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Budget committee backs $1.67M reallocation for Bicentennial School roof and recommends two labor agreements
Summary
The Nashua Board of Aldermen budget committee recommended final passage of three measures, including reallocating $1,670,085 in unspent bond proceeds to replace the Bicentennial School roof; the roof reallocation passed 4–1 after debate about exempting the amount from the city's spending cap.
The Nashua Board of Aldermen budget committee voted to recommend final passage of three items Tuesday, most notably a resolution to reallocate up to $1,670,085 in unexpended bond proceeds to replace the roof at Bicentennial School.
The committee approved the Bicentennial reallocation, R-26-044, by a roll-call vote of 4–1 after members debated whether the amount should be exempted from the city's spending-cap calculations. Alderman Thibault argued for using the unspent bond money to prevent further damage to school buildings, saying, "I just hate spending money on schools that we might have end up having to close." Alderman Sennett said he supported getting the roof replaced but could not support the mechanism that would exempt the amount from the spending-cap calculation: "I'm comfortable with every piece of this resolution other than the fact that we have to exempt calculations again."
City CFO Dawn Enright told the committee the key timing constraint was legal: "The only time constraint is that you have to do the refunding within the 5 years of the sale of the bond," noting 2023 was the oldest sale date for the funds. After a requested roll call, the clerk recorded four yeas and one nay and the motion carried.
The committee also recommended final passage of two labor-related measures. R-26-040, a cost‑item agreement between the Board of Police Commissioners and the Police Supervisors Association (NEPBA Local 25) covering vacation, sick leave and personal days, drew no questions and passed by voice vote.
On R-26-041, the committee reviewed a three-year agreement for the secretaries unit (about 68 employees) covering 07/01/2026 through 06/30/2029. A union representative who addressed the committee summarized the compensation package: "In year 1 of the contract, we're looking at a base salary increase around 4%. In year 2 and year 3 of the contract, we're looking at a base salary increase of 3%." He also said the step scale would change from five to nine steps and that five clerical positions would move to the nonaffiliated contract; committee members had no further questions and the motion to recommend final passage carried by voice vote.
Gary Hoffman, speaking during the public-comment period, urged the committee to approve the secretaries contract before the current agreement expired: "we urge you that this agreement be passed... unanimously," he said.
All three items will go to the full board of aldermen for final consideration. The committee adjourned after brief remarks and expressions of thanks to members and staff.
