Finally, a selectman who is not afraid to PUBLICLY state that the voters wishes as expressed by their vote must stand! Sorry, Jack, you can't stack the tower committee in order to achieve the outcome you wish to have.
The voter approved warrant article stated thus;
“ To see if the Town will raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to pay for a study by professionals in the emergency communications field, to advise the Town on at least, but not limited to, two options to bring the emergency communications system in Atkinson up to standards that meet or exceed State and/or Federal recommendations for the next decade of service level. Said study’s final guidelines, before being put out to bid by the Selectmen, will be set by an ad hoc committee composed of one member each from the following organizations (as chosen by the organization): Police, Fire and Highway Safety Departments, Selectmen, Planning Board, Building Needs, Conservation Commission and Budget Committee.”
You see, Mr. Sullivan is absolutely correct! The article is clear. there are to be 8 members of said committee, as specified. But selectman Sapia does not have a very good track record at obeying the wishes of the voters, nor does Mr. Childs. Remember the Vietnam Honor roll panels articles in 2005. Still not fulfilled! The selectmen are so petty that they haven't even paid the $1.00 specified in the article.
And please remember that just because you use a radio it does not make you a communications professional who can design and build a system.
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. "
10 comments:
That's interesting...Mr. Sullivan is the real estate agent for Brian Boyle who us a direct abutter to one potential location for the tower. Under Atkinson's Conflict if Interest Ordinance, he can not deliberate or vote on this committee. I guess we have anothetr Selectman who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut!
Frank, you are truly the king of hypocrites.
1st. Paul's comments about the wording of the warrant article have nothing to do with a decision on the tower, and therefore would not be grounds for recusal under ANY circumstances, and you know that.
But here is the true hypocracy. You feel that Sullivan has a conflict because he is working with Boyle. But you have no problem with a police chief voting on police matters as a selectman, even though the LAW says he can't do that.
And you have no problem with a dept. head voting on his own pay raise, even though a number of laws state that he can not do that!
Tell me, you speak of sullivan having to recuse himself because he is contracted to sell Boyle homes, why do you not mention the FACT that neither Jack nor Fred can vote on the tower issue either because they have already pre-judged the issue. There are only about 6 precedents where selectmen have had to recuse themselves because they spoke out for or against an issue before it came to them to decide. This is called Predisposition.
Please show me where the town code of ethics ordinance says that someone who contracts work for an abutter, must recuse themselves?
Tell me, Frank, If you hire a lawn service, and one of those guys happened to be a selectman, would they have to recuse them selves because you are an abutter? What does that have to do with them?
Another sterling legal opinion from the king of bad legal advice in town.
WOW! good post, and factually correct.
Here is some more fodder for the grist mill.
In the current civil rights case against the town, Selectmen Childs and Sapia can not represent the town as selectmen either, because they are both individually defendents, along with the town.
Here is the supporting case law for what I just said. Maybe the Moderator can attempt refutation of this issue as well.
Taylor-Boren v. Isaac, 143 N.H. 261,268,723 A. 2d 577 (1998) .... is per se disqualified due to the probability of unfairness when the party has become personally embroiled in criticism from a party before it.
NH Constitution pt.1, art.35...all judges be as impartial as the lot of humanity will permit. This has been extended to all members of boards that act in any quasi-judicial manner.
When a member of the .... board has prejudged the facts of a particular case before it this prejudgement constituted a cause for disqualification from the quasi-judicial function of the board.
The Supreme Court held in Rollins v. Conner, 74 N.H. 456(1908) that the mere participation of one disqualified member of a tribunal was sufficient to invalidate the tribunals decision because it was impossible to estimate the influence one member might have on his associates.
As you can see the precedent is well established so the two major issues before the town currently the majority of the board of selectmen can not deal with., Now can they appoint anyone else to hear it.
Just curious - how is Sapia trying to stack the tower committee? I didn't watch so now you've got me curious.
To Anon @ 10:41
By the wording of the warrant article you would have a committee of 8 people. 8 votes. By the committee proposed by Sapia and Consentino you would have 17 people of which 10 have already decided that a tower is the way to go.
The more the merrier, right?
New Post:
What’s the story with our town’s web site? Anyone else notice that the last Selectmen’s meeting minutes posted on www.town-atkinsonnh.com are from 2006? And there never is a posting of the meeting agendas just before a Selectmen’s meeting. At least the ZBA and Planning Board are somewhat up to date.
NH towns our size and smaller are up to date with this public information on their web sites. What’s the story with Atkinson? When will Atkinson enter the 21st century and keep their website up to date? The people responsible for each office in Atkinson should have access to regularly update their portion of the site. Open government is good. I know we run this town mostly on volunteer efforts, but isn’t it time to bring the responsibility of maintaining the web site into town hall?
When I would send Mr. Roberts the minutes from our budget eetings, he would have them up in 48 hours or less.
When I commented on the slowness of the selectmen's minutes he replied that he puts them up as soon as he gets them from Russ. That Russ sends them in batches periodically.
So maybe our selectmen can direct him to send them in on a timely basis.
Hope that this helped.
According to TITLE VI
CHAPTER 91-A
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND MEETINGS
Section 91-A:2,
...Minutes of all such meetings, including names of members, persons appearing before the bodies or agencies, and a brief description of the subject matter discussed and final decisions, shall be promptly recorded and open to public inspection within 144 hours of the public meeting...
Doesn't this apply to our Selectmen's Meetings? Isn't this Russ's job to get them posted? One quarter of the year has passed and there is not one posting for 2007. If I was this lax in my job, I'd be fired.
ARTICLE SUBMISSION
ONGOING MANIPULATION OF TOWN INFORMATION: NO 2007 MINUTES; NO VENDOR/SALARY REPORTS IN 2006 TOWN REPORT
Why is our town leadership intentionally withholding information from the taxpayers?
Coincidentally, this is critical information for voters to have just before a March election.
How much longer do we have to tolerate this?
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET ANSWERS? I want answers and I want them NOW.
Is this the responsibility of our
town administrator? If not, who is responsible?
And when are we, the taxpayers, going to organize and do something about it? The Chief can't arrest and harrass 20 or 30 people that show up in unity at a Selectman's meeting.
I'm the chairman of the Danville web committee. Our situation is the same with minutes. Some people give them to us the day after they are approved, some in batches, some not at all.
There is no requirement under RSA 91-A that minutes or anything else be posted on your town web site. They just have to be available in paper form in the town office during business hours. Not posting on the web site is contrary to the spirit but not the letter of the law.
Post a Comment