Move on, Director Cummings

I attended the Infrastructure Committee meeting on July 13, 2022 which featured Mr. Cummings as the guest presenter reviewing two bonded projects, the redesign of West Pearl Street and the Downtown Riverfront Project.

The Riverfront Project was rushed through last December, a holiday shopping spree, with a board approved $2O million bond. Mr. Cummings reviewed with the committee a “bad news” letter on project delays and cost increases.

In a line of questioning by Chairman O’Brien, Director Cummings stated that he always favors more public participation on these project.

Mr. Cummings is running covert operations with extravagant projects paid for by taxpayers. He appears to loathe public participation as indicated by his repeated failure to notice public meetings and produce minutes for public record on projects he leads involving tens of thousands of tax dollars.  He is a repeat offender of the NH Right to Know Law, willfully withholding records requested by the public and ignoring the advice of Corporation Counsel.  The meetings of the Nashua Performing Arts Center and the Downtown Improvements Committee are illegal. Minutes are not maintained for public inspection for these committees as well as the Tax Incremental Finance Advisory Board. These three project involve $60 million in tax dollars and the doors and shades are closed to the public.

In violation of State Law, Mr. Cummings is holding records in his office that are not accessible to the public during normal business hours.  Locked doors and unstaffed rooms are not places to maintain “inspectable” public records. Ask for these records and you are told to go away or make an appointment.

Mr. Cummings has no business working in public service. He belongs in private business where he can manage projects that do not legally require public oversight. Nashua needs no more repeat offenders of the Right to Know Law in City government. Move on, Mr. Cummings.