In March 2007 the voters voted for public kindergarten, and that is where the problems began.
The school board decided that the classrooms needed to be open by the start of school in the fall. That was the priority before anything else. And it was eminently possible had they done the job right! Their efforts to short cut the process has put them almost two months behind schedule. But in all fairness the time has been being made up by work going on while the state fire marshall has halted work on the site.
First mistake, the school board decided NOT to hire a certified General Contractor for the project, thinking they would save money. A GC would have asked up front for the sprinkler plan, and the schematics for electrical and plumbing, and would have gone and pulled the permits. No Instead the school board decided to let the school district facilities manager oversee the project. This man in basically a maintenance manager and to the best of this blogs knowledge has no knowledge, bond, insurance or certification as a general contractor!
Second Mistake the school board decided that they didn't need basic safety permits, like building, fire, plumbing, electrical. When the town's officials told them that these were needed and the town would not sign off on any unpermitted work(which is their job) THE SCHOOL BOARD CALLED THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL in an attempt to do an end run around the town. The state fire marshall found 14 violations and shut the work down! This would be bad enough if the school board treated the town with this level of disrespect, but the fact that the CHAIRMAN OF THIS BOARD IS AN ATKINSON RESIDENT, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN ATKINSON! For him to break the law, or condone the breaking of the law, in his own town is heinous!
Third mistake The school board thought that an abscure case law that allows governmental bodies to skirt around zoning variances could be stretched to cover safety permits as well, It can not! Anyone of rudimentary education reading the case would know that immediately. Our school board apparently did not.
Fourth Mistake when this issue came to light the chairman, Mr. Baldwin made public comments basically making light of this debacle. Statign that there had not been a fire safety issue yet, and that they had extinguishers, smoke detectors, and evac plans, the implication being that all this other stuff was just frosting, and not really necessary.
Fifth mistake The school board and Atkinson's selectman Sapia were made aware two years ago that 2/3rds of the school was unsprinklered. and there was no fire truck access to the back of the building! THEY DID NOTHING!!! It was selectmen Sapia who stopped that work two years ago when it was being done for free by volunteers. When this comes to light three weeks ago, Chairman Baldwin says that it was being planned but has not been budgetted. And they are still getting cost estimates, but that HE CAN'T SEE IT COSTING MORE THAN $15,000!!!
ARE YOU MAD MR. BALDWIN??? Where did you receive your plumbing certification? It will cost more than that JUST FOR THE COPPER, NOT EVEN COUNTING THE DESIGN AND LABOR! If it would only cost $15,000 you could have done it any of the last two years, the school district pisses away more money than that in waste every single year! If it was only going to cost $15,000 then why would you have to split it up into two budget years? This blog would hazard a guess that it is probably because you KNEW that it will cost much more! This is very similar to deliberative session in March when you were publicly telling the town that the tower would cost the town nothing, and then you are handing out, to certain people cost estimates of $568,000 JUST FOR THE EQUIPMENT!!! This is the kind of, in this blog's opinion, lying that the general public can no stand in our elected officials!
Had the school board simply done their job right, and hired a certified GC to oversee the project, it would have been done right, and if the GC screwed up as badly as the school board has, it would have come out of his pocket to make it right, not the public's!
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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. "
11 comments:
So, Baldwin is triple dipping in the public trough? Two police gigs and the school board.
My father must be rolling over in his grave at the disgrace Baldwin is making of Atkinson's representative to the school board.
For all his faults, my father was at least dedicated to honorable public service on the school board. For twenty odd years Atkinson voters were more than happy to have him representing the town and were sure he would always act in the best interest of the tax payers and the children in the schools.
Baldwin is the antithesis to the example set before him. Throw the bum out. And fire him from the PD too for failure to follow the law.
Good summary, I will post a link from SpeakoutDanville
I see in the paper today that Mr. Baldwin says the school board is changing the districts policy, and from now on they will get all permits.
WOW, I didnt know it was POLICY, to skirt the law! And this from someone whose dream is to become police chief!
I guess when that happens nothing will change.
I think it is a riot that Mr. Hughes says that work will RESUME this week!
Uptack plaumbing has been in there for the last two weeks at least! Their trucks have been there every day, along with a couple of others.
Working while the project was stopped? Of course THAT must be ok too, after all it IS a school.
As I see it, There are a lot of folks to blame for this MESS. Meaning the entire School Board and the folks over at the SAU. They were all so "excited" to get kindergarten that once again they failed to see the entire picture. I for one am tired of seeing them always getting what they "demand" during election time. It is time to make them all accountable for their actions.
I love Baldwins comment about moving in the right direction, given the fact that the state fire marshall shut them down they could hardly move any further in the wrong direction!
The sad part is that people around town are listenning to the lies and blaming chief Murphy for this debacle.
Remember everyone, the SCHOOL BOARD'S reps called the state fire marshall, thinking that they would get thier way.
IT BACKFIRED!!! Not Murphy's fault he was just doing his job! He told them months ago they needed permits they said no.
No way was this The Fire Chief's fault..He did the right thing. Had he not done his job, our children would be sitting in classrooms full of violations and the academy would not be getting a sprinkler system....which I still can't believe they don't have.
two years ago
i remember when Sapia was told about the lack of sprinklers, he said that was easy, you just "cut a loop in"
Well Mr. Sapia, you stopped the work on the access road, why didn't you insiste on sprinklers?
I have been following the comments on the kindergarten issues, but didn't really know much about location, etc. So I took a walk! Ohmygod! It is downright scary! The classrooms themselves are ok - rather non-descript, but probably entirely serviceable. It is the site itself that is the problem for me. Out side the entry doors is a small hot topped area where a vehicle could turn around with some care. At the back of that area is an enormous retaining wall, at least 18 feet high going straight up. A top that wall is the framework of what will be a fence - the fabric is just not installed yet. The effect is of being in a high narrow canyon. How will they handle snow removal? Where will the children play? There is absolutely no way any emergency vehicle bigger than a cruiser could get back there! I can see the potential for horrendous erosion if we get any of our heavy rains. Please someone tell me - is this safe? What architect planned this out? Who ok'd this design? I couldn't get away from there fast enough. I hope others will take a look and see what they think.
One of our Danville posters heard a rumor:
http://speakoutdanville.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?p=8503&highlight=#8503
Can anybody in Atkinson confirm this?
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