This was in the Eagle-Tribune on Nov. 22, 2007.
Maybe our selectmen could take a lesson from Hampstead's selectmen! Oh to have selectmen who ACTUALLY care about their constituents problems making ends meet, all ours seem able to do is spend, SPEND, SPEND!
Published: November 22, 2007 12:00 am
Selectmen order staffers to trim proposed budget
By Penny Williams , Staff writer
Eagle-Tribune
HAMPSTEAD - Selectmen were unhappy with the 7.54 percent increase in the town's draft budget and voted unanimously to require department heads to prepare a new, bare-bones budget.
The first draft budget came to $5.1 million, an increase of $354,111 - 7.5 percent - over the 2007 operating budget.
However, there are two caveats. First, the operating budget for 2007 was the default budget, which was more than $200,000 lower than the proposed budget of $4.9 million that voters rejected. Second, 2008 is the year in which there is an extra pay period, something that happens once every 13 years, Selectman Priscilla Lindquist said. The extra pay period amounts to almost $100,000 in salary and benefits.
Selectmen directed department heads to come back with a budget that's no more than 4 percent higher than last year's proposal. If department heads found they couldn't do that, they should come prepared to defend their numbers, Selectman Jim Stewart said.
Selectmen will review the new budget proposal Dec. 4, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Lindquist said the budget, as presented, does not include any cost-of-living adjustment for employees, with the exception of library workers. The library budget did include a 2.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment in the salaries. However, its overall budget showed only a 4.55 percent increase and that was attributable to the retirement of library director Judi Crowley, who had sick and vacation days to cash in.
The biggest budget increase presented that didn't result from a state mandate or legislative change was the highway budget, up more than 22 percent. The cost of salt has risen dramatically and unapproved salary increases for certain positions were included. But the back breaker for the highway budget is the $90,000 cost of the Marilyn Park Drive culvert replacement, which was eliminated last year due to the default budget.
Lindquist complained that the proposed budget is a bigger increase than the school side, and is simply unacceptable.
"We are risking voters handing us another default budget to deal with," she said.
Board Chairman Rick Hartung asked where the figures were for the default budget and was told it is still incomplete, but would probably be finalized by the Dec. 4 budget review date. The default budget isn't required to be available until January, but the board will presumably begin working on it at its next meeting, Monday, Nov. 26.
Now, in the above article, did anyone notice the following facts;
1.) Hampstead's budget is only 17% larger than Atkinson's while the town is 40% larger in terms of roads, business, and the size of it's police dept.
2.) The voters turned down the budget this year, and forced the town to accept the default budget.
3.) THE SELECTMEN requested the lower spending!!! That would NEVER happen in Atkinson!!
So our advice to the selectmen, is to forget about what your friends want. Forget about what YOU want. Forget about trying to please everyone, and feeling hurt when people are pissed at you, because all you are succeeding in doing is pissing off EVERYONE!
Just do the job we elected you to do! Just DO THE RIGHT THING! and continue to do it even when no one is looking. Then maybe you will find the definition of character.
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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. "
15 comments:
Hell I would be happy if they could just keep the town out of court!
Town Counsel must be rubbing his hands in glee that these guys are in office!
Someone should do an analyses, on how much these clowns have cost the town in increased legal fees, just between Consentino's antics, and Sapia's.
Mr. Acciard, if you read this maybe you could help, I cant think of anyone more knowledgable about the budget, except for maybe Jane Cole.
I saw all the mutual backslapping at monday's meeting,
I dont want the selectmen and the budget committee agreeing on everything, because then they are agreeing about spending.
The budget committee is SUPPOSED to be the watchdog, and guardians of the taxpayers money.
When everyone is agreeing on spending we are getting screwed!
Doing the right thing...........
Now this is something I am not used to. I AM sure I could get used to it. And look everyone seems to be happier. And the town gets some great, positive press. Sounds like a "win - win" to me.
Here's a thought..........
MAYBE ATKINSON'S BoS SHOULD TRY THIS APPROACH!
Just a little food for thought. I have never seen this town vote for a default budget. Perhaps the people had faith in the honesty and determination of their elected Selectmen and members of the Budget Committee; or perhaps because the Budget Committee has cut - sometimes radically - to hold the budget down, or perhaps because the Selectmen of past years also made department heads cut their own budgets.
The final decision, though, is not made by either of those groups. We make it. If you think the budget is too high, and you want to do something, vote it down! We need to see what the budget is, and then make that choice. I promise you - the town will survive!
Atkinson Taxpayers are getting seriously taken advantage of. We have to fight back against tax and spend policies of this town. And I hear they want to build an addition to the Town Hall, remodel the PD and build a communications tower this year. Great. Well they can't adjust the assessment percentage any more now that it is at 97% so the tax rate will go up up up next year. My tax bill is a choker now and these energy costs are going through the roof. Do they care in the least?
I would like to know why our police and fire depts cost so much.
I never see any serious questions raised at budget meetings, I never see manpower issues questioned, or why we need 20 part time officers when only 7 of them ever work?
I agree that the police and fire department's budget are a drain on the taxpayers. They are simply not justified. Murphy & consentino throw up numbers that are simply not pertinent or warranted. The police department budget is just consentino's toy cash register. Vehicles that sit and officers that are not needed are a waste of taxpayer money.
Voters need to do what I have done for the last 15 years - vote for a default budget. Make them cut the fat. We all know that there is fat in a budget so it's up to the VOTERS to force those who set the budget to work within a budget SET BY THE VOTERS. Can seniors with all their voting power really afford to keep paying more each year?
We live in a system where, if we don't like the way people are spending our money, we can tell them this: here's your allowance, this is all you get.
Gotta disagree on the Fire Department budget. It's only been a few years since voters agreed to pay the firemen on an on-call basis. Before that, we were spoiled, with firemen volunteering their time. Sure it booted up the budget, but look at it this way. They get paid for calls when they are there. No over-time; no holiday pay; no vacation pay or sick leave. NO UNION! Just for the time they spend. Complain all you want...the day will come when we will pay firemen on a full-time basis - 24/7 - and that's when the budget will go up. I could be wrong, but I believe most of these guys still pay for their training which, over the years, has become quite extensive.
Maybe the Chief would weigh in?
Sounds like a bargain, but who shows up when there is a call? How do you control the cost per call? We had a dozen 'volunteers' descend on a car fire on my street not to long ago. Most were spectators. Do they all get paid? A lot of our on call responders hold town jobs. When they leave their full time jobs they are still getting paid.
I'm not saying fire/police are overpaid. I just think that there is little accountability in these areas and that a lot of the spending does not bring value to the taxpayers.
I've never understood why there isn't a Timberlane Regional fire/police/highway department. Seems like there could be a lot of savings and synergy.
From the original post, I like the part of a "bare bones budget".
When last year's warrant articles were voted on, were there ANY that involved spending money that did not pass? Most reading this blog are relatively on the same page with regard to how our town overspends & wastes money, however somehow the message needs to get to the rest of the voters.
Also, consider this... I, like one of many who pays taxes in this town, am afforded the opportunity to vote on warrant articles. However, what about those residents who have reached the age of majority, or those residents who rent their home WHO PAY NO TAXES? Why should these people have a say in how town money is spent if they are not contributing to the pot?
Finally, a note to anon: 12/2/2007 @ 11:27, I'm not familiar with how our "volunteers" are paid, however I could hazard a guess that when paid fire staff are put in place we will really see an increase in FD payroll, and likely still have some kind of response from the "volunteers" So for all intents & purpose, the paid guy could conceivably be sitting around and waiting for the alarm to go, verses the volunteer who only comes when he is called. As long as we have the luxury of part time / on call labor we need to take advantage of it. I'm not so much concerned about a headcount (as long as when I call 911 someone responds) as I would be with how much money is budgeted for capital expenditures... I've seen businesses waste too much time trying to save money by recycling a 7 cent envelope rather then controlling the cost of more expensive items.
Why would you want to model the part of our government that consumes 10% of our taxes after the part that consumes 90%? You are kidding yourself if you think three police chiefs, three fire chiefs, and three library directors are going to step aside. There wouldbe no savings if we provided services at a district level. If we decided to run the rest of the government as we run the schools, we'd create new positions -- director of libraries, superintendent of police departments, and superintendent of fire departments.
Instead of attacking the part of government that works efficiently, let's see if we can squeeze 10% out of the SAU. We could fund 100% of our nonacademic expenses with money wasted by the SAU. Right now the SAU is trying to spend money allocated to paying a police officer to 'studying traffic patterns.' Big government == big waste. Pay attention!
I was for the three person board last year but now have changed my mind. I feel BIG government is not necessary in most cases. Not here though! All it takes is two air heads that think together and all is lost.
To: Anon December 1, 2007 6:22 AM,
I have sat back and listened to your rant about the Fire Department. I have been on the department for awhile and I know how the department was run in the old days, and how it is run today. Years ago we were paid $2 a year for the time that we put forward. At the end of the year, we donated the $2 back to the Association. There are classes to achieve a title of Firefighter, and EMT. Classes that we were never, and are still not paid for. For example, the EMT certification is almost 200 hours. This includes classroom, clinicals at a local hospital and the National Registry Test. These classes help you the residents. We are away from our families for quite sometime. Why do we do this? We do this to give back to our communities. Volunteerism is what has helped this town become one of the best towns in NH. Not to mention, if we had full-time firefighters the budget would skyrocket. Don't believe me, just look at Hampstead's and Plaistow's budget. These two towns still rely on volunteers, to complement the full-timers. You can not fight a structure fire with two firefighters. On average it takes 4 per truck to run an engine company. I case of big fires, it takes alot of manpower. We are only human, and doing back breaking work, take its toll on you. There needs to be relief, so that we can have a chance to rest. Noone can work from start to finish, fighting a fire. Medical calls also take alot of man power. Remember, there is no easy rescue. Car accidents take time and manpower. The cars of today are alot more complex wih many air bags, that can injur or kill a rescuer if they have not deployed prior to our arrival. Think of them as a ticking time bomb, you have to cut the power to the batteries to disable most of them.
The other thing that you have forgotten about, the Association. The Fire Association raises money through events such as the Turkey Raffle. You ask, where does the money go? We use this money to buy equipment that will help do our jobs faster, better, and safer. This only benefits the victim. Why do we do this? We use this money to help keep the budget down. Fire equipment is not cheap. If it was, we would have the latest and greatest gear. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we do not get paid for these events and hours planning these events. I can't begin to tell you how many man hours are spent planning the Turkey Raffle.
The last thing, American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulance. This is new to the Fire Department. They are now housed at our station. Is this a good thing? It was a great addition to the Fire Department. We paid them over $20,000 a year to be available to respond to Atkinson for Medical Calls. That is just one of the many towns that AMR services. Each town had to pay that much for the same promise. Since they moved into Atkinson's station, the town no longer is responsible for the $20,000. That sounds like a savings to me. What do you get? You get the piece of mind know that there are trained Medical personnel at the station in your time of need. Before they moved in, they were housed in Hampstead near Hannaford's Supermarket. That was a 5 to 10 minute response time on a good day. Now, they are not always in house for every medical call. Remeber, they serve other towns. That is why the Atkinson Fire Department has a Rescue of its own. We are a licensed service that can transport patients to the hospital if AMR is not available. Now, if we did all of the transports ourselves, that would be a need for full-time members. Is this an expense that the town wants to incur? All of the members are willing to transport a patient to the hospital if the need arises, and we do. We have transported a few times this year, because the need arose. The average time to transport to a local hospital, complete the proper paperwork, and return to town, can be 1 hour to 2 hours.
So in closing I ask you, do you really think that the Fire Department is out to get the townspeople. Our budget is nothing, when you compare it to the Police Department. You should look deep and long to find out wht you real issue is. Attacking a group of over 35 members who give their sweat, pride and love for the community, is not the way to go. We have missed family meals, Holidays, lost sleep for early morning calls, driven in horrible weather conditions, to name a few. We do it day in and day out, and do not ask for anything in return. The money we get for coming to calls, helps offset the fuel, and maintenance of our personal vehicles. Given the gas prices being $3 a gallon, we are still driving to the station to get to the emergency calls. So think before you openly criticize us.
And just so you know, Chief Murphy is not getting rich being the Chief. He has given so much for his time to helping the town. For a guy, who runs a very busy business and attends every town meeting that he does, he does one hell of job. Yet, he asks for nothing in return. You never see him patting himself on the back. His position rarely recieves alot of praise. So personally I would like to thank Chief Murphy for everything he does. The members stand behind you 100%......
To the last anon,
I fear that CHief Murphy is getting painted with the same brush as Chief Consentino, and that is patently unfair given Murphy's conduct, as compared to Consentino's.
The fire dept. like the police dept. does a fine job, at their job. Unfortunately the conduct of our police dept. administration, undermines the good jobs done by the officers. Atkinson has always been the beneficiary of volunteers, and as long as that can continue, we should embrace it, because the cost of paid professionals, is going to be very high indeed.
I agree with the last poster. Every time we have had a budget increase for the fire dept., or the highway dept. there has been some event that necessitated it; ie; a the new fire truck, a heavy winter. And when compared to surrounding towns, we are fortunate. Unfortunately the same can not be said of the police budget. In 2004, I think it was, the budget jumped over $100,000 for no discernable reason. And it is routinely $100,000 or more than Hampstead which is a 40% larger town. But if you ask questions about this budget be prepared for the consequences.
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