Although it has not been announced yet, and although this blog does not yet know the date effective, It has been heard in the Village Store, and the Town Hall that Mr. McAllister tendered his resignation Monday evening!
This Blog wonders how that will square with Jack's statement that the selectmen and Mr. McAllister will have something to say at town meeting! One wonders why, the seletmen have no authority at deliberative session other than to answer questions put to them by the people. And Mr. McAllister is not even a town resident and therefore should have no opinion.
Either way it is an interesting development.
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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. "
16 comments:
Its hard not to see the writing on the wall especially when over 100 people signed a citizen petition to that effect. I'm not sure if people fully appreciate what it takes to get 100 people riled up enough in a town of this size to sign such a petition. I hope it presents the opportunity for the TA position to be modified at deliberative session to pay about $45-50K for an administrative clerk whose position is to be just that, working for the selectmen. And nothing more than that. I move to rename the TA position to Selectmen's Administrator.
The old house of cards is rapidly crumbling. Next steps: elect a new selectmen and new town moderator.
6:45, exactly what are you talking about? If you're going to address something, then address it...
To 8:33 ... The opening first three words ask a question and the last sentence helps to answer it . Why so defensive to a QUESTION and ANSWER ?
How about he took a job to triple his income and not have to but up with all the BS from a few sour people.
This is a fact.
6:56 You didn't answer the question of why you are so defensive of a question and answer. Is Anon. on the right track with his inquiry ?
I honestly don't know the details behind the issue. Why is the town administrator a bad guy. He seems very normal at town meetings and at selectman meetings. I even admired him when he challenged Mr. Boyle on the access road that was replaced with a hydrant. What gives ?
Hang around the town hall and listen to how he talks to the ladies in the town clerks office.
He is rude, condescending, and unprofessional. And he creates as many problems as he handles.
But that is no longer a problem
I love the continuous marketing of the "few sour grapes" or as Sapia put it, "a couple of deer can make a lot of tracks". Fairly entertaining but amateurish attempts to portray the informed citizens as a few extremists. Why discuss the issue when you can attack the messengers and try and discredit them? I hope the defenders of the status quo keep thinking the discontent in Atkinson is a couple of people. You know, like the 100+ who signed the citizen petition to eliminate the TA position. Yup, just a couple of us dumb, extremist deer out here in the woods. Ayup.
And the issue is?? The issue is taxpayers were not getting their moneys worth for the position of TA as it was previously sold to us. That is the issue. Cutting your losses on a poor ROI. Plain and simple.
Knock off defense of the Town Administrator. It's over; he's going away. Time to move on.
A Selectman's Administrator is a good idea, but the scope of the work needs to be expanded to include negotiating contracts, searching out and applying for any available money, all subject to review and approval of the Board, ensuring that the annual report is done in accordance with past standards, meetings would be posted, etc.
I just read the article in the ET stating that Russ thinks the Taxpayers Association is going door to door asking for money to help with abatements. I am a resident of Atkinson and support the Atkinson Taxpayers Association. I recently went to town hall to look at my tax card and found several problems. Leon offered to help me file an abatement and NEVER asked for a cent. Russ admits he doesn't even know who these women are yet he makes these accusations in the newspaper? Well, he doesn't know it's true and based on the article, neither does anyone else. Apparently he contacted the state and the PD with his suspicions though. This is why we all want him out, he's a pain and obviously vindictive. Good bye Russ!! The pleasure is all ours now.
I just read the article as well. The Tribune makes for great conflict reading. I want to know When the steel cage match will be. I think the Tribune should rename itself to the Steel Cage News. Here is a quote from the article. This is the honest-to-goodness truth cause I can't make stuff like this up.
"Neither McAllister nor the selectmen's secretary, Barbara Snicer, could remember who the two women were or where they lived, but said they had stopped by in the last few weeks. McAllister also said there could be more people who are requesting their tax cards for the same reason who haven't said anything."
ooohh....I love the specifics. Could be more people we don't know that haven't said anything.aahhh.
So we have two women with no names and no addresses, but they carry the ability to allege some type of unknown illegal misconduct??? CAN YOU SAY SMOKING GUN! Professor Plum did it at the town hall with an assessment card!
Sounds like sour grapes Mr. McAllister. A parting shot that was a big swing and a miss. We better get our Keystone Kops to round up all them criminals in Atkinson that go door to door without hawkers and peddlers licenses like the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Atkinson Youth Baseball etc. Another fine example of our town leadership going after anyone who criticizes or complains or god forbid, submit a citizen petition. Hey, I think someone is knocking at my door selling cookies. Russ, go get the chief and have them arrested.
Maybe Barbara Snicer just had a lapse of memory in order to be not involved in the womens names . The T.A. moving on is a good sign but , in my thinking , a bad thing for those he is to work with if he continues with his less than thoughtfulness and treatment of people . A thought occurred to me as I wrote this . Did Anon. 6:56 get an answer from the postings of Anon.8:33 and apparently the same Anon. 7:14 ? If these were not answered then it must be the posting of one of the in trouble persons that has failed in their accountability to the town.
I have personally had interactions with the Town Administrator as a resident and let me tell you it was anything from pleasant. He was rude and condesending and obviously had better things to do than to interact with a mere resident.
I left the Town Hall wondering who exactly did this guy work for and was he even aware of anything as simple as 91A Right to Know Law?
Over and above that he has shown year to year that he is either incapable or unwilling to shoulder the tasks and responsibilities that come with this highly paid Selectmen's Assistant position.
There was never a helping hand, useful information received, no grants obtained, no resolutions to conflicts, and no printed warrant articles or town reports in a timely fashion year to year. Not exactly sure what the Town got for it's money.
It was blatant meeting to meeting that the Board of Selectmen did not receive the back up and support that comes with the territory and were not kept informed of everything that filtered through that office.
The Town can only benefit from his departure but not by abolishing the position. Let's hope the powers that be can find a suitable, informed, educated and qualified replacement. A Selectmen's Clerk will not be adequate for such a varied and wide scope of responsibilities.
I disagree with Anon 7:11. A Selectmen's Clerkk is the one who posts Selectmen's meetings and prepares minutes (in a timely manner, by the way); prepares all forms required by the state; has,in the past, been knowledgable enough to answer taxpayers questions on assessments, taxes, etc; takes care of those in need of assistance; prepares agendas; tries to answer questions from department heads,prepares the annual report, and meets with the auditors and insurance agents, all among other things. Given the latitude, a Selectmen's Clerk could work on grants; negotiate contracts.
This is,, after all, a secretary not a Town Manager. He/she is not
required or expected to do much more. You want a Town Manager? Put in a warrant article, and take the town out of the Selectmen's hands entirely.
to anon 7:41
all very true....IN THE PAST the Town was lucky enough to have qualified clerks over the years.
The problem is that the present clerk is not trained or qualified to do even those basics.
You don't see the clerk taking the minutes or posting them on line in a timely fashion, or filling out reports for the State.
Word is that she cannot even access the CAMA system to do the monthly transfers or the equalization for the State.
In my humble opinion the Town is in need of a qualified, trained professional whether the title be Town Administrator or Selectmen's Clerk or Selectmen's Administrative Assistant.
Today's ET reports that Atkinson "Leader" :-[
Russ McAllister is going to Iraq to advise government and encourage citizen participation. Russ says that "Folks there haven't had a say" in their government and they want "to instill that democratic feel". Good luck with that Russ, you'll feel right at home.
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