Laura Colquhoun, Author at Granite Grok

Attorney General Formella’s Words Ring Hollow

November 5, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

On October 16, 2024, a grand jury indicted Supreme Court Justice Hantz Marconi, charging her with two felonies and five misdemeanors for attempting to interfere with a criminal investigation. As the story unfolds, you must wonder what is happening here. Attorney Formella’s press release stated: “No person is above the law, and the evidence in … Read more

Donchess performing arts center money bag

All Nashua Taxpayers Need To Let These Figures Sink In:

September 23, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

City of Nashua Budget FY2017 $263,823,554 City of Nashua Budget FY2025 $456,635,638 Difference $192,812,084 That is an increase of 73.08% This is all due to Mayor Donchess’ spending programs. So when are Nashua taxpayers going to wake up and realize taxpayers cannot afford to have Mayor Donchess doing our budgets? It looks like Mayor Donchess wants … Read more

An Artsy Donchess Dodge

August 18, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

Mayor Donchess has no interest in providing fact-based answers to citizens. He is all too comfortable misrepresenting information to the public, particularly when questioned. In the first Mayoral Debate last year against Mike Soucy, when questioned about the $7,108,850 Loan the City gave to NPAC Corp., a private corporation, the Mayor stated that no loan … Read more

If There is No Fraud, Let us See the Emails

July 16, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

If any Nashua resident feels that the city is transparent, try obtaining the redacted New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) emails that describe the cryptic scheme that resulted in the Performing Arts Center deal. The City does not want residents to see what was done behind closed doors. The Court just denied my Petition for an … Read more

A Cautionary Note to New Hampshire Municipalities To Avoid Tax Credit Schemes

July 13, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

Nashua City officials partnered with Mascoma Bank to accept New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) federal money, providing tax credits to private businesses to provide additional funding to construct our Performing Arts Center.

Blame Mayor Donchess and his Board of Aldermen

June 29, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

Every Nashua resident better start saving some extra money to pay for the 7.2% increase in property taxes. Mayor Donchess is stating that they only went up 3.7% when in fact that is a bold-faced lie. Property taxes will be going up 7.29% in December 2024. Residents do not have to believe me, just look at the current budget and compare it to FY2024 Budget.

The School District Must Think We’re Stupid

June 5, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

An article on Nashua Inklink stated that the school district budget was going up 4.49%. However, the City’s 2025 Budget book states that the School District is going up 4.94%. One would think that someone made a typo, but no, it gets better.

Nashua’s Right Not to Know

May 29, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

If normal people think that they are going to get justice in these times – forget it! I just went to court against the City of Nashua for Right To Know information which they would not give me. I assumed that once in court the city employees would tell the truth under oath but I was wrong. The saddest part was the judge believed them.

Night Cap: No One is Looking Out for the Nashua Taxpayers

February 18, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

On November 5, 2020, Mr. Cummings, Administrator Director for the City of Nashua, signed a contract with the Consultant Services Commercial LLC in reference to the Performing Arts Center construction.

School District Mistake Should Not Be Put on the Nashua Taxpayers Back

February 18, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

Per State of New Hampshire Department of Education via Right To Know re; the ESSER funds. The ESSER funds were shown in 3 parts:

Taxpayers Are Tired of Paying for Other People’s Mistakes

February 13, 2024 Laura Colquhoun

It appears that Aldermen Dowd and most of the rest of the Board of Aldermen for the City of Nashua think that the Nashua taxpayers have very deep pockets.

Laurie Ortolano Wins in State Supreme Court 5-0 vs City of Nashua

August 21, 2023 Laura Colquhoun

Today was a big win for every Nashua resident, and it also vindicated Laurie Ortolano as the Supreme Court ruled in the Ortolano case against the City of Nashua with a 5-0 win.

The Nashua Performing Arts Center: The Shiny Object That Snookered Taxpayers; Mayor Donchess Smiles

August 19, 2023 Laura Colquhoun

When Nashua residents look around town, one thing should come to mind – fraud – an act of deceiving or misrepresenting. I say this because the Nashua residents have been boldly deceived by Mayor Donchess on the Performing Arts Center.

Mayor Donchess is “Shoveling Bull to The Nashua Taxpayers”

April 13, 2023 Laura Colquhoun

It was very upsetting to read about Mayor Donchess being bullish on Nashua’s future. In reality, the Mayor is shoveling bull to the Nashua taxpayers.

City of Nashua seth-dewey-EOlo15oy8Ks-unsplash

Is Nashua Being Taken to the Cleaners Again?

January 29, 2023 Laura Colquhoun

Mr. Cummings, Director of Economic Development for the City of Nashua, presented the Mohawk Tannery development project to the Board of Aldermen on January 10, 2023. Nashua residents should be asking many questions starting with the 2019 projected Superfund cleanup costs of between $7-14 million dollars. This three-year-old costing should have been updated and more reasonable costs provided. … Read more

It Looks Like Nashua Taxpayers Will Be Making All the Concessions and Get Nothing in Return

January 18, 2023 Laura Colquhoun

At the January 10, 2023, Board of Alderman Special meeting for the City of Nashua on the development of the Mohawk Tannery/Fimbel Door property and the EPA superfund clean-up of the property.

Nashua Alderwoman Shoshanna Kelly Needs to Return the Money

October 10, 2022 Laura Colquhoun

BUMPED from 1/18/22 at the request of the author.

The Nashua taxpayers should think that our Board of Aldermen are looking out for the taxpayers’ however they are not. I had to send an email to remind them that it is their duty to look out for the Nashua taxpayers.

Tightening the Reins on Free Speech and Public Input

August 19, 2022 Laura Colquhoun

At the Board Of Aldermen meeting last week, it appears that the Board pushed through two ordinances that are grossly unjust to the Nashua taxpayers. It is perfectly fine for the Board of Aldermen and other officials to go after a Nashua resident, but GOD forbid those residents to fight back.

Nashua’s Illegal and Corrupt Project – The Nashua Performing Arts Center (NPAC)

July 18, 2022 Laura Colquhoun

Article 1 Section 8 of the NH Constitution states that government should be accessible and accountable to its citizens. This is not the case with the Nashua Performing Arts Center (NPAC).

Fred Teeboom is taking the City of Nashua back to the Superior Court

July 15, 2022 Laura Colquhoun

Enough is enough! Mr. Fred Teeboom is taking the City of Nashua back to the Superior Court to enforce the Spending Cap correctly. It seems that this year the City of Nashua was creative in adding in grant fund expenses over which the Nashua taxpayers have no control.