Our Conflict of interest committee, formerly known as the Code of Ethics committee, they rightfully dropped THAT moniker after the disastrous tenure of Phil Consentino as Selectman, is looking for Two good men. They have found one, and he is not the subject of this article.
Jack Sapia, soon to be former selectmen(thank God), has signed up for this committee. Probably because it is an unopposed position, and therefore he will not have to suffer the likely crushing defeat he would have sufferred if he had run for selectman. But even though this committee does little, It meets only when there is a complaint, and most residents have learned from watching what has happened to the last two people to file complaints, that it does not pay to do so, It is much easier to just turn your head, avert your eyes, swallow your pride and moral indignation, and just keep quiet!, It is an important check on the unrestrained ambitions of corrupt politicians. And, as such, should only have those of the highest moral integrity, on such a committee. This committee should only have someone on there who is going to read and apply the ordinance AS WRITTEN, no matter who is being complained about. Mr. Sapia has demonstrated he is incapable of this level of objectivity.
Lets look at his track record as selectman;
First week, he participated in the purchase of the Expedition for the police dept., claimed board did nothing wrong, but knew that no voted was taken nor was purchase discussed in open meeting.
Many non-public conversations attempting to convince Fred Childs to promote Sgt. Baldwin to Lt. from April- June, when that event actually happened. Town had never had a full time Lt. before, position of FT Captain had been vacant for 6 years. Town policy is "if a position is vacant for 180 days, it must be re advertised and re hired as a new position". Town never created the NEW position of FT Lt., But done anyway.
Many non-published, non-public meetings with Fred Childs, in town hall almost every morning., with the chief in police station.
Even after Court ordered Phil to step aside on police matters, Mr. Sapia, still refused to acknowledge, any conflict on the chief's part, and stated his conviction(oops, bad word, no pun intended) that Court would be overturned on appeal.
Even after Court found Chief in Contmpt of Court, Mr. Sapia STILL saw no conflict in chief's actions.
This is the man who VOTED to pay Phils PERSONAL legal fees when he was a witness in a case in which Mr. Sapia was a DEFENDANT! No conflict there right?
And THIS is the man who will serve on the committee that decides these matters?
We report..... YOU decide!
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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. "
22 comments:
In my humble opinion, Mr. Sapia wouldn't recognize a conflict of interest if it bit him on the nose.
and he has already demonstrated a willingness to interpret the law according to who is accused.
That is not acceptable.
Write in anyone but Sapia
There's a paper going around that is urging voters to vote for Brian Boyle as Moderator and Mark Acciard as a member of the Conflict of Interest Committee.
You all will probably be getting one soon.
either one of them has done more to uphold the code of ethics ordinance than Sapia ever has or will.
Sapia is running unopposed so he will get on this committee no matter how unqualified to be there he is.
It makes a mockery of ethics
We should have put Mark on both write in positions. I have known Mark for aprox 10 years thru a business relationship. He always has been sincere, straightforward,
and true to the heart. Mr Boyle did not get re-elected the last time he ran for a good reason. Please reconsider your position for write in candidate for both positions to be Mark A. This is a no-brainer. Mark is truly the only one who would serve the position of moderator with the knowledge and understanding of the RSA's.
Vote for Mark for the betterment of Atkinson. If Mark is unsuccessful this year then please, please, please Mark consider being on the official ballot next year.
If Sapia wins, he will have to stand up to scrutiny in his position and in his behavior, in all ways. We will be watching, listening, reporting to you, our faithful followers.
I will write in Mark Acciard for both.
Overheard in the Village Store...Brian Boyle doesn't want us to write his name in as moderator...he is not running for anything....watch for him Mon. night at the selectmen's mtg. I'm disappointed. I will leave it blank next to Polito's name & also Sapia's. Too bad, but I guess I can understand someone not wanting to get involved in this whole mess.
to last anon
do not leave the voting form blank. write in anything but blank.
who ever said that Jack Sapia had ethics?
To put Marks name in two places is not the answer. If he wins both, he can't accept both posts so one would turn over to another candidate.
Write in Mark for Moderator
Write in Carol Grant for Conflict of Interest.
Agree? Disagree? We need to get on the same page quickly.
Two votes for Mark as moderator & also for Carol Grant as Conflict of Interest office. Very good people who would do a good job.
I could never support Carol Grant and Mark Acciard for any position of leadership in this town. They are the true "bullies".If you disagree with them look out -lawsuit. Just read the sheet Carol Grant dropped of at my mailbox--
talk about hyprocracy!!! The slanderous attacks on Sapia and Polito. Amazing. She telling me
how to vote? Who to support.
No way Carol --I've directly observed your intimading ways.
You won't get away with it...
Not with me..
To Anon @ 11:21
I find it interesting that you think me the bully and the selectmen and chief, not. So Lets look at the record;
Until receiving the second threat form Chief Consentino, on Dec. 13, 2007, I had NEVER filed a lawsuit against my town. I DID file a petition for injunctive relief in 2004, to ask the Court to order the chief to obey the code of ethics ordinance and recuse himself from dealing with police, elderly, or town employee matters; Which he SHOULD have done without having to be ordered, but refused to do.
I won. The Court ordered him to recuse himself in those areas. He failed to comply with that order, and 3 months later was found inn Contempt of Court.
He STILL refused to obey that order, and tried to appeal it to the NH Supreme Court, they dismissed his appeal for lack of standing.
So I asked him to do the right thing, he said no, I got the court to order him to do the right thing, and everything that has followed, was his trying to avoid having to comply, would that be fair to say? Yet you think me, the lawsuit happy bully.
Tell me, should a police chief call your business contacts and tell them you are under investigation by the PD, when there is no ongoing investigation, merely that chief trying to find something he can use.
Should a police chief use official dept. staionary to threaten legal action, over your right to free speech?
Should you have to put up with being followed through town, verbally threatened in town, have false statements made about you by your government and broadcast to the entire town, etc.
At what point do you get sick of it and say, THIS STOPS HERE!
And yet you think that I am the bully, well, I say to you, walk a mile in my shoes, and then we will talk.
If Carol is intimidating to you, boy, you scare easily. Watch out for that nasty shadow.
Mark,
I support your suit against the town and the others and I've never even met you. I support you because I have lived here for 15 years and I am sick of this type of behavior by people supposed to be our representatives. I hope that you win, that you don't take any cash from the town, and you put them in their place and in the poor house.
I hope that if you settle, the settlement includes a clause that the settlement is public, that they admit guilt, give you an apology and agree never to involve themselves in town politics again.
That would be a win-win in my book.
Signed, A deer in NotAtkinham.
To 10:56 am and 7:09 PM and everyone else,
Carol Grant told me that, while she appreciates the sentiments, that she doesn't want anyone to split any write-in votes against the powers that be, by writing in her name.
Carol said that write-ins are a tough enough up-hill battle to begin with without making the battle more difficult by splitting the write-in vote between two write-ins.
So if you do a write-in for Moderator for Conflict of Interest Committee, don't write her name in. Write in Acciard or Conflict of Interest Committee and Boyle for Moderator.
Whether or not the subject of a write-in vote supports the effort or not, just remember,every write-in vote is considered a protest vote against improper behavior by town officials seeking to extend their time in various town offices.
How can anyone possibly be intimidated by Carol Grant? She's one of the most easy-going people in town.
She may on occasion speak out or take a stand on an issue which she considers important, but who can possibly be intimidated just because someone may have and express a different position than yours.
Also, how can you equate criticism of a town offical as slanderous when you, in your blog, engage in slander yourself by calling her and Acciard "bullies."
"Also, how can you equate criticism of a town offical as slanderous when you, in your blog, engage in slander yourself by calling her and Acciard "bullies."
"To be honest, it's frustration over the one sided nature of this blog. In the 1000's of pages this blog has generated, there is not one positive comment about Sapia, Childs, or Constantio, particularly
Sapia. The "bully" term that has been frequently used to describe the behavior of these three can, in my opinion, be used to describe the behavior of the accusers.
In either case, I'll admit it's not the best word to describe whats going on...
Actually that is not true.
I submitted an article last summer or fall complimenting Jack, on his stance on keeping the library to their warranted budget, I am sure you can find it in the archives.
Yes, I have also been critical of Jack's performance, but no more than I have said to him personally many times.
Ok Mark, I'll give you that one.
The only one...
On a side note, I think your take on Timberlane is spot on. You should of run for the school board!
Dog Catcher position is full....
"Spot on" LOL
Haven't heard THAT phrase since I left the U.K.
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