We ask; Who has caused the most bad press for Atkinson?

A short time ago, one of our less than illustrious town officials sent us a comment suggesting that the town would not have sufferred the damage to it's character by the amount of bad press it has received if not for two individuals. Who you ask? You guessed it; Carol Grant and Mark Acciard! According to this offical they are responsible for all the bad press and the greatest number of negative stories about Atkinson. The poster suggested that all that was needed to prove this was a google search, for Eagle-Tribune articles.

So we decided to take this poster's suggestion, and we found out that the single greatest magnet for bad press in Atkinson was none other than our police chief, Consentino! There were 19 stories dealing with Mr. Acciard all concerning his battle to get Mr. Consentino to do the right thing and step aside on police matters as a selectman, and the investigation by the budget committee into the improper, if not illegal purchase of the SUV. There were 7 stories about Mrs. Grant all dealing with the vietnem honor roll project(which the selectmen have STILL not honored the town meeting vote)

But there were 94 stories dealing with the chief's follies ranging over too many topics to go into detail about, over just the last 8 years. but here are the summaries, for those who are counting;

6 stories about the need for a tower, 4 on hog hill, 2 in center of town. 1/11/06- 3/11/06
3 stories about his write-in campaign for selectmen. 2/23/06, 3/13/06
7 stories about the vietnam honor roll, and his roll in stopping it. 11/13/05, 8/15/05, 4/7/05-6/26/05.
1 story about the promotion of Sgt. Baldwin to LT. 2 weeks before 1 story of him ripping Teddy for not advertising the asst. road agent job a second time. Hypocracy? 6/15/05,6/29/05
3 stories about the court finding him in contempt. 9/ 8/05, 9/22/05, 9/10/05
4 stories about him fighting the contempt order to the Supreme Court, 9/11/05, 10/02/05, 10/04/05, 11/15/05.
5 stories about the Court ordering him to step aside on police matters. 5/11/05-6/6/05
6 stories about the purchse of the SUV, including him threatening to use the police to remove the budget commitee from a selectmen's meeting for asking how it happened. 4/13/05, 4/20/05, 4/27/05, 5/4/05, 5/5/05, 5/6/05
1 story about selectmen holding un posted, unofficial meetings, with only two selectmen present. 7/04
3 stories about him signing a voucher for himself to receive an extra $1,300 "union benefit". 11/30/04, 12/15/04, 12/28/04
2 stories on his request for "pay cut" of $326. to deflect attention from $1,300. 12/14/04, 12/15/04.
2 stories about his proposal of a "gag order" on information to the papers from the selectmen, because he didn't like the critical stories. 07/05
2 stories about the petition by Acciard to order him to step aside on police matters. 7/28/04, 8/10/04
3 stories about his threatening one of his officers who took him to the PELRB. 7/21/04, 7/22/04, 9/15/04.
4 stories about the conflict issue of him voting on police withdrawal as selectman. 3/19/04, 5/12/04, 5/22/04, 4/13/04.
2 stories about Boyle questions of his participation in town employee policy setting. 4/7/04, 4/8/04.
7 stories about "the Town that hate trick or treaters" This story was repeated NATION-WIDE! Was heard on Howard Stern, Blute/Scotto, Jay Severin, and many other radio shows. We are onlt counting the original 7 although we found more than 37 references to it. 10/24/03, 10/24/03, 10/25/03, 10/26/03, 10/25/03, 11/1/03.
4 stories about Chief demanding Barbara Stewart "step off" the board on road issues as her brother-in- law is road agent. HUGE HYPOCRACY! Ethics is only what the other woman does! 4/15/03, 4/18/03, 5/2/03, 10/03
3 stories about Boyle's raising questions about conflict issues originally. 2/24/04, 2/21/03, 3/15/03.
3 stories about ethics issues. 4/22/04, 5/4/04, 5/11/04.
2 stories about chief (as selectman) settling issue of police detail pay 6/30/04, 7/2/04.
3 stories on why he ran for selectmen(3 different reasons)(selectman scrutiny of PD, fear of elderly being cut, help people) 1/03, 3/03, 3/03.
3 stories about his harrasment of Mrs. Childs after she questioned his work habits to police standards. 3/16/00, 3/18/00, 3/21/00.
4 stories on state ordering him to maintain part-time hours. 3/2/00, 5/23/00, 6/18/00, 6/28/00.
3 stories on the petition warrant article to replace him with FT chief. 1/12/00, 1/22/00, 2/13/00.
3 stories on the State's order for chief to stop harrassing his officers. 12/28/98, 12/29/98, 1/15/99.
2 stories on chief decision to run for selectman because of selectman scrutiny of PD. 8/24/98, 8/28/98.
3 stories on chiefs search for "informer" in his dept. and how that led to officer organizing a union. 3/12/98, 3/14/98.

As you can see there are certain people who, while seeking to destroy those who shed the light of public attention on their actions, can not stand for that light to be shined upon them.

Perhaps those people belong in the dark.

The Academy award for the biggest troublemaker in a small New England town drama goes to.......

ATKINSON POLICE CHIEF PHILIP V. CONSENTINO!!!!!

Electioneering:pt.2 According to the Eagle-Tribune

Front Page in the Eagle-Tribune today, March 22 is a story about electioneering. Timely given our story of a few days ago. It appears that Mrs. Webster, Principal of the Atkinson Academy may be in some hot water due to her placing in the Academy newsletter an article urging the public to vote to approve kindergarten for Timberlane. It seems that the School Budget committee has raised questions as to whether or not this may be electioneering.

This is funny in Atkinson where we have selectmen that openly campaign on t.v. for their pet warrant articles. Where we have a chief who drives elderly people to the pols on election day, does he encourage these people dependant upon this service to vote "appropriately"? we will never know.

Mrs. Webster, what you have done, albeit with the best of intentions, is far less than is done every year by the corrupt administration of this town.

Was this any different than the Chief sending out a mailer to everyone in town encouraging them to vote for the wheelchair van? By the way, how WAS that mailer paid for? Wasn't approved out of the donation account, at least not before it was sent out. Is this any different than chief or Lt. Baldwin trying to pitch their pet warrant articles on camera, in a selectmen's meeting the night before an election?

Why dont we have everyone who puts a warrant article forward, even the ones the selectmen don't like, come in to the selectmen's meeting the night before the election to pitch their projects?

Can you say ILLEGAL?

Congressional Witch hunt

I know this is not a strictly Atkinson topic, please forgive me, but I have to rail against my Federal elected representatives for a moment, especially including Senator John Sununu R?- NH.

I am certain by now you have heard about the Democrats in Congress seeking to subpeona White House staff to question them about the firing of 8 US Attornies. As ludicrous as this is, it is not as ridiculous as a sitting President who will allow himself to get distracted by a Congress that will stop at nothing to discredit, and demean his presidency.

US Attornies serve at the pleasure of the President! That is it. He can fire them at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all! These very same Senators had no issues with Bill Clinton when he fired 92 out of 93 US Attornies in 1993. They had no problem with George H.W. Bush firing 52 Us Attornies in 1990. They had No problem with Ronald Reagan firing 56 US Attornies in 1981. And they had no problem with Carter firing 86 US attornies in 1977.

Yet they devour Bush because his Attorney General fired 8!

Why the political witch hunt? because the position of the Democrat party in the Senate is a political scorched earth policy of endless, accusations until the other side gives up. This is similar to the way politics has been conducted in Atkinson in recent years. Criticize those in power and watch the accusations fly against you. You have a vendetta, you are bad for the town, you have a personality conflict, you insult and demean decent public officials just trying to do their jobs. And lost in all the accusations against you is the fact that you were right.

Electioneering: Attention to all Town Employees who do not wish to be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Welcome to another contributor under the Publius byline

Sorry, didn't notice the "Article Submission" originally.

Anonymous said...
Publius: Article Submission

Electioneering: Attention to all Town Employees who do not wish to be guilty of a misdemeanor.

When I saw someone post the information about electioneering, I could not believe what I read. So I looked it up for myself on the internet and found it at:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LXIII/659/659-44-a.htm

Here is the text from the NH RSA:

TITLE LXIII
ELECTIONS
CHAPTER 659
ELECTION PROCEDURE
Prohibited Acts
Section 659:44-a

"659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees. – No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties or use government property, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering. For the purposes of this section, ""electioneer'' means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Source. 2003, 172:2, eff. June 18, 2003."

So if ANY PUBLIC EMPLOYEE used town owned property to make telephone calls, emails, faxes to "get out the vote" or even use town property to say, give numerous voters rides in town vehicles to the polls.....wouldn't that be Electioneering?

I was told by several witnesses standing at the Atkinson community Center on election day that they saw elderly residents given a significant number of rides from the Atkinson PD. We are talking about quite a few more than 5 or 10. Uhm, isn't this influencing the town vote? So under the RSA, wouldn't EVERY Police Officer and Community Officer that participated in giving rides to the polls fall under this statute? Or every Public Employee that used town phones to make phone calls to "get out the vote"? Or Every Public Employee that put up political signs on town time using a town vehicle?

What about using other town resources such as the town owned video equipment that communicates messages across our town cable channel? It only takes a few statements during a Selectman's meeting.

Remember, the RSA states "....to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office".

In my opinion, our Atkinson PD is a political organization that is funded by the taxpayers. Taxpayer resources are used every year to influence the vote through the Dept. of Elderly Services.

For those specific users of Elderly Services who abuse this service and are now obligated for your vote, shame on you for being complicit in this activity.

I also want to say to Atkinson Residents: Shame on us for not stepping up and volunteering to help our elderly friends and neighbors with rides and appointments. If a small percentage of the town volunteered and each volunteer gave one elderly person one ride per week (or picked up groceries or prescriptions - heck, I live at Shaws and CVS), the need for the Dept. of Elderly Services would cease to exist.

Instead, we pay increased taxes to fund a political organization that is using town owned property and resources to influence the vote on issues and elections - using my tax dollars to get votes for issues I do not support, or get votes for people I do not support, or to get votes against people I do support (some very qualified people were voted out of office in the last election).

If this is not electioneering, I do not know what is.

Selectmen want a consultant for the library? for what?

Would someone please explain to Chairman Sapia that as a selectman he has no control over who is hired for the library building project, and to "recommend" as he did last night, is just that, and carries no weight unless the trustees wish it to. It is the Library Trustees that are responsible for overseeing the project. Once again, the voters told the selectmen to go out and negotiate and get the bonds necessary to build the library, up to the amount specified. They must now go and do it. They do not get to pick a consultant for a project. And why does this project need a consultant. They have a competent Architect, they will hire a competent builder. It is not a particularly large project, as buildings go. Why would this consultant be needed, and from where would he be paid? Just what line item(read spending purpose) in the budget allows the selectmen to hire a consultant? Why wasn't this put into a warrant article for the voters, since this expenditure must be more than $5,000. Jack you are starting off your chairmanship as you have led(if that isn't too comical a term) for your last two years.

Lack of ethics on display

One notable event at last monday's selectmen's meeting was the appearance of Lt. Baldwin to attempt to break the law by electioneering. This is when you use your official position to lobby for an candidate or issue. Lt. Baldwin tried to pitch his tower at the selectmen's meeting, Thank God selectman Sullivan had the presence of mind to stop it saying that it was unethical! Selectman Sapia did not have any such concerns, explaining why Lt. Baldwin's pitch was ok by him. The day before an election selectmen should not be discussing warrant article that are on the ballot the next day. Not that ethics have detered selectman sapia in the past. Well at least we will have plaenty to write about over the coming year.

Atkinsonians in the News

Well we have all heard of the recent demise of former Boston lead singer Brad Delp, an apparent suicide in his Academy Ave. home, but it has come to the attention of this blog that we have another reasonably famous Atkinsonian, although his notoriety is on the other side of the world. In Australia, no less. Matt Kelcourse, former resident, Timberlane Graduate, and son of Frank Kelcourse, former town official in too many capacities to list, is a verterinarian in Australia. He has recently performed the FIRST Spinal surgery on a snake. A Taipan! A taipan. The second most deadly snake in Australia. Until this surgery was done, the practice was to "put down" snake with such sever spinal injuries.

Here is Matt's snake surgery blog.

http://taipansurgery.blogspot.com/


Congratulations Matt!

The appearance of Impropriety

Welcome to another contributor under the Publius Byline

ARTICLE SUBMISSION:


THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY

I have never been involved in town politics but have been an avid reader of published town information as well as all televised meeting. I have always voted religiously after educating myself (as best as possible) on all the issues on the ballot.

Since receiving the flyer in the Carriage Town News about this blog site, I have read all the blog entries on this site. I disregarded all the obviously repetitive, crank, out of town, and old town history entries.

One of the lasting impressions that stayed with me after all this reading is that Atkinson does not care about the appearance of impropriety. Sometimes, doing the right thing is not the cheapest, is not the easiest, and is not the way it has been done for years and years.

Another impression that remains is that the town is made up of a handful of small cliques that for monetary or ego related reasons feel the need to control the town. The vast majority of the town is not in these cliques and is made up of two groups, the hard working individuals who do not have the time to get involved in these issues and also the senior citizens.

The last item of concern for me is the blatant use of town resources and personnel for political, clique related or personal business. The idea that certain people feel that the town owes them or that they are entitled to special treatment is a very serious issue. Most while collar crime is committed by individuals that felt, “they are entitled” for their years of service or for their hard work.

The history of the Elderly affairs Dept., and it's two directors

Welcome to another contributor under the publius byline

Publius: ARTICLE SUBMISSION

The history of the Elderly affairs Dept., and it's two directors

As an elderly resident of Atkinson who was involved in town politics about 20 years ago, I think the town needs to know the evolution of the elderly affairs program.

First of all it evolved out of the general welfare duties of the selectmen, around 1978 or 79. At that time there was one person in town that went out of her way to fight for elderly issues, and that was Carol Grant. Mrs. Grant was a selectmen and assumed these responsibilities as they were selectmen duties that noone seemed to be addressing. After leaving office she continued to do the job becuse the selectmen were not. Selctman at the time Bill Rollins decided in the early-eighties to create an official Director of Elderly Affairs, and to appoint Carol Grant as the first such Director, so that she would have official clout with which to approach state and federal agencies for assistance. There was NO BUDGET at this time for the elderly, that would not come for many years. Carol was tireless in her adopted duties. She brought elderly people to her home for food, rest, and company. She applied for state and federal grants and assistance through those agencies for whatever the needs were for the town's elderly. She made thanksgiving dinners and baskets for the elderly, she called to check on them frequently. All of this was done out of the goodness of her heart, and the depth of her own wallet. No town money was forthcoming.

There was Ruth McPhearson who many of us have seen in a picture with the chief, he in full dress uniform for his photo op, when he brought her soup one day. Yes, he was kind to her, and he solicited and received on or before her death donations to his donation account. Quid pro Quo. What is not generally known is that Carol Grant provided most if not all of Ruth's care for her last months on Earth. Even bringing her to their home so that she could shower, and eat a home cooked meal. The Grant's solicited nothing, and received nothing for this work.

Carol even went to the school board to ask them to abate school district taxes for elderly living on fixed incomes. The district said no, and Carol, as selectman went ahead and did it anyway, even though, upon review, DRA said she couldn't do that. She took hard and controversial stands on behalf of her charges, and never waivered. She also did not take taxpayer money to do all this, and never announced at selectmen's meetings how much she was doing for the elderly. She never canvassed them for votes. She never used them as political cover, or as a voting bloc. She just did what she could to help, without appreciation or recognition.

In 1993, The chief took over as elderly affairs director, he turned what was a comprehensive program into mainly a taxi service run out of the police dept. The petitions to state and federal agencies for assistance stopped. The research into what governmental assistance was out there stopped. He placed an elderly affairs line in his police budget to fund his program. He sent out birthday and christmas cards out of this budget as well as providing rides for the elderly. He was into the selectmen's meetings at least once a month to pat himself on the back for the services he had provided with taxpayer money. Gone was the honor and integrity that were the hallmarks of the program under it's former director. His initial budget request was roughly $3,000 if I remember right. It has increased every year. When the budget committee started asking questions about accountability in 2001, it was roughly $7,000/yr. plus what he spent out of the police budget, and the donation account, by this time he had four years of practice soliciting donations form the very people he was providing services to, into a donation account which he controlled and spent as he wished. He is quoted in the minutes of the June 30, 2003 selectmen's meeting as follows;

"Phil Consentino stated that he considered it a confidential database and names did not need to be given out. He was not going to give out the names unless he was legally challenged."

In 2004, when asked by the budget committee if he referred seniors to help from state and federal agencies, he did not know what help was out there, he did not know the schedules for Lamprey, he did not know the services provided by Salem Caregivers, or any of the other agencies out there. His was a glorified taxi service. The result of that questioning was officer Anderson becoming familiar with these services, but the program still does not primarily refer seniors to other agencies for help. Finally, in 2005, for the first time the town heard from officer Anderson that 61 people used the program, and it gave those 61 people 727 rides. This on a budget of $16,000 plus the overlap from the police dept. plus approximately $8,000 from the donation account.

We went from an honorable program ran by a dedicated individual who asked for nothing for herself, no recognition, no praise, no votes, no adulation. To an still honorable program, although much more expensive, with much less accountablility, run by an egoist, who screams from the rooftops everytime he gives someone a ride, or sends them a birthday card(all with taxpayer money) or receives a letter thanking him. And uses these fine people for political support. Who can forget the letter sent to the elderly in the town elderly database, by the chief, three years ago, when Fred Childs was running against Janine Sawyer-Stanley, excoriating Janine for being a friend of Brian Boyle's and praising Fred for his years of town employment. This letter was sent to the elderly in that database he manages the weekend before the election in an effort to sway an election, and it worked! When asked if he used his position to help a candidate, he stated that he made the copies himself, outside the PD. But what noone cared to discuss was that the list itself is a taxpayer funded, and owned town resource. This is surely electionering.

Bottom line is that "all that glitters is not gold"!

SCOOP! The votes are in

Here are the preliminary results, published before the Eagle-Tribune even has them.

Selectman:

Childs(incumbent, town employee)-984
Morse-609
Tobin-618

Budget(3yr.):

Acciard(incumbent, chair)-770
Thompson-997
Sawyer-Stanley-831
Morelli(town employee)-960

Budget(2yr.):

Paquette(incumbent)-910
Princiotta(incumbent)-862
Osborne-812
Boyle(incumbent,withdrawn)-811

Road Agent:

Stewart(incumbent)-1206
Wood-986

WARRANT ARTICLES:

2007-02: Extended family living unit:
Yes:1394 No:487

2007-03: Increase of work hours:
Yes:1488 No:618

2007-04: Allow Tower in center of town:
Yes:1403 No:736

2007-05: Waive School impact fee:
Yes:1449 No:997

2007-06: Library Bond:
Yes:1487 No:802

2007-07: Operating Budget:
Yes:1575 No:617

2007-08: Wheelchair Van Lease:
Yes:1651 No:611

2007-09: Walker rd. Paving:
Yes:1393 No:823

2007-10: Wood dr. Paving:
Yes:1298 No:857

2007-11: Fire Dept. Capital reserve:
Yes:1441 No:760

2007-12: Fire Dept. exhaust ventilator:
Yes:1425 No:754

2007-13: Recreation Capital Reserve:
Yes:1403 No:723

2007-14: Partial Facility lease:
Yes:1940 No:224

2007-15: Toddler playset:
Yes:1623 No:590

2007-16: Tee Ball Field improvements:
Yes:1629 No:582

2007-17: Create Recreation revolving fund:
Yes:1682 No:499

2007-18: Fund Mosquito control:
Yes:1952 No:279

2007-19: Emergency lane designation:
Yes:1619 No:533

2007-20: Accept Granite ridge rd.:
Yes:1364 No:722

2007-21: Lease town center for tower:
Yes:1433 No:725

2007-22: Study tower needs:
Yes:1378 No:800

2007-23: Allow town employees to be selectmen:
Yes:940 No:1213

2007-24: Prohibit tower in town center pending study:
Yes:1051 No:994

2007-25: Make Noriko full-time:
Yes:787 No:1333

2007-26: Survey and study of Sawyer ave. town land:
Yes:644 No:1485

2007-27: Conservation easement on town land:
Yes:1351 No:802

2007-28: Recreation deed on east rd. land:
Yes:1079 No:1045

2007-29: NOT accept Wright Farm rd.:
Yes:997 No:1053

2007-30: Climate change:
Yes:1447 No:711

2007-31: change wording of conflict of interest ordinance:
Yes:1359 No:629