Nashua City Hall

NASHUA – The aldermanic Personnel and Administrative Affairs Committee’s unusually busy summer meeting schedule continues tonight, and among the several agenda items coming up for discussion are proposals that would change the way the Police Commission appoints members and to enlarge the Board of Health from three members to five.

The two resolutions have drawn robust response from both supporters and opponents since they were given their first readings earlier this year.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic chamber, where residents can attended in person or via Zoom. The meeting will also be carried live on Nashua Community TV, which broadcasts on cable channel 16.

As for the Police Commission, the proposed legislation would do away with the century-old city charter provision that authorizes the sitting governor to appoint the commission’s three members.

Instead, according to the proposed resolution, the mayor and the president of the Board of Aldermen would appoint the members of the commission, each of whom would then be approved by the Board of Aldermen.

The proposal would also enlarge the commission from three members to five.

After discussion, members of the Personnel and Administrative Affairs Committee will vote to either recommend final passage to the full board, table it without a recommendation, or kill the resolution.

Should the full board end up approving the resolution, the proposal would be put before voters at the Nov. 2 municipal election.

Meanwhile, the three current members of the city Board of Health are opposed to the proposal to make it a five-member panel.

Longtime board member Dr. Anthony Storace said at a recent public hearing that he is “speaking for all the members of the Board of Health” in opposing the resolution. He referred to fellow members Dr. Charles Cappetta and Dr. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum.

“Each and every one of us are not in favor of this proposal. We do not support the opinions presented” by the sponsor, Ward 4 Alderman Tom Lopez, “regarding members not being able to make meetings, having to postpone vital votes, or not having time to commit to the Board of Health and the best interests” of Nashua residents.

Other topics on tonight’s agenda include ordinances that would recognize “Juneteenth” as a city holiday; clarify that coin dealers are not second-hand dealers; and reduce the fine for overnight parking violations.

A resolution to approve the establishment of an information technology study committee is also on the agenda.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Newsletter