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Effort renewed to consolidate Nashua court in Manchester
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NASHUA — A proposal to move Nashua's Superior Court operations to Manchester may have been stalled last year, but the state Legislature will revisit the idea as early as next month.
Legislation has been drafted that — if approved — would consolidate Hillsborough County Superior Court South in Nashua with Hillsborough County Superior Court North in Manchester.
According to the proposed bill, House Bill 1655, all Hillsborough County Superior Court operations would be housed in a single site in Manchester by Sept. 1. Manchester's courthouse on Chestnut Street recently underwent $15.6 million in renovations.
Nashua's courthouse on Spring Street will then serve only as Nashua's 9th Circuit Court, which includes district, probate and family divisions. All superior court operations, such as jury trials involving civil cases and felony-level crimes, would ultimately be moved to Manchester, according to the bill sponsored by state Rep. Ken Weyler, R-Kingston.
Judicial officials are in favor of the proposed consolidation for various reasons, according to Judicial Branch spokesman Laura Kiernan.
“Our position has not changed. It is in the hands of the Legislature now as a policy matter,” Kiernan said Friday.
According to the bill, savings from the proposed consolidation will primarily be from personnel. Three department heads would likely be reclassified, resulting in an annual savings of about $18,800 in fiscal year 2014 and each year thereafter. In addition, the Judicial Branch plans to eliminate through attrition three other administrative positions — including a clerk, jury clerk and receptionist — by fiscal year 2016, which will result in an annual savings of about $294,000 in 2016 and each year following.
Chief Justice Linda Dalianis and Superior Court Justice Tina Nadeau have previously spoken in favor of the consolidation, saying that implementation of the plan will produce efficiencies in the delivery of services to the county, and result in cost savings crucial to the effective operation of the court system.
“We do, however, recognize the importance the City of Nashua places upon the Spring Street Superior Court location and we respect the need to address fully all the issues that have been raised,” Dalianis wrote in a letter to Mayor Donnalee Lozeau last spring. “ … Although we began developing this plan in response to the legislature's request for additional cost savings from the judicial branch, we also believe that consolidation makes sense for our overall plan to improve court services statewide.”
The proposal has gained much criticism from the Nashua Bar Association, which has formed a committee in opposition to HB 1655. The group meets weekly to forge ahead with a plan to stop the proposed consolidation.
“The superior courthouse is a very important institution to our business community, and moving it to Manchester makes very little sense,” said David Gottesman, a Nashua attorney and former Democratic state senator who is spearheading the association's efforts to save the courthouse.
Many changes took place last year in the Nashua court system, with the Nashua District Courthouse on Walnut Street shutting down and the change to a circuit court system now operating at the Spring Street location.
“The courthouse has adjusted very nicely. Everything is going well over there,” Gottesman said, explaining the staff is working cooperatively despite having lost two judges because of budgetary cuts.
Gottesman argues that the potential cost savings mentioned by supporters will actually result in a downshifting of expenses. There would be substantial overtimes fees that Nashua police officers incur traveling to Manchester for lengthy criminal trials, he said, adding that less affluent clients may struggle to find transportation from Nashua to Manchester, possibly resulting in further delays in the court process.
“This will be a terrible inconvenience. This is not personal, this is all business,” said Gottesman. “We are going to see this thing through until the end.”
The proposed legislation will soon be reviewed by the House of Representative's Judiciary Committee. A hearing on the bill could be held as early as Feb. 9, although an official date has not been scheduled.
Weyler, the primary sponsor of the bill, did not return phone calls and emails seeking comment. Rep. Lynne Ober, R-Hudson, another sponsor, referred all questions to Weyler.
Legislation has been drafted that — if approved — would consolidate Hillsborough County Superior Court South in Nashua with Hillsborough County Superior Court North in Manchester.
According to the proposed bill, House Bill 1655, all Hillsborough County Superior Court operations would be housed in a single site in Manchester by Sept. 1. Manchester's courthouse on Chestnut Street recently underwent $15.6 million in renovations.
Nashua's courthouse on Spring Street will then serve only as Nashua's 9th Circuit Court, which includes district, probate and family divisions. All superior court operations, such as jury trials involving civil cases and felony-level crimes, would ultimately be moved to Manchester, according to the bill sponsored by state Rep. Ken Weyler, R-Kingston.
Judicial officials are in favor of the proposed consolidation for various reasons, according to Judicial Branch spokesman Laura Kiernan.
“Our position has not changed. It is in the hands of the Legislature now as a policy matter,” Kiernan said Friday.
According to the bill, savings from the proposed consolidation will primarily be from personnel. Three department heads would likely be reclassified, resulting in an annual savings of about $18,800 in fiscal year 2014 and each year thereafter. In addition, the Judicial Branch plans to eliminate through attrition three other administrative positions — including a clerk, jury clerk and receptionist — by fiscal year 2016, which will result in an annual savings of about $294,000 in 2016 and each year following.
Chief Justice Linda Dalianis and Superior Court Justice Tina Nadeau have previously spoken in favor of the consolidation, saying that implementation of the plan will produce efficiencies in the delivery of services to the county, and result in cost savings crucial to the effective operation of the court system.
“We do, however, recognize the importance the City of Nashua places upon the Spring Street Superior Court location and we respect the need to address fully all the issues that have been raised,” Dalianis wrote in a letter to Mayor Donnalee Lozeau last spring. “ … Although we began developing this plan in response to the legislature's request for additional cost savings from the judicial branch, we also believe that consolidation makes sense for our overall plan to improve court services statewide.”
The proposal has gained much criticism from the Nashua Bar Association, which has formed a committee in opposition to HB 1655. The group meets weekly to forge ahead with a plan to stop the proposed consolidation.
“The superior courthouse is a very important institution to our business community, and moving it to Manchester makes very little sense,” said David Gottesman, a Nashua attorney and former Democratic state senator who is spearheading the association's efforts to save the courthouse.
Many changes took place last year in the Nashua court system, with the Nashua District Courthouse on Walnut Street shutting down and the change to a circuit court system now operating at the Spring Street location.
“The courthouse has adjusted very nicely. Everything is going well over there,” Gottesman said, explaining the staff is working cooperatively despite having lost two judges because of budgetary cuts.
Gottesman argues that the potential cost savings mentioned by supporters will actually result in a downshifting of expenses. There would be substantial overtimes fees that Nashua police officers incur traveling to Manchester for lengthy criminal trials, he said, adding that less affluent clients may struggle to find transportation from Nashua to Manchester, possibly resulting in further delays in the court process.
“This will be a terrible inconvenience. This is not personal, this is all business,” said Gottesman. “We are going to see this thing through until the end.”
The proposed legislation will soon be reviewed by the House of Representative's Judiciary Committee. A hearing on the bill could be held as early as Feb. 9, although an official date has not been scheduled.
Weyler, the primary sponsor of the bill, did not return phone calls and emails seeking comment. Rep. Lynne Ober, R-Hudson, another sponsor, referred all questions to Weyler.