Well, the selectmen have a lot to do at Monday's meeting;
1.) They have to decide whether or not to spend $28,000 of OUR money on an 11th car for our 5 full time officers.
2.) They have to decide whether or not they are going to reprimand, discipline, or fire Phil over his lack of fiduciary management, misstatements to the board, and outright refusal to follow long established written town policy.
3.) There is an action item on the agenda; "application to contact town counsel" Never seen that before, it will be interesting to hear what that is all about.
Remember this board has reamed Teddy, for much less, than what Phil admitted to last week. The issue is very simple, and not as Phil put it, "what's the difference, you are paying him these days anyway."
The town had an established policy that states that sick days may only be used when you are sick. If you fail to use them in a year, the town, at the end of the year, will buy them back form you for 50% of their value. Like a bonus.
Lt. Baldwin probably did nothing wrong here, because his role was merely to ask for the sick time. It was his dept. heads responsibility to say; "i'm sorry, but town policy precludes me from allowing that. Contrary to what the chief implied, reserve and guard members DO get paid, and very well when they are on their summer camp. As a matter of fact, according to military. com, the difference between Lt. Baldwins Atkinson pay, and his military pay is about $144.00/week. Yet the chief has seen fit to have the taxpayers of Atkinson almost DOUBLE his military pay for the last six years, in contravention of town policy. This has cost the town approximately $6,400.00 in total. Even if Lt. Baldwin never got sick and traded all of his days at the end of the year for that period, the loss to the taxpayers is still $3,200.00
Is this right? Honest? Is this the kind of behavior we want in ANY dept. head?
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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. "
11 comments:
How come the petition on the HAWC is not on the itinerary? What is the latest with that issue?
I think the chief will send Jodie in tonight. The coward lays low when he dosen't get his own way.
I watch only because I have a tangential interest in what happens in your town--although it has been over a year since I have actually been there.
If I have this right--there are about 9 of you that actually participate in this blog.
Is there a way to see what's on the agenda each week without going to town hall?
Of course it's necessary to pay Lt. Baldwin double over the Coast Guard summer camp: how do you think Consentino gets otherwise normal people to go along with the ridiculous stunts he pulls! By developing their support with favors of course...
And as far as it not being Lt. Baldwin's fault: he has accepted the taxpayers hard-earned money, even though, deep down, he knew he shouldn't have been taking it. If he was paid on his other job he had no business taking the Atkinson money. That's a black spot on his record, and ethics, as far as I'm concerned. Dirty, dirty bird...
Hey Dan,
Is that any worse than the Town advancing you $6,000 asking only for your paycheck stub to verify your pay, and instead you give them a letter stating you make almost $2,000 less than you actually do? Most people I know would classify that as fraud, Just my opinion, but it is telling.
Look back at those minutes in the other article, 6/9/03, and 5/19/03 i think.
doesn't look good, and chief was in there fighting for this gouging of the taxpayer.
For the benefit of Anon @ 1:26
Over 100,000 hits last year.
5387 unique visitors for the year.
not bad.
Yes great numbers! Where the heck was everybody during the deliberative session? Atkinson residents are tough behind anonymous but put their heads in the sand when the going gets tough! I am getting sick of the way we act as residents.
The damn cronies have no problem standing up at meetings and putting anybody against their ideas down. They whine, stamp their feet, make crude remarks while people that have the floor try and talk. We just let them do it and complain when we feel safe.
Lets face it the chief will never get thrown out! He is the King of Atkinson and we all know it, so does he!
Even if people just read and become aware of what tries to be hidden from people in town, it's all good!
Actions of the town officals has brought me here , This blog has brought me here. The truth has brought me here. Quiet, head in the sand? No more for me. And if everyone adds one person to the list, the list will grow. Don't forget last years vote in election of selectman, the differnce was less than 30 votes. The year before that, was much higher. So change is comming and is happining.
Any citizen petition article can be passed. ALL OF THEM! Let me say that yet again: Any citizen petition article can be passed - IF people come near the end of the Deliberative Session and vote. So watch on TV and when the warrant articles, (always placed at the very end)are allowed to be addressed - then come on down and vote yourself. You see, there are only 25 to 35 political hacks LEFT as everyone else went home and it becomes very much a SELECTMAN'S MEETING and they just vote to corrupt all the CITIZEN'S articles. So it is only 25 or 30 political hacks that are "chewing up" and "spitting out" your attempt to CLEAN UP OUR TOWN. Consequently, plan to DEFEAT their strategy. Take a "heel to toe", that means WALK down to the Deliberative Session, let's say around 5pm and stay to 7pm. If 40 or 50 people did this you would "bomb them back to the stone age" and get the entire the citizen warrant articles PASSED in a flash, with no modification by Polito and the selectmen, who are there to protect their own interests. --You see, the selectmen take over the citizen town meeting, once everyone is tired and goes home around 5pm. YOUR town meeting is, in truth, turned into a third rate selectman's meeting where they make the motions and call the shots. The end product? YOU don't get to vote on what you can have a chance to vote on! Oh! It is brilliant strategy to delay citizens petitions until the room empties due to exhaustion! --So, you want to take your town back? Just come to the Deliberative Session MUCH LATER IN THE DAY. It would take no more than 40 or 50 citizens to defeat all the political hacks that pile in at that same time PRECISELY to defeat and maintain control. They have it figured out. The question is, "Do you care to clean up this town....or not?" Do you want to stop the pillage of Town water or not? Do you want to get fair treatment retarding your tax bill...or not? The "cleaning-up" all has to do with passing CITIZEN PETITION WARRANT ARTICLES. WAKE UP! Take a "heel and toe"! Come on down and have some FUN!
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