Politics & Government

Broad Street Parkway Contract Approved

After two hours of public comment and a last-ditch effort to hold back funding, the parkway project finally passed "go."

Just before last night's Board of Alderman meeting, Mayor Donnalee Lozeau was preparing for a history lesson.

"If you know the history of the parkway you come to learn that those who don't want it to happen find a way to come up with something that stalls it," Lozeau said. "This really began in the 1940s and '50s."

Lozeau had pulled together a half-century of parkway history, using slides to enhance her presentation, delivered as part of her routine remarks to the board.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She noted that the presentation was meant to dispel recent criticism over a lack of information on the project status, and to counter those who have said publicly that the process has been less than transparent.

Following the presentation –  and two hours of public comment and board discussion –  Aldermen approved a $1.5 million contract for the final design of the long-awaited Broad Street Parkway to Bedford-based Fay, Spofford & Thorndike, LLC.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The motion passed, 11 to 4, with Aldermen David Deane, Barbara Pressley, Paul Chasse and Mark Cookson voting against the motion.

Prior to that vote Cookson tried to get support for a motion to fund only half of the proposed $1.5 million as a way of insuring that the board could have some sway should they want to tweak the current approved path for road construction.

His motion was voted down.

The notion of withholding funds came during public comment from resident Geoff Daly, who proposed that approving only half the full amount would allow work to move forward while giving Aldermen time to explore options that might spare a section of an old storehouse building currently slated to be razed.

Among those who spoke against approval of the contract were Tracy Pappas, who is also a Public Works board member.

"I was not one who took the historical perspective; my objection is to the process. I don't think it's any one person's fault, but because it's been going on for so many years, I think the process is important," said Pappas, who said given the amount of time that had lapsed since the project was first approved, and the current uncertain economic climate, she would be in favor of holding off, rather than saddle taxpayers with growing expenses.

Former Alderman Fred Teeboom, who also spoke during public comment, had a different take. He is in favor of the parkway project, not only because the city is obliged to continue now that it has invested significant federal money in the project, but because he believes the highway is key to the city's economic future due to potential development of the millyard.

"This project, to me, is an absolute gem, and to not go forward now, that would be atrocious; that would be unforgivable," Teeboom said.

In other business, Alderman approved the list of appointees to the inaugural and thereby "historic" Pennichuck Board of Directors, who include:

Jay Lustig of Nashua; John D. McGrath of Londonderry; Preston J. Stanley of Nashua; Elizabeth A. Dunn of Windham; Paul A. Indeglia of Amherst; Jim McMahon of Nashua; David Bernier of North Conway; Stephen Genest of Nashua and Thomas Leonard of Nashua.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here