Another new contributor under the Publius byline.
Publius: Article Submission.
WINDS OF CHANGE
What will it take for change to occur?
How many more times does the will of Atkinson voters have to be ignored before the voters do something about it?
How many more laws must be broken by the extremists before the voters do something about it?
How many more times will our Freedom of Speech have to be infringed upon before Atkinson voters do something about it?
Sad that history repeats itself when residents are afraid of going to Selectman's meetings and asking hard questions.
How many more cell towers, failures on Vietnam memorials, threats to the town aquifer, abuse of taxpayer dollars, etc. etc. must occur before the voters do something about it?
How many more town reports will be missing critical information on payments to vendors/salaries which is a direct attempt to mislead voters on the TRUTH, before voters do something about it?
How many more insults from the extremists must Atkinson voters and other elected officials and employees endure before we do something about it?
We can whine, cajole and carry-on in this blog FOREVER. While the blog serves a valuable purpose to share information previously suppressed by the extremists, I predict the next election will be just more of the same: Chief will electioneer the town vote in March results by using taxpayer dollars and town resources to drive his elderly voters to the polls (of course he must save Elderly Affairs from the evil voters who - oh, by the way passed the article to buy a new handicapped van). I predict Sapia will get re-elected for another 3 years as the puppet to torture us and we will be living a nightmare. Our aquifer will be drained, the center of our town will be scarred by a monstrous cell tower and the Vietnam memorial will continue to collect dust (I realize this is just a subset of the insults).
We can all sit here and vent which makes us feel good. But nothing will change unless town taxpayers unite, organize, raise funds, file lawsuits and expose the extremists for what they are. That is the only way you can affect change. Those are the tools THEY are using. So unless you are ready to become a true Atkinson Minuteman, keep on blogging to your heart's content. It will make you feel good in the short term but nothing will change.
So the question becomes this: Do enough people in town have the guts and the fortitude to stand up to the evil empire or not? Do you want to take back control of your town or not?If you do, please comment accordingly.
(Anonymous)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
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. "
17 comments:
All excellent questions. Can't wait to see if we get any answers.
I agree with almost all of your predictions. The only exception MIGHT be the Nam Memorial. I do believe something will happen - one way or another - with that.
And I believe there's damned little we can do about it. If you've ever been a victim of the Chief's venom, you'll know how and why I feel that way.
WHy is the selectmen so against this?
Why are the selectmen so against what, exactly?
The Memorial.
Oh well thats easy, Fred was against it from the start. Chief said on camera in a selectmen's meeting that there was "no way he vote to accept those panels, Carol Grant was not going to get her way" Jack has no mind of his own, he does what the chief says, so that makes up his mind.
And that is how so much of what happens in town gets decided. Because someone is pissed off and determined to get someone back, rather than what is in the best interest of the town.
There are so few town officials tha tplace the towns interest before their own. And we have only one selectman currently who does that.
I took the initiative to talk to neighbors and friends. We are ready to be Atkinson Minutemen.
Where do we sign up?
We could escort them to the edge of town and tell them never to come back. Wouldn't be the first time that happened.
Actually a former police chief tried that about 50 years ago. Story goes that Phil Consentino was raising hell in town, and the chief of police at the time put him in the car, and drove him to the edge of town, called his father to come and pick him up and never let him come back into Atkinson.
Didn't work then, not likely to work now.
All of that story is true, but here is the follow up, 20 years or so later, Phil is on the planning board, and this chief comes before the board for a variance or something, and Phil put him through the wringer, ended up costing him more money. At the end of the hearing, Phil leans back in his chair and says, "I've waitned 20 years to get even with that son of a bi**h."
Urban legend? Think again
Wasn't the Planning Board; was the Selectmen, and Phil was the chairman. The Selectmen levied a fine levied against the other gentleman (who had been a developer). Your quote, though, is perfect. I understand Phil has also been known to say "I don't get mad; I get even".
I'll believe that.
all true, and then three years later, just after becoming chief selectman Wayne Peak, pointed out publicly that Phil wasn't giving report fees to the town bookeeper, but giving them to the police assoc. instead. True, but Phil never the less, set about hounding peak until he left town. Claimed peak had a vendetta against him, sued him for slander, followed him through town on his motorcycle, gave him tickets that got overturned in court.
Does any of this treatment sound familiar? We have heard these very same accounts from Brian Kaye, Mark Acciard, and Carol Grant.
Guess old dogs never do learn new tricks.
Add to all that....there were a few police officers who didn't please him very much. They don't work here any more.
Again true, but three of them sued the town becaus eof his favortism and actions, and won or were settled costing the town money.
Not to mention the fact that in 1999, the organizers of the union publicly said that they were not organizing for money but because of Phil. Remember the union came in the middle of and after a number of labor board complaints.
Even the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board, in 2002, ordered Phil to "cease and desist from bullying, harrassing, and intimidating" his officers.
Obiously, we don't live in Mayberry because he sure as heck ain't no Andy.
There were in fact two complaints filed against Phil Consentino by Atkinson Police Officers. The information is on public record and can be found at the www.nh.gov website. Just do a search on the word Consentino.
You will get the following link with the records about the 2 decisions from the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board.
http://www.nh.gov/cgi-bin/htsearch?config=nhgovportalsearch&restrict=&exclude=&words=consentino&submitButtonName=Go
Doesn't sound like a very hospitable working environment.
Sign me up as an Atkinson Minuteman. Need more info. Just don't hold meetings in NH !! Go to Mass where it is safe!
There was also a lawsuit or complaint filed by Officer Buco, that was settled, and on another matter a lawsuit filed against the town by officer Baldwin over being considered for the Lt. position in his 5th year as a cop, and a second suit threatened over his differential pay while called up to active duty, that never materialized. According to the minutes, the selectmen wanted to see his military leave and earnings statement after advancing him $5,900. He refused to provide it, instead opting to only provide his employer with a Base pay letter, which only shows about half his pay. Instead of the actual differential of about $450/mo. he wanted almost $2,000 difference between the base pay amount and his police salary.
Post a Comment