Human Affairs Committee

HUMAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DECEMBER 16, 2013 A meeting of the Human Affairs Committee was held Monday, December 16, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire, Chairman, presided. Members of the Committee present: Alderman Diane Sheehan, Vice Chair Alderman June M. Caron Alderman Daniel T. Moriarty Members not in Attendance: Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja PUBLIC COMMENT Peter Schaefer – 15 E. Street I am still trying to understand whether this circle would work and I was wondering whether there is anybody that has any information as to if it would actually work. I am wondering when you have a circle – they say it’s going to slow down the traffic. It seems to me that at rush hour when you fill up the cars in the circle, then you can’t go in either direction. Right now, there is a light. I am wondering if someone has done a study that says it’s actually going to work. It’s a lot of money. Does anybody have any information on it? Chairman Wilshire I know there are two members of the Infrastructure Committee here and they took this up last week. Alderman Sheehan I have been going to the NRPC for about four years and I can tell you that the number one thing that Hudson is concerned with is getting people from Hudson through to Nashua and this won’t work unless Hudson makes some changes as well. They have a very vested interest of making that improvement as well. If it was a stand-alone and they are not going to do anything, then we are going to have issues because they are running on lights and we are running on a round-about. It’s not so much that it slows traffic down - the quantity - it just makes you reduce your speed. I was surprised to see how many round-abouts were put in in Goffstown – there’s one at the library and one at Market Basket. If it’s not done in tandem, it’s going to be problematic. If it is done at the same time with their traffic improvements – they said it’s a 50 percent increase in the amount of traffic they can move through and of course, the clincher is the train. But, right now on the trains, nobody moves anyway. Peter Schaefer At rush hour, East Hollis backs up just about to the light. Right now, the intersection doesn’t fill up because there is a light there. Alderman Sheehan Right, if it stops in Hudson, it’s going to back up into the circle so that’s where it needs to not be stopping. I use it all the time because I live down there. Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 2 Peter Schaefer The major concern that I have is that all of the ambulances – anytime there is a medical issue in Hudson, there’s an ambulance that comes across that bridge into Nashua. Right now, when a siren goes off, cars can move to the side. Will that be able to happen if there’s a circle? I understand why you would want a circle there because there’s a good development going in and they want to have a road going in. I think it would look nicer as well. I just can’t understand how it would actually work. Chairman Wilshire My understanding is that it’s a multi-lane round-about. Peter Schaefer You’re saying that it wouldn’t work unless Hudson does something as well? Alderman Sheehan My understanding is that they are addressing something because that is their number one traffic back-up. The other thing is that it stops everybody’s congestion because you don’t actually have to stop. You just kind of slow down and keep going. It’s supposed to move 50 percent more vehicles through and I believe the study was done about ten years ago which proved that this would move traffic along much better. Peter Schaefer I wonder if they did the study on the same amount of traffic ten years ago. The other thing is that if there was a bridge further north of here, it would work because then the people who were in a hurry would take that bridge. Alderman Moriarty I can only parrot what was told to me at the Infrastructure Committee meeting. I don’t know of any thorough study but Director Galligani did provide general statistics about traffic circles. He said they carry more traffic than traffic lights do. Mostly, there was an emphasis on the reduction of accidents and the reduction in emissions because the cars don’t ever come to a complete stop. I have the same concerns that you do about the failure mechanism if the traffic circle backs up. Peter Schaefer The traffic circles work fine if they don’t fill up. I do think it will fill up. I am just not sure why we would be spending $3 million on something that won’t work. Chairman Wilshire You have a long time to go; they don’t expect this to be constructed until 2016 or 2017. I am sure there will be an opportunity to discuss this. Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 3 Alderman Moriarty If it were city funds, I definitely would not spend the $3 million on this traffic circle. I have to have a leap of faith and trust the statistics that Director Galligani gave us. There’s very little disagreement with the statement that the traffic problems are, for the most part, as a result of the lights in Hudson. If you are traveling westbound, the traffic problems are a result of the lights on Canal Street and on Main Street. Peter Schaefer I don’t think the accidents would be quite as severe. It just puzzles me that there is no study. Alderman Sheehan I think after the engineering work is done we will probably have more information about how they are tying this into Hudson. It needs to be a coordinated effort. I think the next logical step when engineering comes in and probably have the NRPC in as well because they can speak to other communities, not just Nashua – I think if it’s a slow-down circle and it’s just constant that you will actually enjoy living there a little more than you do know. COMMUNICATIONS Chairman Wilshire We do have a communication that I handed out tonight regarding R-13-154. I also wanted to accept the communication that we got from Carrie Schena on the CDBG Project update – the mid-year update. MOTION BY ALDERMAN MORIARTY TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ACCEPT THE COMMUNICATION FROM CARRIE SCHENA DATED DECEMBER 5, 2013, AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED MOTION CARRIED MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND ACCEPT THE COMMUNICATION REGARDING R-13-154, AFTER THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED. MOTION CARRIED MOTION BY ALDERMAN MORIARTY TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE BOTH OF THE ABOVE COMMUNICATIONS MOTION CARRIED UNFINISHED BUSINESS – RESOLUTIONS – None Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 4 UNFINISHED BUSINESS - ORDINANCES O-12-21 Endorsers: Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Alderman June Caron Alderman Michael Tabacsko Alderman Diane Sheehan Alderman Richard A. Dowd AMENDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE REVIEW AND COMMENT COMMISSION  Re-Referred to Human Affairs Committee – 10/8/13 Chairman Wilshire I received a communication today from Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja stating that she didn’t really have any desire for us to take this off of the table. She said she would just assume let it expire. I think we have made a lot of changes with review and comment and hopefully, those will work and this type of ordinance is not necessary. NEW BUSINESS – RESOLUTIONS R-13-154 Endorser: Mayor Donnalee Lozeau Alderman Michael J. Tabacsko Alderman Kathy Vitale Alderman Richard A. Dowd Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy Alderman Diane Sheehan Alderman-at-Large Barbara Pressly AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A MULTI-LANE ROUNDABOUT REPLACING THE EXISTING SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION WHERE EAST HOLLIS STREET AND CANAL STREET MEET BRIDGE STREET AND TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE $3,661,000 FOR THE PROJECT  Also assigned to the Committee on Infrastructure; Favorable Recommendation Issued 12/5/13  Also assigned to the Board of Public Works; to appear on its 12/19/13 agenda MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE OF R-13-154 MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS – ORDINANCES - None GENERAL DISCUSSION Alderman Sheehan They are down to three Commissioners and the Mayor was unsure if we were going to be enacting Alderman Melizzi-Golja’s legislation so she held up on filling those as she otherwise would have. The Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 5 existing Chairperson has been away however, she’s back this week and will be working on a schedule. What did come to my attention was that the attorney gave the Mayor the opinion that the three-year cap on consecutive chairmanships would begin when the legislation started so the previous Chair is still Chair because the other two did not want to be the Chair. They were also having second thoughts about one part of it - they were thinking that the schedule for their process should match up with the ones that we use for Community Development Block Grants and I indicated that I’d like to think on that a little bit more but, my recollection was that it was the work of the Commissioner’s that they asked. This has been a bit of a time crunch – maybe if we set it to a calendar certain that these are the times for posting the grants because my concern was if it’s at the same time, are people going to think it’s one or the other and not one is for Programs, one is for Bricks and Mortar. Chairman Wilshire That’s not been a problem in the past. People know the difference. Alderman Sheehan I am not sure, but the feedback would indicate that they don’t want to follow what they came up with last year. Chairman Wilshire It’s up to them to keep current with what the expectations are. Whether the person was there or not, it is my expectation that they would be up on what the current process is. Alderman Sheehan Commissioner Moriarty is no longer a Commissioner but my knee jerk reaction is you do it the way we set it for this year and it was said that if there were going to be changes, that they would bring it in front of Human Affairs. They had the applications, which were revamped and the dates were on the applications, but was that a separate process or was that part of changing the application. I think we probably ought to make a request for a date at which to have the updated calendar and when they are bringing their people in because the Chairman of Human Affairs is supposed to be invited to share the Consolidated Plan. We don’t have that yet. Chairman Wilshire I will make that request. Alderman Sheehan I would say that if Alderman Mellizi-Golja wants that to die as well that we include that the Commissioner positions should be filled as quickly as possible. I think there should be some viable candidates that could hit the ground running. Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 6 Alderman Moriarty Did I just hear that the Review and Comment Commission are having trouble finding someone that wants to be the Chair? Alderman Sheehan No, I said two of the three Commissioners do not want to be Chair. Alderman Moriarty Is the current Chair coming up against a term limit restriction? Chairman Wilshire Apparently, the attorney made a decision that I didn’t know about that had to do with the legislation we passed last year. He made a different opinion all of a sudden so I don’t know what that’s all about it but I will make the request of the attorney. It would have been nice for this committee to know about it beforehand. Alderman Moriarty Was it really a problem that the Chair did not have a term limit? It’s like the people who make up the rules are not really part of the group that are being affected by the rules. I think that’s creating an unnecessary obstruction. Chairman Wilshire If we want to re-visit the entire piece of legislation, we can do that but I don’t even think we have given it a chance to work itself out yet. This is the first year they would start working under the new procedure and process that we came up with last year. All of a sudden, it doesn’t seem to be going quite so smoothly. Alderman Moriarty So, it’s convenient for everybody that the attorney came to the conclusion that the counting of the term limits did not start until the legislation passed. Chairman Wilshire That’s what I am hearing. It’s the first I heard of it tonight. Alderman Moriarty Then, that works out great because otherwise, we have a problem because Leslie wants to be the Chair and no one else wants to be. If the rule were enforced the way we intended it, we’d have a problem. Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 7 Chairman Wilshire I get what you are saying and I don’t disagree. I whole thing last year was a lot work; it was a lot time, and a lot of energy. If it’s not going to work out, then perhaps we should look at other legislation. Maybe this committee should take over that work. Alderman Moriarty It’s just this one thing. There was a lot of stuff in that and most of it, everyone agreed, was great. It may just be this one thing. Chairman Wilshire st th We did ask that we get a schedule by December 1 and it’s now the 16 and we have received nothing. That’s two strikes that we know of. Alderman Sheehan And, nobody’s been contacted yet. You could almost say that it’s passive aggressive. It seemed that during the process, that the people in that room wanted to make things better as well – one person didn’t and that person is still there. Nothing is happening again. It’s unusual that we have two people that are open - that normally would not have happened so that adds the wrinkle. Chairman Wilshire There was a lot of work put in to make this happen and to date, I have not heard of any glitches in the system this year. Alderman Sheehan I’ve heard from two previous volunteers that didn’t know how to get in touch with Chairman Mendenhall. I don’t know how to get in touch with Chairman Mendenhall and that’s an issue too. I think it’s supposed to be like clockwork. I think we need to get a date, make some adjustments and move forward. I don’t think it’s a big deal for people to volunteer a lot of time if they can plan enough around it. Alderman Caron I know the application for this funding has been put on-line as of December 15, 2013, because I did get a call from the Senior Center. I agree if we set a date of December 1st to get this information, whether the person was out of town or not, someone should have been following that. Is there any way to have the Mayor’s office get in touch with them so we can get that information A.S.A.P. I think if you have three new Commissioners’, none of them are going to want to be the Chair. I have a little bit of a concern with the change in term limits. We are not going to be able to see if that piece of legislation is working if they are not going to follow the time schedule that we put in place with them. I think the Mayor’s office should direct them to get the schedule to Human Affairs….yesterday. Chairman Wilshire I will make that request. Human Affairs – 12/16/13 Page 8 PUBLIC COMMENT Peter Schaefer – 15 E. Street One of the things I read was that they were going to put some money together to take some land. What land are they taking? Chairman Wilshire I would highly recommend that you direct your questions on Thursday evening to the Board of Public Works because they are the ones that will have the answers. This committee is just charged with accepting the money. They are charged with the entire project itself. Alderman Sheehan My understanding is that there is a small strip of land to the right of Hudson Bridge. There are two places you might want to look, the City of Nashua’s web site – the Master Plan for Hollis Street. The other option is to call the NRPC in Merrimack. REMARKS BY THE ALDERMEN - None POSSIBLE NON-PUBLIC SESSION - None ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN SHEEHAN TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED The meeting was declared adjourned at 7:37 p.m. Chairman Lori Wilshire Committee Clerk, pro tem  Q t y O f N 3 S h l J 3. Community Development 589-3095 Planning and Zoning 589-3090 Building Safety 589-3080 Community Development Division S I , llltZ City Hall, 2 2 9 Main Street, P O Box 2 0 1 9 rSS^partmen, bÜo^oo FAX 389 3119 Nashua, N e w Hampshire 0 3 0 6 1 - 2 0 1 9 www.nashuanh.gov Memo Tte Alderman Wilshire Frame Carrie Schena, UPD Manager Date: December 5,2013 CC: Human Affairs Committee; Donnalee Lozeau, Mayor Ree Status of open CDBG projects Please find attached a mid-year status report of all open CDBG projects. The Urban Programs Department has worked to complete the majority of FY13 and prior year projects within the tast year. In addition to the 12 community/neighborhood facility projects completed, our housing efforts included rehabilitation of six owner-occupied properties; preservation of 26 affordable housing units; fair housing education to 60 individuals and lead hazard control in 69 units. Operating funds assisted four agencies who reported reaching 406 low-income households and two new loans to micro-enterprises (small businesses) were awarded through the CDBG revolving loan fund. Also recently launched were two new HOME Investment Partnership projects: the redevelopment of 30 Front Street (Cotton Mill Square) and redevelopment of 45-47 Chestnut Street from an eight unit building to an owner-occupied condex-style home. Construction of Cotton Mill is well underway, with an estimated completion this summer. 45-47 Chestnut Street has been demolished, the eligible owners/buyers identified and construction is planned for this spring. Due to Congressional delays, our FY14 grant agreement with HUD was not executed until October 3, 2013. However, we have already launched several of the FY14 projects. Specifically, the Rail Trail lighting project is set to begin in the coming weeks. We hope to install as many lights as possible before the winter sets in. Additional details can be found in the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report on the Urban Programs website.  CDBG Activity Status (as of 11/22/13) Year Activity Description Original Budget Balance Notes FY08 14 Court Street $5000 $0 Completed FY13, automatic doors installed Skate park to be expanded rather than basketball courts - need to change language in Resolution (R-09- FY10 Ash Street Basketball Courts $11,000 $11,000 158) Gardens Installed at Ledge Street School, balance to be combined with other Park/Ree funds for FYIO Community Garden $4 000 $1,398 52 future/additional gardens FY11 $15,000 $5,300 Bids received 11/22 - low bid $50,400 to install solar lights from Main to Eaton Streets. Work to start FY14 Rail Trail Lighting $50,000 $50,000 ASAP. Private $15,500 $15,500 YMCA Grant to cover costs from Pine to Eaton Streets Approved façade application at Fody's specifications being drafted for permit approvals; historic FY11 Best Retail Practices Façade $18 000 $17,150 review, work may occur over winter Funds available toward physical activity identified through strategic planning efforts (funds are not for FY11 Mayor/BOA Strategic Planning $10,000 $10,000 strategic planning) FY11 Artillery Lane $20 000 $12,896 Improvements to playground planned for Spring FY11 Project Brightside $8,000 $8,000 Invoice pending for program completed during Summer 2013 FY11 Parks TBD $45,000 $54,638 68 Parks & Rec compiling list of prioritized work to determine CDBG eligible FY13 Trees removed, stump grinding and benches complete, finish work pending FY13 Foster Square $14,276 $7,500 Funded from FY10 TB0 Parks FY13 Ash Street Half Pipe $26,765 $0 00 Completed, Funded from FY10TBD $9.397 and FY11 $17,368 FY13 Neighborhood Impact $10,000 $3,933.83 Carry forward to combine with FY14 funds FY13 Adult Learning Center wall $109 500 $0 Completed FY13 ALC contributed approx $20 000 FY13 Bridges - door replacement $8,561 $1,683 Completed FY13: Under budget (see below) FY13 Nashua Center kitchen/bath $32,580 $0 Completed FY13 Nashua Center contributed $1,864 FY13 Nashua Children's Home - roof $25,261 $0 Completed FY13: Under budget (funds already reprogrammed) FY13 PAL - fencing $6,000 $3,010 Completed FY13 Under budget (see below) FY13 PLUS Company - door openers $25,000 $0 Completed FY13: CDBG budget $25,000; PLUS contributed $8,230 FY13 Toiles St Mission heating $13,000 $0 Completed FY13 Under budget (funds already reprogrammed) Total program income added to original budget = $110,989; total spent = $196,648 FY13 Housing Improvement Loans $100,000 $14,341 Two Drojects pending set UD totaling $39.000: balance will be zero  FY14 Grant Agreement with HUD Executed October 3,2013 Year Activity Description Original Budget Balance Notes FY14 Bridges - kitchen, insulation, fence $25,699 $25,699 Project will be bid over winter, work commence in spring FY14 Nashua Children's Home carpeting $49,522 $49,522 Will be put out to bid/completed over the winter Project will be bid over winter, work commence in spring - replace exterior sheathing, siding and add FY14 Toiles St Mission - exterior $15,000 $15,000 insulation FY14 Youth Council - lighting $32,700 $32,700 Postponed per request of Youth Council FY 14 14 Court Street - concrete entry $5,000 $5,000 Outdoor project, planned for after winter FY14 Neighborhood Impact $10000 $10,000 Project(s) identified throughout the year FY14 Railtrail lighting $50,000 $50,000 Details listed above Funds Available to Reprogram Year Activity Description Original Budget Balance Notes Funds were transferred under FY14 Annual Resolution, however due to estimation of fringe these funds FY12 CDBG Admin $133,500 $7,141.55 were remaining after close-out of annual books FY12 Tree Street Plan $25,924 $11 54 Contract completed under budget FY12 NH Community Loan Program $12,000 $8,400 Contract closed short-missed balance to reprogram in previous years FY13 books complete.: Note An additional $5,322 encumbered to a contract may be available at a later FY13 CDBG Admin $109,477 $407 38 date if contract closes short FY13 Bridges - Door Replacement $8,561 $1,683 Project completed under budget FY13 PAL - Fencing/Stairs $6 000 $3,010 Project completed under budget FY13 Bridges - Operating $15,442 $1,764 Unable to complete tree removal (public service funds do not carry forward due to annual caps) FY13 Construction Management $102,770 $6,041 24 FY13 books complete SUBTOTAL FUNDS AVAIL TO REPROGRAM $28,458.71 FY13 Contingency $6,540 78 $6.540 78 Unused in FY13 FY14 Contingency $60,497.12 $60,497.12 Allocation came in higher than estimated. Per Resolution, funds added to Contingency. SUBTOTAL CONTINGENCY $67,037.90  Year Activity Description Original Budget Balance FY12 HOME Admin $49,433 $554.21 FY12 I S 47 Chestnut Street $325 800 $151,979 FY13 Cotton Mill Redevelopment $1,040,000 $4,400 FY13 l,™., - rfc , $36,845 85 pyi4 Housing Development $38,020 50 FY13 „ „ „ „ $12,28195 CHDO Operating B T FY14 ^ $12,673 50 FY12 FY13 Homebuyer Assistance Program $165,000 FY14 fY13 i ,, * , „ , $43,497 76 Affordable Housing Development ^ ^ 78?  HOME Funds Status Notes Available to reprogram Building demolished, site secured, eligible owners identified spring construction $1,040,000 contributed directly to project; construction on schedule, estimated occupancy spring; balance is for staff salary costs moved from admin for accounting purposes HOME regulations have changed regarding CHOO s: CHOO's must be certified at time of assistance/project application $55,000/year. RFP was postponed while waiting for final changes to HOME Regulations; will be released early 2014 Funds available to eligible developers for rental/homebuyer affordable units R-13-154 Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Transportation Project Agreement with the State of New Hampshire for the Purpose of Constructing a Multi-Lane Roundabout Replacing the Existing Signalized Intersection Where East Hollis Street and Canal Street Meet Bridge Street and to Accept and Appropriate $3,661,000 for the Project. This resolution authorizes the Mayor to enter into the attached Transportation Project Agreement with the State of New Hampshire for the purpose of construction a multi-lane roundabout replacing the existing signalized intersection where East Hollis Street and Canal Street meet Bridge Street and to accept and appropriate $3,661,000 (80% Federal Funds; 20% State Funds). There are no matching City funds required. • The first reading took place on 11/26/2013. • During the 12/5/2013 meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure, the resolution was recommended for final passage. • The resolution was assigned to the Human Affairs Committee as the Project Agreement includes full funding for the project, sourced from a mix of Federal and State Transportation Grants. • This resolution is on the Board of Public Works agenda for 12/18/2013 This improvement was first contemplated as part of the 2004 East Hollis Street Master Plan. Now conceptualized as a two-lane roundabout, the project will help to partially address the long-standing traffic bottleneck in the vicinity of the Taylors Falls and Veterans Memorial Bridges. The project will also provide improved access to the Bridge Street Redevelopment Project, developed by Renaissance Downtowns in partnership with the City/Business Industrial Development Authority. If approved, the Mayor will sign the Transportation Project Agreement. Soon thereafter, the City will begin working with the NH DOT to plan the project. A first major step will be to procure a engineering firm to begin preliminary engineering. It is expected that construction could take place in 2016-2017. 2004 East Mollis Street Master Plan Shows the Roundabout Concept as Recommendation #2 f « { ( M r - itr«:«. hy A Ui* a cH<it>ooji i i ati*» t n-itr i M i l l ^ ^ (oafi+i m f.-n.-n D< i Swixi • o f a i R j t ' i S i t « ! O Eitf ü T r i r f l r i n t f l ti tQiiSrltX*Jt>*Ti ir.F\n«rieJi ra M*vi ' Ifw dnii etxl kLrv«ii <i WcrM^lftöpfwlur^^ fl r i * 1 m fast iJicH v* a I EjViff-Lli-'tulLVi f i i i o ) t£»nr*rüJJ ¿trttt aloit^lt-* K ^ h u l dp) w i i o H f o f l roAiOflflOiv i-w Eiftfrtfl loiuiTTtilu-W^ t t * P/e-rrri»ck k ^ U ' l he- j 2013 Phase i Bridge Street Redevelopment Site Plan shows the proposed roundabout concept as the primary site access