Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee

PERSONNEL/ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE APRIL 30, 2012 A meeting of the Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee was held on Monday, April 30, 2012, at 7:15 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chamber. Chairman Paul M. Chasse, Jr. presided. Members of the Committee present: Alderman Arthur T. Craffey, Jr., Vice Chair Alderman June M. Caron Alderman Diane Sheehan Members Not in Attendance: Alderman Kathy Vitale Also in Attendance: Mayor Donnalee Lozeau PUBLIC COMMENT – None INTERVIEWS Board of Assessors George Farrington (New Appointment) Indefinite Term at the Pleasure of the Mayor Mayor Lozeau Thank you Mr. Chairman. This evening my first nominee is Mr. George Farrington. He is willing to take a position on the Board of Assessors. Quite a long time ago the Board of Assessors was set up, the members that I had nominated and that the board endorsed, actually it was back in 2008 when I first came in, and those three members are one of those committees that serve at the pleasure, and so I have been discussing with Mary Lou Blaisdell, who has been a member for a very long time, her interest in stepping back and giving somebody else an opportunity. And so you will see tonight on your agenda that she is interested in taking an alternate position, which we really haven’t for I guess for quite some time had an alternate to the Board of Assessors so it would actually be very nice to have. When I gave consideration to the Board of Assessors I realized that one of the things that is important to have at that table is somebody that has a sense of finances, has an understanding of the city tax structure, which I think a lot of us, you know you pay your tax bill you don’t think too much about it, but there is a process, and an opportunity for citizens to come in and speak to the board. One of the first people that I thought of is somebody that I thought had something to offer was Mr. Farrington. Some of you may recall there was a time when he served on the School Board, and when I came in as Mayor I had asked him if he would serve on my budget committee; when I put my first budget together I brought a group of folks in to work with me on that. And I know he is professional, that he cares a great deal about the city, that he does his homework, that he is able to be objective, and that he understands how the process works. When I asked him to do that he looked into it and he actually has been to one of the meetings, has met with one of the Assessors to talk to him about that role. He may have even spoken to two of them. With that, he is still willing to serve. I think we’re fortunate to have him here, and he is somebody that I have a great deal of respect and regard for. I would be pleased if the committee would be able to offer a positive recommendation for him. Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 2 Chairman Chasse Mr. Farrington would you like to say anything? George Farrington After that I’m afraid anything I might say would diminish my position here. Basically that’s how it happened. I find myself in a situation where it would be very interesting. There’s a lot to learn, and I’ve enjoyed my past opportunities to serve in various positions here in the city. As the Mayor said, I think I have something to offer to the group and would appreciate it if you folks could see your way clear to approve her nomination. I can answer any questions you may have regarding me. Chairman Chasse I’ll open it up to anyone who has any questions. No? Mr. Farrington, you get off easy tonight. I want to thank you for your willingness to serve and we’ll take up your appointment in a few minutes. Planning Board Adam Varley (Moving from Alternate Member to Full Member) For a Term to Expire: March 31, 2015 Mayor Lozeau I bet all of you remember Mr. Varley. He was here not too long ago being appointed as an alternate member to the planning board. I have a position available on the planning board, and he was one of the first people I thought of to ask if he would be willing to serve in a full time capacity. He has done a wonderful job acclimating himself to the board. His attendance is great. I believe that he is well regarded by the members on the board. He treats the public with a great deal of respect, and he has found time even with his growing family to be in here and serving our community. It is my pleasure to be here tonight with somebody that’s willing to take that next step up to be a full time member. I’m going to be talking to the board about a current board member, Muriel Cochran going from a full time member to an alternate member. She does not have as much time to give as she would like so there’s a couple things coming down the pike for planning. But overall, that board has had a good attendance. Members have not struggled with not being able to serve in that capacity, and I think Mr. Varley brings a lot to the table. Thank you. Chairman Chasse I know Mr. Varley you’ve been in front of us recently, but would you like to add to that? Mr. Varley Briefly, I’ve enjoyed the time that I’ve been on the planning board thus far. It’s been a great experience, and as I told the mayor when she first nominated me to be an alternate, I viewed it that I would treat it as if I was a full time member so when she asked me to make the transaction, I said I would be happy to do that and I look forward to continue to serve on the planning board in the full time capacity. Chairman Chasse I’ll open it up to the members. Any questions? What an easy night. You get away easy also. We’ll take up your appointment in a few minutes. COMMUNICATIONS - None Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 3 APPLICATION TO LICENSE HAWKER'S, PEDDLER'S, ITINERANT VENDOR'S LICENSE - None APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR MOTION BY ALDERMAN CHASSE TO RECOMMEND THE CONFIRMATION OF THE FOLLOWING APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR: TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS: ALTERNATE MARY LOU BLAISDELL FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE APRIL 24, 2015 AND GEORGE FARRINGTON FOR AN INDEFINITE TERM AT THE PLEASURE OF THE MAYOR; TO THE NASHUA ARTS COMMISSION: J. CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE APRIL 1, 2015; AND, TO THE PLANNING BOARD: ADAM VARLEY FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE MARCH 31, 2015 MOTION CARRIED UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None NEW BUSINESS – RESOLUTIONS R-12-36 Endorsers: Mayor Donnalee Lozeau Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Alderman Richard A. Dowd Alderman Arthur T. Craffey, Jr. NAMING THE ROBY PARK FIELDS THE “JEFF MORIN FIELDS AT ROBY PARK” • Also assigned to the Board of Public Works; to appear on its 5/17/12 Agenda MOTION BY ALDERMAN CRAFFEY TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE OF R-12-26 ON THE QUESTION Mayor Lozeau I appreciate the opportunity to talk about this young man that lived in our city. As you can in the resolution, it’s actually a terrible tragedy that befell this young man at age 15 in a motor vehicle accident. He was a native and his family was very active in the city for a long time. Since his death, and I believe to them it may as well have been this morning, it’s been very, very difficult for them, but they have still donated to this community in his memory. For a very long time, they were doing scholarships as you can see in the legislation, over $200,000 worth in the city. They have now opened a fund with a New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to be able to continue to give back to the city. One of the few things that they were interested in having happen was the opportunity for these fields to be named after their son. They have moved away from Nashua. They didn’t say so but my assumption is because it’s awfully hard to be here and see him more often than not, I think, within the community and the places that he liked to be and the things he liked to do. But in spite of that, they still set something up to be able to give back to the community. I just think it’s really remarkable. So I was more than willing to support this resolution as was the ward alderman. Alderman Caron, you probably remember the family from your days of park-rec and park-rec is very pleased to support this as well. Alderman Caron Yes, I do remember this because unfortunately there was another person that died in that accident as well whose father and mother were great family friends of our so this is very touching. I like this. I always like to know that people are getting honored and remembered, but I guess my question to you is first of all, you want to name both fields in his name rather than just one and the other thing is the significance of naming those Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 4 particular fields for him. When we named a field for Fred Lajoie last week it’s because he had some involvement with that. If you could fill me in on this that would be really great. I have no problem with naming the facilities in memory of people because I think it’s important to this community. I’d just like to have some kind of background on that if you don’t mind. Mayor Lozeau My understanding is he went to Bicentennial School and some of his fondest memories were playing in those fields. The idea of the two fields being named, I know it seems awfully like two instead of one is because as you know those fields are so close together that I think the family really was looking to have it say the Jeff Morin Fields at Roby Park so that there wouldn’t be a name on one and a name on the other because they are right now. Their hope is that there will be signs on both fields. That there will be a sign up on the corner, a three-sided sign is what they have asked for. In my mind the financial support is not the driving factor but it’s hard to overlook the fact that we’re talking about over $400,000 that has been spent in the community. The only request they had was we give attention to a few of the things that he loved and that was one. I think their memories of him as a youth are in those fields at Roby Park. They knew that there was not an opportunity to change the name of a park, but they thought because the fields there were not named that they would be able to do it in this manner. Alderman Caron Thank you for your information. That makes me feel better.. I understand it and I thank you. MOTION CARRIED NEW BUSINESS - ORDINANCES Mayor Lozeau The next ordinance, I’m not sure if Alderman Melizzi-Golja is able to be here to speak on it tonight. Did she ask… Chairman Chasse New Business, Ordinances. We have O-12-09. O-12-09 Endorsers: Alderman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Alderman Michael J. Tabacsko AMENDING THE ORDINANCE REGARDING THE HUNT MEMORIAL BUILDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES MOTION BY ALDERMAN CRAFFEY TO RECOMMEND FINAL PASSAGE ON THE QUESTION Alderman Craffey I spoke with Alderman Melizzi-Golja tonight. She had pressing business that she was unable to attend tonight. That being said, I would like to recommend that we table. MOTION BY ALDERMAN CRAFFEY TO TABLE O-12-09 Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 5 MOTION CARRIED DISCUSSION Alderman Sheehan It seems like the mayor may have wanted to add some commentary to that last ordinance that we just tabled. Chairman Chasse Mayor would you like to come back up, please? Why don’t you just stay in the circle? Mayor Lozeau Well I try to be respectful and it wasn’t my legislation but I am a member of the board of trustees at the Hunt, and I didn’t know if Alderman Melizzi-Golja had had a conversation with anybody so I was willing to answer questions. I didn’t realize that she wanted it tabled. Alderman Craffey Her being the primary sponsor I was just being respectful of her not being here. That was my purpose to table it which is a custom that we have. Mayor Lozeau Okay. Chairman Chasse And basically that’s the same reason why I voted to table it because it’s almost like standard procedure unless there’s an exception to the rule. If it’s something that needs to be done, we can always pull it up at the full board because I don’t have a problem with this at all. I don’t see any discussion being held on this or it’s not a major issue. Mayor Lozeau If the committee could indulge me just for a moment, I’ll just give you a snapshot overview of why that’s even in because you have probably noticed there were two pieces that came in. One was to give the trustees the authority to lease out the office space. The other one was in the off chance that that didn’t happen to approve the lease with Great American Downtown. The issue really is just making sure that there’s the ability to lease out those offices. I don’t think the board realized as they were plotting along and setting it up to get those offices ready that they would not be able to lease out those offices that it would need to come back through the Board of Aldermen. That was just the purpose of the legislation. I don’t mean to overstep or anything, I just seeing I was here thought I’d be willing to answer questions if they came up. Chairman Chasse Is this time sensitive? Mayor Lozeau I wouldn’t necessarily say that it’s time sensitive. I think they would like to move along. I think finance Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 6 Wednesday night has the Great American Downtown lease which is the most pressing thing so we can look at taking that up and then the discussion about the authority of the trustees, I think, could probably wait. I’m sure that Alderman Melizzi-Golja may want to speak to it. I don’t know. I didn’t have the opportunity to talk to her. Chairman Chasse Neither did I. Alderman Sheehan Did she want it tabled? Is that her point? Alderman Craffey She didn’t say that she wanted it tabled. I was just being respectful as we usually are. She didn’t say she wanted it tabled, but she didn’t say she did not want it tabled. Alderman Sheehan Okay. My concern was timing. I know that when you’re trying to plan a business move. If she had said please table it then that would be a definite reason to do it, and I support that. I just wanted to hear if the mayor had brought something in like they already had their letterhead or they had events or something planned. Mayor Lozeau I know that Great American Downtown is waiting to move in because as I said, I don’t think anybody realized but I think if the lease gets passed on Wednesday that won’t hold them up. So, I think there’s room for you to have the discussion that you’re trying to have by tabling it and having Alderman Melizzi-Golja come in. That would only be my concern, and I am sensitive to people thinking that sometimes things appear to be rushing through and that’s really not the case here. The trustees have been working on this lease for months and months and months and trying to get those offices ready. I think the best approach is to have the trustees be able to have the authority to do it within parameters that the board allows so that they’re not coming back every time one of the six offices need a new lease and have people wait anywhere from 30 days or so. But I think it’s probably fine. I just wanted to make sure that if I was here, I paid attention to it so thank you for giving me the opportunity. PUBLIC COMMENT – None REMARKS BY THE ALDERMEN – None Personnel – 4/30/12 Page 7 ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY ALDERMAN CRAFFEY TO ADJOURN MOTION CARRIED The meeting was declared closed at 7:37 p.m. Alderman June M. Caron Committee Clerk