Moran again made the motion to remove the commuter rail study from the legislation, expressing that they should focus on more immediate needs in the city. (Screenshot by Nashua Ink Link)
After an almost four-hour-long meeting, the Nashua board of aldermen passed an amended version R-24-115 on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The original resolution called for the supplemental appropriation of $5,245,000 to assign fund balance into 14 capital improvement projects. The amendment removed two of the projects, bringing the total down to $4,520,000.
Reiterated by administrative services director Tim Cummings, each project would be funded by surplus funds, and there would be a “tax neutral” impact. He also said that, with the resolution, they tried to stay as true to the plan outlined by the ad hoc capital debt committee as possible.
The ad hoc committee prioritized various capital projects, totaling an amount of $4.2 million. The plan, however, was a working document subject to change as other needs arose.
The board previously discussed – and tabled – the resolution at a meeting on Dec. 10.
During that meeting, some of the aldermen voiced that they did not like how the projects were brought forth as a package deal.
“We jam-packed these all into one resolution and you’re jamming it down our throats,” Alderman Moran said.
Moran had made the motion to remove the Commuter Rail Feasibility study from the legislation during the Dec. 10 meeting, but it did not pass.
On Tuesday night, Community Development Director Matt Sullivan said that, while he would prefer the commuter rail project move forward to maintain momentum, it could wait until the next budget process.
Moran again made the motion to remove the commuter rail study from the legislation, expressing that they should focus on more immediate needs in the city.
“I think all these projects are amazing, going to be for the betterment of Nashua, fix things that are falling apart and bring rail eventually to the city. But do we need it right now after hearing it could wait? Or could we repurpose that $225,000 to city welfare? Or could we repurpose that money to the paraprofessionals that are being underpaid in the school district?” Moran said.
Alderman Moran agreed. “My children’s children will probably see the rail. Tonight, there are people freezing on the streets. $225,000 is a lot of money to the point that you could probably house all those folks that are homeless in Nashua for at least three to six months with that amount of money. That is not chump change to people living in poverty and freezing on our streets who have no clue or idea of ‘oh my gosh, I can’t wait until there’s a freaking transit system that I can take into Boston to be homeless down there too,’” he said. “I think it should be repurposed to something that’s actually beneficial to people who are freezing and dying on our streets and overflooding our emergency rooms. But go ahead, study your rail.”
