Anonymous said...
This post addresses conduct and its proposed modification. Please feel free to respond as this conversation is long overdue.
When I have requested information from our prior Atkinson Town Administrator - by name of McAllister, I was advised by him, "I do not work for YOU or the citizens of the town. I work for the selectmen (snicker)." Clearly, this town "leader" was mortally ignorant that his total pay package (with benefits) of over $100,000 did not originate in the private bank accounts of the selectmen...Mr. Sapia, Childs, Sullivan. This administrative "hero" used his standard blanket statement repeatedly as a "steel bat" to hammer down citizen requests for aid or assistance. And this "soldier of FORTUNE" was never corrected by any selectman regarding his unwarranted statements and conduct. Why do you suppose that is? And it begs the question, "Will a new administrator be accorded the same privileges?"
In short, allowing an employee at town hall to act with disrespect to any citizen should trigger an immediate recall. That employee or selectmen should be replaced. Make no mistake...it is OUR responsibility to oversee people at town hall. Horace advises us all to...Carpe diem...Seize The Day! In other words, don't allow an open wound to fester. Rather, do something about it.
I question my fellow citizens: Is another perennially UNSUPERVISED town administrator, who can speak and act with disdain and a lack of ethics to citizens…desirable? Make no mistake, this issue of responsibility, respect, and ethics applies to everyone. It applies to me as it applies to you. It applies to ALL of us.
The enormous, black, audacious office chairs used in selectmen’s meetings need to be replaced. Those chairs are not provided as thrones and those microphones are not an automatic license to intimidate or humiliate. YOU, AS SELECTMEN COULD CHOOSE to abandon all those "emperor props" and sit in normal chairs just like everyone else. Perhaps this would instruct in humility, civility and proper conduct. I will ask directly: Which one of you will be THE FIRST to exchange “a black prop of empire" for a simple and humble and modest chair? Think about it...if you made that one single modification in conduct, you would create a revolution in perception of your suitability as a public servant. And your fellow selectmen would subsequently feel a tremendous inclination to also demonstrate modesty and humility.
We, the citizens, must step out from behind our electronic buffers and insist on a resurgence of ethical conduct from the town moderator...through to a police department...to current and future selectmen...and alas... tangentially...even to a youngster working at the town dump. GET IT! YOU ARE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS. You can create a new mission in life...to assist with your best intentions and ethically serve with all your might. You can make an enormous difference immediately and will receive the gratitude of all. You can do it!
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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. "
4 comments:
I like the idea of removal of the big black chairs. I bet that Mr. Sullivan will be the first to do so. He is the most modest and seems to be the only one of the 3 that would do that out of respect. He should donate the chair to Mr. Polito.
what a useless comment
The issue here isn't the chairs, but the honor and integrity, or lack thereof, of those who sit in them.
One day recently I was in the town hall and Sapia was talking on his cell phone loud enough for all to hear and he was using the F word, while sitting behind his desk in the selctman's office.
He has no respect for himself, his behavior tells the story.
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