Atkinson Taxpayers for Fair Evaluations Recommendations

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Publius- please accept this as a submission article


SUBJECT: Your committee’s recommendations for three important Town office positions this year at the ballot box


GOOD MORNING ALL ATKINSON TAXPAYERS FOR FAIR EVALUATIONS COMMITTEE MAILING LIST PEOPLE


There are three important town positions on the ballot this year. One Selectman seat, one Town Moderator seat, and one Conflict of Interest seat. Jack Sapia, Fred Childs, and Frank Polito were instrumental in blocking your committee’s efforts to get fair and proportional property tax assessments for all town property owners.


Mr. Sapia decided not to run for his selectmen’s seat (which is good for the town) but is running unopposed for the Conflict Of Interest Committee. (Not good for the town)


Mr. Polito is running unopposed for the Town Moderator seat, and that isn’t good for our goals.


There are three people running for the open selectman’s seat. Valerie Tobin, Bill Friel, and Richard O’Leary. Mrs. Tobin was the only one that filed position papers. (Please take a moment to read her paper and biography at the end of this email), Mr. O’Leary admits he has NO PLATFORM, and Mr. Friel was asked to run by Mr. Sapia. Your committee has a problem with that. (We don’t want a Jack Sapia "Look Alike" in that position. Mr. Friel is new comer to to our community, and Mrs. Tobin has lived here for 26 years.


Accordingly, we would like to ask for your vote in favor of Mrs. Tobin. In addition, we (like other committees in town) are asking you to write in Mr. Brian Boyle for Town Moderator, and Mark Acciard for Conflict Of Interest Committee. We know that a write in candidate is usually a ‘long shot" to win, but this year is different. With your help, we believe we can win those seats, but taking the time to write these names on the ballot will be the only way to do it.


Thank you for taking your time to consider these recommendations, and we look forward to seeing you at the Voting Booth this Tuesday.


Sincere regards,
Atkinson Taxpayers For Fair Evaluations Committee.



Valerie Tobin's POSITION PAPER

Dear Residents

I would like this opportunity to introduce my self to those of you who do not know me. My name is Valerie Tobin, I have lived here in town for 26 years along with my husband of 30 years, and two children, Kyle 24, and Katelyn 15. I'm running for the office of selectman.

I am running for this office because I too, have watched the circus over the last three years, and I believe this town's business can, and should be conducted better, more honorably, with more integrity, and with much, much, more respect for the residents, employees or other elected officials who come before the board for any reason at all.

More and more I have heard from residents that they do not want to go into selectmen's meetings, they don't even want to watch them on T.V. because of the general level of disrespect they see exhibited. I believe that anyone should feel comfortable that if they come before the board with anything, even it it is a critical comment, they should be treated with respect, thanked for coming in, and listened to. And if their issue is something that the board can help with, then we should look into it and report back.

I believe that town business should be conducted in open before the public at all times other than those SPECIFICALLY listed under the Non-Public Meeting Section of the Right To Know Law. I believe that out town government exists to serve ALL the people, not just some of them. And if you can not treat a resident with respect, even if you, personally, dislike that person, then you have no business being an elected official.

I believe that the selectmen should not refuse to do the right thing, because a court has not told them they have to. They should do the right thing, without anyone having to tell them.

I know people are worried about specific issues, so here is my take on them. I am not in favor of a special town-wide re-evaluation. I am in favor of asking our state reps, to look into these assessing standards (or lack thereof) at the State level, where they belong. In town here, I think that we have to continually strive to eliminate mistakes, and over assessments when and where we can, but I believe with good management we can do this without encumbering the town with extraordinary expense.

I understand the critical nature and issue of the water withdrawal ordinance because water quality and quantity is a vital resource for a bedrock community who has no other resource to draw water from. The Board of selectman and planning board should be well instructed on this issue and do what is necessary to protect our water and ultimately the values of our properties. The people of Atkinson, passed a water withdrawal ordinance at town meeting last year, and until someone challenges that ordinance and wins, the selectmen are duty bound to uphold the expressed wishes of the majority of the voters. I believe that once the voters speak, debate ends, and we do what they say. I know this will be unpopular in some quarters, but I am running to do what is right, not what is popular. Our board of selectmen has done that for three years, and ended this town in lawsuit after lawsuit, with no appreciable gain for the taxpayers.

I believe that the disposal of town property, no matter what it is, should be as open, and yield as much money to the taxpayers as possible, after all, would you sell something for a song, if you knew you could get more for it? We, as stewards of the town, have a responsibility to cost our taxpayers as little as possible, in the governing of out town, and I intend to do just that.

With regard to Elderly Affairs, as a female candidate for selectman, I am uniquely suited in understanding the needs of the elderly. I understand the dynamics of the elderly on the family and their needs. I would like to expand the Elderly Affairs Department, to more than just giving rides, to include, but not limited to, all resources available to the Town, free of charge, that are outside the boundries of the Town of Atkinson, I would like to make sure that ALL residents have access to these services, and help/information that is important to their lives and needs.

I believe that all information should be made public, such as posting the selectman's agenda, budgets for each department and monthly expenditures to name a few.
The town website should be expanded to make this and all information easily and readily available, along with streaming video. I would call upon residents who have knowledge and expertise in this area to work with the Board to improve this service so that there would be no cost to the taxpayers.

I hope that this has given you some insight into who I am and what I am about. I apologize if I have been to long winded, but I am passionate about my beliefs. If anyone should have any questions feel free to call me at 603-362-5402.

Thank you for reading this and please
VOTE FOR VALERIE!!
____________________________________



Biography of Valerie Tobin

I was born in a small town in Vermont, and raised on a family farm with 4 other siblings. My mom and dad worked hard to raise all of us kids with good values, morals and "to do unto others as they would do unto you". During my childhood, I worked with my mom and dad, tending the gardens, running the household, and working in the fields with my bothers baling hay. We were taught that hard work was good for the soul, thus my work ethic of working long days, and usually 7 days a week. I didn't know what a vacation was because there was no time to take a vacation, and no money to vacation. But you never miss something you never had. It was a great way to be raised and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I graduated from Chelsea High School in 1974, received the Principle's award as a leader and many awards in spots. I went on to the University of Vermont and graduated there with a BS degree in Consumer and Homemaking Education and Consumer Economics in 1978. I minored in law. I married my husband, Garry, that year, and we moved to Derry, NH lived there for 2 years, then moved to Methuen, MA where we resided for 3 years, before settling in Atkinson. I taught high school for 3 years and they started selling real estate in Salem. From there, I worked with relocation companies to help sell property for people that were moving, and help those that were moving into the area. I ventured out into Commercial Development until the market crashed in the early 90's. I worked with the federal agencies, banks, planning boards and the Attorney General's office to create performing assets. I currently work for First Call Mortgage in Andover, Massachusetts as a mortgage originator as well as finishing a 55+ elderly housing development in Sandown, and expect that I will be working on this project for a few years. Our son, Kyle, was born in 1984. He has graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, in Electrical Engineering and is half way through his masters. He currently works for Sun Microsystems in Burlington, MA. Our daughter, Katelyn, was born in 1992, and is currently enrolled at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover, NH. She, like her brother, is an aggressive learner and is in the honors programs, and plans to further her learning in College as a veterinarian. Katelyn currently competes at a national and international level in the Morgan circuit as a hunt seat rider. I've always been interested in politics. As a high school student, the school ran mock elections, and of course I participated- giving speeches on my platforms. I went to Girl's state and participated in the government process. I'm very concerned the way our community, state and federal government is being run, and want to participate to help make changes that can brighten the future of my children and yours.