The Board of Selectmen discussed who to nominate for the annual Loyalty Day awards program, for Hudson VFW Post 5791. Town Administrator, Steve Malizia, said that every year around this time they get a letter from the VFW looking for names of nominees for the awards. “This is an annual award that we have submitted names for since 2003,” he said.
He explained that the VFW was looking for someone who “has made a contribution to the wellbeing of the community.”
“This year, we would like to nominate Elvis Dhima for this award. As you all know, Elvis is the Town Engineer and has been employed by the town since October 2014,” Malizia wrote. “During his tenure as Town Engineer, Elvis has brought in millions of dollars of grants and has worked diligently to ensure that the town’s infrastructure is in the best shape it can be given our budget constraints.”
“I think we all know the amount of grants and projects he’s completed on the behalf of the town,” Malizia added.
Malizia noted that the police department and fire department have their own nominees, so the nominee must be an employee from a different department.
In the nomination letter for Dhima, Malizia said that prior to working in Hudson, he was a Senior Staff Engineer for the city of Nashua.
“Prior to that, Elvis worked for several local engineering firms. Elvis earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in 2004 and he is a licensed Professional Engineer,” Malizia wrote. “Elvis has overseen many projects in town including bridge repairs, water system and sewer system upgrades and major road projects. Elvis has worked tirelessly to secure millions of dollars’ worth of grants to help defray the cost to the Hudson taxpayers of many of the projects. Elvis works closely with the Public Works Department, the Water and Sewer Utilities and the Conservation Commission to ensure that they have the resources they need to keep the town’s infrastructure and open space in top notch condition. Elvis resides in Sandown, NH with his wife, Laura, and their two children. We are pleased to nominate Town Engineer Elvis Dhima for the 2024 Loyalty Day Award.”
Board of Selectmen Chair, Marilyn McGrath, said she was glad that he was nominated.
“He has a work ethic that goes beyond reproach, I’ve never seen anyone work so hard for the town as he has over the last few years, so I’m happy to see this. I’m happy he’s been nominated,” McGrath said.
The Board of Selectmen approved nominating Dhima for the award, 4-1, with Selectman, Kara Roy, voting against it.
