank you.

1:06:25>> Thank you.

1:06:26>> I'll now open the testimony for our

1:06:2926069 asking for testimony in favor.

1:06:36Seeing none, testimony in opposition.

1:06:49>> Lori Ordway Nashua. On October 6th I

1:06:52came to the public hearing and I told

1:06:53you I'd support a fire station.

1:06:56After reading my [ __ ] right-to-know

1:06:57responses today

1:06:59and looking at what I got from this city

1:07:02I changed my mind completely, especially

1:07:04over the fire department records.

1:07:07I don't want to pay a penny for a bond

1:07:09for anything in this city

1:07:11until you figure out how to abide to

1:07:14part one, article eight of the New

1:07:16Hampshire Constitution for an open,

1:07:18accessible, and accountable government

1:07:21that is responsive.

1:07:23Because it isn't. And when I have to

1:07:25write back and send you today 55 pages

1:07:29of back-and-forth correspondence that

1:07:31don't even include the partial records,

1:07:34plus a four-page write-up of the history

1:07:36to try and tell the city what I think

1:07:38it's doing wrong is what and what is

1:07:40missing.

1:07:41All the time while the phone is dead to

1:07:43me, the doors are locked, and I can't

1:07:46set up a meeting.

1:07:48[ __ ] all of you for making this happen.

1:07:51Not a penny to be spent of my money to

1:07:54support anything anymore. Thank you.

1:08:00>> Anyone else testimony in opposition?

1:08:03Seeing none.

1:08:04Once again, testimony in favor.

1:08:07Seeing none.

1:08:09Once again, testimony opposition.

1:08:11Seeing none.

1:08:14I'll now close the public hearing in

1:08:15resolution R 26069

1:08:18at 8:08

1:08:20p.m. and I'll open the public hearing on

1:08:22resolution R 26070

1:08:25at 8:08 p.m.

1:08:30R [clears throat] 26070

1:08:32authorizing the mayor and the city

1:08:33treasurer to issue bonds not to exceed

1:08:35$1 million

1:08:37for deferred capital maintenance on fire

1:08:39stations. Chief Buxton?

1:08:41>> Good evening. Steve Buxton, Chief of

1:08:42Nashua Fire Rescue. Uh this evening I

1:08:45ask for your support for R 26070,

1:08:48a resolution authorizing a $1 million

1:08:50bond to fund the deferred capital

1:08:52maintenance program for our fire

1:08:54stations.

1:08:55Our stations, fire alarm operations

1:08:57center,

1:08:58mechanic shop, and training facilities

1:09:00support our daily emergency operations

1:09:02within the city.

1:09:03Maintaining these facilities is a part

1:09:05of maintaining the department's ability

1:09:07to serve the community.

1:09:09The documented needs from the facility

1:09:12study back in 2024 include boilers, HVAC

1:09:15controls requiring replacement, failed

1:09:19ventilation, deteriorating plumbing

1:09:21fixtures, water damage, and failing

1:09:23pavement with sinkholes around apparatus

1:09:25doors.

1:09:27Some fixtures and building components

1:09:28remain original to these facilities.

1:09:31Continued deferral leaves these

1:09:32conditions unresolved and increases the

1:09:35risk of emergency repairs and

1:09:37operational disruptions.

1:09:38>> [clears throat]

1:09:40>> Planned work allows us to address

1:09:41priorities in a orderly manner.

1:09:45We have developed an HVAC plan that

1:09:47covers uh from FY 27 through FY 31. It

1:09:51identifies building controls, boilers,

1:09:54cooling equipment, ventilation, air

1:09:56handlers, and ductwork across our

1:09:57facilities.

1:09:59The broader maintenance plan identifies

1:10:01additional needs at stations along with

1:10:03parking lot and overhead door needs

1:10:05throughout the department.

1:10:08The 5-year document

1:10:10establishes a larger scope of work. The

1:10:12first-year priorities focus on our

1:10:14initial efforts, and we will need

1:10:16sustained effort to help address the

1:10:18full backlog of repairs.

1:10:21Our personnel need dependable facilities

1:10:24in which to work,

1:10:25maintain equipment, and prepare the for

1:10:27the next emergency.

1:10:29The documentation provides a clear list

1:10:31of existing needs and framework for

1:10:33addressing them.

1:10:35I respectfully ask the committee to

1:10:36support the $1 million bond

1:10:38so we can begin addressing these

1:10:40priorities and make progress on the fire

1:10:42department's deferred capital

1:10:43maintenance needs.

1:10:45>> So, this deferred maintenance is is in

1:10:47the ad hoc plan and also in the capital

1:10:48improvements program approved. Any

1:10:51amplifying questions?

1:10:53Alderman Johnson.

1:10:54>> Thank you.

1:10:55Um a question to CFO and Mike, please.

1:10:59And maybe director

1:11:01um Cummings.

1:11:03I'll stop at CFO and Mike.

1:11:10I understand the need for this work to

1:11:12be done on all these building. I get it.

1:11:16But,

1:11:17when you're going to bond a million

1:11:19dollars for deferred maintenance

1:11:22over 20 years no less,

1:11:25how much interest is that going to be on

1:11:27that million dollars?

1:11:40>> That should be on your um

1:11:43on your resolution.

1:11:45>> Oh, it doesn't say how much the exact

1:11:47amount. It just says it's going to

1:11:49be um

1:11:51the full amount of the bond is going to

1:11:52be

1:11:53$1,420,000.

1:11:56>> It gives you

1:11:57>> taking out that four I just wanted

1:11:59everybody to hear this. It's $420,000

1:12:03on interest. Now, if you go back to all

1:12:06of these small amount of money, and you

1:12:08start adding up all this interest, this

1:12:10interest could be paying for other

1:12:12repairs on other properties that we

1:12:15needed so badly.

1:12:17On 20 years on maintenance,

1:12:20we're going to bond 20 years, and what's

1:12:23the life of some of this maintenance

1:12:24that's going to be done?

1:12:27I have a hard time supporting small

1:12:29amount and I've said that even at the

1:12:31other budget hearings of public hearings

1:12:33and everything, the small amount of

1:12:35money that we're bonding here because

1:12:38the long-term costs

1:12:40that we could be taking that interest

1:12:42money and using it on to other projects.

1:12:45But, we never had a plan

1:12:47on how to repair things. We just bond.

1:12:50And again, bonding is for big projects.

1:12:53For the DPW garage, for a fire station,

1:12:57for the library, not for small

1:12:59maintenance pro

1:13:00um issues. That you're paying 420,000 on

1:13:04this. The next one's going to be 400

1:13:05million dollars. It's going to be 420

1:13:07dollars. The last one

1:13:11um

1:13:12Okay, the one before

1:13:14is going to be

1:13:15630,000

1:13:17dollars on interest.

1:13:20Would you do that in your home? Would

1:13:21you borrow a little money like this, or

1:13:22would you try to find the money over 20

1:13:25years of

1:13:26on money like this?

1:13:28This is stuff that you could It's like

1:13:30running up your credit card, and then

1:13:31you're going to start moving money

1:13:32around.

1:13:33Just so you could do the work. I'm

1:13:35sorry. You know, but I couldn't do this.

1:13:39And then what's going to happen? We're

1:13:41building We're bonding the big projects.

1:13:44And when this tax bill comes out in

1:13:46December,

1:13:49there's going to be a lot of questions

1:13:50that how did we get so out of control

1:13:54that we have such an increase in our

1:13:56taxes.

1:13:58I think a lot I think these projects are

1:14:00worthwhile, the big projects.

1:14:03But I can't bond small little things

1:14:05like this. I'm sorry. We should have a

1:14:07plan in place over the years that we

1:14:10shouldn't be coming to the board 420,000

1:14:14dollars.

1:14:15You know, to a lot of people, that's a

1:14:16lot of money.

1:14:20Thank you.

1:14:21>> Any other amplifying questions?

1:14:24Seeing none, thank you, Chief.

1:14:28Okay, I'll now open up the

1:14:31testimony in favor of our 26070.

1:14:37Seeing none, testimony in opposition.

1:14:51>> Lori Ordway Nashua to the point just

1:14:53made by the older woman.

1:14:55The amount of interest we pay over

1:14:58decades on these types of bonds for very

1:15:01small amounts

1:15:03of

1:15:04repair work just don't make sense.

1:15:07Nobody would manage a household budget

1:15:09that way.

1:15:10Nobody would buy a beater car and take

1:15:13out a 70 loan.

1:15:15If you did that, you'd most likely be

1:15:16making a bad decision.

1:15:19Okay? And you might get funded for it.

1:15:20You probably find somebody who would

1:15:22give you the interest rate and and have

1:15:23you pay it.

1:15:25But it wouldn't be a good financial

1:15:26decision.

1:15:27And I think that's true here and I

1:15:29understand it's a big city. We have

1:15:32great bond numbers. You know, our we can

1:15:35just bond as whatever we want to as many

1:15:38as much as we want, it appears.

1:15:40Uh the sky's the limit, small or large.

1:15:43Uh but it just doesn't make sense to me

1:15:45because taxes this year with the

1:15:48supplemental money used to buy down the

1:15:51tax rate are still going up 8 and 1/2%.

1:15:54And given what's happening with school

1:15:56funding and other issues,

1:15:59it would not surprise me at all to see a

1:16:0212% budget increase this year.

1:16:04Really wouldn't at all.

1:16:06That you'll either have to buy down with

1:16:08supplemental money

1:16:09or say to the taxpayers and the

1:16:11homeowners, this is on your back. The 8

1:16:13and 1/2% is on their back now. It was 10

1:16:15and 1/2%.

1:16:17It's a lot of money.

1:16:19I mean, I I really feel like a lot of

1:16:21households are making a lot of

1:16:22sacrifices in what they're picking and

1:16:24choosing to do, purchase basic things

1:16:26like food, gas, go out. I really feel

1:16:29they're making difficult choices based

1:16:31on um um the economy and I don't think

1:16:34that the money decisions being made by

1:16:37the city make a lot of sense.

1:16:40Um and again, it infuriates me, you

1:16:43know, when I talk about and Director

1:16:44Cummings tells you that, you know, my

1:16:47request involves a sensitive, you know,

1:16:49employee issue. He's right. But, this

1:16:52request is one of many. Unknown to me,

1:16:55we have paid and conducted um, paid

1:16:58outside attorneys to conduct employee

1:17:00investigations over the last 2 years

1:17:03that involved like five different

1:17:04investigations.

1:17:06Those contracts were never taken to the

1:17:08Finance Committee. Some were over

1:17:1025,000. One was 32, but it never came to

1:17:13the Finance Committee.

1:17:14I don't know why, so you don't catch

1:17:16them. I have found them piecemeal by

1:17:19getting invoices, looking at records,

1:17:21reading the expenditure reports.

1:17:23And, you know, all of those things

1:17:26involving employee issues

1:17:29affect our city. You want to spend all

1:17:31this money to do all these projects, but

1:17:34is it a city where people want to come

1:17:36work? Where morale is high? Where

1:17:38they're treated well?

1:17:41Is Director Cummings the right person to

1:17:43be running this city as the COO? I don't

1:17:46think so. Where's the vote of no

1:17:47confidence from this board?

1:17:49Where's the vote of no confidence for

1:17:51Attorney Bolton from this board? How

1:17:54long does it have to go on that you have

1:17:57such a struggling corporation counsel? I

1:17:59don't care if it's the mayor's choice.

1:18:01Send a message, but you never do.

1:18:04And these people hold their seats, get

1:18:06paid, you know, combined 350, 400 grand

1:18:09practically in salary.

1:18:12And nothing changes.

1:18:14You don't have an hospitable city hall

1:18:17where people want to come and be

1:18:18employed, but you're sure excited about

1:18:21spending our money, and I'm not. And I

1:18:23want records opened, and I want these

1:18:25reports and investigations done opened

1:18:28so we can see how management is treating

1:18:31employees.

1:18:32They're locking down these reports that

1:18:34will ultimately show you if management

1:18:37is treating employees properly.

1:18:39There's not much incentive for them to

1:18:41release those reports if they highlight

1:18:43management issues. And it's a real

1:18:45battle.

1:18:46And it shouldn't be. Thank you.

1:18:50>> Any other testimony in opposition?

1:18:54Seeing [clears throat] none. Once again,

1:18:56testimony in favor.

1:18:59Seeing none.

1:19:00Once again, testimony in opposition.

1:19:03Seeing none.

1:19:05I'll close the public hearing in

1:19:06resolution R 26070

1:19:09at 8:19

1:19:11p.m. and open the public hearing

1:19:13resolution R 26071

1:19:16at 8:19 p.m.

1:19:19Resolution R 26071 authorizing the mayor

1:19:22and the city treasurer issue bonds not

1:19:24to exceed $9 million for the replacement

1:19:27and modernization of the citywide

1:19:29enterprise resource planning ERP system.

1:19:36>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the

1:19:37record, Tim Cummings, director of

1:19:39administrative services and uh I'd ask

1:19:41that you pull up the uh PowerPoint

1:19:43presentation that is on your desktop

1:19:46relative to the

1:19:47ERP, which some of you also should have

1:19:51>> Pull on there. Yes, the same.

1:19:52>> Yeah, that's it.

1:19:53>> There you go. At your At your

1:19:55fingertips. And uh

1:19:58also want to take a moment and

1:19:59acknowledge uh Crystal DeGray from the

1:20:01schools chief operating officer and then

1:20:03Don Enright, CFO for the city, who are

1:20:06joining me this evening and will come up

1:20:08in a few minutes to to say to say a few

1:20:11words on this

1:20:13on this uh resolution and and request.

1:20:16And so uh again, uh Mr. Chairman, for

1:20:18the record, uh Tim Cummings, director of

1:20:20administrative services. I'm up before

1:20:22you this evening asking for your

1:20:23favorable recommendation and ultimately

1:20:25the approval on R 26071.

1:20:30And uh I'm up here this evening uh to

1:20:33give you a little bit of an overview of

1:20:35what an ERP is. And so, we typically use

1:20:40this acronym to

1:20:43shorten the the fuller name of an

1:20:45enterprise resource planning system. And

1:20:48you all may be saying, "Well, what is

1:20:51enterprise resource planning?" That is

1:20:53basically the vertebrae or the the

1:20:55infrastructure that the various business

1:20:58units in the city use

1:21:01to collect, analyze

1:21:04data, report out that data,

1:21:07be able to perform our our business

1:21:11functions. And so, they're everything

1:21:13from finance to budget to payroll to

1:21:15human resources, accounts receivable,

1:21:18asset management, project tracking. And

1:21:21something to note, every industry has

1:21:24their own unique ERP type of systems.

1:21:28And in municipal management, we

1:21:30certainly have modules that focus on

1:21:33municipal billing,

1:21:35utility billing,

1:21:37licensing and permitting. And so, we're

1:21:41at a

1:21:42We're We're at a point now where we're

1:21:44we're needing to to look at this and

1:21:48and start the conversation about moving

1:21:51to a to an ERP system that is a little

1:21:53bit more friendly, efficient, productive

1:21:56for us. Why? Because our current system

1:21:58is at

1:22:0016 years. We're at limited

1:22:02functionality.

1:22:04You could argue we are at end of life.

1:22:07And now is the time for us to be to be

1:22:09having this conversation. So, with that

1:22:13being said, I'm going to ask CFO Enright

1:22:15to come up and talk a little bit more

1:22:17about the planning that we've done to

1:22:20date.

1:22:28>> Don Enright, CFO.

1:22:31So, the decision is not whether to make

1:22:35a change, it's when.

1:22:37Um

1:22:38the system that we are currently on is

1:22:4016 years old and it's coming to its end

1:22:43of life.

1:22:46We're turning

1:22:48to uh work on planning for this change

1:22:52and not letting it become a forced

1:22:55response.

1:22:57When you wait until it's a forced

1:22:58response, you um

1:23:01you potentially don't have

1:23:04the ability to protect continuity,

1:23:07um limited time

1:23:10to test and plan the data conversion,

1:23:15and building for future capacity

1:23:18is extremely limited when you are um

1:23:23when you are forced [clears throat] to

1:23:24make a decision in in a short time

1:23:25period.

1:23:30Obsolescence

1:23:31creates business risk, not just IT risk.

1:23:37You have service

1:23:40disruption,

1:23:42time down when old systems aren't

1:23:45working the way they used to,

1:23:48when they're no longer being um serviced

1:23:51appropriately.

1:23:53Security and compliance.

1:23:57This area gets compromised when an a

1:24:00program becomes obsolete.

1:24:04Knowledge concentration.

1:24:06After 16 years with a software,

1:24:10we've had many workarounds to make it

1:24:12work for our

1:24:14functionality.

1:24:17And with staff turnover, you lose the

1:24:21integrity of those workarounds.

1:24:25Rising operational costs, older systems

1:24:28become more costly to to maintain,

1:24:32especially when it becomes obsolete.

1:24:35That means you don't have the staffing

1:24:38to be able to um provide you with the

1:24:41service needed. There is no longer that

1:24:43knowledge needed.

1:24:45Data and reporting friction,

1:24:49disconnected and manual processes, delay

1:24:52in financial close and operational

1:24:55decision-making,

1:24:57loss of leverage.

1:24:59When it becomes a

1:25:02a uh rushed process, you have lose time

1:25:06on negotiation of price,

1:25:08as well as

1:25:11integrity of data in the training with

1:25:15day deadline-driven

1:25:17replacement.

1:25:23>> Thank you.

1:25:25Good evening, everyone. Uh for the

1:25:27record, Crystal DeGray, Chief Operating

1:25:29Officer, School District. Um

1:25:33Did you move me along? Not yet.

1:25:36All right. So, we'll be on this slide

1:25:38for just a couple minutes. Um so, we

1:25:40definitely both on the school district

1:25:42side and all city departments, we

1:25:45definitely need more of a modernized ERP

1:25:48system.

1:25:49Um when we think of the ERP system as uh

1:25:53Tim had outlined earlier, it's

1:25:55everything from our financial reporting,

1:25:57our budgeting, our forecasting, our

1:25:59payroll, our recruitment. It's the gamut

1:26:02of everything that we use day in and day

1:26:04out in various uh departments within not

1:26:08only the city but school. Kind of that

1:26:10first bullet point up there, finance and

1:26:12budgeting.

1:26:14Um

1:26:14I I love to see us, and I think all of

1:26:17you would, to be able to see a

1:26:19multi-year budget.

1:26:21Um it's really challenging right now.

1:26:23The Lawson system is extremely archaic

1:26:26and obsolete.

1:26:27Uh there are many times that we are

1:26:29actually building or

1:26:32bringing on software programs just to do

1:26:35the budget

1:26:36um because our current system is so

1:26:38obsolete. Unfortunately, that lends us

1:26:42to a lot of risk. Uh we're doing a lot

1:26:44of imports and exports in Excel, out of

1:26:47Excel, into these various software

1:26:49systems.

1:26:51Um so it is extremely important that we

1:26:53try to hopefully move to a new ERP

1:26:55system before the current one is

1:26:58obsolete.

1:26:59Um payroll payroll, recruitment, HR.

1:27:03Um from a payroll standpoint,

1:27:05recruitment and HR, I would also put

1:27:07into that bucket position control. On

1:27:10the school district side, we have over

1:27:122,200 employees. We have absolutely no

1:27:16position control currently in the

1:27:18system. We are currently building one in

1:27:21uh Excel, which is very manual and a

1:27:24tedious process, but I think it is

1:27:26something super important that we as a

1:27:28city and a district move forward to.

1:27:31Uh seeing some of the new ERP systems

1:27:33that are out there, there are a lot of

1:27:35systems that we should be able to

1:27:38utilize position control as part of kind

1:27:41of that payroll finance uh aspect.

1:27:45Recruitment is huge. Um on the

1:27:48recruiting side, especially on the

1:27:50school district side, we are doing a lot

1:27:53through one software system. The

1:27:55applicant is filling out their

1:27:56application. Then when they are hired by

1:27:59the school district, they're coming in

1:28:01and they are manually or by paper

1:28:04filling out all of their new hire

1:28:06employment form forms.

1:28:08Um I would say it's not a great

1:28:10candidate experience, unfortunately,

1:28:12because the systems are so archaic, it

1:28:15also doesn't create what I would call um

1:28:17a good candidate experience. I think

1:28:20when we're in a tough recruiting market

1:28:22anyways, we need that speed to market,

1:28:24whether it's on the school or the city

1:28:26side, to really make sure we're hiring

1:28:28the staff as fast as possible. And

1:28:31because our systems are so archaic, I'll

1:28:34say, um and very manual [snorts] driven,

1:28:36it does take a lot of time to onboard

1:28:39these staff uh the staff members as

1:28:41well.

1:28:43Procurement and payables, on at least

1:28:46the school side, I'm not sure if for

1:28:48city, but I would think it's similar. On

1:28:50the school side, we really need to

1:28:52modernize accounts payable. When an

1:28:55invoice comes in to uh be paid, we are

1:28:59touching it anywhere between 12 and 15

1:29:02times before we are processing that

1:29:05invoice.

1:29:07So, that is extremely manual. We are

1:29:09printing uh invoices, uploading

1:29:12invoices. Again, it is an extremely

1:29:15manual process. And based off of some of

1:29:18the ERP systems out there, whether

1:29:20you're for AI or not, some of the AI

1:29:23technology uh that is out there, I think

1:29:26could be beneficial as we move forward.

1:29:29Um assets, projects, and grants, um

1:29:33both on uh city and school, there's a

1:29:36lot of uh grants that come in. Uh a

1:29:39better system would allow us to also be

1:29:41able to track our inventory and our

1:29:43assets.

1:29:44Um

1:29:45and that would help in long term just

1:29:48from a budgeting standpoint. Reporting

1:29:51and analytics, again, I always say clean

1:29:54data in, clean data out. Uh garbage in,

1:29:56garbage out. Um if we could get an ERP

1:30:00system that, as I'd call it, kind of a

1:30:02one-stop shop, uh [clears throat] that

1:30:04would be ideal. Hopefully, there's

1:30:06something out there, but we currently I

1:30:09can't articulate enough. We are

1:30:10currently taking many software systems

1:30:13and piecemealing them together in order

1:30:15to go ahead and ensure

1:30:18that we can produce some of the

1:30:20financial information that we need, but

1:30:22then also some of the state reporting.

1:30:25The DOE 25 that we just completed that

1:30:28we have to complete in order to set the

1:30:30tax rate. The form for the state is

1:30:34about a seven

1:30:36tab Excel document. We probably run

1:30:39about 50 different additional

1:30:41spreadsheets off to the side in order to

1:30:44actually build that five or six tab

1:30:47spreadsheet for the state. So, I can't

1:30:49articulate it enough. Just we are such

1:30:52in a manual process right now.

1:30:54It lends us to a lot of risk,

1:30:56unfortunately,

1:30:58a lot of human error

1:31:00throughout. I think you folks and

1:31:02probably the residents of Nashua would

1:31:05see a better product with some of the

1:31:07information that we're able to share if

1:31:09we had a better ERP system in place.

1:31:12Again, I can't articulate it enough. I

1:31:15think it will be a better experience not

1:31:17only for the candidates coming in, but

1:31:20our current staff. Sometimes they have

1:31:22questions related to their payroll.

1:31:25They're looking for a prior pay stub.

1:31:28There's a different software that we

1:31:29currently use in order so they can have

1:31:31electronic pay stubs.

1:31:34Um

1:31:35Again, we're working so much harder

1:31:36versus smarter kind of in the digital

1:31:39era we're in.

1:31:41>> Tim McDonald?

1:31:42>> And then back over to you.

1:31:44>> You're welcome.

1:31:46>> Thank you. I just like to take a moment

1:31:47to speak to the last item on here,

1:31:49resident service. Um

1:31:51as you most [clears throat] likely know,

1:31:54um we currently utilize Munis for our um

1:31:58tax and utility billing and we have for

1:32:00several years.

1:32:02Um and that is a more modern system than

1:32:05what we use um for our financials, which

1:32:08is Lawson.

1:32:09And that service has actually been able

1:32:11to provide us with a better interface

1:32:13with the customers with online billing

1:32:15and billing history. And those are the

1:32:18types of services that all of the new

1:32:20systems that we are exploring are going

1:32:23to be able to continue to provide for

1:32:25the citizens plus more in being able to

1:32:28find provide financial statements, more

1:32:31accessible, real-time

1:32:34um data. So, you'll be able to have all

1:32:36the information that you could possibly

1:32:38want at your fingertips. So, that is one

1:32:42thing that I just wanted to make sure

1:32:43that we we we touched base on. And it

1:32:46And it is very much needed. Um we need

1:32:49to be as transparent as possibly can.

1:32:52Tim?

1:32:55>> All right. So, um

1:32:58where are we where are we at

1:32:59process-wise? And what have we done

1:33:01today? So, um

1:33:04we obviously recognize that we had a

1:33:07had a

1:33:08an issue that we've also know that

1:33:11you're very well aware of. We've told

1:33:13you over the last couple of years about

1:33:14the various system limitations that we

1:33:16were having. And so, a year or so ago,

1:33:19we pulled together a team of internal

1:33:22staff and started meeting monthly

1:33:25uh to to develop a a plan of action.

1:33:28This has been very much

1:33:30a a city-wide

1:33:32initiative enterprise-wide. We have uh

1:33:35you know,

1:33:36uh developed uh a standardized monthly

1:33:39meeting. School participates, DPW

1:33:42participates, fire, police, so on and so

1:33:44forth. And we're meeting regularly. And

1:33:47we we decided after doing an evaluation

1:33:50of of our current ERP system that we

1:33:52needed to go out for an RFP. That's

1:33:54currently where we're at right now. And

1:33:56so, uh proposals were just submitted to

1:33:59us, and we're in that evaluation of

1:34:00those of those proposals, and we will be

1:34:04doing that over the next few

1:34:07over the next

1:34:10couple months.

1:34:12And I'm going to ask CFO Enright to come

1:34:14up and talk about the tradeoffs and the

1:34:17costs of waiting if we don't move

1:34:20forward with the with the proposals.

1:34:29>> Thank you, Tim.

1:34:31So, the cost of waiting

1:34:34until it becomes urgent.

1:34:37When you wait you have added costs.

1:34:41You planned investments, competitive

1:34:43evaluations, and clearer requirements,

1:34:46time for data cleanup

1:34:48reduction, testing, [clears throat]

1:34:49and user training, planned

1:34:52um

1:34:52>> [music]

1:34:53>> migration, and consistency. If you delay

1:34:57you're rushing all of those decisions.

1:35:00You have fewer choices.

1:35:02In the end, you end up spending more

1:35:04money when you rush the decision.

1:35:07And the thing to remember is that

1:35:09there's always going to be a cost.

1:35:12It's just

1:35:14let's take the appropriate amount of

1:35:15time that we need so that we can make a

1:35:18clearer decision and do the proper

1:35:21training so that everybody can can

1:35:25make the best efforts to do the best for

1:35:28this for the city.

1:35:33We treat the ERP as a business

1:35:36transformation

1:35:38with stage gates.

1:35:40First, we start with the discovery

1:35:42which Tim talked about. We've already

1:35:44been evaluating what we currently have

1:35:47what's out there. We've done some

1:35:49pre-interviews with several

1:35:53ERP providers

1:35:55to get an idea of what type of systems

1:35:58could be available to us.

1:36:01Then you

1:36:02get into the design and the selection

1:36:04process. This is where we are today.

1:36:08We are at the point where we have 10

1:36:11proposals in front of us to evaluate

1:36:15and determine which ones could provide

1:36:18us with the most cost-effective

1:36:21and useful for the city

1:36:25for citywide for all possible options,

1:36:28tax, utility,

1:36:30financial system, accounts payable,

1:36:33human resources,

1:36:35all of the areas that have been

1:36:36mentioned today.

1:36:38Then we prepare.

1:36:41We clean the data. Garbage in, garbage

1:36:44out. We have to make sure that we have

1:36:46the clean data going in. So then when we

1:36:49are working in our new system, we can we

1:36:52can assure you we have clean data coming

1:36:55out.

1:36:56Simplify processes.

1:36:58We're not going to just do everything

1:37:00that we've been doing. We're not going

1:37:03to retrofit any new system

1:37:06to do exactly what we did before.

1:37:10There's always room for improvement. I

1:37:12have a statement that I use all the time

1:37:15in my in my staff meetings. Make a

1:37:18decision.

1:37:19Go forward

1:37:21and know that the day after you make

1:37:23that decision, you can make improvements

1:37:25on it. So look at every process, make

1:37:29improvements,

1:37:30and don't just make a decision just to

1:37:32make a decision. Make improvements.

1:37:36Then you go into the implementing and

1:37:39testing. The testing is imperative.

1:37:43Most of these new modern systems provide

1:37:46you with two and three platforms

1:37:49to perform your operations in, which

1:37:52means every process that you do, you can

1:37:56do in a test environment and make sure

1:37:59that the results that you were expecting

1:38:01is what you get and make the changes in

1:38:05your process in right there before it

1:38:08becomes real time and costly to fix if

1:38:12the process was not right.

1:38:15Then we launch the program

1:38:18and look for improvements every step of

1:38:21the way.

1:38:26So, what do we need to do in the next 90

1:38:28days?

1:38:30We need to evaluate

1:38:32the potential vendors

1:38:34determine key

1:38:36the key requirements are satisfied

1:38:40set up the demonstrations for all key

1:38:42components.

1:38:44We're hoping to select three to four

1:38:47vendors to come in and give us three-day

1:38:51presentations.

1:38:53We are going to have key staff members

1:38:56in every single pertinent pertinent um

1:39:00module to be asking the right questions.

1:39:04We're going to preface every

1:39:06presentation with reminding staff

1:39:09go in with an open mind. Don't think

1:39:12this doesn't fit with what I do.

1:39:15Imagine what you could do. Dream of what

1:39:20could be.

1:39:22Then we're going to select a new vendor

1:39:26after we weigh the deliverables and the

1:39:28functionality that it provides evaluate

1:39:31the cod

1:39:33project costs

1:39:35and make sure it's in line with our

1:39:37funding.

1:39:38And the yearly cost, surprisingly

1:39:42all of the quotes that we have gotten,

1:39:45the yearly costs are either less

1:39:47or just about the same of what we're

1:39:49paying for all those different softwares

1:39:53that we've had to implement

1:39:56to do our job inefficiently today that

1:39:59we'll be able to do efficiently.

1:40:02Negotiate.

1:40:04We're going to [clears throat] have the

1:40:04time to negotiate the final product.

1:40:09We're going to be able to determine the

1:40:11the total pro- project cost

1:40:13and project a timeline for development.

1:40:17And we're going to seek authorization

1:40:19for the multi-year contract from this

1:40:21board once we make that selection.

1:40:25So, what's the first deliverable?

1:40:28We're looking for authorization

1:40:30for the funding for the adoption of a

1:40:33new

1:40:34upgraded ERP system.

1:40:38And I'm going to read

1:40:40these next two passages to you because

1:40:42they really hit home to me.

1:40:45Authorize planning now

1:40:47before obsolescence

1:40:50dictates the timeline.

1:40:52A deliberate

1:40:54investment protects service continuity

1:40:57and preserves the city's ability to

1:41:00choose the right solution.

1:41:06Thank you very much and would be happy

1:41:08to answer any

1:41:09questions.

1:41:10>> Alderman Johnson.

1:41:13>> I'll just let

1:41:14Alderman Thibault go first since he

1:41:16hasn't asked anything tonight. I'll let

1:41:18him go first.

1:41:19>> Alderman Thibault.

1:41:20>> Thank you. Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um

1:41:23so, you talked about efficiency. Um,

1:41:26would that mean that there's any

1:41:28savings, employee savings, on this?

1:41:33Or could there be, I should say.

1:41:34>> Thank you for the question. Um,

1:41:37there is uh hopefully going to be um

1:41:40staff time savings to be able to provide

1:41:43all of the services within a more

1:41:46efficient time manner, yes.

1:41:49>> 9 million's worth?

1:41:51>> 9 million's?

1:41:52I would like to be able to say most

1:41:54definitely, but I at this time cannot

1:41:57measure that.

1:41:58>> Thank you.

1:42:00Alden Johnson.

1:42:00>> Thank you.

1:42:02>> [clears throat]

1:42:03>> Couple of questions here.

1:42:05Number one, you have not selected a

1:42:07vendor as of this point in time, right?

1:42:09>> [clears throat]

1:42:10>> No, we have not. We have 10 that have

1:42:12replied to the RFP.

1:42:15>> Okay.

1:42:17So, we haven't negotiated a contract at

1:42:19this point in time, either.

1:42:22>> No, we have not.

1:42:24>> But, you're asking for $9 million.

1:42:26>> Yes, we are.

1:42:28>> But, we haven't negotiated a contract or

1:42:30picked a vendor yet at this point in

1:42:31time.

1:42:32>> The proposals that have come in have

1:42:34come in within the uh the funding

1:42:37constraints that are in front of us.

1:42:40>> Why wouldn't we negotiate a better

1:42:41contract than $9 million? You know, it's

1:42:44like why wouldn't we negotiate down

1:42:47versus within this point? And this is 20

1:42:50years. What is the interest on this for

1:42:5220 years?

1:42:54>> That's provided in the uh resolution as

1:42:56well.

1:42:57>> you, what is the interest on this for 20

1:42:59years?

1:43:00>> I'd be happy to pull up the resolution

1:43:02and get you that answer.

1:43:04>> If I calculated it right, could be

1:43:06wrong,

1:43:08I

1:43:09Is it um over $3 million?

1:43:14>> It's a 20-year project, yes.

1:43:15>> Is it It's over $3 million?

1:43:18>> That's what the resolution says.

1:43:20>> What can we do with this money? This is

1:43:22$9 million.

1:43:23It's about $3.7 million

1:43:27over 20 years.

1:43:30And I'm going I'm looking at this

1:43:32whole thing.

1:43:34>> [snorts]

1:43:34>> If we're at the end of life and we're 16

1:43:37years into this that what that this

1:43:40thing is going is more or less obsolete

1:43:42now, why we waiting till the end that

1:43:45now almost it's like we're going to have

1:43:48a proposal, we're going to vote on $9

1:43:51million

1:43:52because we have to do it now versus

1:43:55later because there's issues here.

1:44:00And why wasn't this looked at maybe last

1:44:02year, the year before so you didn't get

1:44:04to this point that it has to be done

1:44:06today versus

1:44:07>> We have been looking at it for about 15

1:44:10months now.

1:44:12Um and we've been evaluating um our

1:44:14current system and looking into other

1:44:17systems to be sure that we were prepared

1:44:21to come to you and and understand the

1:44:24amount that would be needed in order to

1:44:27make that

1:44:30that change.

1:44:32>> So, if the board decided they didn't

1:44:34want to do this because of all the other

1:44:36bonding that's here,

1:44:38it's a do or die situation now.

1:44:42Is it do or die situation?

1:44:44>> The contract it's obsolete in 2029.

1:44:49And it's 2026.

1:44:51>> So, we have 3 years

1:44:52before it's a do or die situation.

1:44:54>> Yep.

1:44:55>> Thank you.

1:44:56>> Alderman Burnett.

1:44:56>> Excuse me, could I just answer your

1:44:58question? Um the total amount that would

1:45:00be paid back would be $12,780,000

1:45:04which is actually um

1:45:07>> $3 million.

1:45:07>> It wouldn't

1:45:09It's about $3 million. So, you are

1:45:11correct.

1:45:12>> $3 million correct.

1:45:13>> Thank you.

1:45:14>> Alderman Burnett.

1:45:15>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Couple of

1:45:16questions. Um

1:45:18Alderman Johnson kind of teased out um

1:45:21a question I just I I think I wanted to

1:45:23ask in a

1:45:25in a different way.

1:45:26Did the um

1:45:28Was the ask for the $9 million bond, was

1:45:30that driven by the proposals that you

1:45:33received in the RFP, or was it driven by

1:45:36a budget that was established before

1:45:37this project went to RFP?

1:45:40>> That was driven by the

1:45:43the anticipated proposals and we were

1:45:46able to just confirm it with the

1:45:47proposals that we have received.

1:45:51>> Follow up. Follow up. Um

1:45:54I I understand that the the $9 million

1:45:57is contemplated for into

1:45:59implementation, migration, training,

1:46:01etc. Um does any of the um

1:46:06$9 million contemplate the ongoing costs

1:46:09of what will be built into the contract

1:46:12regarding long-term maintenance and

1:46:14support of the system?

1:46:16>> Yes, 2 years.

1:46:18>> Just for the first 2 years?

1:46:19>> Yes, because we anticipate having some

1:46:21overlap with the current softwares that

1:46:24we're utilizing.

1:46:25>> yeah.

1:46:25>> And um we're anticipating 2 years of

1:46:27that and then the older systems would go

1:46:30away and the new costs would replace

1:46:33the in the operating budget.

1:46:35>> One more for clarification.

1:46:37Um

1:46:38I I was kind of digging through the RFP

1:46:40as we went along. Um

1:46:43just um broadly, how many um

1:46:47how many like full-time user licenses do

1:46:49you anticipate as part of this contract?

1:46:56>> We don't have that information at this

1:46:58given time. Our goal is to to have

1:47:02citywide to have full accessibility by

1:47:06all staff and I mean, one of we had a

1:47:09discussion today about it would be all

1:47:12our employees that would have to have

1:47:14access because we're looking for

1:47:15timekeeping. So, we're looking at a full

1:47:19inclusive. We did have one vendor that

1:47:21provided us with a cost per user

1:47:26and we determined that that that

1:47:28particular vendor probably is not going

1:47:30to be within our time within our budget.

1:47:33But

1:47:34we have plenty that will are not saying

1:47:37by user

1:47:39for for access. So, we feel confident

1:47:42that we will be able to get a confident

1:47:45provider to be able to find provide full

1:47:48access.

1:47:48>> Thank you.

1:47:49>> Mhm.

1:47:50>> Alderman Sullivan

1:47:52>> Thank you. Just [clears throat] one

1:47:53question. I'm going to save the rest for

1:47:54the committee.

1:47:55Uh

1:47:56you had mentioned that we've been

1:47:57looking at this for 15 months.

1:48:00I'm just curious why we didn't put it in

1:48:02the budget.

1:48:06>> Um there was there was no room in the

1:48:08budget for a $9 million project.

1:48:11There was no room.

1:48:12That's

1:48:13a capital project. We we

1:48:161.4

1:48:185 million. That's what we budgeted for

1:48:20capital.

1:48:23This there was no room.

1:48:25>> Okay.

1:48:26Alderman Kelly

1:48:27>> I'll hold my question till budget.

1:48:29>> I'm sorry.

1:48:30>> I said I'll hold my question until the

1:48:31budget.

1:48:32>> Okay. Sorry.

1:48:33>> It's okay.

1:48:33>> Any other questions?

1:48:36Alderman Ravin

1:48:39>> Uh then I have a

1:48:42more than one.

1:48:43Um first of all, do you expect from any

1:48:46of the vendors that that you've looked

1:48:48at that there will be customization of

1:48:51the software or you'll take it as is?

1:48:55>> We are looking to have no

1:48:56customizations.

1:48:58We have found that when you customize a

1:49:00program, it causes limitations

1:49:04um in in service and functionality. Um

1:49:09I have been involved in a conversion of

1:49:12an full ERP system for the city of

1:49:15Concord and we did that complete

1:49:18conversion with no

1:49:21customization.

1:49:22>> Okay.

1:49:23>> Follow up.

1:49:24>> Um,

1:49:25it as I understand it this is a single

1:49:28system that will be used by every

1:49:31department of

1:49:34the city government including

1:49:37the Department of Education?

1:49:39>> Yes, it will.

1:49:41Yep.

1:49:42We're looking for a program that will

1:49:43accommodate all of the requirements for

1:49:46both school and city.

1:49:48>> Okay.

1:49:49Um, and is there a transition cost?

1:49:53Sometimes that's paid by the

1:49:56software vendor, sometimes it's paid by

1:49:58us.

1:50:02>> No, no transition cost.

1:50:04>> No transition cost.

1:50:06Okay, and

1:50:11you're

1:50:12you're going to

1:50:13eliminate um,

1:50:15I have to do the the ticking in my head.

1:50:18Seven, essentially seven six or seven

1:50:20vendors to get three or four vendors to

1:50:23come and do demos.

1:50:25>> Yes.

1:50:25>> Do you have enough information now to

1:50:27make that cut or is that ongoing?

1:50:30>> We are probably one meeting away from

1:50:33making that decision. We had a meeting

1:50:35today and we narrowed it down to about

1:50:38four and we're just waiting for a little

1:50:41bit more evaluation and a few few

1:50:44answers to questions, but I would say

1:50:46within the next I think we're meeting

1:50:48weekly now.

1:50:50Next Monday.

1:50:51>> And the the demo cycle is how long? How

1:50:54how long will the vendors be?

1:50:55>> the demos done before Christmas.

1:50:57>> Okay, and then the decision will be made

1:51:00>> in January.

1:51:01>> Thank you.

1:51:03>> Any other questions?

1:51:06All right, thank you. I will now

1:51:09>> [clears throat]

1:51:10>> open up

1:51:11uh R26071 for testimony in favor.

1:51:16Seeing none.

1:51:18Testimony in opposition.

1:51:21Seeing none.

1:51:22Once again, testimony in favor.

1:51:25Seeing none.

1:51:28And once again, testimony in opposition.

1:51:30Seeing none.

1:51:32I'll now close the public hearing on

1:51:34resolution R-26071

1:51:37at

1:51:388:51 p.m.

1:51:42And Alderman Clements, do you have a

1:51:43motion?

1:51:44>> I do. At this time, I would move that

1:51:47the October 26th, 2026 special meeting

1:51:49of the Board of Aldermen be adjourned.

1:51:51>> All right, the motion is to adjourn. All

1:51:52in favor signify by saying I.

1:51:54>> I.

1:51:55>> Opposed? Motion carries. We're adjourned

1:51:58at 8:51.

1:52:00And 5 minutes, we'll open up the budget

1:52:03meeting.

1:52:04>> I'm all about that.

1:52:05>> I need their mic, but I'm going to stay.

1:52:07>> Photo op.

1:52:07>> I might stay.

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