NASHUA – Members of the Board of Aldermen voted 14-1 to override the mayor’s veto of a civilian police contract during a special Thursday meeting, which will now provide pay raises for certain Police Department employees.

Mayor Jim Donchess vetoed the civilian contract submitted by the Police Commission to the BOA after board members unanimously approved this contract and another one on Dec. 23, despite the mayor’s disapproval.

The agreement discussed is a union contract covering about 16 employees with the department, including people filling roles such as lawyers, information technology staff, and others.

During last week’s meeting, Donchess said these two contracts could creates problem for taxpayers because other city employees will now demand raises.

“Plus, we’ve got groups in City Hall who are beginning to – they’re seeing what’s going on – they’re beginning now to petition through grievances for higher wages,” Donchess said.

Although Alderman Ernest Jette voted in favor of passing this contract the last time it came before the board in December, he ended up taking the mayor’s side on Thursday, agreeing to sustain his veto and keep the door open for further negotiation.

“What I don’t support is the ability of employees to cash out that unused sick leave,” Jette said. “I think if you’re sick, you should use the sick leave. If you’re lucky enough not to be sick, I don’t think you should be able to cash that out.”

To describe his point, Jette used an analogy of someone who maintains an insurance policy on a home. If someone’s house burns to the ground, the insurance company pays them to rebuild.

However, if the house never catches fire, the insurance company does not give the homeowner a rebate.

During a roll call vote to override the mayor’s veto, Jette was the only member of the board siding with the mayor, and members ultimately voted to override his veto 14-1. Only10 votes were needed to override his veto.

Alderman-at-Large David Tencza said when the issue initially came up for debate, he too was concerned with payouts for sick leave. He believes board members needed to pass this contract and override the mayor’s veto after looking at the numbers for what the salary increases would be each year. Tencza said the difference between the 2% increase for these 16 employees versus a 3% increase is a little more than $10,000 per year.

“The police department’s budget is $31 million per year,” Tencza said. “I think that this can easily be absorbed within the budget.”

Tencza also said he trusts that the police commissioners and Chief Michael Carignan will find a way to do that without asking for more money. In building from Tencza’s comments, Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons said in the grand scheme of a $250 million-plus budget, if that $10,000 difference is too much to ask, then board members should not spend money on anything moving forward.

“If the problem is cost, then both of those (contracts) should have been in front of us tonight,” Clemons said.

Clemons also underscored how the year is now 2020, and this contract has been in the works since 2018.

Despite all of this debate and disagreement, Carignan said he admires the mayor and plans to work with him whenever possible.

Police Commissioner James Tollner said he believes all would agree the rising costs of health care are an issue.

“But the one thing I want you to know is that the commissioners are taxpayers as well, and we share the same concern that the Board of Aldermen does and the mayor,” Tollner said.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

Newsletter