MAcciard said...
Publius, please accept this as an article submission.
Another S.N.A.F.U.?
I finally had time to watch the budget committee public hearing, and I was surprised to see that they did not discuss, and disclose any of the petitioned warrant articles! I know there is at least 1 petitioned warrant article submitted that is a "money warrant article". Yet they did not discuss this.
RSA 32:5 clearly states;
32:5 Budget Preparation. –
I. The governing body, or the budget committee if there is one, shall hold at least one public hearing on each budget, not later than 25 days before each annual or special meeting, public notice of which shall be given at least 7 days in advance, and after the conclusion of public testimony shall finalize the budget to be submitted to the legislative body. Public hearings on bonds and notes in excess of $100,000 shall be held in accordance with RSA 33:8-a, I. Days shall be counted in accordance with RSA 21:35.
II. All purposes and amounts of appropriations to be included in the budget or special warrant articles shall be disclosed or discussed at the final hearing. The governing body or budget committee shall not thereafter insert, in any budget column or special warrant article, an additional amount or purpose of appropriation which was not disclosed or discussed at that hearing, without first holding one or more public hearings on supplemental budget requests for town or district expenditures.
This would mean that the article can not be legally placed on the warrant, as it was not discussed at the public hearing.
RSA 39:3 also states;
39:3 Articles. – Upon the written application of 25 or more registered voters or 2 percent of the registered voters in town, whichever is less, although in no event shall fewer than 10 registered voters be sufficient, presented to the selectmen or one of them not later than the fifth Tuesday before the day prescribed for an annual meeting, the selectmen shall insert in their warrant for such meeting the petitioned article with only such minor textual changes as may be required.
This compels the town to insert the warrant article. Now RSA 39:3 also states that the right to have an article inserted SHALL not be infringed upon by the provisions of RSA chapter 32, and THAT may be the town's way out of this mess, But someone should surely look into why this wasn't presented at the budget committee public hearing. It could be that Russ did not give the committee all of the warrant articles as has happened the last two years, I don't know, but these types of issues should not happen.
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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.
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In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
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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.
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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:
Wow....................
Been catching up on the Atkinson news since I've been back to this side of the pond as the saying goes. After reading all the submitions I have missed, there is one that really sticks out and begs this question to be asked.
"With 5 full time officers and 20 part time officers, is there anyone left in Atkinson that is not carring a badge?" This is Atkinson not Tombstone. What is the sense in having to do all the paperwork of having someone employed that only works 13 hours per year? Seems like a waste of time and effort.
Question......................
Just what is it that the BoS and Ronald McDonald (sorry, I mean Russ McAllister) are so afraid of. They go out of their way to try to do everything behind closed doors. Hidden from the publis eye. Makes me wonder if they are hidding something.
There is an old saying in managment. "I have an open door policy." Not in Atkinson even if it is the law.
I am comming to the conclusion that it is only a matter of time before the town of Atkinson gets it's 15 minutes of fame once again. You watch. There will be some story that comes out of this that ends up making news nation wide. Just like the trick-or-treat incident with the Chief a few years back.
You go Mr. Acciard, maybe you will just get your 15 minutes of fame as well.
My Fellow Atkinsonians,
It appears that I have made a mistake. I just received an email from a budget committee member informing me that they did read the article in question, but chose not to recommend or not recommend it even though it is a money warrant article because it does not call for a "raise and appropriate".
I have rewatched the meeting and didn't see it, But I trust this person implicitly, so I am sorry, for misstating what happened.
Update please......................
Does anyone have any idea as to the current status with regards to the sign on the civic center property. You know, the one that was originally in Plaistow.
All you got to do is look under the rug at Town hall! It will be with all the other "stuff".
With all the police we have you'd think that each and every call would be responded to.When I called several times about my old neighbor(now serving time for money laundering and drug trafficking) I was ignored, no cruisers showed up. Is it because this felon bought radios and made large donations to the APD? This town is rotting from within, and has been for as long as Phil has been Chief. The calls I made were about violent acts, an ex wife was being beaten, for example. Friends called this Summer to report a drunk and abusive neighbor and were ignored. I hope I live to see the day that JUSTICE is served in Atkinson.
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