Reported in the paper today is a story about how the selectmen have voted to sell the van to the Phillips family for $1, but they received complaints. This is incorrect, but what could they expect when they are getting the story from our selectmen. They did not get complaints, they got questions about the value of the Van(because chief was in the paper inflating its value to make HIS donation seem grander) They got questions about teir authority to dispose of town vehicles, and why they agreed without voting(which all they had to do was answer these questions and there would have been no issue at all. And they received an offer for the van for $750, for the purpose of donating the van to the very same family that the selectmen wanted to donate it to(all they had to do was accept the offer, say thank you, and donate the van)
But instead they choose, as is their long established practice, to shoot the messenger, namely Mr. Springer of Danville, who offerred the money to "make the taxpayers of Atkinson whole" There is no mention of this in the eagle tribune article, probably because the selectmen do not want attention drawn to the fact that THEY HAVE ONCE AGAIN ABROGATED THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES, BY REFUSING THE $750 OFFER, SO THAT THEY CAN SELL IT FOR A BUCK!
Selectmen Sullivan it appears, refused the acceptance of the letter form Mr. Springer, containing the offer of $750! The selectmen evidently, as reported by the chief, conducted ILLEGAL MEETINGS for the purpose of discussing what to do about this offer. Oh, yes it would have been awful to have to thank someone else instead of Phil, Jack, Fred, and Paul, for their generosity, once again, it is all about them, not about helping the family and doing right by the taxpayers.
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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. "
6 comments:
Maybe Monday night, the selectmen can explain the Thursday conference call, and the Saturday Conference call, and show the posting, and minutes from those two meetings.
Maybe they can also explain when they voted to only trade one cruiser in on the two new ones, instead of two for two like they told the voters.
As Ben Franklin said:
Sunlight is the best disinfectant
What is a question?
First a basic and simple question is asked.
This question is inferred to be a questioning of “their” authority.
Which is seen as a complaint and reported as a complaint.
Then a plot must be hatched to put the questioner in their place.
And, the oligarchy must be restored to its high station.
And their 15 minutes passes so they can be forever nothings.
Its like Déjà vu all over again.
I'd appreciate it if somebody could let me know if my name was actually mentioned at the Atkinson BOS meeting on Monday evening, and, if so, what was said.
Mr. Springer,
You will be happy to know that they did not mention your name. They were purposely vague, although they did mention that they had refused to accept your letter which they knew contained a check, and that they were going to sell the van for a buck on Fri. They also left the distinct impression that some busy body from out of town was inserting them selves into the issue, and that this was a bad thing.
I want to know why they refused your check, when that appeared to be a win-win situation for the town.
But then they would have to share the families gratitude with someone else, how could their ego's possibly stand that?
Thanks for the information about the comments at the meeting.
I have not had direct contact with anybody from Atkinson since the phone conversation with Consentino last week.
It is my understanding now that people in Atkinson sounded out people in Danville about me. Based on what they heard back, they thought that if they went ahead with their original plan to donate the vehicle to the family, that I would likely respond by making a donation to the family. That way, the family would get the vehicle plus additional cash.
There was and is no deal between me, the town of Atkinson, or the family. Or anybody in Danville, for that matter. The only offer was the one that Atkinson rejected by refusing my letter.
I had offered to pay the fees to register the vehicle in Danville if the Atkinson selectmen rejected my offer to buy the vehicle from them, which of course they did. Perhaps that reinforced any representations from Danville people about my intentions.
In view of the needs of the family, the good intentions of the Atkinson chief and selectmen, and with gratitude to those of my fellow townspeople who vouched for me, I have decided to go beyond the commitment to pay the registration fees and simply turn over the $750 to the family (in lieu of paying the fees). I will do this by making a donation to the Danville Fire Association so that I will be able to take a tax deduction. I will cut the check once I know that the vehicle has been conveyed to the family and once I have received the letter back and managed to restore the funds to my checking account.
It's not that I doubt the intent to donate the vehicle on Friday, it's just that this whole thing has become so confusing that it seems prudent to get confirmation before putting now a second check into the mail.
I will leave it to Atkinson residents and taxpayers to decide if your selectmen did the right thing in this instance, turning down my offer in the hope that there might be a greater benefit than if they accepted a bid set at 50% above the actual value.
Since the proprietor of this blog is wont to introduce Latin legal terms into his articles, I would like to suggest one to you at this time: "de minimis". This means "little things". It stands for something that is not worthy of law's attention or procedures; something that is too trivial in the eyes of law.
Perhaps that term could be applied to this van, which at $500 might be worth little more than its scrap value, but which will be of utility to its intended recipients.
unfortunately the issue here is that each of our three selectmen hold a position that REQUIRES them to act in the taxpayers best interests, not their own. Further it requires them to act responsibly in a fiduciary capacity. This means that if you are disposing of an asset that you believe to be worth $500, and someone offers you $750 for it you take it! They may have had justification to refuse Mr. Springer's generous offer if he was going to keep the van for himself, and the purpose of donating it to the Phillips family was anobler pursuit, it would still be wrong from a budgetary standpoint, but possibly more defensible. But to refuse $750, when the end result is the same, the only difference is who gets the gratitude, is self serving, and an abdication of their financial responsibilities.
And lest any of those involved think of acting on their desire to sue me personally AGAIN, the foregoing is my humble opinion, nothing more, and even in Atkinson I am still entitled to that.
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