in Atkinson Town Government. This time the accusation was made at the Budget Committee public hearing last night by Planning Board chair, Ms. Killam, with able assistance by our Town Moderator Mr. Polito. Their complaint was against budget committee member Brian Boyle. Ms. Killam's assertion was that he is an abutter to the proposed site for the new signal tower behind the salt shed. Apparently Mr. Boyle's development at Winslow Dr. is within 200' of the tower site, according to Ms. Killam, and she stated that he could not discuss, deliberate, or vote upon this matter because of this. Mr. Boyle apparently feels his property is outside the 200' limit, but budget committee chair, Mark Acciard still asked him to avoid "the appearance" of impropriety, by stepping down from the committee and speaking from the audience; Which, to his credit Mr. Boyle agreed to do, unlike other notable town officials in recent history.
What is really humorous about this entire incident is that Mr. Polito, while evidently feeling that a tract of land which may be somewhere around the 200' limit set by the town's code of ethics ordinance is such a major infraction, didn't hold that position for the last three years as he told the town in numerous public meetings that it would be "no conflict" for a town employee to serve as selectman. He was wrong as decided by both Rockingham Superior Court, NH Supreme Court, and Atkinson Code of Ethics committee.
As for Ms. Killam, this blog finds it amusing that she is evidently concerned about this distance between Mr. Boyle development and the tower causing the potential for conflict, but is completely non-plussed by the fact that the ad hoc committee responsible for selling this abomination is a steaming cauldron of conflicts, with every member of the committee either living on High Hill rd. or earning their living or in one case retirement from various police depts. All people having clear interests.
Nor does she evidently have an issue with a proposed warrant article to establish a revolving fund for the recreation dept. that is under the authority of the "Recreation Commission". According to selectman Childs and Sullivan; this commission is comprised of the Recreation Dept. Head, Mrs. Mangini; Rec.Dept. employee, Mrs. Travers; Mrs. Mangini's boss in her private employment, Mrs. Thompson; and finally the Son of one of the aforementioned people, although whose was not clear. Although selectman Sullivan maintains that only two fo these people were ever appointed by the selectmen. Is it possible that there could exist, a board with more internal conflicts than this?
Is there anyone on this board, who is not related by marriage, or employment, to the rec. dept.?
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
8 comments:
Any chance that the person who is doing all this writing at least post their name?
Welcome Mr. Mascola, The answer is no, not at this time, not with the town officials in power now. We have seen over the last two years, numerous residents and town officials criticize the selectmen and we have seen the retaliation. Remember the selectmen's meeting June 6, 2006 when Brian Kaye merely came in to notify the selectmen that he would no longer participate do to threats to his family, and we saw the selectmen scream at him, the chief follow him out of the room yelling, then proceed to return and spend 20 minutes verbally bashing him. Remember the budget committee asking how the SUV could have been purchased by the selectmen without a vote, or public input through a warrant article or public hearing, the selectmen's response was to inform the chairman that if he didnt stop asking these questions in public they would have him removed( the implication being by the police) April 18, 2005 selectmen's meeting. How about Mrs. Grant in the Dec. 27, 2005 selectmen's meeting when she came in to file a complaint about the Chief and the selectmen responded to ths woman sitting there reading a statement was to call the police and have her, and her family remover not from the meeting but from the entire building. This removal occurring while the Chief was screaming at her from a distance of about two feet(according to court documents originating in her lawsuit).
Publius was the name under which John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison pblished articles informing the populace about what was hapenning in their government 240 years ago. These articles, collectively known as the Federalist Papers, laid the groundwork for the Declaration of Independence. Due to the corruption and retaliation under color of law by the British Government it was necesary to keep their identities hidden, but their words were true and accurate. And just as Publius was a pen name for a number of Patriots then so it is now. We are in a similar situation now where the public needs to know what our town officials are doing when the cameras are off. And it is this blogs mission to inform them. For the same reasons as well as those enumerated above, it is necesary to keep our identities hidden for now.
Why would we wish to subject ourselves to the public ridicule heaped upon Carol Grant, Mark Acciard, Brian Kaye, Eleanor Zaremba, Elaine Woodbury, et al. by the selectmen in public meetings, aside from what has gone on behind the scenes, just for expressing criticism.
OK, now that we got the history and relevance of Publius, how about Ulysses?
My name, Ulysses, a 'reasonable adventurer". I will be known by no other name.
Publius:
Your mission sounds honorable; however, how are we to know fact vs. fiction?
Shakespeare
Welcome William, A Long trip from Stratford-Upon-Avon. I ask not that you believe everything I say, but that you at least keep an open mind and check it out for yourself. To Quote Ronald Reagan "Trust, but Verify". If you find a fact that I state that is incorrect you have only to bring it to my attention along with your refuting evidence and I will apologize for the mistake, and seek to correct it in the future. In reality that is the only currency we have to trade upon here is the truth.
As an interloper to your town politics(I live in Derry) and an avid reader of the continuous drama surrounding your town officials refusal to obey the law, it occurs to me that the simple answer would be to stop electing town employees to run your town, or to not let them run in the first place. If they are not going to do the right thing when in office, they probably are worthy of their town jobs either.
as an atkinson resident...i agree with the last comment from derry..
But what seems so simple, can be at times difficult. I do believe in time, that this all will be behind the town. I will say i havn't been invloved in town politics for a while(because of the way things have been), but i will say this forum has made me feel otherwise.
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