Aldermen, Board of

A special meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Thursday, July 21, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. President Brian S. McCarthy presided; City Clerk Paul R. Bergeron recorded. Prayer was offered by City Clerk Paul R. Bergeron; Alderman Craffey led in the Pledge to the Flag. The roll call was taken with 12 members of the Board of Aldermen present; Aldermen Wilshire and Vitale were not in attendance. President McCarthy Alderman Wilshire is ill and Alderman Vitale called me to say that she was stuck working and would not be able to attend. COMMUNICATIONS MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS THAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS BE READ BY TITLE ONLY MOTION CARRIED From: Brian S. McCarthy, President, Board of Aldermen Re: Special Board of Aldermen Meeting MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE MOTION CARRIED UNFINISHED BUSINESS – RESOLUTIONS R-11-131 Endorsers: Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons Alderman Kathy Vitale Alderman Richard LaRose Alderman Michael J. Tabacsko Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Alderman Jeffrey T. Cox Alderman Diane Sheehan AMENDING THE USE OF FISCAL YEAR 2007 AND 2010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (“CDGB”) FUNDING BY GIRLS, INC. Given its second reading; MOTION BY ALDERMAN CLEMONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-11-131 ON THE QUESTION Alderman Pressly Thank you. I have always supported Girls, Inc., and as far as I know we have funded them in some portion just about every year from CDBG. I’m sort of confused. Is this the first time this has happened, some issue with what they were awarded years ago? I’m just surprised that we have to have a special meeting for this, that this isn’t a routine fix up so I would like some explanation, not if the Girls, Inc. are good candidates, but how come we have to have a special meeting to take care of this. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 2 Alderman LaRose Thank you. This goes back a year or year and a half. They originally wanted $30,000 to fix the roof, and it was deemed the roof was a lot more expensive than that, they didn’t have enough money. The $5,000 odd is from a 2007 project that was completed and there was money left over. What they asked the committee a year ago was to use that money to put in a kitchen. We were reluctant to do it because there was a roof leak and we didn’t know how bad it was. Subsequently things evolved where Girls, Inc. got a $25,000 grant from UPS and a $15,000 grant from the parent organization for a commercial kitchen. The reason they need a commercial kitchen is because they feed between 40-50 families per night Monday through Friday, and what they have to do is truck all of the food from Manchester to Nashua so they can comply with federal regulations. When we first started this we were under the impression they had to do all of the maintenance. Their contract was a five year contract at $1 a year with the Nashua Housing Authority to use that place. Subsequently this past year when we started to do the Community Development Block Grant, we found out they are not responsible for the major repairs, that the Housing Authority is responsible for it. The Housing Authority puts it in their five year plan, but it is always at the bottom of the list, and they don’t get enough money from HUD to accomplish everything they would like to accomplish. They approached Girls, Inc. and said why don’t you buy the building from us. Girls, Inc. want to buy the building, but they have to wait to get an answer from HUD on how much HUD will charge to sell that building; will they demand what it cost to build it in 1970 or 1972 whatever year, or are they going to ask for the fair market price. They don’t have that answer yet, to my knowledge. So it is difficult for them to do a fundraiser to do this. What the committee asked was we wanted to find out if the building was structurally sound; we wanted to know about the roof. Girls, Inc. contacted Harvey Construction. Harvey Construction checked the building to make sure it was structurally sound and said it was structurally sound. They suggested that they get somebody to check out the roof. Girls, Inc. got a hold of a reputable Nashua roofer. He went up and inspected the roof, took pictures, and said most of the roof is still good for ten years, some of it probably should be replaced in five years. We, as a committee, decided that we were willing to re-allocate this money towards the kitchen. Harvey Construction also designed the kitchen at no cost to Girls, Inc. That is all in order. What the committee is requesting is that the resolution be passed so that money can be earmarked for the renovation of the kitchen and taken away from the roof, and that is why we have to have this meeting. We can’t just say okay do it, we have to have this meeting, and the paperwork has to be sent to HUD. I believe HUD has no problem in re- allocating the money. That is why we are in front of you this evening. Alderman Pressly What happened to the leak? Alderman LaRose I believe it still leaks a little bit. Where the kitchen is there is no leak, it is further down in one of the rooms where there is some leak, and that was a couple of years ago when we had that severe winter and there was a lot of ice buildup. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 3 Alderman Deane So the leak is no longer an issue because I remember when this first came before the committee and they made it sound like the water was going to be leaking right where the kitchen was going. Now we are finding out that it is down the other end of the building… Alderman LaRose Well we knew it was down the other end. We were worried that it may start leaking in the kitchen area and that… Alderman Deane So the concern was over failure moving its way down towards the… Alderman LaRose That area is I believe is in what the roof said would be probably ten years before it needed to be replaced. As you well know, you don’t know where the water really comes from. Alderman Deane Right. Alderman LaRose It can come from anywhere on the roof, but it leaks somewhere. Alderman Deane It seeks its point of least resistance. Alderman LaRose Right. Alderman Deane Thank you. Alderman Pressly The thing that I find unusual and interesting about this is their wanting to purchase the building. If they are trying to buy it from the Federal Government that is a major unknown I presume. Have they gotten any clue as to when they will get an idea so they can make their plans? Alderman LaRose I know that they are waiting for a lawyer to give them an answer. I also know that Congressman Bass and Senator Ayotte are behind this plan so they will do what they can to make sure that HUD releases the interest of that building. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 4 Alderman Pressly Is there a chance of it being a gift? Alderman LaRose I think the Congressman and the Senator would certainly like to see that happen. I’m not sure they are in a position where they are going to start giving stuff away. Alderman Deane They have been doing that too long already. Alderman Pressly If they can buy it or not buy it they still want to put the kitchen in so they will either buy it or continue to lease it? Alderman LaRose Yeah. The building is owned by Nashua Housing Authority… Alderman Pressly Okay. Alderman LaRose …They really don’t use it. It originally was built for the elderly housing. It is called the Collins Center… Alderman Pressly Right. Alderman LaRose …but I guess there was never that much activity there. Girls, Inc., I can’t recall where they were before they were the tenants there, but it evolved I guess under Morris Arel. I think it is when he was the Mayor of Nashua that they were able to go in there for $1 a year with the stipulation they would take care of the minor repairs. There is a question on who owns the parking lot because the Crown Hill swimming pool is abutting Girls, Inc. That is a little bit of a problem. But I would suspect they will come up with a dual use of the parking lot. Alderman Cookson Thank you. I didn’t hear a response to Alderman Pressly’s question, one of her original questions regarding timeframe. Why this evening versus a regular Board of Aldermen meeting? As far as the paperwork needing to be submitted when is it required and so forth? Alderman LaRose I think the paperwork has all been done. They would like to start by September and so it was deemed since we were having a public hearing we decided to ask for a special meeting to pass this, especially since we don’t have another meeting in July and would have to wait until August. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 5 Alderman Cookson This is the end of July. It is the 21st and our next meeting is August 9th, which would be well before their September timeframe. So there really is no emergency, there is no urgency, it is just it was convenience because we had another scheduled meeting. Alderman LaRose Right. Alderman Cookson Thank you. Alderman Clemons I had hoped to get this meeting in before the August meeting because originally the timeframe was they wanted to get this done as soon as possible. It wasn’t until I think we got a memo actually on Friday in our packet with the Human Affairs agenda stating the project was actually going to start in September so this meeting had already been scheduled. Originally it was supposed to be started sooner than that. Originally there was a need to do that. I still think this is appropriate to do so that we can release those funds and get their project going. President McCarthy The motion is for final passage of R-11-131. Is there any further discussion? Alderman Pressly Could we just clarify that; so this really is not an emergency this was scheduled for the convenience of everybody? I just want that to be on the record and known. President McCarthy There was urgency when it was scheduled… Alderman Pressly Okay. President McCarthy …the urgency has since been removed. Alderman Pressly Okay. Alderman Clemons Correct. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 6 Alderman Craffey I will be abstaining from the vote because I sit on the board of Southern New Hampshire Services, which is a major contributor to Girls, Inc. President McCarthy I don’t think that disqualifies you from voting if you choose to. You have no direct pecuniary interest correct? Alderman Craffey Correct. Alderman Deane You are not doing any painting or anything like that? Alderman Craffey No, I’m not doing anything like that no. President McCarthy Corporation Counsel’s opinion has been that sitting on the board of something that we vote on does not constitute a conflict under our rules. Alderman Craffey We have a direct control over the budget? President McCarthy Yeah, unless you are getting paid from that budget it is not an issue. Alderman Craffey No I’m not. President McCarthy Is there any further discussion? MOTION CARRIED Resolution R-11-131 declared duly adopted. Special Bd. of Aldermen – 07/21/11 Page 7 NEW BUSINESS – ORDINANCES O-11-81 Endorser: Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy Alderman-at-Large Ben Clemons Alderman Diane Sheehan Alderman Jeffrey T. Cox Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja AMENDING PARKING METER HOURS AND CLARIFYING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF O-11-71 Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE by President McCarthy ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN DEANE THAT THE JULY 21, 2011, SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN BE ADJOURNED MOTION CARRIED The meeting was declared adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Attest: Paul R. Bergeron, City Clerk