What this masterfully written story fails to mention is that our police chief, was the one pushing this story, even after being directed by the selectmen not to mention names. Even after selectmen pointed out that he had no authority, and why?
Because it was Mrs. Grant! He has never done this to the Boy Scouts, the Landscapers, the Baseball teams, the PTA, that hang flyers from the flags of our mailboxes.
Postal Service: No material in or on mailboxes without stamps
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — Carol Grant said she has been distributing fliers by rolling them up and wedging them between mailboxes and their flags for nearly 40 years. The U.S. Postal Service is advising her to stop doing it.
The state postal inspector made his way to town last week to stop a practice that has been happening for years, according to residents and officials.
Michael Blanchard met Wednesday with police, the local postmaster, and Carol and Ken Grant, whom police found putting fliers on mailboxes earlier this month. While the U.S. Postal Service will not prosecute, Blanchard said, he did give local officials letters explaining that the practice was illegal and should not be allowed.
"You can't put anything in or on a mailbox without postage," he said. "There's federal law to back it up."
According to the police log, the Grants were putting fliers on mailboxes on Maple Avenue on March 10. When pulled over, they denied doing so, and were sent to the local postmaster.
It's standard protocol to call in the postal inspector when there is a legal question, according to Todd Sculnik, communications coordinator for New Hampshire and Vermont post offices. He said the fliers were being hung on the mailboxes and didn't know how many had been distributed.
Carol Grant said she has distributed handouts for about 38 years and hasn't ever had a problem before. She checked with the last four postmasters and followed their rules, she said, but didn't get a chance this year to check with the new postmaster. She just followed the same rules — nothing in the mailbox or on the latch, she said.
According to the law, circulars and other mailable matter cannot be deposited in a letter box on any mail route without paying postage. The law was updated on March 8 — just days prior — to not allow anything on letter boxes either.
"I don't know if it's a warning, but more to alert them that if this activity continues, they could be subject to civil or criminal prosecution," Blanchard said.
Selectman Paul Sullivan said while he heard complaints about the fliers, he didn't think anyone thought they affected the election.
Perhaps Blanchard's visit and letter will prevent the incident from reoccurring in the future, he said.
"I'm perfectly satisfied with that," Sullivan said. "The law is clear. As long as everyone is aware of it, I'm just looking ahead positively for this year."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
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:
Hi All.
I just read the tribune and see that Carol has filed a complaint against the chief. This will be a true test to see how the new chairman handles this. While some find Carol irritating, she is obviously very much in the right here.
The chief is a bully
Yes i agree as well namekit. A bit overdone by the Chief, and is justified by Carol . But like everything else it depends on what side of the street you stand on.
Notice the Selectmen went into private session to discuss Carol's complaint. Anyone want to take a bet it will be the same old "Mode Of Operation" by our new board of selectmen? That they will try to sweep it under the carpet?
As I see it, legally, if someone wanted to pusue Mr. Consentino as he obviously pusues others, there are a number of problems with this incident.
1.) He had no "probable cause" for the stop, as he has no authority to enforce postal regulations.
2.) He had no authority to detain the suspects.
3.) This incident could be termed, impersonating a federal officer.
4.) Law not being applied equally, this has never happened to any of the other groups that hang fliers on mailbox flags.
5.) Disobeyed order of selectman and revealed names of suspect in live meeting, causing same to be broadcast via TV.
6.) You cant dicuss "ongoing" investigations in a selectmens meeting.
all of the above listed problems, are boons to Mrs. Grant in the context of her lawsuit, I would imagine.
Private session? Do you mean they discussed behind the camera?
Two corrections to the Tribune article which cited: "According to the police log..."
I have not read the police log, but if what the Tribune cites is in the log,the log entry is false and not the truth.
1. There NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, was any denial about putting anything ON any mailbox. In the past 38 years, four previous Atkinson PostMasters had allowed fliers to be put on the OUTSIDE of mailboxes so there was NO WRONG-DOING to deny.
2. We were NEVER "SENT to the Post Master." Don't believe it. That's a lie.
Because I knew that Consentino had no federal postal authority and because I was totally confident in not having done anything wrong, I told a very rough-talking Consentino that my husband and I were going to go talk to the Postmaster which we immediately did. It was totally MY own idea to go to the Postmaster and we went there on MY own initiative -- NOT because we were sent there.
Finally, contrary to what Mr. Consentino said at the Selectmen's meeting that I was stuffing mailboxes, that late morning when Mr. Consentino made a big show of stopping us with his police lights flashing, I had NOT put a single flier ANYWHERE on or in ANY mailbox -- NOT in a box, NOT on the flag and NOT anywhere on the outside of the box.
The simple truth was that I was only driving the vehicle --and was not on the passenger side attaching fliers. I had not even touched a flier that morning.
We had only made THREE STOPS when Consentino stopped us. At the first two stops, fliers were put IN TWO NEWSPAPER BOXES. At the third stop, a flier was in the process of being attached to a name plate ABOVE the mail box -- and in all three cases, NOT BY ME.
So, Please don't believe everything you hear and certainly don't gullibly believe what is reported in a police log.
I can not believe that the police log was incorrect! The abuse continues......
Carol-Are you planning on following up on your complaint at Mondays BOS meeting ?
I came home today and found a lime green flyer for a landscaper tucked behind the flag on my mailbox. And I could see them on every mailbox all the way down the street.
This is a crime wave! How can this flagrant violation of Federal Postal Regulations be allowed to continue? Especially in the face of all the publicity this incident has created in the past week.
This is a slap in the face to all of us law abiding citizens of Atkinson!
I'm sorry...
I can't keep a straight face any longer. How ridiculous can my hometown get? Is there truly so little for the police to do here that the chief has to obsess about federal postal regulations? And now because he raised the issue with Carol, the police dept. is going to have to enforce these regulations that they dont have the authority to enforce in the first place, constantly, with every other organization that does it! And why, because of personal animosity!
This is no way to run a railroad!
This is the very reason this Atkinson reporter exists, to inform the residents of Atkinson of the double standards that are taking place. It was obvious that the cheif was only out to get Carol to stop her from informing the public. Im sure if Carol had a donation account with a large sum of money, she would of sent out letters to voters.
One Down, Two to go!
Now if Carol Grant and Mark Acciard would move we could go back to being a nice quiet town.
OH SURE!
And maybe everyone who disagrees with Phil should move out of town, then we can go back to being a nice quiet, monotheistic, fascist, totalitarian dictatorship.
You know, I was in the village store the other day and overheard two guys talking on the other side of the rack, and I think it summed up the situation in town nicely;
Guy #1: Tell me, 10 yars ago did you ever hear the name Mark Acciard, or was Carol Grant constantly heard about?
Guy #2: No, I didn't even know who he was.
Guy #1: But you did see Phil's name in the news constantly; "union busting", and "being ordered to stop bullying his officers", and "investigating Dale Childs, because she filed a complaint against him", and "the officer Rivera thing", and before that it was; "Rich Buco", and "Rick Daniels", and " the spitting incident with Fred Childs in the town hall", and a "fight" with someone, and one story after another all the way back to Wayne Peak! Right?
Guy #2: Yeah, you're right, I remember most of that!
Guy #1: So who is really at fault here? everybody thinks Acciard has a personality conflict with Phil, but could it be that Phil has a conflict with everybody who disagrees with him?
I thought that summed it up nicely.
You are absolutly right Legalbeagle. No question in my mind. Not that long ago i was talking with a professional who lives in Atkinson, and i asked who they voted for. The person said they voted for bill because Valerie was backed by Mark, and Mark has done nothing but bad things for Atkinson. I was upset by that persons opinion, but that was their right to think so. Over the years Mark has been the #1 target with the chief because he stands up to him and asks questions. In government, the people have the right to stand up and ask questions, no one should be considered as wrong for doing so, right or wrong they might be.
Andrew Jackson
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive."
1787
Just checking to see if my comment would go through. I see that the mailbox marauder is on the loose....Phil better get him quick!! Have noticed that not as many people are posting lately. Are we losing interest?? Also no more talk about the blog signs..I hope that people stay involved in what's been going on in town. Good luck to Paul Sullivan as chairman of the board. He will do a good job.
I understand your frustration, Iago, but I believe you are being mis-informed about what has transpired.
So do you think it wrong to ask a selectman who is also police chief to step aside and not deal with police matters to avoid the very conflict he swore to avoid when taking the office?
And when that person refuses, do you believe it wrong to ask the Court to order him to knock it off, and obey the Town Ordinance(read that as town law, again asking nothing for yourself, and going to great personal expense to restore your name by proving you were right?
And when the Court orders him to recuse himself, and he doesn't, and violates said order, do you believe it wrong to notify the Court that their Order is not being followed?
And do you feel that if you HAd acted as stated above, that it would be proper for your police chief, your government to call your business customers/suppliers and tell them you were "under investigation by the police"?
Do you feel it proper to have your government threaten to sue you for being critical of their behavior?
Do you feel it proper to have an agent of your government threaten you in a public place, and follow you back through town?
If you answered yes to all of the above, then we have nothing to discuss, we simply disagree. And it is ok, for us to have divergent opinions.
You see, THAT is the difference between me and my antagonists, I worship your right to speak freely, they do not tollerate dissention, and that is the root of the problem.
Post a Comment