There are four warrant articles on the ballot this year all tied to this Tower. There is a planning board article to allow the construction of a tower on town owned land over 350' elevation. They SAY that this is not designed to restrict it to the fire station property, but is there any other piece of "town owned land above 350' elevation"? This blog knows of none.
Secondly there is a warrant article to allow the selectmen to enter into a lease with a tower company of more than one year but not more than 25 years. Nice but don't you need the zoning change FIRST to be able to lease the land? Isn't this jumping the gun so to speak?
Thirdly there is a petition warrant article to prevent the selectmen from erecting this abomination in town center unless a study shows that a tower is the best way to deal with our communications issue, and that the fire station is the best place for it. THIS IS SMART! WHY ARE WE RUSHING?
Fourthly there is a petition warrant article to commission a study to look into how bad our communications problem really is, how best to solve it, an how much does it cost to do so. AGAIN THIS IS THE SMART PROPOSAL! The meetings would be posted, in the town hall, open to all who wish to come, and open to those who wish to participate. I know Lt. Baldwin has told the town that all of his committee's meetings were open to the public, and anyone could have come to them and voiced concerns, and he said it was wrong for people not to come to the meetings then to ask questions on town floor, and he has a point; but where were these meetings held? I never saw them posted, or advertised. I never knew they were going on until aftr they happened. And if there was so much work done in this study, why wasn't it presented for the voters at deliberative session? Library made a proposal that was in depth, discussed the entire planning process, the building materials, and in depth cost breakdowns. Their meetings were open, in library, advertised, and well attended. And they originally presented three options and asked the voters their opinion.
By Contrast, Lt. Baldwin's committee did a study, or so we have heard, haven't seen any data, just a sales presentation of what our communications coverage is now, and what it will be with the tower. No independent input, no data, no cost breakdowns, no options, discussed or it would seem considered. At town meeting we heard for the first time that you can put repeaters in cars and the officer only has to broadcast to his vehicle, and the vehicle takes it from there. Well, we have heard the Chief and Lt. Baldwin state that they have almost total coverage in the vehicles, why no discussion of this option? Why no explanation of why it will or won't work? No, when we ask legitimate questions about cost, necesity, options, in public, on town floor, WE GET YELLED AT, AND CHASTIZED BY AN ARMED POLICE OFFICER OBVIOUSLY EXASPERATED BECAUSE HE HAS TO ANSWER THE PEOPLE'S QUESTIONS!
I'll put aside the issue of the coersion of having an armed officer present a warrant article at town meeting( And aren't armed officers prohibited at town meeting unless requested by the moderator to keep the peace, under state law?) When a police officer begins yelling at the very people that pay him because he has to answer some questions, well, doesn't that raise OTHER questions? Temperment, suitablilty, professionalism, merit, education?
Just food for thought.
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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. "
13 comments:
Be careful what you say about Lt. Baldwin. Rumor has it that the Chief is grooming him as his replacement.
Yes he is, but I don't see anything in this article that didn't happen. I don't see any unfair criticism. And isn't that the point of this site, to be able to speak the truth and make observations without being harrassed for it?
Lt. Baldwin could not become the next Chief unless the people of Atkinson vote in a full-time Chief. Even then, he has no college degree, which should be one of the requirements.
And when, anonymous - did this town ever vote for a full time lieutenant?
Better yet when did the voters give the selectmen the authority to create the town's first full time Lt. slot, at a cost to the town of $85,000/yr.
Valerie Tobin, seeking office of board of selectman. Funny how all of a sudden we have a crisis in communication in Atkinson. A few years ago, I believe that we purchased additional radio's per the recommendation of the chief, yet there was no discussion at that time of the inability to communicate within the town due to "dead" zones.We need a full and complete study to determine if there is a problem and how to best resolve this issue without the tower placed in the middle of the town center. There was discussion at the deliberative session that the town of Derry was putting in or has put in a tower. We need to explore what all of the other communties are doing and can we link with them in a co-operative effort to benefit all of the surrounding communties especially since we work with the Plaistow PD and Fire. What happened to the $80K, was equipment purchased, and if so, what was purchased and how can it be best utilized. I raised the question of whether we can obtain more funds under National Security grants. I bet this hasn't been explored. Many questions, not enough answers...
...I wonder who else in town thinks the Police budget is way out of whack.
I pose this question to you, the people of Atkinson-- Just how much "crime" does Atkinson have that you need a cell tower which would cost more money than building a new P.D. station? Oh, wait...maybe we should find out the PD dept cell provider of choice, and see how it benefits THEM.
Answering the anon who wondered if anyone else thinks the PD budget is out of whack? A whole bunch of people. Have you ever seen him at a Budget Committee meeting? He gets really "loud" if someone questions him to any degree. And did anyone ask about it at the Deliberative Session?
Let's face it....we're alll gutless wonders.
And why are we all gutess wonders? Look what happenned to the last guy who questioned the chief...
Budget Committee chairman Acciard asked him to stop voting on police matters as a selectman, to recuse himself, he has been verbally bashed at selectmens' meetings on a regular basis, slandered and sued.
I dont know about any of you, but I dont need any of that. It is just not worth it.
Let the bully with a badge have his way! or get a bunch of people together who are sick of this crap!
We are not gutless wonders. We have had our Freedom of Speech stifled and frankly, are not really sure what to do. Part of this is coming to grips with and realizing what has actually happened, since none of us ever expected this situation to occur in our town.
After all, we have families to care for and most of us question the benefit of being the individual to go out on a limb and confront the bully.
The answer to this is not hard to figure out. We have to join together against the bully and put him in his place. This is done through organizing, town meetings and petitions. People have to decide they have had enough and want to do something about it.
The first step is to document all of the cases where police intimidation has occurred. And those who have been bullied, threatened or intimidated have to be willing to stand up and testify to what occurred. And those brave people need ALL of the townspeople to stand behind them.
The bottom line is we have to join together and stick together and not get weak when the man with the badge threatens us.
I for one am sick and tired of letting the bully with the badge get his way by manipulating town jobs and extorting taxpayer dollars. And I am completely mortified this is happening in our town. I fear that one day, my kids will look back and ask "Why didn't you do something about it?"
The question becomes not IF, but WHEN are we going to do something about it? The sooner the better.
Questions for everyone/anyone....
Was the Chief appointed? When?
Aren't there state laws detailing the requirements necessary to be a chief of police? Does our chief meet those requirements? If he was appointed, can't he be removed?
He was appointed in 1978, and get this the person who made the motion to appoint him was CAROL GRANT!!!
Bet she wishes she could turn back the clock on THAT choice!
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