NASHUA — Members of the public and the Board of Aldermen were taken aback when someone said “shut up” during a public comment period at Tuesday’s board meeting.

While some residents are seeking an inquiry, city officials maintain it was just a misunderstanding.

The disruption occurred at the end of the meeting, when Selectman Stacie Laughton of Ward 4 was trying to voice her concerns about the ongoing Main Street improvement project.

“This project has been going on all summer long, and it has posed probably numerous other problems not just for myself but the business owners ...,” Laughton told the board. As she began to segue into another topic, she paused briefly as a voice was heard over the telephone intercom system saying, “Shut up.”

Two aldermen — Michael Tabacsko and Richard Dowd — were out of town on business and participating in the meeting via phone; their comments were being relayed over an intercom system throughout the aldermanic chambers.

After listening to a recorded audio of the meeting, board President Brian McCarthy insists that neither Tabacsko nor Dowd made the comment, saying they both told him they were not responsible for the brief outburst.

Tabacsko told the New Hampshire Union Leader Wednesday that he was in a hotel room in Atlanta, Ga., listening to the meeting, and absolutely did not make the statement.

“It is frustrating because I can’t prove or disprove this. And, I can’t imagine that Alderman Dowd would make any such comment either,” said Tabacsko.

“I think that something unfortunate happened here,” McCarthy said Wednesday night. “I don’t recognize the voice as either Rick or Mike.”

According to McCarthy, there was a disruption outside Dowd’s hotel room during the time Laughton was speaking, forcing Dowd to step away from his phone briefly. There were some parents and children being loud, and McCarthy said it was likely a parents’ voice was picked up by the aldermanic intercom.

“I think it was just a major misunderstanding,” Laughton said after speaking with McCarthy about the incident. “It makes me feel a little better now that I have an explanation. I wouldn’t typically expect that type of response from these people.”

Geoff Daly, a city resident who was in attendance, said Wednesday that there needs to be an inquiry into the incident, adding he was extremely disturbed by the rude comment.

Another local resident, Daniel Richardson, who also attended the aldermen’s meeting, described the interruption as “public disdain” cast upon a citizen, selectman and House of Representatives candidate (Laughton).

Tuesday’s incident takes place on the heels of a proposal to fine aldermen who are disrespectful during public meetings. Alderman Paul Chasse Jr., Ward 6, is calling for a $10 fine for any alderman deemed to be out of line at City Hall. A $25 fine will be levied for subsequent offenses.

The proposal has not yet been approved by aldermen.

Emergency meeting

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau has called a special Board of Aldermen meeting for tonight to discuss the controversial proposal to purchase three parcels of land abutting the city’s landfill.

The meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. The emergency meeting was scheduled because the purchase and sale agreement previously drafted between the city of Nashua and the owners of the three plots on West Hollis Street will expire at the end of the month.

On Tuesday, aldermen tabled a vote on the proposed $650,000 land deal.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.