Public Comment Archives

SMITH: Does YOUR CITY Require Self-Doxxing At The Mic?

March 27, 2026 Julie Smith

If you don’t already know, consider yourself notified of the newest litigation against the perpetually embattled City of Nashua. You can read all about it in the Institute for Free Speech’s statement. Click here to get all the details, including a copy of the complaint. If you’re not one to click on links, I’ll give … Read more

SMITH: People Not Being Heard; A Disturbing Trend

February 15, 2026 Julie Smith

Robert’s Rules, Mason’s Rules, and Moderator Gary Matteson’s own rules, I won’t get into the weeds or nuts and bolts of operations. Let’s just say that there’s a common structural design to maintain order. Maintaining order is vital to avoiding CHAOS, something that a lone wolf dissenting alderman was recently accused of being an agent … Read more

MUST SEE: The Best Public Comment…EVER!

January 12, 2026 Steve MacDonald

Originally posted by Bruce Fenton on the Durham, Lee, Madbury- Oyster River – Open Page on Facebook – this may be the best public comment at a town council meeting…EVER! Thank you, Bruce, for what ought to be satire but is closer to the truth than just about anything that could have happened during public … Read more

free speech megaphone pexels-cottonbro-studio-6484520

ORTOLANO: Free Speech for the Board, Restriction for the People

September 15, 2025 Laurie Ortolano

On August 4, 2025, the Personnel and Administrative Affairs Committee reviewed an ordinance sponsored by Alderman Rick Dowd to prohibit flags, banners, and signs in the Aldermanic Chamber. The ordinance was poorly drafted and, according to the New England First Amendment Coalition, raised serious constitutional concerns about viewpoint discrimination. Despite the importance of the issue, … Read more

Ortolano: Free Speech is Not a “Stunt”

August 11, 2025 Laurie Ortolano

A Letter to Nashua’s Ward 8 Constituents I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen and an active participant in our city’s legislative process. I want to address the recent newsletter from your Alderman, Derek Thibeault, and correct several factual inaccuracies regarding the public comment policy and my actions at the Personnel and … Read more

Nix the Jersey Barriers, an Action Item

October 23, 2024 Julie Smith

Nashua is less than 2 months away from the 100th anniversary of the fire that destroyed the previous Main Street bridge. If you’re a paid member, you can read the Telegraph article about the impact that its absence had on transit. I won’t get into the weeds of comparing 100 years ago to today, but … Read more

Musical Chairs

January 27, 2024 Laurie Ortolano

Remember how fun it was in grade school playing the game of musical chairs? You’d circle around the chairs to music and when the music stopped everyone had to grab a chair. But, they were one short. Out went the kid who didn’t get the seat. It was a frantic, fun game that honed kids’ … Read more

If a Comment Drops at a Board Meeting, Does It Make a Sound?

October 8, 2023 Ian Underwood

Apparently, in Prince William County, Virginia, the school board has been looking for ways to cut down on the number of angry comments made by angry parents at their public meetings.

Is Public Comment a Joke in Londonderry?

May 3, 2023 Op-Ed

Citizens who questioned the town of Londonderry’s failure to establish new rules of order at the Town Council reorganization meeting were silenced and berated by Town Councilor Jim Butler and Council Chairman Farrell, including him calling one citizen a joke, video below.

School Board’s Message – We Don’t Want to Know What You Think

January 24, 2022 Op-Ed

It was a long tough day today at work. I finished up, punched the clock, and took the drive home. My wife and kids, were happily there to meet me as I arrived. As soon as I walked in the door I could smell something delicious emanating from the kitchen. My stomach instantly began to growl. “Honey? Something smells delicious. What are we having for supper?”

Laconia School Board motioning to go into non-meeting

School Board’s Contempt and Ignorance Is Unacceptable

August 19, 2021 Op-Ed

The responsibilities of the Laconia School Board are unenviable. Their constituents, at odds with Board decisions, are treated with thinly veiled contempt by some of the Board and their minions. Frustration could be relieved if the Board would act to understand.

Public Official Censors Public Comment in Online Meeting to Control the Optics

February 10, 2021February 10, 2021 Doris Hohensee

On Monday, February 8th, the Nashua Board of Education held a contentious meeting over “remote” vs. “hybrid” learning. After nearly a year of waiting, “hybrid” might finally be an option in Nashua.

Nashua’s Politicians are Using the Coronavirus to Advance their Own Political Agendas

May 23, 2020 Laurie Ortolano

Everyone knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives, at least temporarily. This includes how we, the public, participate in local politics. With the pandemic-induced changes to how local politics works, I am a little concerned about the health of public participation during these unusual times.

Nashua School District Staff Should Not be a Protected Class

March 30, 2020 Op-Ed

On Friday, March 13th the Nashua Board of Education voted to provide full compensation to all district personnel for five days from March 16th to 23rd while shutting down the schools. There was no discussion of the cost to taxpayers as these funds were already in this year’s budget.

TCI is Accepting Public Comment: Tell Them the Solution is Less Government, Not More

February 25, 2020February 25, 2020 Steve MacDonald

The Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI) is a regional gas tax set by unelected bureaucrats. It claims that killing local economies and pinching pocketbooks to fund more failed government interventions will reduce emissions. I have a better idea.

Why Do Nashua Democrats Keep Trying to Intimidate and Silence Their Constituents?

November 22, 2019 Steve MacDonald

Nashua has a problem. It is swirling the bowl, to the left, in a predictable downward turn. A Nashua Rep. wants to label online engagement with public officials as harassment. There is a move to constrain requests for public documents under the state’s right to know law. Even the School District is into suppressing speech.

Testimony or Public Comment?

September 26, 2018February 26, 2011 Rick Olson

There were a lot of bills heard this week in Concord…. And there was much public comment that followed… Portions of which were outright lies and confabulation. To support, or not support the legislation at hand….a particular bill. I nearly always refer to any verbal address to committees as public comment, despite others who call … Read more