Apparently, Folks, We have a lttle problem in town of late. Apparently warrant articles ammended on town floor were printed on the ballot incorrectly. now the ballots have to be re-printed. Furthermore, the absentee ballots have to be re-printed and re-mailed. Now this blog knows not who is responsible, for this fiasco, but the printing of the ballot is the job of the selectmen.
What about the cost? What doe sit cost to reprint the ballot, and the added mailing costs? Why haven't we heard discussion about this at selectmen's meetings? And first and foremost, how are the 19 townspeople currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq going to get their ballots, vote and return them by March 13, only 14 days away?
Whenever a voter has been disenfranchised by a government official it is serious. Who is going to get reprimanded for this? Someone needs to take responsibility for it!
As all of us Veterans know, S.N.A.F.U. is a military acronym for Situation Normal, All F**ked Up!
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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. "
10 comments:
It is the responsibility of the Selectmen's Office to prepare the warrant. The Selectmen then sign, thus giving it their approval. There apparently are no proof-readers in the Selectmen's Office. I suspect the mistake was found in the Town Clerk's Office, because those ladies do a super proof-reading job.
I think I heard the Selectmen say it is necessary to replace a page or two of the annual report which, fortunately, has not yet been printed yet, so there should be no additional costs. It would be nice to know how much additional cost there is for the ballot. Moreover, have the computer chips for the voting machines already been prepared, or do they also require editing?
You're right....situation is normal...just like the past couple of years.
This is a shame . Something so simple, yet is so very difficult for our three amigo's. Nice job guys!
Don't blame the Selectmen entirely...the warrant was prepared by somebody who wasn't very careful to ensure it's accuracy.
And don't call the Selectmen the three Amigos. THEY were funny; the Selectmen are not.
wasn't our $60,000/yr town administrator supposed to save the town time and money? Warrant articles have been late since he was hired, ballot printing and warrant printing late, is it because of him, or are the selectmen not doing their jobs?
Hope the Selectmen plan to put a letter of reprimand in the file of the person who is expected to properly prepare the warrat.
I think you ought to read the RSA before you assign blame. The town clerk is responsible for preparing the ballot, not the selectmen. The selectmen are only responsible for preparing the warrant for deliberative session. Oh, and by the way, the town clerk is on vacation and can't be reached to deal with this
You're right. The Town Clerk prepares the ballot...it's her job. But the Warrant is the responsibility of the Selectmen, and that's why it carries their signatures. The Selectmen are also responsible for the Town Report. If the Warrant appears in the Town Report, it bears their signatures and they are responsible. The Town Clerk prepares the minutes of the Deliberative Session. The Selectmen have two options in determing the correct wording for the amended warrant. They can note it themselves (or have someone there to do that) or they can contact the Town Clerk. The wisest thing to do is both, thereby ensuring the wording is correct.
Sorry anonymous, what appears in the town report is actually the ballot (we are a senate bill 2 town). The sole reposnibility for the wording is the town clerk and her minutes are the lawful record. Using anything else is not legal and just begs for bigger mistakes than this one. We all know that "shit happens" and this is not the first time there has been human error. Last year the district ballot had an error. It seems like this blog blames everything on the selectmen. I'm just waiting to see how the failure of the war in Iraq is their fault :-)
Excuse me. I don't/didn't intend to blame the Selectmen for these errors. I will blame the Selectmen's office, though. To the best of my knowledge, the Selectmen don't - and probably never have - "prepared" a warrant. They approve what is handed to them. And you're right - the town clerk's records are the "legal" source. However, time is a key factor in this case. Corrections need to be made quickly so the ballots can get to the printer (1st priority) and the town report can be finalized. The Selectmen sit next to the Town Clerk at Deliberative Session. It is not - and has never been - difficult to confer with her on the proper wording at the time the article is voted on. It's worked successfully for SEVERAL, with two exceptions. The warrant had to be quickly amended to eliminate proposed zoning ordinances because of the Lewis Court Case. One other omission was a petitioned article, shortly thereafter. It would have worked this year if "someone" had bothered to consult the Town Clerk at the time. In all honesty, I blame our $60,000 Town Administrator whose job is to do everything right in order to make the Selectmen look good.
Well it looks like we have another major mistake, the vendor peyments and employee salaries are missing.
What has happened in the selectmen's office in the past three years? They can't seem to get this stuff right. We never had these problems with Donna Sullivan, or Elaine Woodbury, Or Jane Cole, or Vic Richards.
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