NASHUA – After a unanimous vote by Board of Aldermen members on Tuesday, cats and ferrets deemed a nuisances, suspected of being sick or running stray, are subject to impoundment in Nashua.

After months of controversy – including the distribution of leaflets by opponent Gary Braun alleging his opinion that city officials will capture innocent felines – the ordinance passed to amend NRO 93-6: Impoundment of Dogs, Cats, Ferrets and Chickens.

With the passing of the legislation – which was endorsed by Alderwomen Patricia Klee and Shoshanna Kelly – the updated language is now: “(6) Any cat or ferret which is off the premises of the owner and either a) a nuisance or b) suspected of being or which is diseased or injured, and (7) Any cat or ferret which the Animal Control Office or other authorized person has reason to believe is a stray.”

Klee spoke to residents’ ability to have their animals identified if they are picked up as strays under the language of the law, while also touching on the fact that instituting a licensing law would be too expensive to the city.

“The bill does nothing but clarify the existing law. I’ve gotten many calls in favor of it…” Klee said. “I’ve got quite a few negative.”

“For those who said there is no way of identifying a cat that is picked up, you can chip your cat,” she added. “Just like you can chip your dog, or any other animal – you can put identification on them.”

Braun claims the new measure has the same effect as a leash law and remains unconstitutional and illegal.

While the vote was unanimous, Alderman Ernest Jette voiced some skepticism, even suggesting to strike the seventh paragraph from the ordinance completely.

“The current ordinance (prior to the vote) does not authorize the animal control officer to pick up cats,” Jette said prior to the passing of the ordinance.

“There is safe law that authorizes the city to pick up cats that have bitten somebody, or shows the sign of rabies,” Jette added.

Alderman Ben Clemons was adamant for keeping the seventh paragraph, voicing a strong opinion that residents have the right to keep stray and nuisance cats off their property.

“If there’s a cat that’s in my yard and I don’t want it there, I should be able to call the animal control officer and have the cat removed,” Clemons said. “The same thing I would do with a dog or any other animal, for that matter.”

“The onus is on the owner of the cat – get your cat chipped,” he added, “because what will happen is the cat will go to the (Humane Society for Greater Nashua) and they will call you and say we have your cat.”

In another matter, officials considered the $3.9 million sale of 141-143 Burke St., which the city at one point planned to transform into a $49 million Division of Public Works building.

Since the property was acquired by the city in 2015, it has been subdivided. While the city is selling it for $300,000 less than what it cost initially, the city will keep 2.5 acres of the parcel for future use, while it would sell 18 acres to Loyal Holdings LLC.

During the meeting, Alderman Tom Lopez made it clear the property has been subdivided.

“I just wanted to make it clear – it’s not for the entire property, but for a portion of it,” Lopez said.

The city bought the parcel for $4.2 million in 2015 under the leadership of then Mayor Donnalee Lozeau.

The resolution, 19-178, was sent unanimously to the Committee on Infrastructure and the Planning Board for further consideration.

Mathew Plamondon may be reached at 594-1244, or at mplamondon@nashuatelegraph.com, @telegraph_MatP.