Publius, Please accept this as an article submission
MAcciard said:
Something Chief Consentino said Monday night made me think;
He said that the elderly affairs dept. had given 1100 rides so far this year! 1100 rides! So I checked the town website for the town budget, and here is what I found out;
The Elderly Affairs Dept. budget for 2007 is: $17,821
included in this is:
Payroll: $15,300
FICA: $ 949
Medicare: $ 222
Vehicle insurance: 0
Gas: $ 1,350
Then I found out that the drivers make approx. $12.50/hr.
Now: $15,300 / $12.50 = 1,224 manhours.
This means that the 1,100 trips the chief CLAIMS have been provided this year averaged no more than 1hr. 6min. per trip! This includes the driver picking up the car at the police staion where he presumably clocks in.
Then he drives to the residents house and picks them up.
He has to wait for the elderly person to get ready and get themselves into the car.
Then he drives to wherever. Waits for whatever they are doing and repeats the process in reverse.
ALL IN ONLY ONE HOUR! How is this possible when we hear about the regular trips to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, To Boston, To Parkland in Derry, To Exeter Hospital, etc.
Now lets look at the Gas usage:
$1,350/ $2.65 a gallon= 509 gallons. Police cruisers average AT BEST 15 mpg. 509x 15= 7635miles able to be driven within the budget.
7635 Miles/ 1100 trips = 6.94 miles average trip distance!
Distance from Police Station to the Holy Angels, without going to anyones house: 3 miles! ONE WAY!
This means a round trip DIRECTLY from the police station to Holy Angels and back is 6 miles!
By the way, There have been 195 weekdays between Jan.1 and Sept. 31! This means 1100 rides / 195 weekdays= almost 6 rides per day! EACH AND EVERY DAY!
Once again Phil is hamstrung by his own numbers!
In case you missed it this means SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP HERE! Phil always talks about his nuumbers; how many rides he gives, how many elderly are in the town, but here are the numbers!
FIGURES DON'T LIE!
Now Phil likes to tell people that everything about this program is open to public inspection, but that isnt true, HE HAS NEVER GIVEN VERIFIABLE INFORMATION AS TO HOW MANY RESIDENTS USE THE PROGRAM! He guesses for the budget committee. He pulls any old number out for the selectmen. He can not prove any of it.
Now I dont know anyone who wants to cut or eliminate this program, but the taxpayers DESERVE some accountability about how many people use it, and how often!
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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. "
24 comments:
Mark,unfortunately you can quote trips, hours, miles, man hours, and number of transports till the cows come home. Believe me, you nor anyone else will ever get the REAL numbers. It's not going to happen. Consentino, PROVE US WRONG, without giving a name or address show the logs of the transports to the residents, to see for ourselves what's really going on. Dare ya
Solution is simple. Require the same thing of the chief as would be required of any public organization or charity.
Demand that accurate records are kept. All vehicle mileage, destination and passengers name, address and contact information, kept and reported monthly.
Failure to keep and report accurate records is grounds for termination in any other organization, public or private.
The IRS requires these documents as well since that office receives tax deductible donations.
If the chief says he does not have these documents then he is in violation of multiple federal statutes and probably numerous state statutes as well. His failure to answer questions is yet another example of his arrogance and deeply held belief that as "the law" in Atkinson he is above the law.
Keep whacking that hornets nest Mark. Eventually they will move to build a nest somewhere else.
Consentino is obviously misappropriating police dept resources to keep his elderly voter base happy. There is no way any organization could provide the level of service currently being delivered on the Elderly Affairs budget.
This is another area where he is costing taxpayers thousands of dollars. Not to mention the distraction from any police dept's core mission which is public protection. How the heck do they find time to do police work when they are so busy running the following events/activities:
- Sr. Citizen Flu Clinic
- Children's Christmas party (gotta brainwash them kids before voting age!)
- Sr. Citizen Fall Scenic Bus trip
- Provide medical supplies
- Provide somewhere around 110 rides per month to the elderly
Yes, I got my APD Marketing letter paid for with my tax dollars. And don't forget to send a donation! And don't forget to sign up for the chief's confidential data base so he can call you every election!
When is this nightmare going to end?
To Fishgutz,
That information has been asked for since 2001, by the budget committee. for three years we were told we couldn't have it. then in 2005, Officer Anderson revealed that 61 residents used the program that year, that was the result of significant growth, and they used 700 rides.
In 2006, chief claimed not to have the exact figures but thought it was around 80 or so. At the public hearing he told me that there were about 240 residnet using the program, and they provided 1048 rides.
In May of 2007, he told the Eagle- Tribune that they gave 1200 rides in the onth of april. Maybe he meant 120, I dont know.
Yes sirreeeee. It is another day and another new article to comment on. I think I have reasoned out the answer for the elimination of the chief.
CHINESE TORTURE
Bog down the chief in paperwork for the APD and the Elderly Affairs. I would think the budget committee could come up with a varity of forms that would need to be completed for accountability.
This would accomplish 2 things.
One. Worse case we may end up getting some accountability. Best case he ends up screwing himself with his own info. (Which is fairly probable as we have seen)
Two. If he is bogged down with all of this paperwork, he will have less time to do what he does best (if you know what I mean)
wink, wink
I took advantage of the Sr. Citizen Fall Foliage Bus trip and we had a great time! However, there was not one person on that bus including myself that would not have paid happily for the trip and turkey dinner if the chief had not ponied up! It was a real nice gesture and probably got him some good will, but this cost a whole lot of $$$$ that perhaps could have been used for fuel assistance, utility bills, etc. by some truly needy Sr. Cit. this winter.
EXACTLY!!!
No one has ever discussed cutting or eliminating this program.
Yes, I know that the chief has said that the budget committee wants to cut the elderly program, but I sat on that committee for 6 years, chaired it for 2 and I never heard anyone discuss that, The committee just wanted STRAIGHT ANSWERS!!!
We don't care if 10 residents use it or 1000, just give the committee verifiable numbers!
Try it for once, the truth will set you free!
The Cheif needs to leave the police department. If he wants to stay on as the elderly affairs director so be it...one should not be related to the other. send him down to the community center where the program belongs. enough is enough. this guy is out of control. anyone who questions this should watch retapes of meetings when he was a selectman... he was out of control then as much as he is now. it is and always will be his way or no way.
You can't let him continue to run Elderly Affairs. That is his power base. He manipulates and obligates elderly voters to vote his way.
Elderly Affairs started as a nice gesture. He's turned it into a political, electioneering machine. How many times has he lied to the elderly folks by saying taxpayers wanted to do away with Elderly Affairs but he would save the day? As long as he is employed in this town in any way, he will be a problem.
And it looks like he is in big trouble with the letter he sent to Mr. Acciard. Consentino broke the law. He should be fired from all positions. Then we can get our town back.
Does anyone else find it funny, or disgusting, that the selectmen have apparently received at least 6 complaints about Consentino's conduct in the last 2 years and they have ignored ALL OF THEM?
I did not know they got 6 complaints. Where are they documented? What were they for?
We know about Brian Kaye. What are the others?
According to the Eagle Tribune article below, they do 3 to 5 transports a day - I don't have time to do the math and Mark seems to be the expert - does this seem to jive with the numbers?
Published: 07/23/2007
New van hits the road
By Eric Parry
Staff writer
ATKINSON - The town has updated its fleet with a new wheelchair van to be used to transport senior citizens..
The van, which voters approved purchasing at Town Meeting in March, cost $43,000. But about $37,000 of the cost was raised through a donation fund, according to Philip Consentino, the town's elderly affairs director and police chief.
"The taxpayers only paid $6,000 for a $43,000 vehicle," Consentino said.
The van replaces an old van, which was donated last month to a Danville family.
Consentino and the four part-time employees in the Elderly Affairs department drive seniors to medical appointments, to pick up prescriptions and to Boston for medical care. The department averages three to five transports a day, according to Consentino.
"We love helping people and find it very satisfying," said Bill Anderson, who drives the van.
As far as fuel assistance is concerned, Atkinson has very expensive housing. If you can not afford fuel, then sell your house and go rent an apartment. Why should we have to pay for senior citizens fuel, groceries, and utility bills. It is time we stop handing out free money. If the town wants to pay my gas bill, that would be great.
Nevermind the housing what about the property taxes??? It's no wonder the taxes keep going up, we have to pay for 11 cruisers, the Town Attorney, the lawsuits and all of the other pet projects that go on!
Phil gives out fuel assistance from the APD Donation account - money he has squeezed out of other seniors and other taxpayers. The problem with the fuel assistance is not so much the idea of it - but how it gets distributed. Consentino makes a unilateral decision on who gets the payola handout. Based on what? Why should your grandmother get fuel assistance and my grandmother not get fuel assistance? How does Phil know who qualifies best or is most in need? Is he an expert on these matters? We have no idea because of the secrecy behind his machinations. He should be spending his time on police work, not managing public assistance programs.
There are numerous programs available in this state that many more seniors in town could be applying for but that information is not given to them. Phil wants the control and instead, he uses the obligation method. He gives cash handouts with expectations they will vote for who he says to vote for. That's how it works. I would love to ask all of the seniors who get a ride from the town - How many of you receive a call from Phil during election time, or get a ride to the polls and Phil tells you who to vote for?
I would estimate that number is 100% of everyone in the "Confidential" database Phil controls.
He uses taxpayer dollars and donations to electioneer the town vote every year. That is how he does it. The great pretender of helping the elderly is a manipulator of our most vulnerable citizens. Disgusting.
Wait until everyone gets their new tax bill. This town will be in an uproar and the excessive spending by Atkinson PD and legal costs will be in the spotlight. So much taxpayer dollars wasted it is a crime.
And Sapia and Childs do nothing to slow spending. Just wait until the new cell tower on Hog Hill gets proposed, and the addition to the town hall, and the addition to the Police Dept (or maybe a new PD cause we have so much "growth").
Bend over taxpayers. You aint seen nothin yet.
Consentino can't use the Town's resources to go after Mark A. if he is stupid enough to attempt to follow through on his threats?
We've got to draw the line somewhere, I'm tired of being the piggybank for Consentino and the Selectmen!
Why is it so hard to find out and verify how many people use the elderly rides system?
Whatever Chief says it has to be verified for obvious reasons.
It seems obvious to me that he is not truthful, so isnt he, as a town official REQUIRED to provide any information the budget committee requests?
How can he get away with not providing it?
Actually, department heads are all required, under NH Budget Law, to provide all information required by the Budget Committee in their work to prepare the proposed budget.
Big deal. See how effective it is?
Well I learned a new word today..Should be on top of the town hall. I quess it also applies to this thread.
Why don't you just get a group of volunteers to follow the elderly affairs vehicle for a week? It's not an emergency vehicle so it's not against the law to follow it. It's not like they are going to be going through red lights either. You could also file a right-to-know request for the records, including his secret data-base. He will deny it of course but then you could take him to superior court for a ruling. Just a thought.
How about a subpoena from the Concord office of the US Department of Justice, Office of Public Corruption?
Do you think the Chief would tell the to GTH? Or given them a ticket for going 0.25MPH over the speed limit or for only stopping for 0.1 seconds at a stop sign?
DoJ has a much bigger stick to swing. Chief better smarten up before someone goes to the feds. After all, when the local authority fails to do their job, the leave the honest people no other choice.
I look for to the reading that headline. Maybe on on the Boston evening newscasts like when he made the news for threatening to ticket anyone from MA that dared to visit a friend in Atkinson on Halloween.
I guess it doesn't really matter how much elderly costs the town. HOWEVER, we have another budget for "charitable donations" in which a lot of money is allocated to programs which effectively duplicate the program we offer (and also pay for). I don't under stand why those duplications aren't eliminated from our budget.
I heard Jack say, on camera, that he would call Atty. Kalman at 9:00AM, and ask if the honor roll panels could be installed without the judges blessing and if so could he have it in writing. Doesn't Kalman ask the S-men what they really want to do and then make his opinion fit? Just wondering!
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