NASHUA, NH – The Board of Aldermen tabled legislation that would authorize the city to acquire land by eminent domain for the Riverfront Project (R-24-109), and another that would allow for the appropriation of more than $5 million for various capital improvement projects, including the commuter rail study (R-24-115).
Land easement for Riverfront Project
Multiple easements have been identified that the city anticipates will be necessary for the construction and maintenance of the Riverfront Project. One such easement is the approximate 2,015 square feet over and in the Nashua River located next to 4 Water Street to be used for a boardwalk built three feet from the building.
Economic development director Liz Hannum explained at a committee on infrastructure meeting on Dec. 3 that the city has been trying to pursue a property easement with property owner Mike Cerato for several years, and that Cerato started renegotiating this summer.
According to Hannum, Cerato said he will grant the easement, but at a much higher rate than the city thinks that it is worth. Both Cerato and the city agreed to have the property appraised. Hannum said she believes the project “is too far down the line” for the property owner to sell the property to the city after the appraisal, and that it would have to be done through eminent domain.
The resolution went to the full board with no recommendation.
At the full board meeting, Cerato said that he supports the Riverfront Project, believing that it is a “truly transformative project,” and asked the board to table the resolution and wait for the appraisal to come back. He said that he doesn’t feel the eminent domain route is necessary, that he intends to grant the easement if they can work out a fair agreement, and that he is prepared to accept the appraisal.
“If the city is prepared to accept the appraisal and I am as well, why even initiate the eminent domain?” He asked.
“I think the city administration is a little heavy handed to use eminent domain in such a very small amount of money disagreement, ” Alderman-at-Large Melbourne Moran jr. said after some discussion. “Even if we table this later, if it ever came back, I would always vote no on it. I think it’s just way too heavy handed to bring this forth and for that I will stifle debate and make a motion to table.”
Appropriation for various capital improvement projects
R-24-115 allows for the supplemental appropriation of $5,245,000 of assigned fund balance for 14 capital improvement projects.
Such appropriations include $1,000,000 for city hall HVAC; #1,300,000 for improvements to bathrooms, wading pool, bandshell and the stonehouse at Greeley Park; and $225,000 for the Commuter Rail Project feasibility study.
While not necessarily against all of the projects, some aldermen didn’t like how they 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. “My perception is different from others and I understand that, but we need to look at each individual one, individually. If they were all separated out, I’d probably vote for every single one of them.”
While not opposed to the Commuter Rail Project, he made the motion to strike it from the list of items.
Aldermen Shoshanna Kelly, Derek Thibeault, and Patricia Klee felt that the rail project had been kicked down the road and didn’t want to continue to do so.
“I see this $225,000 as a small amount of money to put us in a position to take advantage of the possibility of the much larger money that would come not from us but the federal government in the future,” Alderman Ernest Jette said. “I think we’re doing ourselves a great disservice.”
“I think it is worth taking it out to show that we aren’t just going to rubber stamp a large bundle of different and diverse funding resources and we’re going to look at them,” Alderman Tom Lopez said, adding that the amendment wouldn’t “kill” the Commuter Rail Project, but that it would be repurposed and sent back through the budget committee.
He said that it is a measured approach that would save the board from having to hold 14 public hearings for each item.
“I’m not going to win a lot of friends by saying this but that’s what we signed up for,” Alderman Tim Sennott said. “With 14 expenditures we want to make, I guess that’s 14 public hearings.”
The board tabled the resolution until a special Board of Aldermen meeting to be held on Jan. 7, 2025.