We have gotten used to selectman Sapia's evidently insincere "moment of silence for the troops in harm's way" at the beginning of each selectmen's meeting. These seconds of silence would seem more sincere if Mr. Sapia had done them all along, instead of since he became chairman, or if he had not just spent two full years shitting on the very veterans, he professes to stand for.
But, tonight, during the selectmen's meeting, he sunk to a new low. He began by describing what he observed and gleaned from the Vietnam Honor Roll ceremony, held at the town hall on Veterans Day. This blog will give him credit for keeping his mouth shut on that august day, But his self-serving, pompous speech tonight, glomming off the inspiring words of Mr. Page Brown, were BEYOND DISPICABLE!
Mr. Sapia, stated that the speech he gave at the veteran's club breakfast, that morning, "mirrored" Page Brown's speech at the ceremony. While his blog finds it hard to believe Mr. Sapia, gave such a stirring speech that morning, it is made even more of a mockery by the fact that HE WAS FIGHTING THE VOTERS OF ATKINSON ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS!!!
Yes, that's right, Mr. Sapia, IGNORED the wishes of the voters who elected him, to side with his friends. It was this dishonorable practice that forced the town to file warrant articles for a special town meeting in Sept. And even then he was trying to fight having to place the memorials! So to have him try to insert himself into an event that he spent so much of his time trying to prevent, only for his own personal aggrandisment, is DEPLORABLE!
What Mr. Sapia can and will never understand, is that Mr. Page Brown is a much decorated combat veteran. He has a Purple Heart, and a Silver Star, among other medals. When he gives such a strring speech, it is stirring because of the imprimatur, that his character, and actions give it!
For Mr. Sapia, to try and insert himself into the proceedings by mimicing a great, heartfelt speech, by whining; "I gave a speech to, and mine was as good as his", is the desperate, and childish act of a boy who has not gotten enough attention! And all it serves to accomplish is to cheapen and continue the pattern of dihonor, which Mr. Sapia, has made himself famous for in town.
Mr. Sapia, it is time for this childish whining to stop! You need to pick up your marble and go home! Your 15 minutes are up!
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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:
I couldn't believe it when I heard that bit of theatre either. He is lucky I was home with the kids, and could not pack them up to go down there and set him straight, because I wanted to.
Where does he get off, He never wore the uniform!
This man's desperate cries for attention make me sick.
Sapia has no business being present at the annual veterans breakfast. He's never worn his country's uniform or served under her flag.
His treatment and dishonoring of Atkinson's Vietnam veterans since he became a selectman is a disgrace. He's blocked their being honored for over two years. If he and Childs and Consentino had had their way, those Honor Roll panels in front of town hall would still not be there.
His showing up at each year's veterans breakfast, by his very presence, makes a mockery of the event. His showing up at the honor roll celebration on Veterans Day was also a mockery and an insult to the Vietnam veterans who were being honored.
Sapia is not fit to even be in the presence of Page Brown or the others who served. He's also not fit to say Page's name.
Sapia is such a hypocrite and a disgrace to our town. He's got to be removed from office. He cheapens the office.
Ronald Reagan had a maxim that "history will get it right"
Meaning that he did not need to waste his time, trying to get credit for everything, he just wanted to get things done. Contrast that with Bill Clinton, who didn't really care if anything got done so long as poll number stayed up, and people felt good about him. He wanted the attention and the credit, even for other peoples actions.
The latter is Jack to a TEE!!!
He need all the attention all the time.
He needs to be liked by all.
And in trying for this, he dishonors those whom he professes to support the most, Veterans!
This practice of reading personal statements at selectmen's meetings has to stop.
This is not town business, these meetings are not the Sapia show, they are a venue for the people to see the town's business transacted!
But under Jack's leadership(if that is not too much of an oxymoron)They are an endless, personality campaign, while the real business goes on behind closed doors.
This man is not fit to be a selectmen!
Just seeing Jack on the meetings, is like looking at a snake. You never know when he will lash out and strike.
You know, I liked Mr. Sapia, and voted for him three years ago. And when I got calls from chief consentino urging me to vote for Mr. Sapia, I did. I feel every time I watch the meetings that I owe the town an apology for allowing myself to be so hoodwinked. I will never vote for that man again. I donnt trust anything he says anymore.
Consentino also has no business showing up at each year's veterans breakfast.
Consentino never served his country in uniform.
As selectman chairman, he also refused to allow a selectman vote to install the Honor Roll panels where 2005 Town Meeting said to.
He did everything he could to block the honoring of Atkinson's Vietnam vets.
Like Sapia, he has no business then showing up at the vet's annual breakfast. Like Sapia, he is a hypocrite.
Childs dishonors the word "veteran." Any one who served in uniform who obstructs the honoring of other men who served is a disgrace.
It's sickening enough to watch his moment of silence
But how low do you have to be to try and USE a ceremony honoring people who dies for this country, to get a little good press for yourself?
What a low life!
Come March we need to send this guy home!
You know, we didn't have any of these problems when boyle, and stewart were selectmen.
Maybe we can convince one of them to run against sapia!
Drama...................
Well I have been away for awhile on business but I am back. I hope I was not missed too much. After reading this article and the subsequent comments I am again fired up. I believe that I can completely picture the meeting without actually being there. I think that Mr. Sapia is much like TO (Terrell Owens NFL) He is a publicity junky. He can only go so long not being in the spotlight. It seems to me that this is exactly the problem we seem to have with TO Sapia.
Now for Mr. Consentino. He is just like Brad Wesley from the 1989 movie "Road House" played by Ben Gazzara. Well I have news for you Mr. Philip Wesley, This town ain't yours anymore.
PS. I love the marbles analogy. Perfect!
PUBLIUS: NEW ARTICLE SUBMISSION
MY FELLOW ATKINSON TAXPAYERS: We are pleased to introduce the Atkinson Taxpayers Association, http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org
We've been watching property taxes and town budgets skyrocket in recent years and felt we could no longer afford to sit by and allow the "Tax & Spend" policies of our Selectmen to continue. We are particularly concerned about the lack of "Truth in Budgeting", fiscal mismanagement
and professional misconduct demonstrated by town officials. Please read the following which are just a FEW examples. You can view all the actual, supporting documents on the Atkinson Taxpayers Association website.
DID YOU KNOW......WE LACK TRUTH IN BUDGETING?
Did you know the 2002-2007 budget summary given to taxpayers does
not accurately reflect the true police dept budget of $872,000? It indicates the 2007 Atkinson PD budget cost taxpayers $752,892. NOT TRUE!! A "new" practice began in 2005 where line items like Police Dispatch and PD Insurance were moved off of the "Police Dept" budget which gave taxpayers the appearance the PD budget was not increasing when in fact, it was. This practice was repeated in 2006 & 2007. See the budget summary document at: http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/BudgetFY02-07.pdf
The actual 2007 PD budget of $872,000 represents an increase of
$326,000, or 60% since 2002!! We need Truth in Budgeting to see the
actual costs we pay! Why "move" these increases? Crime statistics
from our own PD do not support an increased workload since 2002 to
require 12 police vehicles and all the supporting staff. See the PD
statistics 2002-2005 at: http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/PDStats2002-Oct2005.pdf
Someone needs to explain to us the need for all these costs which
are SIGNIFICANTLY higher than all surrounding towns.
DID YOU KNOW.....THE ATKINSON COMMUNITY CENTER IS AT RISK?
WHY WOULD ANYONE RISK A TOWN ASSET WITH AN ESTIMATED REPLACEMENT COST OF OVER $1 MILLION!!
Did you know our Selectmen and ZBA put our own Community Center at
risk by authorizing a commercial sign on Town Conservation Land where it is located. This violated deed restrictions (a right of re-entry for condition broken) which empowers the SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF NH FORESTS to take the property back. Skeptical? I hope you will read the documents at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
atkinson/category/ZBA
Atkinson resident Leigh Komornick tried to bring the issue to light
at a Selectmen's meeting but was rebuffed by Selectman Jack Sapia for numerous reasons that defy logic, many of which were inaccurate. She was also treated rudely by our Town Administrator, Russ McAllistor during the meeting. The video of the Selectmen's meeting is available
at the Library. I hope you are skeptical enough to watch it. Stand by on this matter in coming weeks. Hopefully, we are not too late to lose this valuable town asset.
DID YOU KNOW......OUR LEGAL FEES HAVE TRIPLED?
Did you know our town has been sued so many times it is costing taxpayers a fortune in additional legal fees - and the cost
of our town liability insurance increases with every additional
lawsuit. In fact, the retainer we now pay town counsel TRIPLED to
$42,000 because of the additional legal work (it used to be
$14,000). Legal costs (for court time above the retainer)
dramatically increased as well. See some of the court case
documents against our town officials at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/atkinson/category/lawsuits
(more documents to be posted in the near future)
DID YOU KNOW.....THE OVERLAY BUDGET IS A MYSTERY TO OUR OWN BUDGET COMMITTEE?
Did you know there is a budget known as the "Overlay Budget" that is not overseen by the Budget Committee? Apparently, the oversight is by the Selectmen who apply a mysterious budgeting process for annual abatements. In 2006, the town UNDERESTIMATED this budget by $51,000. How will this shortfall be paid?? See the Overlay budget info at: http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
atkinson/category/spending
DID YOU KNOW....SELECTMEN INCREASED RISKS TO THE TOWN WITH
THE RECENT ASSESSMENT CONTRACT?
Did you know our Selectmen did not require a bond for this work in the
latest round of contracts? They made these contracts less stringent
than past Selectmen. Why should taxpayers be assuming more risk for
such a critical service? See the ASSESSMENTS analysis at: http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/PurvisYearly.pdf
DID YOU KNOW.....PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT IS TOLERATED BY OUR SELECTMEN IN ATKINSON?
Did you know about all of the complaints and lawsuits against
Chief Consentino? There is a long and documented history distinct showing a pattern of harassment, intimidation and coercion. But don't take our word for it. Read the Police Labor Union complaints and those from other residents - and don't forget the lawsuits! Indeed, the Peak Vs. Consentino case reads stranger than
ficition. The final settlement paid by the town to Wayne Peak was so large it is sealed under a non-disclosure agreement. See the Initial Pleading at: http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/peakvcons_initialC-836-84.pdf
Read the complaints at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
atkinson/category/complaints/
Read the news articles (about 50) section at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
atkinson/category/news/
Either a large number of people all conspired against this man with
very similar allegations....or they are all telling the truth. There is no middle ground, here.
DID YOU KNOW.......OUR SELECTMEN DO NOT HEED THE WILL OF ATKINSON VOTERS?
Did you know the Vietnam Memorial was approved by voters two years
ago? Town Counsel issued a written opinion that the warrant article was clearly written, yet it took a second, special town vote to get Selectmen to finally act after two+ years. This cost taxpayers significant legal fees and the cost to conduct a special town vote to finally get the memorial put in place. WHY??
Read Town Counsel opinion at:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
atkinson/category/vietnam-memorial/
Read why Consentino opposed it as Selectman Chair:
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org/
pdf/ConsentinoBlocksVietnamHonor08-2005.pdf
We only ask that you, as a fellow taxpayer, read the facts in these publicly available documents and judge for yourselves. Like many of you, we have bills to pay and my property taxes are the highest ever - as are town budgets. We are asking you to join us in our efforts to bring fiscal sanity back to Atkinson. The Tax & Spend policies of our current town government, fiscal mismanagement and tolerance of professional misconduct must end. Please sign up for our newsletter and you may also submit documents to post on the website.
MORE ISSUES WE ARE TRACKING:
We predict the following spending bills will be proposed and recommended by the Selectmen and Budget Committee at the 2008 town meeting.
1) Addition to the town hall
2) Renovations to the police department building
3) New Communications tower
AT WHAT COST? After we just spent $2.7 Million on a new library, this
town owned (library) space needs to be better utilized to avoid an
unnecessary addition to the town hall. Police spending must be brought under control before we should consider spending another DIME. Our prediction is the
new Communications Tower will be proposed to be built on Hog Hill. At the October, 2007 Selectmen's meeting where the "independent consultant" contract was signed and hired to provide an "objective recommendation" to solve the town's alleged communication gaps, an eye witness saw Chief Consentino tell an associate "It's going up on Hog Hill" (inferring a new communications tower on Hog Hill was a foregone conclusion). So much for the $15K taxpayers just spent on said "independent" consult's impartial and objective opinion. And yes, the witness will testify to this fact.
Other Issues for upcoming newsletters
1) Problems with over assessments and the assessment process
2) Tax Rate shuffle and the General Fund (or is it the Revolving Surplus Fund?): This misleading tax rate number is another reason we need "Truth in Budgeting"
3) Town Liability Insurance cost increases
4) How town official's misconduct is related to fiscal mismagement
5) More on resident complaints and lawsuits
6) More documents and how you can help
7) More to come!
PLEASE, please forward this email to other Atkinson Taxpayers who care about their tax bills and this town. Please join us so that our voices will be heard LOUD and CLEAR from the Atkinson Taxpayers Association.
http://www.atkinsontaxpayers.org
We thank you for your valuable time.
Sincerely,
Atkinson Taxpayers Association
"....a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right...."
Thomas Paine
Feb. 14, 1776
Author of "Common Sense"
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Please copy and paste this article into an email and send it to all the Atkinson taxpayers you know. Please join our campaign to take back our town.
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