Washington And Nashua Have A Lot In Common
Selecting people for critical leadership roles and monitoring their performance is paramount to an effective government. We all watched a bizarre public outing of our president’s diminished capacity and analysis of his fitness for duty. Those closest to him failed the nation by covering this up and propping him up to serve as Commander in Chief. At a time when political parties are more divisive than ever and align with unwavering loyalty, even the Democrats had to wave the white flag. They found someone else.
We face a similar situation with Nashua’s Corporation Counsel. This isn’t an ageism problem; it is a capability issue. For four years, he has created significant litigation for the City and failed to manage Nashua’s legal office competently.
A municipal attorney serves an essential function by providing the City with objective, nonpartisan legal advice and opinions. Corporation Counsel has created a politically divisive office, eroding public trust and professional integrity, where discrimination has become all too acceptable.
What has caused his visible decline?
Extensive police reports would indicate that he has suffered years of alcohol abuse and presents as an angry person, seeking conflicts and altercations. It appears that his various City titles and legal licenses have extended privileges and entitlements that let him off the hook. His last police incident at the Nashua Chili’s involved drinking, a loud altercation, and an assault reported by the Manager of Chili’s. When five officers responded, they never questioned their alcohol consumption. Instead, they asked whether the parties were involved in a physical relationship. This white, privileged, ivy-league man, who influences the police department budget, was hardly questioned. Do you think this is how a person of less status and influence would be treated?
In 2020, Corporation Counsel suffered a stroke that affected his job performance and tolerance for people. The decline was visible and continues. My interactions lead me to believe he is a hostile and unstable man. I avoid City Hall and have avoided interaction with him, fearing I will be arrested or worse. Corporation Counsel played a role in pushing an agenda to attempt to arrest me in City Hall repeatedly.
He lacks self-awareness and self-control to perform his duties, flying off the handle in Board meetings, yelling at citizens and Aldermen despite a Board Code of Conduct forbidding this behavior. The Mayor, City leaders, and the Board of Aldermen cannot reign him in. Risk management, whose job is to minimize City risk, is aiding the increased risk. He omits information when advising the Board, resulting in compromised decision-making.
The Mayor, an attorney himself, selects the legal staff to serve at his pleasure. Ultimately, the Mayor is taking advantage of an impaired attorney to do his bidding at taxpayers’ expense. Board of Aldermen members have long-standing personal friendships and social lives intertwined with Attorney Bolton, allowing them to turn a blind eye and permit misconduct and malpractice.
The Mayor and Corporation Counsel have cost the city millions in unnecessary legal expenses for years. Abatements and property appeals are inefficiently handled to line the pockets of attorneys with fees, open records information complaints and lawsuits are continuous, and more citizens have been speaking during public comment about their frustrations with the City’s compliance with the RTK law. The Mayor and Counsel doled almost $600,000 to outside legal counsel to defend one RTK lawsuit against one pro se Plaintiff. There is no solution because City leaders refuse to create uniform public policies that stop discrimination and partisan politics and provide equal access to public records. Violations of First Amendment Rights are happening frequently.
How does this get solved? We must restore professionalism and integrity to the legal field, starting with adherence to the Rule of Professional Conduct. Write to our City leaders, attend and speak up at public meetings, and vote in every election. It’s time for Nashua to commit to fairness, transparency, and respect for all citizens. The mayor won’t do this voluntarily. The public would wisely insist on the change by expressing their rights as citizens.
