My background, I was co-chairman of the conservation commission. When I opposed the mayor’s plan to bulldoze Southwest Park for soccer fields, which according to the city’s own survey is the second-most important wildlife area in Nashua (possibly first now that Pennichuck has been developed) the mayor waited until being re-elected and then removed me. In my years on the board, he never once came to a meeting. He did not know I was co-chair, and the excuse given was he wanted to bring in new blood, except I was the newest member.

He did not discuss this with the chairman, resulting in her resigning. He was able to convince her to stay and tried to smear me with some vague assertion that I made racist comments, which is totally untrue, and he provided no evidence.

I’m making this public, because now he wants control of the police commission, with claims that they want transparency, and more diversity, yet the meetings are attended by two alderman, and open to the public. They also post the minutes of every meeting.

As for local control, the mayor can recommend candidates, which he has not bothered to do. Our current commission was appointed by then-Gov.Maggie Hassan and reinstated by Gov. ChrisSununu, so there is clearly bipartisan support

There is no place for petty vindictiveness in these type of decisions.

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