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Budget committee recommends reallocating $1.67M in bond proceeds for Bicentennial School roof; O'Brien presses spending-cap concerns
Summary
The Nashua Board of Aldermen budget committee voted 4–1 to recommend R-26-044, reallocating up to $1,670,085 of unexpended bond proceeds to replace the Bicentennial School roof; the measure drew debate over exempting the amount from the city's spending-cap calculation.
The Nashua Board of Aldermen budget committee voted 4–1 to recommend R-26-044, a resolution to change the purpose of up to $1,670,085 in unexpended bond proceeds so the funds can be used to replace the Bicentennial School roof. The recommendation advances the resolution to the full Board of Aldermen for final action.
The proposal reallocates money from five previously authorized school building-improvement projects to cover the Bicentennial roof replacement. CFO Dawn Enright told the committee there is no immediate deadline beyond the requirement that any refunding occur within five years of the bond sale, and that the oldest sale involved was 2023, so "we are well within that constraint." She also said the school department wanted to start the roof work as soon as possible.
Several aldermen supported moving the funds to the roof project but voiced different concerns about timing and fiscal rules. Alderman Tim Sennett said he was "completely in favor of getting kids a roof on their school," but added he was uncomfortable with the mechanics of exempting $1.6 million from the spending-cap calculation so close to the end of the fiscal year: "this close to the end of a fiscal year is just not something that I'm willing to do at this time." He framed his concern as a procedural objection rather than opposition to the roof work itself.
Alderman Michael O'Brien, who identified himself as infrastructure committee chair, urged the committee to approve the reallocation and begin repairs now. "You can't do that when you have a spending cap," he said, arguing that the cap can hinder timely maintenance and lead to larger repair costs later. O'Brien described the proposal as "a prudent way" to use budgeted funds that were not spent on earlier projects.
After discussion, O'Brien requested a roll call. The clerk recorded the vote as: Alderman Thiebaud — Yes; Alderman Alicia Gregg — Yes; Alderman Michael O'Brien — Yes; Alderman Tim Sennett — No; Alderman Dowd — Yes. The motion to recommend final passage carried, 4–1.
The resolution will go to the full Board of Aldermen for final consideration at an upcoming meeting.
