To the moderator of this blog, please consider this as an article for the Atkinson Reporter that was published in the Eagle Tribune.
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Large groundwater withdrawal is back on the table in Atkinson
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — Hampstead Area Water Co. resubmitted its application for a large groundwater withdrawal to the state.
The water company originally submitted the application to drill and test wells a year ago, but the state Department of Environmental Services found the application incomplete, according to DES spokesman Stephen Roy.
Now another consultant has rewritten the application, he said. The sites within Atkinson are the same, but there are different production and volume amounts for each well, Roy said.
"Oftentimes, in New Hampshire, larger water systems have multiple well sources to provide water to the whole system," Roy said. "In this case, the proposal is for three new well fields."
The completed application begins a long review process, beginning with a public hearing that the town requested, Roy said.
At that meeting, there will be a presentation on the general large water withdrawal process by DES and a project-specific presentation by Hampstead Area Water Co.
The forum will then be opened up for questions, which will be recorded and responded to individually as part of the DES review process, Roy said. There also will be a 45-day period after the public hearing, during which anyone can submit written questions about the process.
For each question, Roy said, the review team will have to respond in writing. At the end, it will deny, approve for testing or ask the water company for more information, he said.
There will be the opportunity for another public hearing at the end of the application process, Roy said. Last year, an informal meeting was held by DES, but Hampstead Area Water Co. didn't attend because the application had been denied, Roy said.
Selectmen Chairman Paul Sullivan said the selectmen reserved Dyke Auditorium at Atkinson Academy earlier this week to make sure there is room for everyone interested to attend. The meeting will be on May 7 at 7 p.m.
The town is taking the application one step at a time, and will consult with Sumner Kalman, the town's lawyer, later in the process to find out how the water withdrawal ordinance will play into the water company's application.
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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. "
5 comments:
Ahhh, Harmless Harold and Lewis Builders, Atkinson's very own developers, are back in the news.
It's not enough for them to get rich of carving up Atkinson and surrounding towns, even as Harold sits on the planning board (now tell me; what other industry gets to make money off something, even as they sit on the public board that approves their own projects!). Will they listen to the Atkinson voters who don't want their water drawn out to be sold by these greedy hucksters? NO, of course not! They'll defy the same people Harold pretends to SERVE!
Imagine, this is the person that had the gaul to run for selectman, even as he tries to develop the same town. How the hell did Atkinson become the land of CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
I've seen other people try to poo-poo the conflict that builders have serving on our planning board; Sue Killiam, land owner and developer, is the CHAIRPERSON of the PLANNING BOARD, even as she develops land in ATKINSON. Does that strike anyone as funny? This is the person seen around town after meetings with corporate officials that have just had business before her board.
Have you ever appeared before the planning board with a concern about a development and the impact it's having on your land? Forget it! Ms. Killiam has actually suggested (on TV) using conservation land in Atkinson, right next to a lake, for a sewage treatment plant! Yes, this is the type of stewartship we have of our town folks.
Is anyone trying to preserve our local farms and open space? Doubtful, because then there would be less land to develop for these people that thrive in "inside connections" to make their business easy and more profitable.
"The Chief" isn't the only one abusing power around here folks, let's open our eyes. Now that Harold has a seat on the Ethics Committee after being rejected from the selectman's seat, let's imagine his father-in-law telling him who to support and who not to...
From the Lewis Builders Development website:
"You may not be sure of how the land entitlement/approval process works.
Lewis Builders has a long history of resolving land title issues and getting over development hurdles. We have land planners, engineers and attorneys with the expertise necessary to help you get the most from your land sale."
Translation: We have the local juice to get around the local regulation and get approvals that outside companies would never get, because we belong to a buddy system of local builders and engineers that make all the decisions on the Planning Board of our town! That's why we try to sit on as many local boards as we can!
It will be just a matter of time before they start spreading untreated human septage onto an open field. This little practice my friends is a MAJOR health hazard.
Every summer Lewis forces his water company customers to conserve water yet he wants to drill more wells to sell our groundwater. Why doesn't he start by selling us the water we need? Will he stop pumping water for sale outside the town while we're in a drought? I doubt it. There is absolutely no reason why the residents of this town or the selectment should condone this. This can potentially hurt the residents but in no way will we ever benefit from it.
Carol,
Someone put flyers on mailboxes late saturday of early sunday morning. Did the PD do anything about it? Did the postmaster do anything? I believe this issue should be pressed, the town is biased. I will save mine for you if you didn't get one.
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