Atkinson Reporter 2

Atkinson voters face 3 articles about Elderly Affairs

2012-01-26T07:27:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 26, 2012
Atkinson voters face 3 articles about Elderly Affairs
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — There still are competing warrant articles on the March ballot regarding the Elderly Affairs Department, but selectmen have changed theirs.

It seems the board didn't check with the Recreation Commission before they proposed combining two part-time positions into one full-time job. Selectmen wanted voters to approve creating a single position by merging the part-time Elderly Affairs director's job with the part-time director of Recreation and Senior Programs.

But Selectman Fred Childs said the board changed the article after talking to Noriko Yoshida-Travers, director of Recreation and Senior Programs.

"We didn't talk to the people down at the Community Center before we wrote the article," he said. "Noriko said it wasn't possible to combine the two positions."

After the first draft article, Yoshida-Travers said her job already had too many responsibilities to add more.

"I don't think I can handle that workload for both positions together," she said at the time. "It would be very difficult with my hours."

Now, selectmen have drafted a new article, calling for an annual salary of $25,000 for the part-time elderly affairs job, a position now held by police Chief Philip Consentino — for $100 a year.

Selectmen also drafted a second article, calling for the department to move out of the police station and into the Atkinson Community Center. That articles carries a $1,000 price tag.

Consentino said both articles are designed to separate him from Elderly Affairs. He's been on the job since 1993.

Selectmen and Consentino have long clashed over his dual roles. There's never been a meeting of the minds over the way Consentino handles both jobs. The disagreement reached the attorney general's office a few years ago.

In 2008, the state Charitable Trust Unit found a conflict of interest with Elderly Affairs being intermingled with the police department. The finances were officially separated, but Consentino continues to operate the program out of the police department.

Selectmen want to change that and they are using an independent study of the police department to back up their proposals.

Selectmen paid Municipal Resources Inc. $5,000 last year to review the police department. One of the recommendations in MRI's report was the separation of police and elder affairs.

"That was a recommendation from the MRI report, that Elderly Affairs should be separate from the police department," Childs said. "That was our original plan and it just got pushed back."

From Consentino's perspective, it's just more of the same.

"I couldn't understand why they're creating a job for $25,000 when I'm doing the job for $100 a year," he said. "They're just trying to break up Elderly Affairs, knowing I won't take the job on a full or part-time basis because it's too much work."

That's not necessarily so, Childs said.

"We're going to have to hire someone part-time," Childs said. "That doesn't mean the chief wouldn't have the job."

Consentino said he would wash his hands of the jobif the selectmen's articles pass. Two weeks ago, he drafted a citizens petition, which also will appear on the ballot. That article calls for leaving the Elderly Affairs Department just the way it is.

The chief said he hopes voters recognize what's happening and vote against the selectmen's proposals.

Even Childs acknowledges they probably will.

"I think that people are going to vote against it," Childs said. "The chief has a petition not to do anything with Elderly Affairs and I'm sure that's the one that will pass."

Budget Committee refuses to back added spending

2012-01-18T10:45:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 18, 2012
Budget Committee refuses to back added spending
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — A personal appeal from selectmen didn't change the Budget Committee's decision on spending at last night's public hearing.

Selectman Craig Schuster asked the committee to change their votes and recommend several more of the warrant articles he said were necessary for the town. But the Budget Committee members were not swayed.

"We appreciate the input from Mr. Schuster, but hold to our votes," Budget Committee Chairman Todd Barbera said.

The board recommended 10 of 19 warrant articles — representing a total of $599,000 less than the $703,000 recommended by selectmen. The board did not recommend $5,000 to increase security at Town Hall and did not recommend $20,000 to renovate the Town Clerk's and Tax Collector's offices to limit direct public access.

Both articles specifically address issues from a 10-page audit that selectmen received in December from the New Hampshire Labor Department. The audit detailed several ways the town must improve the safety and health conditions for town workers in the next year. Schuster asked why the committee did not support warrant articles the Board of Selectmen drafted which were mandated by the audit.

"We need safety precautions inside the town offices to satisfy those audits," he said. "When it comes to public safety, we could open ourselves up to liability. There's some security that we need to improve. Too many people have keys to this building."

But Budget Committee Chairman Todd Barbera said the committee did not feel they knew what the safety improvements entailed.

"On both of those warrants, we felt there was a lack of information," he said.

Schuster also asked why the Budget Committee chose not to support the repair of cracked sidewalks at the Fire Station and Town Hall, at a cost of $11,000 each.

"Why wouldn't you recommend the sidewalks? It's also a public safety issue," he said.

Barbera said the sidewalks are constantly replaced and have become a waste of money.

"There are some cheaper and safer solutions than concrete, which keeps getting eroded by salt and has to be constantly replaced," he said. "We need to look into that first."

But resident William Innes, who arrived at the meeting on crutches, also spoke in favor of the sidewalk repairs.

"It is an Americans with Disabilities Act violation," he said. "I'm worried about tripping and falling this winter."

Barbera said the board's recommendations were simply a matter of keeping costs down and taxes low in town. He went over the town's total proposed budget of $4 million, which is up about $34,000 or less than 1 percent, from last year.

Barbera said he did listen to a request for selectmen for a big increase in the legal department's budget, up 103 percent to $78,000.

"There were some lawsuits as well as some contracts being negotiated," Barbera said. "We granted selectmen their wish to increase this line."

Schuster said unfortunately, there were a number of lawsuits against the town recently.

"This is a different age where people like to sue towns and we need to protect ourselves," he said.

But after the meeting, Schuster said the vote by the Budget Committee and even town residents on the safety issues almost don't matter.

"If the town doesn't vote for it, we still have to do it," he said.

He said because the state has ordered the town to improve safety standards, the town has to comply.

Selectmen Fred Childs said if the items aren't approved, town officials will appropriate money from elsewhere.

"We can take money out of any other town budget for this, fire, highway, whatever," he said. "It has to be done."

Atkinson voters asked to fund station repairs

2012-01-17T09:25:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 17, 2012
Atkinson voters asked to fund station repairs
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Work to remedy air-quality problems at the police station is a lot more expensive than selectmen anticipated.

Bids for the repairs were so high, selectmen have drafted a $45,000 warrant article for Town Meeting to fund the needed work.

The warrant article would raise money to "remove and replace the distribution duct work, and replace the ceiling tiles and ceiling insulation disturbed during this replacement."

Selectman Fred Childs said $45,000 was the lowest bid the town received.

"It was a lot more than we expected," he said. "If it passes, we're on track to do it right away — just as long as that company holds to the bid."

There have been a number of delays on the project, which was supposed to be completed over the summer. A report by Municipal Resources Inc. found three types of mold and fiberglass particles in the air at the station, caused by water damage from the leaky roof. Selectmen initially planned to simply to replace the duct work, but more problems were revealed.

Police Chief Philip Consentino said it has taken selectmen more than three years to get someone to come in and take a look at the duct work, so he hopes the project will be completed soon.

"The only thing I'm concerned over is they received two bids, one for $45,000 and one for $75,000," he said. "If they can do everything for $45,000, that will be great. But if they get up there and find they have $1,000 more they need to do, the warrant article is very clear, you can't spend a penny more."

Consentino is optimistic residents will approve the warrant article because it addresses a safety issue.

"Generally, when residents realize it's an employee safety issue, they go along with it," he said. "The town doesn't have much choice. If it's not approved through the warrant, I think the town will have to find the funds somewhere else."

The town is under pressure to complete the work. Selectmen received a 10-page audit in December from the New Hampshire Department of Labor, detailing how the town must improve the safety and health conditions for town workers. The town has until Jan. 13 to send the state a written response, outlining when and how violations, including the air quality problems, will be fixed.

Selectmen questioned whether the moisture problems were really posing a health risk to any employees, but they are still committed to fixing the problem.

"It's all on there, so people can vote on them," Childs said. "We could have taken it off if we wanted to, but we didn't."

There are also warrant articles for a new police cruiser and funding to fund a sixth police officer, which Consentino said he hopes also pass.

Childs said there is a long list of warrant articles this year, totalling nearly $700,000.

"The police station and the Mill Stream Bridge are two things that definitely need to be done," he said. "People can make up their mind if they want to spend money on a sixth full-time officer."

The Mill Stream Bridge has been red flagged by the state as unsafe and the town must repair it. The warrant article asks for $83,965.

Consentino said the air quality issue is the most important one. Police department employees are just hoping to be able to breathe clean air.

"If they fix it, everyone here will be very grateful for their actions," Consentino said.

Atkinson voters will face opposing articles on ballot

2012-01-14T09:56:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 14, 2012
Atkinson voters will face opposing articles on ballot
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — A petition warrant article directly opposes the selectmen's plan to separate the Elderly Affairs Department from the Police Department.

Elderly affairs director and police Chief Philip Consentino said he decided to protect the organization he founded. He organized a petition warrant article to support keeping Elderly Affairs at the Police Department, with support from the Budget Committee.

"We got together 110 signatures," he said. "The petition was explained to people, and they came down to the station wanting to sign it. There wasn't any problem getting the signatures."

Consentino only needed 25 signatures for the article to make it on to the March ballot.

Last week, selectmen drafted two articles that would completely change the operation of Elderly Affairs. One would appropriate $1,000 to move the department to the Atkinson Community Center, and consolidate the senior recreation programs and Elderly Affairs into one location. The other article would raise $25,000 to combine the responsibilities of the part-time director of Elderly Affairs and the part-time Recreation and Senior Program director into one new full-time position: the director of Senior and Recreation Affairs.

Selectman Fred Childs said the board does not endorse Consentino's article.

"That's their decision," he said. "They got the required 25 signatures."

Consentino said selectmen have been trying to separate him from Elderly Affairs for years. In 2008, the state's state attorney general's charitable trust unit declared there was a conflict of interest in the operations of Elderly Affairs being intermingled with the police department.

The finances of the groups were officially separated, but Consentino continues to operate the program out of the police department.

An independent study by Municipal Resources Inc. in October recommended the town separate the Police Department and Elderly Affairs because of conflicts of interest.

The two articles drafted by selectmen do not have the support of the Budget Committee, according to Chairman Todd Barbera. He said the board voted, 5-1, not to move the department and unanimously voted against creating a new position.

"People felt it was running just fine and we didn't need to add $25,000 to the salary of the Elderly Affairs director when we were getting the job done for $100," Barbera said. "We also had to take into consideration the overall costs of the warrants. You prioritize and try to give a balance."

The Budget Committee also did not endorse some other articles: two addressing sidewalk repairs, the purchase of a new highway department truck and adding money to the Recreation Capital Reserve Fund. But the committee did support buying a new police car and hiring a sixth Atkinson police officer.

Childs said the Budget Committee votes against many articles selectmen endorse.

"It's typical," he said. "The Budget Committee votes and we can only spend the money they approve. I'm not worried."

But Consentino said now there are two different viewpoints on the ballot.

"We'll let the public make a decision one way or another," he said.

Atkinson may separate police, elder affairs

2012-01-10T06:45:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 10, 2012
Atkinson may separate police, elder affairs
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino may no longer have the title of Elderly Affairs director after March.

Two warrant articles aim to completely change the Elderly Affairs Department and separate it from the police department.

"I've worked for 21 years to put together this program and now they're telling me my job is gone," Consentino said.

The articles both were drafted by selectmen. One article would appropriate $1,000 to move the department to the Atkinson Community Center, and consolidate the senior recreation programs and Elderly Affairs into one location.

The other article would raise $25,000 to combine two part-time jobs into one full-time position. It would combine the responsibilities of the director of Elderly Affairs and the Recreation and Senior Program Director into one new position: the director of Senior and Recreation Affairs.

The elderly affairs programs gives local seniors a hand with rides to doctor's appointments, heating bills and more.

But Consentino said creating the new position is a waste of money.

"They're trying to break off the Elderly Affairs Department from the police department and they're willing to pay for it," he said. "They're going to pay someone $25,000 a year to do what I'm doing for $100 a year."

Consentino said he had no idea selectmen were writing this warrant article, but wasn't surprised.

In October, selectmen paid for an independent study by Municipal Resources Inc. to analyze the police department after numerous conflicts with Consentino. One of the recommendations of the study was to separate the police department and Elderly Affairs because of conflicts of interest.

"Atkinson police dispatchers receive calls from elderly residents requesting rides and then schedule those rides," read the report. "Some interviewed police officers suggested that this program should be moved out of the police station."

The other town employee who would be affected by the warrant articles is Noriko Yoshida-Travers, recreation and senior programs director. She said she was surprised.

"Actually, selectmen never really asked my opinion," she said. "I found out from somebody else."

She said she isn't sure if she's lost her job or will be expected to add many more responsibilities to her job for the additional salary.

"If I am the one doing it, I don't think I can handle that workload for both positions together," she said. "It would be very difficult with my hours."

She works part-time, but said she has a significant number of responsibilities.

"My phone is always busy here," she said. "To get more phone calls to schedule the rides and cover seniors in need would be hard."

Consentino said he works about 15 to 20 hours a week for elderly affairs, so he doesn't understand how one person can do his job, plus another job.

"If this came about, the Elderly Affairs program will diminish," he said. "It can't function without us running it."

He said the money to help seniors with prescriptions, ramps and other medical expenses comes from a separate charitable fund that is not affiliated with the town.

Selectmen could not be reached for comment.

Atkinson Voter Education Seminar

2012-01-03T16:14:00.001-05:00

ARTICLE SUBMISSION, PLEASE

TO: All Voters of the Town of Atkinson

FR: Gary Brownfield, Spokesperson – Atkinson Taxpayer Committee

RE: Atkinson Voter Education Seminar & Signing of Citizen Petition Warrant Articles

Location: Atkinson Community Center, 4 Main St., Atkinson NH

Date & Time: Thursday, January 5th, 7:30pm to 9pm.

At this Seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to sign new Citizen Petition Warrant Articles (or bring one of your own). The deadline for submission is Monday, January 9th.

Mr. Gary Brownfield will speak regarding the importance of citizen participation, given that Citizen Petition Warrant Articles now go to the voters without any corruption or change in language. Also, engage with you in a dialogue about the new State proposal to change Town Meetings, and in so doing, enhance transparent town government.

Mr. Ed Naile and Mr. Jorge Mesa-Tejada, CNHT Directors, will give an intriguing Atkinson Voter Education Seminar and will cover the 91-A Law, and how to protect the ballot of the legal voter and the power and authority of the legitimate ballot.

CNHT – (Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers) is dedicated to preserving the individual and political freedoms you enjoy in New Hampshire. With an effective statewide effort CNHT seeks to reduce the size of government at all levels, put a stop to judicial activism, provide students and parents with a choice of educational opportunities, expand our job market, and protect our ever shrinking property rights.)

January 2, 2012 11:17 PM

Atkinson officials question air-quality woes at station

2011-12-24T07:35:00.001-05:00

From the eagle Tribune;

December 24, 2011
Atkinson officials question air-quality woes at station
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Selectmen are questioning whether there are any air quality problems at the police station, after months of delay on the planned project to clean out air ducts.

Earlier this month, the state Department of Labor did a safety audit and found the air quality in the police station was "poor." The state gave selectmen until Jan. 13 to come up with a solution to the air quality problem.

But now selectmen are fighting back against the state mandate, saying there is no problem. Selectman Craig Schuster said the state has not seen some of the testing data.

"There's some data out there stating the air quality was satisfactory," he said. "That hasn't been verified yet. Until I actually see the data and the testing we've done, I question it."

Police Chief Philip Consentino said he can't believe selectmen are now doubting the poor air quality, which wasn't contested before.

"They've had two or three people the town paid to come in and do air quality tests," he said. "Why did the town put out a request for bids if there is no problem?"

The air quality issued was addressed in the independent Municipal Resources Inc. report from September, which analyzed every aspect of the police department. The report said there were three types of mold and fiberglass particles in the air at the police station, caused by water damage from the leaky roof. Selectmen said the air ducts would be replaced over the summer, but the project stalled.

Earlier this month, Selectman Fred Childs said the delay was caused by two bids from contractors that were much higher than the town estimated — almost $45,000.

But Schuster said the issue isn't the price, rather it's the existence of any problem.

"You hear reports from the police department saying they're having issues and people are sick, but we did testing and didn't find anything," he said. "We need to take a step back and find out the real information, then attack the issue."

Consentino said selectmen already have done some work to improve the air quality. They had the air return over the dispatcher's desk replaced and had all the ceiling tiles taped up to prevent particles from circulating.

"The tiles had stains on them from the rain and were turning moldy," he said. "How can they say it's fine? We've had expert upon expert brought in and right now I've washed my hands of it."

Schuster said the town put out initial RFPs with a plan to go up into the attic of the building, clean the ducts and explore what was going on in the ceiling of the station.

"Part of the RFP was looking into what we could find," he said. "But nobody wants to do it. If there is a problem, we will fix it. The timeframe will depend on how big the issue is."

Schuster said selectmen plan to hold a workshop to verify the data and find out what the real issues are at the department, before starting work.

Consentino said he's just waiting to see what the board will do.

"The Board of Selectmen is in charge and, hopefully, they'll realize something has to be done," he said.

Until then, Consentino said, he bought an air purifier for the dispatch office on Tuesday, to keep his employees happy.

Budgetary Attrocities

2011-12-21T11:45:00.002-05:00

Our Selectmen have requested $100,000 in the "other professional services-Legal line item, in the Town's operating budget. The line was funded at $10,000 last year, and was promptly overspent by $70,000 by our spendthrift BOS.

A little history is in order here.

This line was added to the budget by the budget committee last year at the request of the selectmen, because Primex had dropped the town's insurance coverage over the ongoing lawsuits, and the selectmen knew that a new insurer would not accept liability for the ongoing case, which was being wrapped up at that time. They asked for $10,000 to wrap up the Artus case. Now, that case is long over, we have a new insurer, and the selectmen want this line INCREASED to $100,000, WHY?

Fred claims it is for "the lawsuits coming down the pike", but THAT feeble excuse doesn't hold water, because any new lawsuits would be covered by our new insurer. In addition to the insurance, we pay Town Counsel $42,000 per year to defend the town. SURELY between the insurance, and our town counsel we can handle all these future mythical cases coming down the pike?

And what ARE these mythical cases, Fred cites? In the last five years the Town has been in court constantly, ALL over Phil Consentino's abuses of authority. There was the ethics case brought by Mark Acciard in 2005, which resulted in the Court ordering Phil to recuse himself form any selectmen's meetings that were delaing with police, elderly affairs, or town employee issues. Phil ignored the Court's Order, as we are sure every good law abiding chief law enforcement officer would do, right? and the Court then found him in Contempt of Court, and ordered him to now LEAVE the ROOM when those issues were being discussed, since he failed to follow their order the first time. Phil Ignored this order as well, preferring to spend MORe of the taxpayers money to appeal to the Nh Supreme Court. They dismissed. Then there was the Grant case, You all remember THAT one, Phil fresh off his Court Order to leave the room when police, elderly, or town employee matters were being discussed, sat in his selectmen's chair, when Carol Grant, came in to read a short statement about Phil's verbal abuse towards her in the lobby of the Town hall, Thus violating the Court's Order once again. he slammed his hand down on the table ROARING to the officer's he had directed Russ to call, to "GET HER OUT OF HERE". The officers dutifully evicted Carol, Her husband, and her wheelchair bound son out into the cold winter night, without even allowing them to stop and put coats on. This resulted in the Grant case, which after two years was settled with the payment of $30,000 to the Grants. Then there was the Acciard civil rights case, which dealth with phil's diatribes in publis official town business meetings, his letters to Acciard on official stationary threatening action, verbal threats in public, following him and his family through town, and other abusive actions, 3 years, and over $100,000 in legal fees later this case was merged into the Artus case. This new one over Phil calling elderly people that signed petition warrant articles and screaming at them "why did you sign this shit?"

So it is fair to say that if they want to cut legal costs they need to get phil to retire. It would save the town hundreds of thousands in legal fees and settlements.

And true to form, the budget committee, did not question the validity of the line, but began haggling over the amount! THE LINE SHOULD NOT EXIST! IT'S PURPOSE HAS BEEN FULFILLED! The question needs to be asked WHY DO YOU REALLY WANT $100,000?

Atkinson man indicted for road rage incident

2011-12-20T08:36:00.001-05:00

from the Eagle Tribune;

December 20, 2011
Atkinson man indicted for road rage incident
By Doug Ireland
direland@eagletribune.com

BRENTWOOD — An Atkinson man has been indicted in an alleged road rage incident in which a local fitness expert claims he was targeted.

Dean Bidgood, 21, was recently indicted on a criminal mischief charge by a Rockingham Superior Court grand jury. If convicted, he faces three and a half to seven years in state prison.

Bidgood was arrested by Salem police following an incident July 29 on Lawrence Road.

Scott Herman, a Salem High School graduate who appeared on the MTV reality show "The Real World — Brooklyn" two years ago, told police he was driving in his car about 2 a.m. when three men in a pickup truck gestured at him.

He told police he thought he knew the men and pulled his car over.

Herman, who drives a distinctive Toyota Scion that features advertising for his fitness company, said at the time he had no doubt the men knew who they were targeting.

Four years ago, Herman was recognized by Men's Health magazine for having the best abdominal muscles on the East Coast. He also works with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to combat bullying, but said he is straight.

Herman told police that two of the men, including Bidgood, jumped out of the truck, and kicked and pounded on his car. They tried to pull him out of his car and kick him, Herman said. He called 911 and the men fled in the truck. Herman followed them and the truck pulled over on Town Farm Road.

When Herman also stopped, one man jumped out of the truck, ripped off his shirt and charged the Scion. Herman put his car in reverse to escape. That's when police pulled up and found Bidgood standing outside the truck. The other man fled and the third person remained in the truck.

Bidgood was arrested on several charges, but only indicted on the criminal mischief charge. He was also charged with driving while intoxicated (subsequent offense), criminal threatening, possession of a controlled drug (Valium), transportation of a controlled drug, misuse of plates and simple assault.

He has been free on $5,000 personal recognizance and $1,000 cash bail.

Police also arrested Michael Leavitt, 21, of Atkinson and Michael Smith, 21, of Salem. Leavitt was charged with criminal mischief, simple assault and resisting arrest. He was released on $1,000 cash bail.

Smith remained in the truck throughout the attack, but was charged with possession of marijuana. He was released on $1,000 personal recognizance.

FINALLY, a Trained Police Force! Now if we only had a trained Chief.

2011-12-16T06:27:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 16, 2011
Atkinson rebuilds police department
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — The police department is slowly rebuilding, but much of the recent hiring has come at the expense of neighboring Plaistow.

Selectmen agreed Monday night to hire Officer Stephen Lundquist at $22 an hour, bringing the department up to four full-time officers.

Lundquist is the fourth officer Atkinson has hired away from Plaistow.

In October, the town hired three veteran officers from Plaistow, Sgt. Patrick Caggiano, Officer Nicholas Fiset and Sgt. Scott Anderson.

Lundquist will start his new job on Jan. 10 and fill a much-needed position, according to Caggiano.

"The department is currently running at 60 percent of the workforce," he said.

"We have three full-time officers and we would normally have five officers. We're looking to fill that gap."

There has also been a high turnover rate in the Atkinson department, too, creating the openings.

Officer Christopher VanHirtum left the department in October and Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar retired in September.

Earlier in the year, Lt. William Baldwin and Officer Justin Paquette left the department.

Baldwin actually joined the Plaistow department.

In order to hire Lundquist, the town had to buy out his contract with Plaistow, adding $2,500 to his salary.

"Plaistow has made an investment in training him and, if he leaves, they lose it," Caggiano said.

"They spent about $33,000 on the cost of his training. Atkinson would only have to pay the rest of his contract until April."

Selectmen voted, 2-1, to hire Lundquist. Selectman Fred Childs voted against it because of the employment contract.

"It's like buying an officer," he said.

"I have a problem with buying people."

Childs also said he was worried about setting a precedent for future hires.

"We opened up a can of worms," he said.

"If the next officer comes and is asking us for the same thing, are we going to say no? I want to be consistent."

Caggiano said Lundquist is worth the investment.

"To get someone who has already proven himself, we're getting a considerable cost benefit," he said. "I'm comfortable putting (Lundquist) in a cruiser in three or four weeks. If I have another officer, I made have to put that off to the industry standard 12 weeks of training."

Lundquist has worked as a full-time officer in Plaistow for the past three years, including serving for a short time under Caggiano.

"I had the opportunity to work with Steve and I know the caliber of officer he is," Caggiano said.

"Within two years of becoming a police officer, he showed his ability to do detective work."

Plaistow police Chief Stephen Savage would not comment on the loss to his department, saying it's a personnel matter.

Atkinson: Selectmen surprise with announcement of new town administrator

2011-12-13T06:43:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 13, 2011
Atkinson: Selectmen surprise with announcement of new town administrator
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Selectmen have decided to hire William Innes as the new town administrator, filling the position that has been vacant for four months.

Innes, 63, agreed to take the job yesterday for a salary of $68,000 a year and will start full-time on Jan. 3. He is the chairman of the Recreation Committee and secretary of the technology committee, but has no other municipal experience.

"I've been to deliberative session and learned about how many things work in town, but I still have a lot to learn," he said. "I'm hoping over the next couple of weeks to come up to speed on a number of issues, take a look at what the previous town administrator was working on and start to put together a sense of what the job is going to be like."

Selectmen made the announcement quickly at the end of last night's meeting. Innes was absent, and said he could not attend.

"There was no public vote on it yet, but he we got him the contract today and he has accepted," Selectman Fred Childs said. "We'll have a public vote next week, but we've all decided on him."

Childs said the board felt Innes was the most qualified for the position.

"We interviewed 10 people altogether and he was the one we chose," he said. "I'm not worried about his lack of experience. He'll catch on pretty quick. He has a lot of experience dealing with people as a manager so I think he can handle it."

And Childs said Administrative Assistant Barbara Snicer will help teach Innes anything he needs to know to do the job.

Innes has a background in the computer industry, with degrees in electronic engineering and business management. He worked for 39 years as an engineer and manager at various computer companies like HP before being laid off. He currently works part-time with children who have learning disabilities at Hampstead Middle School, but will quit when he starts as town administrator.

"I can't continue that job," he said. "It's really almost a full-time commitment and I'm committing myself to the town at this point."

Atkinson has gone through a number short-term administrators in the past few years. The last town administrator, Philip Smith, left in August after less than two years on the job. Before Smith was hired in September 2009, the town went seven months without an administrator, after Steven Angelo quit after just five months. Before him was interim administrator Craig Kleman who worked on the job for about four months. Russell McCallister lasted the longest, working for about three and a half years before quitting in January 2008.

But Innes said he hopes to stay with the town for five to seven years before retiring again.

"I'm 63 and I would hope to work until I'm 68 or 69," he said. "I'm looking at this as a third career. I'm hoping to do the job well enough that they'll keep me around."

Innes has lived in town for 35 years with his wife of 43 years, Lorraine. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

CART offering free bus service- Possibly to Atkinson?

2011-12-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 12, 2011
CART offering free bus service
By Doug Ireland
direland@eagletribune.com

A long-awaited free shuttle bus service is coming this week to Derry and Londonderry, with plans in the works to expand to Salem, Windham and possibly other towns.

The Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation (CART) plans to begin the service along Route 102 on Thursday, according to executive director Lee Maloney.

CART hopes to offer the other free routes by next year, she said. Those include a route that begins at Whispering Winds off Mammoth Road in Windham and continues to shopping venues in Salem, including The Mall at Rockingham Park, Maloney said.

Another route along Salem's busy business corridor is still being planned, she said.

"Everybody is looking forward to them," Maloney said. "It's going to be like a real transportation system."

The Route 102 service — with roughly eight stops along the busy corridor — was expected to begin three months ago but was delayed because of computer software problems, Maloney said. The software is used for tracking buses.

Cart's "Sun Bus" will run five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing residents — especially senior citizens — to visit shopping centers in Derry and Londonderry.

The bus will stop at local housing complexes, Hood Common in Derry and Market Basket in Londonderry.

The route, established in conjunction with Easter Seals and Rockingham Nutrition, also includes stops at the Meals on Wheels sites at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry and the Londonderry Senior Center.

Rockingham Nutrition was able to obtain $24,000 in federal funding to help pay for the route, executive director Debra Perou said.

"We're very excited to get it underway," she said. "There is a huge potential there. I'm really hoping it becomes a real link."

While the Derry-Londonderry service has been in the works for a while, the two routes planned for Salem are relatively new.

Expanded service in Salem would benefit senior citizens, said Lynda Drouin, an employee at Salemhaven nursing and rehabilitation center.

"It would be extremely helpful," she said.

Drouin said she knows a woman who enjoys using the current service because it is so convenient.

CART has proposed a three-day shuttle service, possibly for free, connecting Hampstead and Londonderry.

A pay-your-way route running daily from Derry to Salem is also being planned. CART has received a three-year $600,000 grant from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement program to fund the route in conjunction with the Interstate 93 widening project, Maloney said.

But a $100,000 match is required, she said.

It's hoped riders will donate money to help fund the free shuttles. CART began running advertising on some of its buses this summer to help defray costs.

The free shuttle service is a big change for CART, which has offered a ride request service since it began in October 2006. Anyone needing a ride in its six service towns could call up and ask for one at a cost of between $3 and $5 each way.

That service would continue for the approximately 1,700 people who use it.

CART serves Chester, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Salem and Windham, with contributions received from the participating towns. These contributions are then matched with federal transportation funding.

Maloney met with residents Thursday in Atkinson, where there is interest in establishing a CART route.

CART has provided approximately 65,000 rides to local residents over the last five years. They are especially used by senior citizens going to medical appointments and grocery stores.

Jewelry stolen in Atkinson break-in

2011-12-10T08:03:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 10, 2011
Jewelry stolen in Atkinson break-in
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — A Marilyn Drive home was broken into and jewelry stolen while the homeowners were away, police said.

Police responded to the home at 2:15 p.m. Thursday after a neighbor watching the home reported it was burglarized.

Officer Nicholas Fiset discovered the home had been entered by breaking a basement window, Sgt. Patrick Caggiano said.

"A check of the inside of the residence revealed a jewelry box on the floor inside the master bedroom," he said. "There was some jewelry still inside, but it is safe to assume that items had been taken."

The owners were not home, so police still do not have a complete inventory of what was stolen. Caggiano said two flat-screen televisions inside the home were not taken, despite their value.

"Atkinson has seen a significant number of burglaries over the past several months," Caggiano said.

"Atkinson is a prime target for would-be thieves as a majority of residents work during the day," he added. "We are asking all members of the community to keep a watchful eye on their neighbors homes and report any suspicious activity."

Atkinson Marine assists Thai flood victims

2011-12-08T06:48:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 8, 2011
Atkinson Marine assists Thai flood victims
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Christopher Brown is only 20, but what he's seen is more than anyone would want to witness in an entire lifetime.

The Atkinson resident and 2009 Timberlane Regional High School graduate is serving overseas with the Marines. Last week, the lance corporal returned to his base in Okinawa, Japan, from Thailand, where he helped with flood-relief efforts for two weeks.

His mission was to clean up mud and debris in the flood-ravaged country.

"Myself and fellow Marines got to go assist the royal Thai army and clean temples, a school and a medical center," Brown said in an email.

Thailand experienced the worst flooding in more than 50 years from late July through November. More than 600 people died and floodwaters swamped entire towns. More than two-thirds of the country's provinces were affected.

Brown said he saw devastation wherever his unit, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Flood Relief Command Element, traveled.

"I saw flooded airports, people taking shelter on the highways and living in tents on higher ground," he said. "(I saw) houses half-submerged in practically sewage water, eroded roads, and mothers wading through water carrying their children. People were riding their scooters and driving their cars through water almost 2 feet deep."

In Bangkok, the Marines helped clear out sandbags that had been stacked throughout the city in anticipation of the floodwaters that never reached them.

Brown, who joined the Marines only a few months after graduating from Timberlane, worked with the Thai army to hand out supplies. Members of the Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force worked alongside the Thai people, including monks, to clean flood-ravaged buildings.

"It was the most rewarding experience of my life and fulfilled my goal when I joined to help people," Brown said. "It was a great feeling when the locals shook your hand and hugged you, saying, 'Thank you so much, we're so glad you're here.'"

His mother, Patricia Brown, said she's very proud of her son.

"He's only 20 years old, but he's seen more of the world than I probably ever will see," she said. "I know he'd say he's just doing his job, but he's done great work."

She said his absence has been hard for the family, communicating only by Skype during odd hours because of the time difference.

"This will be our third holidays with him not here," she said.

Brown will come home in July, but he could be called up again, according to his father, Jim Brown.

"He's probably going to Afghanistan toward the end of the summer," he said. "I'm worried about him, but I'm proud of what he's been doing."

Christopher Brown, now back at his base in Japan, said he felt like he really made a difference in Thailand. He said the Thai military thanked his unit when they left and the two groups made strong connections.

"We proved to our allies that we have their back if they need our help and it really strengthened relations with both countries," he said. "It proved that the Marines are not just fighters; we help people too."

Atkinson home heavily damaged in blaze

2011-12-06T07:56:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 6, 2011
Atkinson home heavily damaged in blaze
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Firefighters responded twice to the same home yesterday after a fire rekindled hours after being put out.

Fire Chief Michael Murphy said the first call came in at 8:10 a.m. for a two-alarm fire in the bedroom of a home at 8 Rose Lane.

"There was heavy fire and smoke from the second floor," Murphy said. "Atkinson Engine 2 and Hampstead Engine 1 did an aggressive fire attack and quickly extinguished it."

Firefighters left at 9:38 a.m., but were called back at 12:49 p.m. for a report of smoke coming from the roof of the home.

"The fire rekindled, though it was smaller the second time," Murphy said. "Again, we quickly knocked the fire down. We're not sure how it rekindled."

He said the department did everything by the book before leaving the house.

"We investigated before we left, using thermal imaging," he said. "There was nothing there."

He said this type of rekindled fire is uncommon since firefighters now use thermal imaging to look for small burns, but it does happen occasionally.

"It's one of those things that happen in a tiny space," he said. "It continued to burn until it got oxygen. Then it spread."

No one was injured in the blaze. Murphy said he believes the cause was an electrical malfunction in the house.

The house is owned by Joseph and Rose Faro, who live in Windham and rent out the property.

A woman who is living at the residence was distraught yesterday afternoon and wouldn't give her name.

"I have no idea what the damage is," Faro said yesterday as he left the property,

Murphy said the damage to the house was extensive and mainly caused by the initial fire.

"There is damage to a second-floor bedroom, the attic and the roof," he said. "There is also heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the house. There is definitely structural damage."

The four-bedroom house, built in 1984, is assessed at $399,900, according to town records.

The Atkinson Fire Department is continuing to investigate. Firefighters from Hampstead, Plaistow and Danville also responded to the scene.

Phil's Legal cost to the town

2011-12-03T14:36:00.002-05:00

This story begins roughly a year after he was appointed chief. In 1981, there was a selectman named Wayne Peak. Peak found that there was a misappropriation of funds in the police dept. It appeared that the little fees charged for reports and such were not being deposited to the town bookkeeper as they should have been but were being given to the Atkinson Patrolmen's association. The amount in question was $286.00. Peak brought this out in a selectmen meeting, and Phil ROARED that NO ONE was going to sully his good name, blah, blah, blah, you can imagine the rest. Peak asked the other two selectmen to take action, they refused, in true Atkinson selectmen fashion. Peak resigned in protest, and filed suit against Phil and the town. Phil retaliated by filing suit against Peak for.... YOU GUESSED IT! Slander, defamation, diminution of earnings capacity, and compensation for severe physical and emotional stress. These competing suit wound their way through the courts for 6 years, FINALLy reaching settlement in 1988.

BUT not before Phil fingered Peak, or agents of Peak for taking shots at the police station, and planting an explosive device at Phil's home. Peak was investigated by the FBI to no avail.

Not before an anonymous tip informed Mass Dept of Revenue of fictitious accounting irregularities at Peak's business in Lowell. DOR shut his business down for two weeks while they combed through his books. No impropriety found.

Not before Phil followed Peak through town arresting him for Reckless driving of his Cadillac, except that Peak was driving his Rolls that week, Caddy was unavailable. Case reversed.

The case file reads like an adventure novel. The final entry is an offer to settle for $500,000, declined. Case was settled 1 month later, under non disclosure agreement. Peak held a party at the KofC in Lawrence the week after the settlement to show off his two new caddy's bought with the settlement money, he claimed. Phil claimed in a selectmen meeting in 1988, that the case was settled for $15,000. "he didn't even cover his costs, he got nothing" This was apparently just another false statement.

In 1991, Lt. Rick Daniels left the dept. citing personal differences with the chief. Phil claimed in a selectmen's meeting that Daniel's on his way out had destroyed 12 years of police database. Only problem , the police dept. did not have computers in 1979.

In late 90's we had the infamous spitting incident in town hall between Fred Childs and Phil. Fred was running for selectman, and Phil was showing around the case files from Fred's Lawrence Pd days. Yes, this is illegal. Dale Childs filed a complaint with NHPSTC about the number of hours Phil worked, it was the second investigation of him in 5 years. NHPSTC admonished him to not exceed his legal limit of his training at 1,300 hours/ year. Phil retaliated by having Bill Anderson go to the Child's home and take pictures of the Hampstead animal control vehicle in her driveway. She raised hell, Phil whined in a selectmen meeting that he was "acting as Phil Consentino, Resident, NOT Phil Consentino, Chief" ONly problem is the he used his police officers to take the pictures, and wrote the letter on police chief stationary.

The following year, Officer Micheal Rivera sought to get a union into Atkinson to "get work rules down on paper that the chief would have to follow". he claimed that there was favoritism in work assignments, hours, benefits, and advancement. Phil retaliated by writing him up for not writing enough tickets on his shift, midnight to eight am. He followed this performance up by sending his officers the infamous "loyalty letter" which even Sgt. Baldwin testified was an intimidation tactic. Rivera filed suit with NHPELRB. They ordered the town and it's agent(Phil) to cease and desist from bullying, harassing, and intimidating his officers. Phil responded in the next selectmen meeting by saying he had never harassed or intimidated anyone, and his door was always open, any of his officers could come to him like a man and complain to his face. So much for not intimidating.

The following year, Officer Lorden filed an NHPELRB action claiming abuse of authority. Another settlement. There was another settlement around this time with another officer over hours violations.

Then we had the Town that hates Halloween, controversy when Phil spouted off in another selectmen meeting that, as they had done for 10 years, his boys would be out(halloween) to turn cars with Mass. plates around at the border. This was reported NATIONWIDE, and Phil was not smart enough to know this practice was illegal!

Then we had the conflict of interest complaints that next year. Phil voting, as selectmen, to approve his request, as police chief, to withdraw $2,500 from the police donation account. Followed by his approving for himself and extra $1,300.00 "union benefit". ONly problem was that as chief he is specifically excluded from the union contract. He later admitted that he knew there was nothing in the contract or the employee handbook authorizing him to receive this benefit.

In 2005, Rockingham Superior Court Ordered him to recuse himself from any police dept., elderly affairs dept. or town employee matters. Phil announced in a selectmen meeting that nothing would change, just that elderly and police matters would have to take place at the station or his house. He blamed Acciard for making it this inconvenient for the people. In August the Court found him in contempt of Court for ignoring the previous order. He responded by saying this judge had no idea how small towns work, and he would appeal(on the taxpayers dime, of course) to the NH Supreme Court. The Court dismissed on briefs citing lack of standing. Sumner spent hundreds of hours on Phil's legal issues in 2005, never billing the town for these extraordinary expenses. However, in October of 2005, Selectman Consentino negotiated a new contract for Town Attorney Kalman that ALMOST TRIPLED his retainer, claiming that he had not had a raise in 20 years and had so much more work to do lately. This $25,000 or so bump in retainer is a permanent quid pro quo for defending Phil for a year. And it will cost the town an EXTRA $250,000 over ten years.

In 2007, Carol Grant came to a selectmen meeting to read a short statement about the chief's abuse of authority in screaming at her in the town hall because her vehicle was running outside while she was updating the veterans board. She got 2 paragraphs into her statement before Phil Jumped up, Slammed his hand down on the desk, screaming at the camera operators to turn off the cameras! "I don't have to sit here and listen to this". The meeting adjourned to non-public, with Officer Baldwin and Fardella appearing together to stand in the two doorways. 4 minutes into this meeting Phil stands abruptly and Roars "GET HER OUT OF HEAR NOW!" Officer Fardella, ushered Mrs. Grant, her husband, and her wheelchair bound son out into the cold winter night, not allowing them to stop and put on coats. The Grants filed suit. Remember Phil was still under Court Order NOT TO BE IN THE ROOM when these matters were discussed. This case was settled a year later at a cost of $30,000 in settlement, PLUS as one of the attornies claimed they had over $50,000 in legal costs already.

Next came the Acciard case for abuse of office, harassment, following him through town, using the police dept. to investigate his company. This case lasted 2 years before being pulled into Federal Court. The Attornies for Primex claimed that they had "well over $50,000 in legal expenses" at the time of the Federal Removal.

Next came the Artus, Brownfield, Lewis Case. This case was the straw that broke the camels back. Winding it way through the courts for 2 years before Primex finally pulled the plug on insuring the Town of Atkinson. AFTER Primex dropped coverage for the town, the selectmen added another professional services- legal line to the budget, funding it with $10,000. 3 months later this line was $29,900 OVER SPENT! According to the attornies between March and July 2011 they spent $68,000 in legal expenses defending Phil's atrocities.

So to recap; We have 6 1/2 years of legal expenses in the Peak case. As it is under non- disclosure we can only surmise what the cost was, but the average insurance company attorney at that time was about $180/hr.x 100 hrs./yr. x 6.5 years = $117,000.

Plus the settlement of $500,000+

Plus the NHPELRB cases; $200/hr. x 25 hrs. $5,000

Plus selectman consultation for all of Phils foibles(halloween, Rivera, Lorden, Buco, Daniels, Acciard, COI, Abuse of Authority, harassment, illegal SUV purchase, illegal creation of Ft Lt. position, Shut down of scenic byway, water issues, Winslow drive harassment, etc. $200/hr. x 40 hours = $8,000

COI case, 1.5 years, 2 depositions, two hearings $200/hr x 80 hours = $16,000

Contempt of Court defense $200/hr x 12 hrs. = $2,400

NH Supreme Court Appeal $250/hr. x 12 hrs. = $5,500

Grant case: $50,000 claimed legal expenses + $30,000 settlement

Acciard case: WELL OVER $50,000 legal expenses + 1 year more in Federal Court. Total $110,000

Artus et.al case: $68,000 in four months AFTER town loses insurance, PLUS two years insurance attornies..... $168,000

Phil's legal cost to the town and it's insurance companies, approximately $1,011,900.00 by best estimates, and extrapolations.

Isn't it time to end this debacle?

Atkinson opts out of prison trustee program for free labor

2011-12-01T07:29:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 1, 2011
Atkinson opts out of prison trustee program for free labor
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — For the past nine years, a Rockingham County jail inmate cleaned the police station three days every week — at almost no cost to the town

But selectmen thought otherwise, voting to end the program and citing the cost of transporting the inmate from Brentwood to Atkinson and back.

The board voted Monday not to reapprove the police trustee program, which employed a minimum security prisoner for landscaping and cleaning.

Selectman Craig Schuster said the cost of the program seemed to outweigh the benefits.

"It was $10 a day for this person, which included a meal," he said. "But the chief did not understand the full cost. We were using a town officer to drive the trustee back and forth to jail, paying them $24 an hour. The real cost was well over $60 a day, compared to our current cleaning service which is $45."

The town employs a cleaning company for all other town buildings, Schuster said. The cost of adding the police station to that list would be $45 a day, he said.

But police Chief Philip Consentino said he worked out a plan to have Plaistow officers pick up two trustees in the morning and have an Atkinson officer bring them both back at night.

"They're saying it's too expensive and there were too many hidden costs," Consentino said. "But there would be no overtime involved."

Armed with information, Schuster said, he decided the program could be worth the money.

"I made a motion to approve it, but I did not get a second," he said.

Selectman William Friel was not present at the meeting and Selectman Fred Childs did not support the motion, so it didn't pass.

Now, Consentino said he will have to hire someone to do the work the trustee did three days a week.

"He cleans the station from one end to the other, empties the trash, cleans all the cruisers, rakes leaves, cuts grass and whatever we need," he said. "With one trustee, I got three rooms in the police department painted and all it cost me was a gallon of paint for each room."

There is a reason so many other towns also use the trustee program, the chief said.

Ask Kingston police Chief Donald Briggs.

Briggs said he has a trustee on staff full time. Sometimes, Briggs said, the trustee works on special projects on weekends.

"They have rebuilt the whole upstairs of the fire station, the town bandstand, painted the entire inside of the library," Briggs said. "The program saves thousands and thousands of dollars every year."

Jail superintendant Stephen Church said 10 local communities use the program, including Atkinson, Kingston, Plaistow, Sandown and Hampstead.

"It saves the municipalities an awful lot of money," Church said. "It's a very popular program."

Only a small number of prisoners, those without a record of sex offenses or violent crimes, participate.

"The benefit for the prisoners is they get to be away from the jail and interact with people other than fellow prisoners," Church said. "They generally get fed better which is a big deal. It's a highly sought after job and only very few are selected."

Hampstead police Lt. John Frazier said he was surprised Atkinson would cut the program.

"Not cost effective?" he said. "It's free labor."

A part-time, retired Hampstead officer supervises the trustee, who comes in on Tuesday and Thursdays to clean the fleet of police cars. It has worked out well, Frazier said.

Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones said her department also uses a trustee three days a week to maintain cars and clean up.

"It does take an officer a little time to pick them up, but I think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks," she said. "It's just about a 20-minute drive to the prison."

Consentino said he's upset the program was cut, but can't change what happened.

"It's a shame the program went down, but I will live with the board's decision and move on," he said.

Cops upset they don't get raises in addition to contract!

2011-11-30T14:09:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 30, 2011
Atkinson gives raises to most town workers
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Selectmen voted to give a 2 percent raise to all town employees — except the police department and library staff.

And some police union members aren't too happy.

Selectman Craig Schuster said town employees haven't had a raise since 2009 and because of the increased cost of living, selectmen decided almost everyone needed a raise.

"We did have it budgeted this year to give a 2 percent retroactive increase to town employees, beginning last March," he said. "During the discussion, we decided a 1.5 percent raise in 2012 will be executed, too."

The increase will cost the town about $8,000 more per year, Schuster said.

Library employees didn't get a raise because library trustees already gave staff members raises for this year.

But some police department employees are angry about being passed over, according to Patrol Officer Kevin Donnelly, union president for the department.

"I went down to Town Hall and asked, 'Why don't we get a raise?'" he said. "They said because we have unions and a union contract, we don't. I understand that, but I didn't understand why, with a swipe of a pen, selectmen could give a raise to the rest of town employees."

Schuster said it's just the way the system works.

"The police department (is) under the collective bargaining agreement and we are currently negotiating with them for their increase next year," he said. "This was no personal attack on the police department. We will give them an increase when the contract is completed."

Once the department and selectmen agree on a contract, voters must then approve any raises in March. The police department hasn't had a contract since 2009, when voters rejected the proposed contract.

Of all the town employees, the police department could end up the only ones without a raise, Donnelly said.

"I would hope (the contract) wouldn't be voted down again, but times aren't great," he said. "When people go to vote and have a choice to give somebody a raise, taxes are so bad, that's an easy one to say no to."

He said it seems unfair for only some town departments to need voter approval for raises.

"I don't see why with a swipe of a pen selectmen could give a raise to the rest of town employees," Donnelly said. "We have five or six people at the police department that aren't in the union. What about the chief? The chief's wife?"

Police Chief Philip Consentino said he wishes his officers could get more money.

"I feel bad for the officers," he said. "They've gone since 2009 without a raise. That's why we lost so many officers, because they were able to go other places and get more money than what they did here."

The department lost three officers to other local departments in the past year.

"It's probably just a dollar raise for some, so it's not about the money," Donnelly said. "It's just the overall treatment I didn't appreciate by the selectmen."

Selectmen don't trust Chief's word.

2011-11-26T08:04:00.002-05:00

At a confrontational selectmen meeting last week, the Selectmen had some issues to discuss with the chief of police. First, they mentioned that they had sent him three CERTIFIED letter on various subjects, with no response from him. Phil, as is his usual custom didn't want to discuss the actual letters, but chose instead to whine about the effrontery of the board sending them "certified", demanding to know why they couldn't just tell him about them? He received his answer from Fred, who said; We didn't want you to be able to say you didn't get them!

The CONTENT of the letter was even more interesting. Letter #1 demanded that the chief STOP bringing in Jail trustees to clean the station because of the cost. Chief claimed they were free. When presented with the numbers, time and a half for the officer picking up and dropping off, lunch, car expenses, etc, which far out weigh the chief's claimed 446/week savings, he retreated to claiming they were "SEMI-FREE"! Selectman Shuster exclaimed in exasperation, WHAT IS SEMI-FREE? It either costs or it doesn't! Very true. Mr. Shuster, Semi-free was Phil's attempt to spin his previous lie.

Letter #2 was about Det. Farrar, who is apparently RETIRED BUT STILL WORKING IN THE SAME JOB FOR THE CHIEF! HOW is it possible to collect retirement, while still remaining in the very same job you are retiring from? THAT is FRAUD! SOMEONE declared him retired and eligible to collect his retirement, while allowing him to keep working. FURTHER, the chief admitted to paying him $25/hr. Supposedly part time, later claiming he was paying him for 6-8 hours per day, PLUS time and a half to get, and drop off the trustee! This reminds us of the impropriety of Phil revealing that he paid Billy his sick time to go on his summer camp, thus allowing him to get paid by BOTH the town and the military simultaneously, while violating the Town's sick time policy, and then announcing that he did this for SIX YEARS!

Letter #3 dealt with Phil hiring someone to do the detective's job, while keeping the detective on doing the same job! The selectmen told Phil that Farrar was not allowed back into the police dept., and he had to abide by their policies. Phil stated that he was not an employee! MEMO TO PHIL... You get paid by the town, that MAKES you an employee!

It is high time for the lies, deception, political posturing, and improprieties to stop. Phil it is time for you to retire.

It is Time for the Selectmen to ACT!

2011-11-19T07:59:00.002-05:00

With fresh allegations of electioneering, and his outrageous defiance of his employer's wishes, it is high time for the selectmen to take action with regards to the police chief. Gross insubordination can not be allowed to exist in any organization, and it has run rampant in the Town of Atkinson for far too long.

For those who wonder how we got to this point, the following Article was published on this blog in July 2008;

TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

The evolution of a costly problem.
Anonymous said...

Atkinson Reporter2 please accept this as an article submission;

The evolution of a costly problem.

Although I grew up in Atkinson, I left to go to college, and now live out of state, but as I have family in town I try to keep up on events in town. I LOVED reading the Atkinson Reporter, and the Atkinson Taxpayers website, and now I love reading this site.

Background now out of the way, I have spent much time reading the atkinsontaxpayers.org website. I remember a lot of these incidents, but seeing it all together in one place is overwhelming. I decided to write about what I felt about reading all of this.

I think we can all agree, even though the police chief evidently does good work with the elderly, he is a costly problem to the town, what with all the lawsuits, resident complaints, shouting at meetings, Gestapo tactics with his enemies, etc. I wanted to examine how this could be allowed to happen in my home town.

As far as I can tell chief Consentino was appointed on a probationary basis in 1978 to the position of chief of police. At that time, as near as I can tell, he had been a part- time police officer for 8 years or so, with little or no formal training, or experience. It was in 1980 apparently that the first problem appeared;( all of this is available in the court documents section of atkinsontaxpayers.org)

A Selectman, Wayne Peak, apparently found that minor fees that the police charged for reports and such, were not being deposited to the town, but given to the patrolmens association(a private organization). As this was money charged by the town for services, Peak determined that it belonged to the town, and characterized the misappropriation of these monies as misuse of funds, or some type of theft. Peak brought his information to the board of selectmen and asked them to punish the police chief, but they refused. Peak went to court, filing a Writ of Mandamus, demanding that the Court order the selectmen to do their duty. He also resigned in protest.

I have to say that the court documents read like an adventure novel, allegations of police harassment, false charges of reckless driving later dismissed, formal accusations of witness tampering, employing agents to fire shots at the police station, complaints to the Mass Dept. of Revenue, untimely audits yielding no results, at one point chief Consentino even sued Mr. Peak, claiming, Libel, Slander, Defamation of Character, reduced earnings capacity, and stress related illness’. These competing claims wound their way through the Court system for 7 years, until being settled for an undisclosed amount. Mr. Peak then threw a party in N.Andover the weekend after the settlement to show off the TWO new Cadillac Eldorado’s he purportedly bought with the settlement.

This case was finally settled in 1988. In 1990 or 1991 there came another issue, then Lt. Rick Daniels resigned suddenly over disputes with chief Consentino. Chief Consentino claimed in the Eagle-Tribune that Daniels “wiped out 12 years of computer database information before he left”. Daniels claimed this never happened, and was heard to state that Atkinson didn’t even have a database in 1979.

In 1996 or so their was some issue apparently with police standards and training, resulting in their visit to town.

In 1997 and 1998 there were endless shouting matches between selectman Fred Childs questions about budget and expenditures in the police dept. and chief Consentino’s refusal to provide clarification to this selectmen, his boss. All of this is detailed in the Eagle Tribune, and on the atkinsontaxpayers.org site.

In 1999, the officers got so frustrated that they decided to form a union. There were “intimidation letters” from chief Consentino to the organizers, resulting in a labor board case, in which the NH Public Employees Labor Relations Board, ordered the “town and its Agent(Consentino) to cease and desist from any bullying, harassment, and intimidation of officers”.

Around this same time Mrs. Childs, then a part time officer herself, in Atkinson, evidently filed a complaint with police standards and training about chief Consentino’s hours, that he worked too many to be part time, and that he lacked the training and education to be full time. Chief Consentino responded by asking one of his officers to visit her house and take pictures of her Hampstead animal control cruiser, he followed this up with a letter to the Hampstead selectmen accusing Mrs. Childs of misusing her cruiser for personal business. When Mrs. Childs found out about this intimidation, and rightly blew up about it, Consentino claimed “I was acting as Phil Consentino resident, not Phil Consentnio, chief” Like every “resident” has access to police officers and police dept. stationary!

In 2003, there was another flap that ended up before the labor board involving officer Lorden, case was settled with officer Lorden receiving payment. There was another labor board case involving Officer Buco, another settlement, another payment. 2003, also saw the infamous “Town that hates Halloween” story, reported on CNN, Boston Globe, Union Leader, AP, Howard Stern, Michael Graham, Howie Carr, etc. Nice Job!

In 2004 saw the first conflict of interest allegations from Brian Boyle, then from Mark Acciard. Acciard, then a budget committee member, filed a code of ethics complaint, which they ignored. He then filed with the Court asking for an injunction to keep the POLICE CHIEF from DECIDING POLICE MATTERS AS A SELECTMAN!!! Should be a no brainer, right? Wrong! Chief Consentino refused to step aside, even after the Court ordered him to, and the Court found this 30 year chief in CONTEMPT OF COURT! He didn’t like that and tried to appeal it to the NH Supreme Court, and they dismissed his case!

In 2006 He was the subject of a Federal Civil Rights Suit against the Town, recently settled! Another settlement another payment!

And Now the Town is currently facing a $3,000,000.00 lawsuit alleging misconduct AGAIN on the part of Atkinson’s police chief! When does it end?

The selectmen could, at any time, during all of this done their duty, and enforced town policy, and reprimanded, suspended, or even fired the chief, but they have done nothing, and the allegations, legal costs, increased insurance premiums, all continue to march on.

Since that time there has been another lawsuit, with legal expenses so extraordinary to attempt to craft a defense for Phil's actions, that Primex, the Town's long time insurer, DROPPED THE TOWN COVERAGE! this forced the town to pay the rest of the expenses to settle that case out of pocket.

this is a chief law enforcement officer who began his tenure with allegations of misappropriation of funds, was Ordered by the NHPELRB to stop bullying and harassing his officers, Who has been responsible for AT LEAST TWO Settlements on Unfair labor practices charges, and AT LEAST TWO out of court settlements to lay to rest abuse of authority, harassment, etc. cases, has been the subject of NO LESS than EIGHT LEGAL actions during his tenure, incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal expenses and settlements, was ORDERED by the Court to recuse himself from meetings, only to VIOLATE that order, and be found IN CONTEMPT OF COURT. He then wasted MORE taxpayer money to appeal that decision to the NH Supreme Court who dismissed for LACK OF STANDING! He has a documented history of threatening his opponents, following them through town, defaming them and making false statements at meetings, Lying to the People of Atkinson, and his routine arrogance, and general disregard for the demands of his employers. In ANY OTHER TOWN an employee who committed a FRACTION of this behavior would have been fired.

It is time for the selectmen to follow the DEMANDS of the AG's office in 2008, and the recommendations of the MRI report, and PHYSICALLY SEPARATE Police and Elderly Affairs. Move EA to the Community center, merge it with all of the other senior programs into one all encompassing full service dept. Dispatch the cars from there. Offer Phil a CHOICE; he can choose to remain as police chief, or as Elderly Affairs Director, BUT NOT BOTH!

It is time to put the good of the Town above the wishes of one of it's EMPLOYEES.

Phil Electioneering AGAIN? Follow up

2011-11-17T15:02:00.002-05:00

Yes THIS is the letter Phil and his uniformed minions handed out at the annual Senior citizens Luncheon at the Community Center. Phil and his drivers handed this letter out to every senior who walked in the door. When everyone was seated, Phil then made a speech, asking for everyone "to support him against the selectmen". He noted that the recent MRI report recommended the separation of the two depts. but lied when telling the assembled seniors that "the reason was not clear".

This from the MRI Report; "receiving this recommendation direct from the police chief raises the potential for conflict of interest concerns. Using the name of the atkinson police to get a discount on services, may not be in the best interest of the dept. or the town. This service would be best handled by an elderly affairs dept. not directly connected to the police dept."

The MRI report echoed the Attorney Generals comments four year ago when they called the operation of the donation account illegal, and demanded transparency, and accountability for the chief. They demanded that he keep a time card, stating that one should be able to clearly see where his police duties end, and his elderly duties begin.

The outrage of this, once again, is the juvenile antics of an overgrown child needing to get his way. ALL legal authorities who have looked at this situation have asked for it to be separated. The police chief continues in his dishonest demagoguery of this issue, claiming that separating the two depts. will drive up the cost of elderly affairs. That is simply not true. We do not need a full time dispatch center to handle elderly affairs calls. That is over $40,000/yr. wasted.

It is time for this official harassment to stop.

Grant funds iPads for Timberlane officials

2011-11-16T07:53:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 16, 2011
Grant funds iPads for Timberlane officials
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

PLAISTOW — Timberlane school administrators are on the cutting edge — they all have iPads.

The Timberlane Regional School District bought 29 iPads this year for administrators, funded entirely by a state grant. Each 32-gigabyte iPad 2 costs about $599.

Scott Strainge, director of secondary education, said the district received $20,000 from a Title II state education grant for professional development and school improvement. Timberlane is one of few districts in New Hampshire to obtain iPads through the grant.

"The grant paid 100 percent for the iPads and the training for all of the administrators," he said. "We're working directly with the state and they approved the purchase. All principals, curriculum coordinators and directors got iPads, including myself."

This month, Strainge hopes to use the iPads to create a database for analyzing the district's curriculum and teaching style, which can be used later as a guide for teacher training. Strainge said the iPads are a good investment because they will save the district money in the long run.

"Previously, we were paying an outside agency about $20,000 a year to help us with data collection in classroom observation," he said. "We can now reallocate those funds. The iPads have allowed us to create our own infrastructure. It's been a great success so far."

Michael Hogan, principal of Timberlane Regional Middle School, said he and other principals use the iPads during "walk-throughs" to observe teaching in the classroom.

"I'm able to take a snapshot of what kinds of instructional strategies are being used," he said. "I evaluate the learning and input it into the iPad as I walk around. Then, we can send it back to the teacher as immediate feedback to show how kids are learning."

Hogan said he was trained Monday on how to use the iPad to input the data. He hopes to have a full, working database by Thanksgiving.

"We just got this set up," he said. "We can also track data across the whole school. We can say as a school, on Monday, we saw 12 percent of the school using technology, for example. It will really help us track how we're teaching."

John Holland, the district's director of technology, said the iPads are a big improvement over the outdated personal digital assistants, or PDAs, administrators were using before.

"The PDAs made it very difficult to do the observations," he said. "You had to go back and sync it to the computer and a lot of times, it wasn't working well. The iPad eliminates these issues completely because we use the wireless Internet."

Strainge said other local school districts have been asking how Timberlane has been using the iPads and are also thinking of applying for a grant. Students are also using the iPads for a few projects, Hogan said.

"The students and myself can capture and film to make short movies and productions with it that way," he said.

The next step for the district is to get iPads into classrooms for teachers and students to use every day.

"What's happening now, as I walk around with my iPad, the kids are like, 'Whoa, can we use it?"' Strainge said. "They'll show me how to do things. And teachers are asking to borrow the iPad and try things. We're thinking we might run some pilots with some classrooms with some type of tablet. It's very exciting."

SCOOP: Consentino Electioneering AGAIN?

2011-11-15T20:08:00.002-05:00

Fall is upon us once again, and in Atkinson that signals the beginning of the political season. The annual battle of the budget, along with other pet political issues come to the fore.

THIS year NH's most Notorious police chief is up to his old tricks. Who could forget his past transgressions, such mind bogglers as;

Calling signer of petition warrant articles asking them "why did you sign this shit?"

Or, Standing on the grounds of the post office holding signs and waiving to cars while wearing his Atkinson Police Senior Transport division jacket?

Which brings us to todays latest attempt at what some will call electioneering. Consentino, while wearing his "Atkinson Elderly Affairs Dept.- Director" shirt, made the rounds at the Annual Senior Brunch asking for "support against the selectmen"

Apprently at least according to Phil, the selectmen have finally strapped a set on, and decided to follow the recommendations of the NH Attorney General's office 4 years ago, and the Recommendation of the MRI report that it is a CONFLICT OF INTEREST for Elderly and Police to be intertwined. OF COURSE, ALL the LEGAL authorities have recommended that the depts. be separated. And Phil made a big show of spending $5,000 to "separate the depts" 4 years ago, in reality, as MRI found out, they are still enmeshed.

Phil was taking advantage of the town funded Senior Brunch while in his Elderly affairs uniform to solicit signatures for petition warrant articles to prevent the selectmen from separating the two depts. In any other town this apparent violation of law, consistently repeated would be grounds for dismissal of the town's chief law enforcement office, BUT probably not in Atkinson!

Phil's arguments; If it ain't broke don't fix it. It works where it is, he claims to the captive seniors dependent upon him for their transportation. As we have heard from seniors denied transportation at town meetings, it does not pay to piss off Phil. But to any RATIONAL person, this too, would be ample reason to separate the two depts.

Elderly Affairs is a TAXPAYER FUNDED DEPT. It should be available to ANY who want it, EVEN IF they piss Phil off.

Atkinson, it is high time to stop letting this bully with a badge intimidate people into giving him his way. Separate the depts. as the AG demanded, as MRI recommended. As citizens put in a petition warrant article two years ago that Phil and jack Sapia destroyed. Separating the two depts. will make them both more efficient, more transparent, more accountable, AND MORE HONEST.

Parents want to see video from bus incident- laSalle Stonewalls

2011-11-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 13, 2011
Parents want to see video from bus incident
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

An Atkinson family may file a civil lawsuit against the Timberlane Regional School District after a school bus driver allegedly berated their 11-year-old son.

Two weeks ago, Eric Roux said, his son got off the bus and immediately broke down crying.

"My son said the bus driver yelled at him continuously for 30 minutes," Roux said. "He got yelled at for not having his backpack in his lap and said something fresh. The bus driver immediately stopped and screamed at him, close enough where he got spit on his face. He called him stupid idiot for the next 10 stops."

Timberlane contracts with First Student for bus transportation.

Every school bus is equipped with a small video camera, so the incident with driver Al Lamonica was recorded.

Roux told school district officials he wanted to see the video, but his request was rejected.

District Superintendent Richard La Salle said there are rules governing when these tapes can be made public.

"There's limitations in terms of how the videos can be released to protect the privacy of students," La Salle said. "If we are severely disciplining a student, then a parent can view those tapes. In talking with our attorney, the determination was made that, under these circumstances, we could not release the tape."

La Salle said the bus driver's behavior was "not appropriate," but it was not grounds to fire him. Instead, La Salle said, he asked the bus company to assign the driver to another route.

"I will say the bus driver did speak harshly to the student, but he was not profane in any way," La Salle said. "We communicated our concerns to the bus company and the bus company took action."

Timothy Stokes, spokesman for First Student, said because of the complaint, the driver is no longer driving children from home to school.

"This driver is operating charter service only," he said. "It's field trips, sporting events, things of that nature."

Stokes said the company worked with the school district to make the decision. They address issues like this on a case-by-case basis, he said.

"(Lamonica) has been working with the school district for 12 years and the driver had no previous complaints," Stokes said.

Roux reported the incident to Plaistow police. He said an officer reviewed the video, but since the bus driver never physically touched his son, police said it is not a criminal issue. Now, Roux plans to sue the school in civil court in order to see the video.

"I'm not looking for any money," Roux said. "Every parent is amazed that we don't have the right to see the video. It's our son and we pay taxes for that bus. It's about a right to know stuff that happens to your kid on a bus or anywhere on school property."

Michelle Roux said she just wants to see what happened to her son.

"It's devastating to us," she said. "We feel like this bus driver bullied our son and got away with it. It just kills me that he's still driving a bus."

After the incident on the bus, the boy was bullied by older students at school, according to his parents. La Salle said the school followed the proper procedure for everything.

"There was some fallout from the incident and it was handled," La Salle said. "We feel that throughout this whole process, we have worked in the best interests of the child and the family. Obviously, we are saddened when these things happen. I think we've done a fairly good job with it."

New town Website; Pretty, but no more info. then the last one

2011-10-31T07:33:00.002-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 31, 2011
Town's new website brings everyone together
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — The town's new website went live Tuesday, creating a central site for the entire town. Previously, several departments had their own websites.

The site has many new features and offers more information, including recent meeting minutes and agendas.

Todd Barbera, chairman of the Technology Committee, said the new website was recommended by the IT assessment the town did in 2009.

"The old website was created with Front Page, which is obsolete software," he said. "There were also multiple websites for the town. If you go to recreation or conservation or the police department, each has their own website with a different look and feel. We wanted to bring it all under one umbrella and make it easier for residents to use."

All the work on the website was done by Technology Committee member Wendy Barker over the past 18 months — at no cost to the town.

"Wendy saved the town thousands of dollars on this project," Barbera said. "Residents should be really grateful to her."

Barker explained the changes from the old to the new website.

"This website includes such improvements as Google calendars for both government and community events, a search field, and an FAQ page," she said. "It has been designed for ease of navigation and to be viewed easily on any mobile device."

Barbera said the committee still plans more improvements to the website in the future.

"We want to take every meeting that is broadcast on TV — Conservation, Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee — and have those be available online," he said. "Not permanently, but so you would have the opportunity to watch the most recent meetings. It will be a convenience for residents who were unable to watch a meeting live."

Barker said they're also working on integrating social media.

"Future improvements will include such things as Twitter feeds and online submission of web forms," she said. "This has become an ongoing project and every effort will be made to keep its look, feel and functionality up to date."

TOWER TIME for Phil Again!

2011-10-26T06:43:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 26, 2011
Atkinson seeks answers to communications problems
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

An Atkinson police officer called for backup, but no one heard him.

"Two people turned on him and had him pinned on the ground," police Chief Philip Consentino said. "He kept pushing his radio for help and no one heard him. There are so many radio dead spots all over town, it's not safe."

Backup arrived from Salem in time to help that officer, but Consentino said there have been many similar incidents over the years.

Weak radio signals are a serious safety issue in Atkinson, but there are solutions. While other local departments have already installed equipment that strengthens radio signals and eliminates some of the danger of spotty communication, Atkinson residents have been unwilling to pay for the solutions put forth by the town.

Residents rejected a plan in 2008 to build a $600,000, 120-foot communications tower in the center of town. On Sept. 26, the Atkinson Emergency Communications Committee gave the town new recommendations for improving radio signals.

Robert Dahlquist was appointed to the committee two years ago. He said the report shows how the radio signal from Plaistow to western Atkinson is obstructed by Bragg Hill and Providence Hill. Dahlquist said an 80-foot, $100,000 radio tower would improve radio signals somewhat, but not enough. The best overall option is to purchase mobile repeaters.

"One or two cruisers can be equipped with a mobile repeater," he said, "They take a signal from the walkie-talkie and repeat it on the dispatch frequency. The officer has to set his walkie to that specific channel."

Opinions vary on solutions

But Consentino said he disagrees with the report's recommendations .

"We looked into mobile repeaters years ago and that's not a good thing because you have to keep changing frequencies all the time," he said. "The best route was to put in a tower, but now that will never happen."

The repeaters would cost about $4,000 per unit. The total cost would depend on the number of vehicles that need to be equipped. But there are grants available to pay for the technology.

"Several other local police department are using repeaters successfully," Dahlquist said.

In Danville, police Chief Wade Parsons said they used to have a few areas of radio blackout.

"We had several locations that we ran into communication problems with our portable radios," he said.

"We didn't have sufficient power to reach Rockingham dispatch. We could hear them, but we weren't reaching them back. No one was ever hurt, but sometimes Rockingham would dispatch a car to check on us because we were unable to communicate, as a precaution."

The Danville police installed repeaters in July 2009, according to Parsons.

Danville's repeaters were paid for by a federal grant and Parsons said since they installed them, the department hasn't had any problems.

"Things have been great," he said.

"We don't have any lost communication any longer. We have four repeaters installed in all of our cruisers. It's not complicated at all to use; it's just a throw of a switch. I would absolutely recommend this to other departments."

Repeaters worked in Kingston

Kingston recently put repeaters in their cruisers, too, after receiving a grant in March.

"Kingston is notorious for many bad areas to communication, usually in the southern tier of the community," police Chief Donald Briggs said. "The equipment was just installed and it allows us to communicate via radios to Rockingham dispatch. It's much better now."

Briggs said the Rockingham Sheriff's Department is also working on a grant now to install remote receivers around town to improve communications more.

Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones said in every town, even more developed towns like Plaistow, there are certain areas that have radio blackouts.

"In Plaistow, one of the main problems was the high school," she said. "We wanted to be able to communicate in there."

Jones said Plaistow's solution was to use grant money to install antenna canopies, which are similar to repeaters. Now, the high school resource officer can easily communicate with dispatch.

"It's not perfect, but it has improved the service," she said.

"The more things that get built in this area, the worse reception is. If one tower has a direct line of sight to another tower, communication is perfect. When you build things in between, that interrupts service."

Jones said the town bought the equipment from Two Way Communications in Newington.

A company spokesman said they have sold equipment to dozens of towns across Southern New Hampshire.

In Atkinson, selectmen are still discussing the results of the report on emergency communications.

"I don't know when the town will make a decision about this," Dahlquist said.

"Our job was to research and determine what the problems were — and make a recommendation. Beyond that, it's up to the townspeople, the Board of Selectmen and the Police Department if they want to proceed with one of them."

Consentino said the change can't come soon enough.

"If it's 2 or 3 a.m. and you're out of a back road and you see a suspicious car with three guys in it, you might hesitate," he said.

"You know you don't have radio contact and if a confrontation starts, you're (in trouble). It's a very touchy situation and we need to fix it."

Timberlane to focus on science improvement, after bombing NECAP

2011-10-24T06:43:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 24, 2011
Timberlane to focus on science improvement
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

PLAISTOW — Science is not a strong subject for the Timberlane Regional School District.

The New England Common Assessment Program science scores for 2011 are low at the high school, middle school and all but one of the district's elementary schools.

"In all of the schools, except for Atkinson (Academy), we get lower overall scores this year," Kerri Killen, director of elementary education, told the School Board Thursday. "We're going to be taking a closer look at our science curriculum, from preschool all the way up through grade 12."

Timberlane Regional High School students scored the worst, with just 17 percent of students scoring a proficient level of 3 or 4. At the Timberlane Regional Middle School, just 30 percent of students were proficient, down from 39 percent last year. That compares to a state average of 55 percent proficiency.

"High school numbers are certainly low," said Scott Strainge, director of secondary education. "We talked to middle school kids after taking the test and they said there was some stuff on there they've never even touched."

In the elementary schools, Pollard Elementary scored the worst with 37 percent of students scoring a proficient level of 3 or 4. Danville Elementary students scored 47 percent proficient. Sandown Elementary scored 61 percent proficient, down from 78 percent last year. Atkinson Academy rose from 67 percent last year to 80 percent this year.

Superintendant Richard La Salle said he wants to make sure the scores are accurate.

"We need to understand these scores," he said. "Why does one or two questions different make such a difference on where you fall in proficiency?"

The School Board asked for solutions.

"These scores are discouraging," member Robert Collins said. "At the elementary schools, the disparity is huge. We go from 37 to 80 percent. What's your plan to improve this?"

Strainge said the district brought in Dr. Ed Henry, a state science consultant, last year.

"We brought him in to work district-wide with the science committee," he said. "He had some good ideas. We changed the standards so we don't have a kid who gets to biology in his sophomore year of high school and hasn't seen biology in three years."

Unfortunately, Henry's job has been eliminated in the state budget this year, so the school is on its own to try to raise the NECAP scores.

Pollard School principal Michelle Gaydos said they have a renewed focus on science because of these scores.

"We're a school in need of improvement and focused so much on reading, writing and math, that the kids didn't have the science inquiry they needed," she said. "This year, we made it a priority. I think we'll be in a better place soon."

Strainge said officials will be analyzing the curriculum and doing everything they can to raise the scores.

"We're just looking for continuous growth," he said. "With the NECAP scores, it's like turning around an aircraft carrier in the ocean. You can't do it on a dime."

Timberlane officials silent on cutting short cheerleading season

2011-10-20T11:59:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 20, 2011
Timberlane officials silent on cutting short cheerleading season
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

PLAISTOW — The fall cheerleading squad's season has been cut short at Timberlane Regional High School, but no one will say why.

Administrators and parents have been closemouthed since the decision was announced on Friday. Principal Donald Woodworth would not explain his decision to cancel the rest of the team's season.

"We don't want to single out individual students, coaches or team issues," he said.

"We did have to end the season, but there will be no disciplinary action against the cheerleaders."

Woodworth would not specify exactly what happened to prompt punishment of the entire squad.

"We had some internal issues we couldn't square away," he said yesterday.

"There were a variety of issues, not just one we can solve. I can't comment further."

Woodworth would not name the school's cheerleading coach, who was new this year, nor say if she has been fired.

"We ended the season, so I don't have a coach right now," he said.

Students leaving school yesterday either didn't know about the situation or didn't want to comment.

Diane Ripley's daughter was on the team. She said yesterday the school ending the season was not the end of the problem.

"It's still going on and there's no final resolution," she said.

"It's kind of a fire storm right now. I would be shocked if anyone talked about it. It's a bad situation."

Ripley also wouldn't say what had happened to end the season in order to protect her daughter.

School Board member Peter Bealo said he didn't know the reason for the secrecy.

"All I know is the letter that went out to the parents of people on the cheerleading squad," he said.

"Hopefully, we'll learn more at the School Board meeting this week."

School Board vice chairman Lisa Withee said the decision was made by the high school principal, not the board, so they had nothing to do with it.

Woodworth said the issue with the fall squad will not affect future cheerleading seasons.

"We do intend to run a winter cheerleading program and to work toward a successful fall season next year," he said.

Atkinson loses another officer, but hiring has begun

2011-10-20T11:58:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;
October 20, 2011
Atkinson loses another officer, but hiring has begun
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Officer Christopher VanHirtum is the third officer to leave the police department in the past six months.

Yesterday was VanHirtum's last at the department, after three years on the job. Chief Philip Consentino said VanHirtum's new job will be with the Windham Police Department, just a few miles away.

"Windham is more money, closer to home and I believe he has more opportunities for advancement up there than he does here," Consentino said.

Before coming to Atkinson, VanHirtum worked at the Newton Police Department from 2005 to 2008. He was initially hired in Atkinson to replace the late Cpl. John Lapham, who died of acute leukemia.

There has been a lot of turnover at the Atkinson Police Department, but Consentino said he hopes that will stop now. Lt. William Baldwin and Officer Justin Paquette both left for other police jobs. Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar officially retired last month, but has stayed on part-time to help the department.

The department was down to just two full-time officers at one point, but the Board of Selectmen authorized Consentino to hire a few new officers last month.

"I've got Officer Nicholas Fiset, who started last Tuesday," Consentino said.

"Selectmen wanted the background investigation done on the two individuals I brought in last week. Hopefully, Monday night, they'll make it official and appoint those two."

The two officers are Detective Sgt. Patrick Caggiano, who will work full time, and Sgt. Scott Anderson, who will work part-time. Consentino said Caggiano will make a big difference, since he will fill Fararr's position as an administrator, handling the day-to-day operations of the police department.

"I still need two more full-time officers," Consentino said. "We're going through applications we received and seeing if we can fill those two positions."

But he's said happy to see some progress.

"The department is in much better shape than it was a month ago," he said. "The selectmen have helped me out considerably by putting Fiset on."

The department threw VanHirtum a small going-away party yesterday after he made his last arrest as an Atkinson officer

SCOOP: TIMBERLANE CANCELS CHEERLEADING PROGRAM!

2011-10-14T14:24:00.002-04:00

Timberlane Athletic Director Angelo Fantasia announced to the girls today, that he was cancelling the cheerleading program, at least for the rest of the season, and possibly for the rest of the year. Mr. Fantasia refused to announce a reason citing "legal reasons", but families of cheerleaders in the program have long had issues with this troubled program. Tales of Senior girls bullying freshman girls. Disengaged, inexperienced coaches, and a general lack of discipline on the team has now come full circle.

Speaking to coaches from surrounding schools they were stunned to hear the news. They stated that they "couldn't imagine that happening at their schools".

The Atkinson Reporter has to wonder what could possibly have caused such a drastic response. Bad coaches can be fired. Bullies on the team can be kicked off, but what can be so bad that the program must be scrapped.

Only time, and parent outrage will tell...

Atkinson police station still source of air quality woes

2011-10-11T07:57:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune

October 11, 2011
Atkinson police station still source of air quality woes
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Dispatcher Lynne Cunningham said she's had breathing problems since she starting working at the police station.

"I'm worried about my health," she said. "I have chest pains, trouble breathing, sinus problems. I get light-headed. It's all because of the air quality in here."

Cunningham said some of her coworkers have experienced similar problems. The department's air quality issues were addressed in the recently released Municipal Resources report, an independent analysis of the department.

"Members of the police department feel the town does not care about their health," the report said. "Employees who have read reports on the air quality issue state there are three types of mold above the false ceiling and that fiberglass is being blown through the ventilation systems."

The cause of the problems is water damage from a roof leaking over the years, according to the report.

Selectmen said they are committed to fixing the problem. The town planned to tear out and replace the duct work over the summer, but delayed the project because of police Chief Philip Consentino's health problems.

Selectman Fred Childs said the project was delayed again because Selectman William Bennett had been out for health reasons. Now, Bennett has resigned and Craig Schuster was chosen to fill the position.

"Now that we've got another selectman, it should be done quickly," Childs said Friday. "This will be one of the first things on the agenda for the new board. We also have to talk about fixing the fire station roof. Both of those will be done by winter; we have the money for it."

The project will take at least three days, Childs said, so the department has to vacate the building. The board is still trying to work out a schedule with the contractor.

"We want it done right," he said.

Cunningham said selectmen have been making promises for months, but haven't made any progress.

"You can see water spots on the ceiling above my head," Cunningham said. "At this point, do we need to get a lawyer to make the town fix this? They said they were going to do it four or five months ago. Enough is enough."

But Childs denied there has been any health impact on the employees at the department.

"We have done all kinds of tests and there is no risk for the people working there," he said. "That's why we weren't rushing into anything."

Atkinson residents warned to lock doors after two break-ins

2011-10-07T11:46:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 7, 2011
Atkinson residents warned after two break-ins
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Police say the same suspects could be behind two break-ins that occurred within 24 hours.

Police Chief Philip Consentino said there were two break-ins on Tuesday.

"There was an attempted break-in on Stone Pound Lane," he said. "Perpetrators cut the screen and opened the window, and were working their way inside. But the homeowner was home. She screamed at them and they ran off into the woods."

Police searched the area, but were not able to find the suspects.

Later the same day, there was a successful break-in at a home on Conley Road, just three miles away.

"They made entry into the house by a door that was left ajar," Consentino said. "They stole approximately $1,000 worth of jewelry. Nothing else was taken."

He said the two incidents could be related.

"We haven't had a break-in in a long time," he said. "Residents should be aware and keep their doors locked."

Police are continuing to investigate both crimes.

Atkinson chooses new selectman

2011-10-06T07:23:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 6, 2011
Atkinson chooses new selectman
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — The town's new selectman is businessman Craig Schuster.

Selectmen appointed Schuster as the board's third selectman at a special meeting yesterday morning. Schuster will fill the remainder of the term of William Bennett, who resigned last week for health reasons. The term expires in March.

Selectman's Chairman William Friel said the decision was guided by input from residents who called, emailed and recommended Schuster.

"It was a tough choice," Friel said. "All five gentleman were great candidates and bring a lot to the table. Mr. Schuster is an outsider with no real political ties. He has management experience, capital improvement experience and budget experience."

Selectman Fred Childs agreed.

"He's a new face with new ideas," he said. "He comes here willing to learn."

None of the candidates were present for the announcement yesterday, after coming to Town Hall on Monday for their televised interviews with selectmen. Schuster beat two former selectmen and two Budget Committee members for the position.

Schuster has been living in Atkinson since 1999.

His wife, Robyn Schuster, works for the Salem School District. Schuster graduated from Western New England College in 1994 with a degree in business.

He now works full time as a manufacturing manager at Lubrizol, a chemical manufacturing company.

"I oversee 60 employees and I've developed systems to help my business grow over 100 percent," he said in his interview with selectmen. "Many manufacturing sites are downgrading or moving out of the country, but we've increased. All these skills will help me be a great selectman."

Schuster also is an Eagle Scout and very involved in the Boy Scouts in Atkinson. Although he works full time, he said he is willing to put in the long hours necessary as selectman.

"I do have a younger family, with one kid at Atkinson Academy and one in middle school," he said. "I will put in the extra time to create a great town for them to grow up in."

Schuster will sign paperwork and be sworn in before the next selectmen's meeting on Tuesday.

"It was a hard choice, but we're looking forward to getting into budget season," Friel said.

Atkinson hires three Plaistow officers

2011-10-05T11:18:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 5, 2011
Atkinson hires three Plaistow officers
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Plaistow's loss is Atkinson's gain.

The town has hired three new police officers, all veterans of the Plaistow Police Department.

Selectmen Monday approved police Chief Philip Consentino's request to hire Officer Nicholas Fiset, Detective Sgt. Patrick Caggiano and Sgt. Scott Anderson.

"I can't wait to get them on board," Consentino said. "They're going to start work as soon as I get the background investigations done. Fiset should be here in two weeks."

The department is down to only two full-time officers since Officer Justin Paquette and Lt. William Baldwin left for other jobs and Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar retired.

Last week, selectmen authorized Consentino to hire four new police officers — two full-time and two part-time — to fill the gaps.

All three new hires have years of police experience. Fiset worked for Plaistow for the past 10 years and will be a patrol officer in Atkinson. Anderson worked in Plaistow for 22 years and plans to retire in November, working in Atkinson as a part-time patrol officer.

"Since Sgt. Farrar has left, Detective Sgt. Caggiano will take over for him as the department's executive officer," Consentino said. "He is a 22-year veteran of the Plaistow Police Department with an extensive training background."

Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones said it's not a coincidence that three officers left Plaistow for Atkinson.

"I think they see an opportunity over there," she said. "You hate to lose people, especially people you've worked with for many years. But we always support them if they feel they can find a position that's a little better for their families or an advancement in their careers."

She said the officers won't all be leaving at once, so it won't put a strain on her department. Fiset has given official notice; his last day in Plaistow is Oct. 17. Anderson had planned to retire in November and Caggiano hasn't yet put in his notice.

"We will definitely be replacing the officers that are leaving as soon as possible," Jones said. "It will mean a bit of upward mobility here, too, and create some opportunities in our department. Change isn't always a bad thing."

Farrar officially retired from the Atkinson force last week after postponing his retirement to help while Consentino recovered from open heart surgery this summer. But he hasn't really left the department.

"Farrar has agreed to stay on part-time to help me get things squared away in the next few weeks," Consentino said.

The chief will not be filling the lieutenant's position left vacant by Baldwin, but said he hopes to hire at least one more officer.

"It will make my job much easier," Consentino said. "Once I get these guys on board and trained, maybe I can take a day off."

New Atkinson selectman to be selected

2011-10-04T06:35:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 4, 2011
New Atkinson selectman to be selected
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Only a week after Selectman William Bennett resigned, his replacement will be named tomorrow.

The five candidates vying for Bennett's seat were interviewed by the two remaining board members last night. New Chairman William Friel and Fred Childs will choose the new selectman at 10 a.m.

The candidates include two former selectmen, Paul Sullivan and Raymond Fournier. Sullivan decided not to run for re-election two years ago while Fourner hasn't been on the board for more than 30 years.

The other candidates are businessman Craig Schuster and Budget Committee members Todd Barbera and Dave Paquette.

The replacement for Bennett, who stepped down because of health problems, will serve the remainder of his three-year term. A new selectman will be elected in March.

Whoever is chosen tomorrow must be ready to work, Friel said.

"It's budget season and we're looking for someone to jump right in with us," he said. "It's a big time commitment."

After Bennett resigned, the search for his replacement started immediately.

The five men turned in their resumes by Friday. Last night, each candidate had two minutes to explain why he should be appointed for the next five months.

Sullivan was a selectman from 2006 to 2009, and wants another shot at the job. He was an emergency medical technician and firefighter in Atkinson for 17 years, and served on the Budget Committee for three years.

"When I was an Atkinson selectman with you gentlemen, we all worked well together," he said. "We were fiscally responsible and managed the ice storm. I have firsthand experience and I'm here to step up to the plate."

Fournier said he has the experience needed for the job since he was a selectman more than 30 years ago.

"I worked in engineering for more than 30 years," he said. "I was working full time and I couldn't dedicate the time to being a selectman. Now, I'm retired and I have the time. I will definitely voice my opinion."

Todd Barbera, chairman of the Technology and Budget committees, said he is very qualified and knows state law.

"Leadership skills are key to being a selectman and I am chair of two committees," he said. "I have no political agenda. I serve because I truly enjoy being involved and I plan to run for selectman in March."

Dave Paquette has served on the Budget Committee for nine years. Paquette said he was the only candidate not interested in running for the position in March.

"I think I can really help with the budget," he said. "I'm well-versed in the process. I have no hidden agendas since I'm not interested in running beyond the five months."

Craig Schuster said he has never served the town, but runs a chemical manufacturing company and has lived in Atkinson for more than 10 years.

"I'm an outsider, many people don't know my name," he said. "I'm here to help. I bring a different set of eyes, from the manufacturing and business side. I stand up for what I believe in."

Selectmen asked all five candidates questions, including some emailed by residents. All five candidates said they were willing to work long hours while selectmen compile next year's proposed budget.

Friel also asked the candidates how they would feel about being unpopular and all five said they were up to the challenge.

Friel asks residents who would like to comment on the candidates to email the Board of Selectmen at selectmen@atkinson-nh.gov.

That input is to be considered when choosing a new selectman.

SCOOP: The REDACTED version of the MRI report is out!

2011-09-29T15:49:00.005-04:00

Yes it is posted on the town website, evidently posted without fanfare very recently it is available for public perusal.

It contains largely expected criticisms, including the following;

"Chief stated no(citizen's complaint) file exists. The citizens of Atkinson have not made any complaints"

As Laughable as THAT is, This exchange demonstrates that critics allegations over the last 5 years were well founded, and the chief's vehement denials were no better than falsehoods, and probably much worse;

"While this consultant was interviewing the chief, he received a call from an elderly person about finding a plumber, the chief pulled out a notebook, and said there are 4 plumbers approved by the police dept. he read off two of the names and told the caller to tell them they were recommended by the Atkinson Police Dept. to get their 10% discount. While it could be said that the chief was wearing the hat of elderly affairs director during this exchange(at his desk, within the police station, during his police working hours)receiving a recommendation from the chief of police raises CONFLICT OF INTEREST issues, using the name of the Atkinson Police Dept. to receive a discount on services may not be in the best interests of the dept. or the town. This service would be better by an ELDERLY AFFAIRS DEPT. NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE POLICE DEPT."

"The chief feels there is no need to separate the elderly transportation program form the police dept. he feels it is not broken and is not in need of any modification"

Then the Report moves on to the chief's personal slush fund.... um.... charity.

"MRI had difficulty with this fund as currently constructed. The use of the Name Atkinson Police leads people to believe it is a public, not private endeavor. The books of a public funds would be open to inspection by the public or donors. Second, is a donation being used for the senior citizens program, or to acquire equipment for the police dept?Who decides how donated funds are allocated and to whom are they responsible?"

MRI Also recommends getting RID OF THE LT. AND DETECTIVE POSITIONS! Replacing them with two patrol sergeants with the flexibility during slow periods to return to the station to perform administrative paperwork.

MRI reports that the police dept. is OVERFUNDED to the tune of AT LEAST $40-50,000/ yr. Describing the usual balance left in the budget at the end of the year. Chief responded that he is frugal and only budgets what he needs, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

MRI also found that the police dept. operates without a current policy and procedures manual. Some procedures date back to the '80's, while officers claim they do not know if their policies are still active or not.

The report also shows the crime statistics reported by the chief to the attornies general's office for the last 7 years. 417 incidents in 7 years. THAT's right 59.5 incidents reported per yr. on average, 5 per month!

It also make a number of recommendations ranging from;
complying with the State records law to using ZERO BASED BUDGETING so that every line item can be verified as necessary, to weekly and monthly reports to the Board of Selectmen ROFLMAO!!!

They also suggest;
Atkinson should trade some of it's untrained, unsworn part time officers for one new full time officer. They also recommend doing away with having Atkinson dispatch 40 hours per week, and have Plaistow do it full time, instead of the 128 hours per week they do it now. The town should review the vehicle fleet, and develop a fleet plan based on demonstrated need! The Chief's Mercury should go, and he should assign himself one of the other existing vehicles in the fleet!

SEPARATE POLICE AND ELDERLY FUNCTIONS!
Separate the slush fund into TWO slush funds, one for elderly purposes, and one for police purposes.
"In order to avoid any conflicts of interest the vetting and recommending of contractors for the elderly should not be conducted by the police dept."
The police dept, should track normal statistics, such as mutual aid calls.

In short, this report verifies the criticisms made over the last five years by the likes of Mr. Acciard, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. LaFrance, Mr. Artus, Ms. Goodrich, Mr. Kaye, et al.

It is a fun read, go take a look

Atkinson to hire four new police officers

2011-09-27T09:37:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

September 27, 2011
Atkinson to hire four new police officers
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — A diminished Board of Selectmen approved four new police hires last night, two part-time and two full-time officers.

Selectman William Bennett handed in his letter of resignation yesterday, ending his term early after two and a half years on the board. Bennett has been ill and has been unable to perform his duties as selectmen for a few months.

"My health will get better eventually, but there is no way of knowing when," he said. "There is a lot of day-to-day workload the other selectmen are carrying and it's not fair to them. They should be able to appoint someone and have a third pair of hands."

But the two remaining selectmen continued working. They met with police Chief Philip Consentino for two hours in a non-public meeting about the $5,000 independent report on the police department management yesterday. Then, in a public meeting last night, the board approved hiring two trained, full-time officers at $23 and $21 an hour. They also approved one experienced part-time officer and one part-time officer who will head to the police academy for training.

"We got the report and we went over it, talked about it," Selectman Fred Childs said. "But this is about what we know we need at the police department."

The department has been working without two full-time officers since Lt. William Baldwin and Officer Justin Paquette left earlier this year. After months of conflict with selectmen and a hiring freeze, Consentino said he was happy to finally have approval to hire the officers he needs.

"I'm glad we finally got a good working relationship," Consentino said of his discussion with selectmen. "By giving me the chance to hire these four officers, it will take a lot of pressure off of me. It's good we came to a decision; I can't complain."

The board also approved a promotion for Officer William Butler to Patrol Corporal, giving him a raise. But the lieutenant position remains unfilled as selectmen did not agree to Consentino's earlier suggestion to promote Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar. Consentino said Farrar will be retiring today after 12 years with the department, as planned.

"Sgt. Farrar will be retiring and it's going to be a big loss for me," he said. "Butler will not be stepping up to the position. I need someone with administrative capabilities. It's going to take me a while to get someone to fill that position."

He said another of his daytime officers will probably be leaving in October, and he'll be back again to ask selectmen for more officers.

"I'll need to hire two more to get up to the five officers we need," he said. "Atkinson approved five officers and by getting the five back, along with my part-timers, we'll be in good shape."

Now selectmen will focus on filling the other vacant positions. Bennett is the second town leader to leave this month, since Town Administrator Philip Smith left for a job in New Mexico. Because of this, Friel said they are looking to find a replacement for Bennett quickly. Candidates interested in the position can submit resumes to the clerk's office by Friday.

"We're trying to be as fair and open as possible," Friel said. "Anyone in town is allowed to apply, but we don't have a lot of time. We'll move forward with interviews on Monday. It will be a mini-candidates night."

Todd Barbera, chairman of the budget and technology committees, said he plans to turn in his resume.

Interviews will be televised at the public meeting next Monday and each candidate will have two minutes to state why they should be a selectman for the next year. They will also take one question from the audience.

Friel said he hopes residents will watch from home or come to the meeting to give input on the next town selectman.

Consentino wants to promote Farrar to Lt. Here we go again

2011-09-26T13:12:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

September 26, 2011
Atkinson chief fights to keep sergeant
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — The police department continues to operate under a cloud of uncertainty with another police officer expected to leave the force this week.

But police Chief Philip Consentino said a promotion could convince Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar to stay. Farrar is scheduled to retire tomorrow after 12 years with the department. He also spent 22 years with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office.

Consentino said he's waiting to receive approval from selectmen today.

"My recommendation has been that (Farrar) be promoted to lieutenant and be given a dollar increase an hour in pay," he said. "If he gets this job offer, I think he'll stay. Right now, the selectmen are requesting him to do my job and the lieutenant's jobs with no recognition whatsoever."

A conflict over hiring a new lieutenant earlier this year led selectmen to pay a consultant, Municipal Resources Inc., $5,000 to study the police department's management. The report was finished Sept. 9, but not released to the public.

Consentino received a copy last week.

Selectmen will not allow Consentino to hire new officers until they at least discuss the report with him at a nonpublic session at 5 p.m. today, just before the board's regular meeting.

Farrar would be the third officer to leave the department this year. Lt. William Baldwin and Officer Justin Paquette left for other departments, and a fourth officer may soon leave for another job, Consentino said.

That would leave the department with only one other officer, William Butler, he said.

Farrar announced his decision to retire in June, just after selectmen voted to study the department. He planned to leave within the month, but stepped up to fill in for Consentino while he was out this summer recovering from open heart surgery.

"I'm doing my original job as detective and the lieutenant's job and the chief's job," Farrar said at the time. "I'm certainly not going to abandon the department."

When Consentino returned on a part-time basis in August, Farrar made plans again to retire.

"By Oct. 7, I'll be left with one full-time officer," Consentino said. "The only other officer left is Butler and I need him to work the midnight shifts. So during the day, if I lose Farrar, I'm going to have to ask the sheriff's department to come down and help out."

Consentino said he's been saying the same thing to selectmen since Baldwin left the department for Plaistow in April. He believes Farrar deserves the promotion and hopes selectmen and the consultant agree.

"If the selectmen go along with my recommendation, he'll stay on," Consentino said. "If they don't, he'll be gone."

Neither Farrar nor selectmen could be reached for comment.

Atkinson police review is still not public

2011-09-21T07:37:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

September 21, 2011
Atkinson police review is still not public
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Parts of a $5,000 study of the police department will be blacked out when it's finally released to the public.

In May, selectmen voted to pay Municipal Resources Inc., an independent management review company, to evaluate the police department. The study was meant to resolve conflicts between selectmen and police Chief Philip Consentino over hiring a new lieutenant.

Selectmen received copies of the report Sept. 9 and Monday night gave a copy to Consentino. But they're not sharing it with anyone else yet.

The Eagle-Tribune filed a Freedom of Information request Sept. 14, asking the town to release the document. Yesterday, the newspaper received a written response to that request from Selectman William Friel.

The public isn't going to see the report for at least another 10 days, he wrote. And when it's made public, parts of it will be redacted. In his letter, Friel cited the state's Right to Know statute. Specifically, he said, town attorney Sumner Kalman, selectmen and the police chief are "analyzing" the report. They will redact any information protected under exemptions in RSA 91-A:5.

That section of the statute exempts a body from public disclosure of certain information, including internal personnel practices, records involving emergency functions, personal student records and more.

Friel said the town needs at least until Oct. 3 before the report can be released to the public.

"We will disclose the report as soon as the protected and/or exempted information has been redacted," he wrote.

Consentino received a copy of the report 10 days after selectmen did, but he's not talking about what it says.

"I did read through it," he said yesterday. "But I got a letter with the report from selectmen, telling me to refrain from reproducing and/or releasing any information."

He said he couldn't talk about what he read.

"I don't know why they're not releasing the information," he said. "All I do is I just follow orders."

Consentino said he will be attending a non-public meeting with selectmen at 5 p.m. Monday to go over the report.

Atkinson selectmen release report to chief

2011-09-20T07:44:00.001-04:00

from the Eagle Tribune;

September 20, 2011
Atkinson selectmen release report to chief
By Doug Ireland
direland@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Selectmen gave a copy of a controversial police department review to the chief last night, but it's not clear when the report will be released to the public.

Meanwhile, police Chief Philip Consentino said he may only have one full-time officer on his staff by mid-October. Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar is scheduled to retire Friday and another officer is a strong candidate for a job with another department, he said.

Consentino, who said he usually has five full-time officers, asked selectmen at their meeting last night for an update on the report's release. Selectman William Friel said a copy was available for the chief, but wouldn't say when the report would be made public when questioned by a reporter.

Earlier this year, selectmen voted to pay a consultant $5,000 to review the department's management after numerous conflicts with Consentino over hiring a new lieutenant.

The conflicts between the board and the chief continued last night as they argued over the use of money from the town's elderly affairs account to gas up police cruisers. Consentino is also the elderly affairs director,

The town received the report from the consultant, Municipal Resources Inc., on Sept. 9 and gave it to town attorney Sumner Kalman three days later instead of releasing it to the public. Kalman said he had to analyze the report first to make sure it did not contain details that would endanger public safety.

The Eagle-Tribune filed a Freedom of Information Act request Wednesday to seek public release of the review. The town has five days to respond to the request. Today marks the fifth business day since the request was filed.

Friel would not say when the report would be available to the public.

"We will respond to your request by the deadline — whatever that is," Friel said. He would not discuss the report further.

After the meeting, Consentino said he was surprised to receive the report.

"That was news to me," he said. "It will be good reading material for me tonight."

Consentino said he couldn't comment on the report's findings until he's had a chance to review it thoroughly.

Regardless of what the report says, Consentino said he will have to abide by its findings and isn't worried about losing his job.

"It is what it is and there's nothing I can do about it," he said.

Before the meeting, Consentino said the report has held up hiring within his department as his staff leaves for better job opportunities elsewhere.

"Every time I ask them to do something in the police department, they tell me they can't do anything until they get the report," he said of selectmen. "I'm left in limbo. I can't hire anybody."

Consentino, who has been with the department for 43 years, lost his second in command this spring when Lt. William Baldwin left for a job with the Plaistow Police Department.

When Consentino, 71, was recovering from heart surgery this summer, Farrar covered for him and put his retirement on hold. Now, Farrar plans to retire and another officer will likely leave, Consentino said.

"That's going to leave me with only one full-time officer to cover five shifts," he said. "I can only do so much to keep things running"

Consentino had a heated exchange at last night's meeting with Friel and Selectman Fred Childs Jr., who was filling in as chairman while William Bennett recovers from an illness.

The pair questioned Consentino about gas being charged to an elderly affairs account instead of the police department.

There were several charges made to the wrong account in June and then July, Childs said.

"Some of it looks alerting to us, so that's why we're asking about it," he said. "I'm just concerned about the discrepancy where it's coming from."

Consentino said only about 30 gallons of gas were charged to the wrong account and that he would look into the issue immediately.

"I'll get back to you on that," he said. "I can't tell you tonight."

After Childs mentioned the first three charges in June and then spoke of three others in July, Consentino became agitated. He reiterated that he would look into the matter today.

"You can sit here and ask all night!" he said. Consentino went on to discuss other issues with the board.

In 2008, the state attorney general's office received complaints about the way Consentino operated the elderly affairs as a division of the Police Department. The two departments were separated, but Consentino still heads both.

Despite the heated exchange last night, Consentino said after the meeting he was glad selectmen finally gave him the report and answered other questions he had.

"Believe it or not, I'm very pleased with dealing with them tonight," he said.

Town won't release police review until lawyer says OK

2011-09-15T08:18:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

September 15, 2011
Town won't release police review until lawyer says OK
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — An independent review of the police department is finished, but just a few people are privy to the results.

The town received the report on the day-to-day management of the police department from Municipal Resources Inc. on Friday, according to Selectman Fred Childs.

But instead of releasing the document, selectmen handed it over to town attorney Sumner Kalman Monday. Kalman said there would be a delay in the public release because he has to do an analysis of it first.

The Eagle Tribune has filed a Freedom of Information Act request, seeking public release of the review.

"The attorney has to look it over to make sure there's nothing that shouldn't be divulged to the public," Childs said. "We just have to make sure there's no information in there that's going to be illegal."

Selectmen voted to pay $5,000 to MRI, which specializes in management reviews, to study the department after numerous conflicts with police Chief Philip Consentino over hiring a new lieutenant.

Consentino said he hasn't seen the report yet and didn't know the town had a copy. He said he was frustrated by the delay.

"Why is this only a draft?" he asked. "If the guy did his report, he should finalize it and send it in. I want to find out if we can hire people and if I've still got a job."

Selectman William Friel said the report is still a draft and will be released when it is finalized.

But the exemption for draft reports under state statute, RSA 91-A, only applies to documents that have not been released to "a quorum or a majority of the members of a public body."

At least two of the three board members have seen the review, according to a selectman.

"Mr. Friel and I looked it over, but Mr. (William) Bennett has been sick and all three of us have to look at it," Childs said.

But Kalman said it's important to analyze the document before it is released to the public.

He cited the same RSA as providing an exemption for the release of the publicly funded review.

"There's exemptions over invasions of privacy and many other issues," he said. "There could be information in the study that could reveal when shifts change. It could help burglars decide that 1:30 is the best time to commit a crime."

Kalman said it's important to protect the safety of Atkinson's residents first, before releasing the report.

"Just because two selectmen allegedly read something doesn't automatically mean everything in the report is available," he said. "Until (the report) has been analyzed and understood, there will have to be a delay of the release of information."

Consentino said he was surprised to hear Kalman was looking at the report.

"If there's something in the study detrimental to somebody's character or reputation, that may be a case where they could be sued for that," he said. "But otherwise, nobody should be making any changes to the report. The gentleman that did the survey is supposed to be an independent person."

Sending it to a lawyer for review is standard procedure, according to Childs.

"It's nothing unusual to have an attorney look it over," he said. "We're not trying to hide anything from the public. It will be public as soon as Mr. Kalman gets done with it."

The town has five days to respond to the newspaper's Freedom of Information request.

Atkinson neighbors upset about sex offender

2011-09-14T16:49:00.000-04:00

from the eagle tribune;
Atkinson neighbors upset about sex offender

By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Sep 14, 2011, 04:12 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Some residents are upset a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood and think the police should have warned them.

But police Chief Philip Consentino said the man has done his time, followed the law and has a right to live on Ridgewood Drive.

Fliers were posted around the street on Monday, warning the neighborhood about Michael Green.

Green, 54, a registered sex offender, is living at 16 Ridgewood Drive. He was convicted of aggravated felonious assault on a victim under 13 years old in 2009, served two years in prison, was released July 5 and is now out on probation.

Green said yesterday he doesn't want any problems.

But his presence is a problem only for some residents.

Count Scott Watkins, among them.

The Ridgewood Drive resident said he saw signs about Green all over his street when he left for work Monday morning.

"It said in red letters across the top, 'Let's protect our children,'" Watkins said. "It has his picture and name, his description and the rest of the information they have on the sex offender website. When I got home (Monday) afternoon, they had taken them all down."

No one knows who put up or took down the signs, but the neighborhood is in an uproar.

Another Ridgewood Drive resident, John Egan, said he was shocked when he found out.

"We're concerned about it," he said. "When my grandchildren visit, we would never allow them near Number 16."

Watkins — and many other residents — called police to complain that a sex offender is living in their neighborhood. Consentino said yesterday, Green has been living in town for a few weeks and has a legal right to be there.

"The state law requires him to file all his paperwork with us, and he's done that," he said. "He has to check in with us twice a year to register."

In addition, Jeffrey Lyons, spokesman for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, said Green must meet with a probation officer every two weeks.

"We have a risk assessment and, based on that, we determine the level of supervision," he said. "If he was considered a high risk of re-offending, that could result in daily meetings with his probation officer or with electronic monitoring. But (Green) won't be doing that."

Consentino said he was worried about how residents would react to the fliers.

September 14, 2011 8:37 AM

Atkinson loses another administrator

2011-08-19T11:28:00.000-04:00

from the Eagle Tribune;

August 19, 2011
Atkinson loses another administrator
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — After less than two years on the job, Town Administrator Phil Smith is returning to police work.

Smith gave his notice to selectmen Tuesday.

"I got another opportunity in Roswell, N.M.," Smith said yesterday. "I will be the deputy chief of the police department."

His last day in Atkinson is Sept. 15.

He's just the latest in a long list of relatively short-term administrators. And selectmen haven't always had an easy time filling the job.

Before Smith was hired in September 2009, the town went seven months without an administrator.

But short-term administrators are the norm for a town this size, Selectman Fred Childs said.

"I hope the next town manager will last long," Childs said. "It's a small town, so it's a stepping stone for people. If they can make more money someplace else, they do. That's what happens."

For Smith, who served as police chief in Alton before taking the Atkinson job, it's a chance to move to a warmer climate and return to police work.

"I realized I just really love being in law enforcement. I'm getting back to a field I'm more comfortable with and what I love to do, but it's no knock on Atkinson," he said. "Atkinson was right next door to my hometown and I've learned a lot of new skills being here. It's going to make my police work much more effective and efficient."

Selectmen have begun to search for his replacement.

"We are starting to search for a new town manager today," Childs said yesterday. "It depends on who applies, how long it takes. Sometimes it takes a long time, sometimes it doesn't, depends on the candidates you get."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said he understands why Smith decided to leave.

"He's got a better job and a better income," he said. "I get it."

The town hasn't yet decided whether to hire a consulting company to help with the search, selectmen said.

It's likely the town will be without an administrator for a few months, but administrative assistant Barbara Snicer will fill in, something she's done before.

In fact, Childs pointed out, Snicer has filled in the last two times the town was without an administrator.

Atkinson has gone through a few short-term town managers in the past few years.

The longest someone has stayed on the job in recent memory was Russell McCallister's three-and-a-half-year stint that ended in January 2008. Then came interim administrator Craig Kleman for about four months. He was followed by Steven Angelo, who lasted less than five months, leaving in January 2009.

Smith will be moving to a much larger community when he heads to Roswell. It has about 50,000 residents and a 96-person police department.

"It's a fantastic opportunity career-wise and a lot of us policemen who live in the snowier areas like to make our second bids toward warmer climates," he said. "There's a lot going on in that city. I'm looking very much forward to the challenge."

But he said he's going to miss the people he's worked with in Atkinson.

"I've had the privilege and honor of working with some wonderful people here in Town Hall," Smith said. "That was the most refreshing thing coming out of law enforcement, finding this level of quality people that provide service the community."

Heard in the Town Hall: Town Administrator Resigns!

2011-08-18T12:36:00.002-04:00

Yes, it is evidently true. Town administrator Phil Smith has resigned effective immediately. It has been known that he did not agree with some of what goes on in town. It is also known that he has had differences with the chief, due to Mr. Smith's background as a Chief of police himself.

Hopefully in the coming days we will find out what happened that resulted in his sudden departure.

Good luck in your future endeavors, Phil.

Atkinson police chief back on the job

2011-08-16T10:06:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

August 16, 2011
Atkinson police chief back on the job
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino is back on the job.

Selectmen officially reinstated the chief yesterday, Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said. Consentino had been out on medical leave since June 14.

"He is under some restrictions by his doctor, but he is back for light duty," Bennett said. "He is still recovering from open heart surgery."

Consentino said he worked a half day yesterday, mainly doing desk work from his office.

"I'm finally back at work," he said. "They gave me a letter stating I could come back to work as long as I follow my doctor's instructions. The main thing is not to lift anything heavy. I know exactly how much I can lift before it hurts across my chest."

Consentino, 70, had tried to do some police paperwork from home when he first came back from the hospital. But selectmen sent him a letter last month, telling him to stop all police work until he was fit to return to duty or else he would be fired.

"They were trying to make sure that everything was in order," Consentino said. "They were so afraid of being sued if I came back and something happened to me they made a mountain out of a molehill."

Now that the chief is back, he can address the department's shrinking staff. Officer Justin Paquette left the department last week and another officer may leave on Sept. 1. That follows Lt. William Baldwin's departure for Plaistow in May. Now, the department is understaffed, with just three full-time officers.

"Consentino will be able to hire replacement officers soon," Bennett said. "He can replace Paquette as a patrol officer now. We know we need that."

The chief had been restricted from hiring any new officers until an independent study of the police department by Municipal Resources Inc. is finished. The study stalled while Consentino was out, but he said he will be meeting tomorrow with a representative from MRI.

"I'm the last of his puzzle to put together, so by Wednesday, he should have it done," Consentino said.

But the chief isn't waiting for the results of the study to advertise for new officers.

"Putting the ads in doesn't mean we're hiring anyone," he said. "We're accepting applications so when MRI does give the selectmen recommendations, which I hope will be to replace two officers, we will have applications in and we can act immediately. Time is of the essence."

Consentino said the hiring process could take anywhere from two week to two months, depending on who applies. The department is specifically looking for experienced officers who don't need much training; the salary will be based on experience.

"A lot of times you can get somebody that has 10 or 15 years in the system and they're looking for something that's fairly quiet," Consentino said. "It would be a perfect job for them."

Unfortunately, he said, the two officers who left did not feel that way.

"Those two officers haven't had a raise in three or four years and have not been able to negotiate a contract with selectmen," Consentino said. "They felt they wanted to go someplace where they had a chance of advancement and more money. The third could be leaving soon because he's taking on a job that could pay him roughly 10 to 15 percent more than he's making here."

Consentino said Detective Philip Farrar did a great job running the department in his absence, putting off his planned retirement to help out the department.

"I'm just glad he's back," Farrar said of Consentino. "My retirement will be in the works now that he's back. Hopefully, everything will be back to normal."

Town Manager Philip Smith did not return requests for comment.

Atkinson police lose another officer

2011-08-11T09:04:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

August 11, 2011
Atkinson police lose another officer
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Another officer is leaving the Atkinson Police Department, leaving the dwindling force at just three full-time officers. Police Chief Philip Consentino has been out on medical leave since June 14.

Today is Officer Justin Paquette's last day at the department. Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar said Paquette, a Haverhill, Mass., resident, is leaving for a new job and a bigger paycheck at the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council.

"He's been here for 10 years," Farrar said. "He's been working midnights the last few years."

The police department started the year with five full-time officers. Lt. William Baldwin left for Plaistow in May. Paquette's departure leaves just three full-time officers.

"One of the three officers left has applied to another department and we anticipate him leaving by Sept. 1," Farrar said yesterday. "It's not a done deal yet, but we expect to be down to two officers. We're losing people and, right now, there's no process being begun to replace anyone. We're using part-time officers to cover any open shifts and there will be some mandated shifts and overtime."

Farrar has been covering for Consentino while he recovers from heart surgery, putting his own planned retirement on hold.

"The chief is still not back, so I'm doing my original job as detective and the lieutenant's job and the chief's job," Farrar said. "I was waiting for the chief to come back, but I don't know when he'll be allowed to come back. I'm certainly not going to abandon the department."

Consentino had been doing some paperwork from home, but selectmen sent him a letter last month, directing him to stop any police work until he was OK'd to return to full duty. The chief said he believed selectmen were threatening his job, although board members rejected that idea.

Police can't hire replacements for Baldwin or Paquette until the town has completed an independent study of the department by Municipal Resources Inc., which is looking at how the department is run.

"There is still a hiring freeze the selectmen have put in place until the MRI study is completed, and then we can consider hiring," Farrar said. "But the study is apparently on hold. The MRI people asked to speak the chief because he's the only one they haven't talked to yet, but he isn't allowed to do any police work."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the town is hoping to get Consentino back on the job as quickly as possible to start hiring a replacement for Paquette.

"We are trying to get the chief back on the job and let him do the hiring," Bennett said. "We don't want to do the hiring ourselves."

Until then, he said, the town has an arrangement with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department to back up the department with more officers if necessary.

"MRI can't finish their study until they've talked to the chief and we're trying to get him back quickly," Bennett said. "If there were some reason why he couldn't return for some extended period of time, we'd have to reassess our approach. But I don't foresee that happening."

Town Manager Philip Smith said the department still has enough officers to cover shifts adequately.

"The police department has several part-time officers and still has two of the three patrol officers," he said. "The town is adequately protected. There has been only one vacancy, Baldwin, who did not have a patrol shift. The additional vacancy is a full-time patrol officer, which can be covered with our part-time officers until filled."

But Farrar said he's worried.

"Right now, we're good; we've anticipated this first departure," he said. "But, come September, if this other officer does in fact get this job, that will open up another can of worms. We'll deal with that when we get there."

He said he hopes Consentino will return soon and they can begin to hire new officers.

Hundreds celebrate Atkinson Marine's life

2011-07-23T08:52:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

July 23, 2011
Hundreds celebrate Atkinson Marine's life
By Doug Ireland
direland@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — There were a few tears, many smiles and even a little humor yesterday as approximately 450 people honored Marine Maj. Jeremy Graczyk.

Graczyk, "a Marine's Marine," would have wanted it that way.

The crowd packed the pews and the grounds of Atkinson Congregational Church to say farewell to a man celebrated for his character, intelligence, spirit and love of life.

Graczyk was killed in a BASE jumping accident July 12 while off duty in Switzerland.

"We knew he was special, just not how special," said James Graczyk, standing near his son's flag-draped coffin.

He eulogized his 33-year-old son, as did two of the Marine's military comrades. Each spoke of his successes as a leader and a human being.

James Graczyk brought some humor to what was a solemn ceremony that began with a police-led procession and included military honors. He said his son was boisterous, daring, loved loud music and was a bad singer often called "Crazy Uncle Jeremy" by his young nephews.

Jeremy Graczyk enjoyed rock climbing, motorcycles, skiing, skydiving and traveling the world. He died in an accident while BASE jumping, the extreme sport of parachuting from fixed objects like buildings, antenna towers, bridge spans and mountains.

He persuaded his father to accompany him on faraway fishing trips. "There was not much left unsaid between my son and I," he said.

But there was one thing — asking Jeremy to speak at his funeral someday.

"I never thought the roles would be reversed," James Graczyk said.

Jeremy Graczyk, Timberlane Regional High School's valedictorian in 1995 and a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, knew as a middle school student he wanted to join the military, his father said.

"We quickly realized this was no passing fancy," he said. "Jeremy loved the Marine Corps as a parent loves a child. ... He was a Marine's Marine and a true warrior."

James Graczyk and others who spoke during the two-hour service asked the crowd not to grieve for his son, but to celebrate his life. "Live your life to the fullest and don't let grief overcome you," he said. "We will remember him always in our memory."

Fellow Marine Kent Kroeker said he and Graczyk joked about the possibility they could be killed in battle.

"We have been composing our eulogies as long as we have known each other," Kroeker said.

The high-spirited Graczyk was always on the go, a true human being and leader who could do anything, he said.

"For one moment in his entire life, he never stopped moving," Kroeker said. "On duty or off — it didn't matter. He was always on a mission."

Another friend, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Mahoney, spoke of Graczyk's leadership skills and how even in heaven, he would lead God's "elite corps of angels."

"Like all of us, God gave Jeremy many gifts," he said. "Jeremy grew into a remarkable leader."

Mahoney called Graczyk "one of America's legendary legionnaires." Anyone in a tough situation should just ask themselves, "What would Jeremy do?" he said.

Nearly 200 people filled the church, about 250 others sat outside beneath three big tents in the blistering 100-degree heat. Large fans and speakers were set up for the benefit of those who could not be inside.

Gov. John Lynch, who was at the funeral, ordered all flags in the state be lowered to half-staff yesterday in Graczyk's honor.

Graczyk, who was well decorated during his 12-year military career, will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

In addition to his father, Graczyk is survived by his mother, Darlene, and a sister, Jennifer Sakash.

Atkinson chief: Selectmen threatening his job

2011-07-22T10:18:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

July 22, 2011
Atkinson chief: Selectmen threatening his job
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino said selectmen are threatening to fire him for doing his job.

Consentino had heart surgery on June 14 and had been doing some work, mostly paperwork, from home while he recovers. But in a letter Consentino said he received on July 12, selectmen asked him to stop doing any police work.

"While you are out recuperating from your surgery, you are instructed that you are not authorized to perform any of your duties as a police chief or elderly affairs director of the town of Atkinson," the letter read. "Performing any of your duties ... you will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination."

The letter was a shock, Consentino said, and he doesn't understand why selectmen would threaten his job.

"I have to get a letter like this to throw all this added stress on my recovery," he said yesterday. "The feeling I got in my gut after receiving a letter like that, it just turned my stomach."

But Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the town is not trying to keep Consentino from his job.

"Some people think we're trying to push the chief out and that's in no way, shape or form what we're doing," he said. "The standard phrase in administrative letters is 'disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.' It doesn't mean we're trying to fire him. It just means he has to listen to what the Board of Selectmen tell him to do."

In fact, Bennett said, he wants to get Consentino back to work, but it's a liability issue.

"We want him back in the saddle as fast as possible, we just don't want him to push himself and come back too soon," he said. "I know Consentino, he thinks he's invincible. I don't want him to die on the job and his wife sues us for letting him come back to work."

But Consentino said he has a note from his doctor, saying he is recovering well and ready to work.

"My surgeon stated I could go back to work doing light duty at the Police Department behind the desk," he said. "The selectmen rejected that and said I will have to come back in full capacity, and have my doctor sign off on the physical demands for the Atkinson Police Chief."

The selectmen's letter said Consentino would have to be able to lift 25 pounds, carry more than 50 pounds, and be able to twist, bend, crawl and kneel before he can return to work.

"I'm hoping my surgeon will give me the OK to go back to work by Sept. 1, with no restrictions whatsoever," he said. "But why don't they just let me go back to desk duty? They're just restricting the police department's ability to function."

Town Manager Phil Smith would not confirm whether Consentino had presented his doctor's note and been rejected.

"The chief himself would have to release to you his medical documents from his doctor," he said.

Bennett said the letter to Consentino was a slight mistake. The chief does not need to be able to perform those specific physical activities before coming back to work, he said.

"We need to know if he is pain-free enough to make good decisions," Bennett said. "If he comes in and does desk duty, we don't want him jumping into the fray when he's not ready. It's a stressful job."

Three days after his surgery, while still in the intensive care unit, Consentino said, his wife brought him police paperwork and he would sort it out.

"When I finally got home from rehab, I was paying the bills here and sending them to Town Hall," he said. "Now, I get this letter saying I can't do anything. I have totally divorced myself now from the police department. The department is going to suffer dramatically because Detective (Philip) Farrar is not in a position to make decisions that a chief would make."

Selectmen did not appoint an acting chief while Consentino is out. Farrar was named officer in charge when Consentino left for his surgery.

Consentino said he feels persecuted and singled out by the board.

"(Fire Chief) Mike Murphy was out for surgery two months ago," Consentino said. "I called and asked if he was required to send in a note. He said he was surprised because just three days ago, the town had called and asked for a note from his doctor, which was about two months after the fact."

For now, Consentino is focusing on his health and not working for the town.

Atkinson mourns Marine's death

2011-07-16T09:52:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

July 15, 2011
Atkinson mourns Marine's death

ATKINSON — Local residents are mourning the death of a 33-year-old Marine killed in an off-duty parachuting accident in Switzerland.

The U.S. Marine Corps said today that Maj. Jeremy J. Graczyk died while on a monthlong leave from his unit in Quantico, Va. No details on how the accident occurred were available.

Graczyk joined the Marines in 1999 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan and decorated numerous times.

The 1995 Timberlane Regional High School valedictorian is being remembered as a wonderful man dedicated to serving his country.

Atkinson resident Steven Lewis said his son, Garrick Lewis, had known Graczyk since they were children.

"Jeremy was a true American," Lewis said. "He was a kind, warm, full-of-life guy who loved his country."

Selectman William Bennett said he knew Graczyk and his family well.

"My son grew up with him," Bennett said. "He didn't deserve it; he was a really good kid."

Atkinson projects behind schedule

2011-07-15T11:25:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

July 15, 2011
Atkinson projects behind schedule
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Work on two town building projects has been delayed.

One involves repairing a leaky roof at the fire station; the other is the removal of asbestos at the police station.

Selectman Fred Childs said work should start soon at the two stations, both located on Academy Avenue.

"The Fire Department is going to be painted and we're trying to decide whether to make repairs or replace the whole roof," he said.

Voters approved $46,000 for the roof, Fire Chief Michael Murphy said. But there's no final deal with a contractor, so nothing has started.

That prompted Murphy to send a letter to selectmen this week.

"I asked selectmen what the status is moving forward," he said. "I wanted to prompt them to find out where we stand and when work will start. I'm getting tired of seeing the damage."

Murphy said the leaky roof has caused minor damage to wallboard, ceiling tiles and paint. The building is only 10 years old. "People are pointing fingers left and right and there's no recourse," he said. "This has been going on for the past few years. The bottom line is the roof needs to be repaired. This is the time of year to be doing work on a roof."

Childs said scheduling problems have delayed the project.

"We've been getting prices for it," he said. "But (Selectman William) Bennett has missed a couple of meetings and (Selectman William) Friel, too. We haven't really all been together the last couple of months. But it's still in the works."

Murphy said he knows selectmen are busy, but wants to make sure the work starts this summer. "I don't believe any construction would interfere with the department," he said. "It's all roof work, not interior work. I'm sure we could manage with the contractor."

Repairs at the police station are also behind schedule.

"At the Police Department, we're changing all the air conditioning vents and putting a whole new ceiling in," Childs said. "There was some asbestos residue in there. Instead of cleaning that out, we're just replacing it. That should be done by next weekend."

It will cost about $4,000 for the new ceiling and vents as the town makes sure the air quality is safe for employees. Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar said the work at the station had been scheduled and then rescheduled.

"There is no work going on at this point," he said. "They were supposed to come in and take the ceiling down last weekend, but now they're saying this weekend. I'm really not sure what's going on."

Childs said the town had a contractor, but then found a better deal, causing the delay.

Friel knew someone who could do it a lot cheaper, but because it was a holiday weekend, he couldn't do it right away," Childs said. "Now, they're making sure it's being done right. I know they're anxious to get it done, but we are going to do it. We haven't been overlooking it, things don't happen at the snap of a finger sometimes."

Childs said there are many projects in town right now, including painting the Historical Society and making repairs to the Community Center.

Atkinson police chief recovering from surgery

2011-07-05T12:03:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

July 4, 2011
Atkinson police chief recovering from surgery
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino came home from the hospital Thursday after heart surgery on June 14.

Consentino had surgery to repair a leaky valve in his heart. He has been on medical leave from the police department while in the hospital.

"This was very major surgery," he said. "It was an eight-hour surgery. They ripped me up and sewed me back together."

Consentino said he's still in pain and can't return to work yet, but he's happy to be home again.

"I called (the station) two to three times a day to make any major decisions and answer questions while I was in the hospital," he said. "I'm home now, running things from the house, sorting out different bills and doing paperwork. I can't get out and run 100 miles per hour yet, but my brain and arms are still working, so I can still do something."

The longtime chief he should be able to get back into the office in a few weeks.

"I have an appointment with the surgeon next Tuesday and, hopefully, I'll get a clean bill of health," he said. "I'd say a couple of weeks and then I'll be able to get back, whether it's just light duty work, sitting at a desk or whatever."

Until then, Detective Philip Farrar is in charge.

"He seems to be recovering quite well and I'm hoping he'll be back real soon," Farrar said of Consentino. "In the meantime, we're holding our own here."

Farrar took over as second in command after Lt. William Baldwin left the department for a job in Plaistow. The selectmen voted to bring in an independent company to review the staffing needs of the department and put off hiring Baldwin's replacement. Just a few weeks later, Farrar announced he would be retiring this summer, leaving the department understaffed.

But now, Farrar said, Consentino's surgery has changed his plans.

"I put the retirement plans on hold for now just because I don't know when he's coming back, and I'm not going to walk away and leave him stranded," he said. "We've got a good crew here and we're doing fine. Everyone pitches in."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said everyone is relieved the surgery went well.

"We're very happy that the chief is recovering so well," Bennett said. "We're glad to have him back in town and we look forward to him getting back in the saddle. "

There have been no problems at the department in Consentino's absence.

"The chief left a capable man in charge," Bennett said. "Farrar will remain in charge until the chief is ready to return."

The Atkinson community has stepped up to help Consentino and his wife during his recovery.

"The outpouring of people sending me cards, and calling and offering help has been absolutely amazing," Consentino said. "So many people took the time to send me a get well card and I really appreciate their concern. It gives you a warm feeling knowing there are people who care about you."

Atkinson wants out of regional hazmat group

2011-06-23T09:34:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

June 23, 2011
Atkinson wants out of regional hazmat group
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — If there's a hazardous waste incident in Atkinson, town officials would like to handle it themselves.

The town is one of 15 in a nearly 20-year-old municipal group that formed to respond regionally to hazmat situations. Two years ago, Atkinson stopped paying its $6,000 annual membership dues.

That brought Hampstead Selectman Richard Hartung, who's also chairman of the Southeastern New Hampshire Hazardous Material Mutual Aid District, to the Atkinson selectmen's meeting Monday night.

Hartung asked selectmen to reconsider their decision to leave the group. But if they wouldn't, Hartung said, they should give official notice of their withdrawal.

"There is an allotment of dues for each town for the year and Atkinson chose not to pay theirs," he said. "We haven't had anything official from the town or board. The simple fact of not paying does not exclude you."

The town opted out when fire Chief Michael Murphy recommended the payments be cut to save the town some money.

"They offer a valuable resource, it's just their resources go way beyond what Atkinson needs," he said. "Our exposure is minimal. There's very little risk in town compared to Salem or Derry, where they have major highways going through their communities and a lot of industry and commercial manufacturing. It's good insurance, but I think I provide a level of protection."

Murphy said the town spent $4,500 for its own equipment.

"Last year, we put in a special hazardous vehicle, equipped with spill containment equipment," he said. "We have the capability of getting out there and handling a first response spill until we call in additional resources, whether private or the state. We didn't leave the town without anything."

But Hartung said it's not possible for Atkinson to have the same kind of coverage the Mutual Aid District offers.

"I don't think it's a thing the town can really do on their own," he said. "I took some umbrage with what was said they have their own capacity, I think it's very limited whatever they have."

Hartung said the Emergency Response Team includes 50 members, drawn from fire departments within the district. Those people are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents. And, he said, those types of spills do happen in member towns.

"The teams are activated numerous times during the year across the district," he said. "Atkinson has been involved for 20 years, but I'm not sure how many times they've needed our services."

Atkinson Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the town may still reconsider its decision, but he needs more information first.

"If the bylaws say because we're members and we owe the past dues, we might just pay," he said. "If it requires a formal vote from the board to end our association, we may do that. It depends on what the bylaws say."

Selectman William Friel said the town just doesn't have the money to pay membership dues.

"We can't pay it," he said. "The line item for this was eliminated by the Budget Committee."

Murphy said he stands behind his decision to leave the organization unless more information comes out. Bennett agreed.

"Chief Murphy feels he's adequately equipped to respond to a hazmat spill and he knows a whole lot more about responding to hazmat threats than I do," he said. "If he tells me he's all set, I'm not going to second guess that decision."

Hartung said he still hopes the town will reconsider.

"I believe it's within their capability to pay this, if they choose to," he said. "It is an issue of public safety and this organization brings an outstanding value."

The other member towns include Windham, Hampstead, Hooksett, Auburn, Candia, Chester, Danville, Derry, Litchfield, Londonderry, Pelham, Plaistow, Salem and Sandown.

Two charged after crashing stolen car

2011-06-22T17:20:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

Two charged after crashing stolen car
By Cara Hogan

View All Photos
Posted: 06/22/2011 12:14 AM
ATKINSON — Two Lawrence men, allegedly driving a stolen car, led police on a high-speed chase through town before crashing early yesterday morning.

Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar said Officer Kevin Donnelly was on a routine patrol and tried to pull over a white 1994 Honda Accord for speeding on Sawyer Avenue at 6:30 a.m. yesterday.

"The car didn't stop and there was a short pursuit of about a mile or so," Farrar said. "Donnelly called it off because it got too excessive in speed, up to 70 mph on back roads."

The Honda crashed shortly afterward at the intersection of Sawyer Avenue and Main Street, going straight through the intersection and hitting a stone wall.

Farrar said the two men fled the vehicle. "I apprehended them 30 minutes later on the other side of town on Lewis Lane. They offered no resistance when arrested," he said.

Farrar said the two men had disturbed the neighborhood while they ran from the police, knocking on and trying to open doors.

"They were trying to get help, I guess," Farrar said. "A woman said they told her they had missed the school bus, which we got a chuckle out of."

Jeremiah Torres, 18, and Irvin Diaz, 19, both from Lawrence, allegedly stole the car earlier yesterday morning in Lawrence before driving to Atkinson.

Both were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, conduct after an accident, operating after revocation, reckless driving and disobeying a police officer.

The two men are both known gang members in Lawrence, according to Farrar.

"Lawrence (police) said they have both been involved in shootings down there," Farrar said. "These guys are bad guys; they're the real deal. It would appear that Atkinson is a throughway to Salem from Lawrence and Haverhill, all the crime from Lawrence heading our way every day."

Torres and Diaz are in custody, Farrar said, held on $25,000 cash bail each. They are scheduled for video arraignment today in Plaistow District Court.

Atkinson rail panel counters bias claims

2011-06-21T10:57:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

June 21, 2011
Atkinson rail panel counters bias claims
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — The Atkinson Commuter Rail Investigatory Committee defended themselves against charges of bias at last night's selectmen meeting.

The committee wrote an official report on the proposed Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority layover station on the Plaistow and Atkinson line on May 16, outlining the impact it would have on Atkinson. But when Selectmen's chairman William Bennett read the report, he called it "biased" and told the committee to make significant changes before the board would accepted and release it to the public.

Robert Clark, a member of the investigatory committee, responded with documents that he said answered Bennett's questions and comments on the report. He denied any bias and said the committee did its best with limited resources.

"All our committee members agree we reported the facts both positive and negative," he said. "All reports come with a bit of conjecture. The fact is there will be noise and air pollution. We ask the selectmen for their opposition to this layover station, and we ask the report be posted to the town website."

Bennett agreed to post the report, but not without his comments, which critiqued nearly every aspect of the report.

"I found the report biased against the potential benefits of a commuter rail station," he said. "It minimized the benefits and exaggerated the drawbacks."

Joe DeMonaco, another committee member, also defended the work.

"Nowhere in that report do we say we're against the commuter rail," he said. "We're just against the layover station. We should take lessons from places like Bradford and Rockport. They have had so many problems with pollution from their layover stations."

He said the MBTA is not a good neighbor and would not take measures to minimize the noise or air pollution. And Bennett agreed.

"Your point that we can't trust the MBTA further than we can throw one of their locomotives is a good one," Bennett said. "We have to work with the state and make sure the MBTA doesn't thumb their nose at local regulations."

Even with the disagreement over the report, the selectmen and the committee did agree that the town should be involved in the upcoming negotiations between Plaistow, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the MBTA.

"We will be sending a letter to the DOT about those potential impacts on Atkinson," Bennett said. "We want to make sure if it does go through, our interests are protected."

Selectman Fred Childs said he agreed with many of Bennett's comments and supported taking official action against the layover station.

"We can't do anything about the station, that's Plaistow's decision," he said. "I want to send a letter to them. We can express our concerns, that is all."

Selectman Friel said he was also against the layover station and specifically angry with Plaistow's actions.

"I am not pleased with the way Plaistow has done this under the cover of darkness," he said. "We are not notified when issues come up and I do not appreciate it."

The board also reinstated the committee members, allowing them to continue to work on the issue, though they have completed the report.

"I think it was a very positive meeting," Clark said afterward. "We're still a committee, and we hope to help the town."

The committee also commended the Board of Selectmen for a recent land purchase of two acres that would provide a small sound buffer between the station and a local neighborhood, Bryant Woods. The public will soon be able to read the report on the town website, with comments and criticisms from the Board of Selectmen included.

Removed Post

2011-06-13T12:28:00.002-04:00

As many of you have no doubt noticed the Blog removed an article posted early this morning.

This was removed due to the intensely personal ad hominem attacks being made in response to that article. Usually when discourse degenerates into nasty comments it is sufficient to simply remove the offending comments and allow the adults to continue their conversation. However in this case, it appears that only the kids want to discuss our police dept's refusal to enforce town ordinances. There fore the article has been removed. As stated previously ad hominem personal attacks will not be tolerated.

Another veteran leaves Atkinson police

2011-06-01T07:33:00.001-04:00

From Eagle Tribune;

June 1, 2011
Another veteran leaves Atkinson police
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Detective Sgt. Philip Farrar is resigning from the police department, after weeks of conflict between the police chief and the Board of Selectmen.

Police Chief Philip Consentino said yesterday Farrar told him he wanted to quit last week, after selectmen voted to hire an independent company to study the department's management over the next 90 to 100 days.

"More and more people are getting ticked off with the way things are going and Detective Farrar, my second in command, has put in his letter of resignation," Consentino said. "I did everything I could to convince him to stay, but he won't."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said Farrar's departure won't affect the $5,000 study by Municipal Resources Inc., which specializes in management reviews, candidate searches and studies of local municipalities. The police department will remain on a hiring freeze until the study is completed, Bennett said.

"It certainly complicates the staffing issue and we'll have to work that out," he said. "The chief had managed by shifting responsibilities around and Detective Farrar was one of the people dragooned into handling extra duties. Now, if Farrar resigns, it's one less senior head in the department."

Farrar said yesterday he doesn't know what he will do when he leaves his position next month.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, if I'm retiring or getting another job," he said. "Things aren't good here."

Farrar previously worked for 22 years as lieutenant detective with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department and for 12 years in Atkinson as sergeant detective.

"The man really knows his police work and it's a shame I've got to lose him," Consentino said. "He was the next in command after (Lt. William) Baldwin."

Baldwin left last week for a job with the Plaistow Police Department. Consentino asked selectmen to let him hire a new officer, which spurred the conflict over hiring in town and resulted in the selectmen opting for the MRI study.

Consentino said he's going to have a hard time just covering shifts this summer once Farrar leaves.

"Now this is going to really hurt because I'm going to be down to only three full-time officers," the chief said. "I'm not going to be allowed to hire anyone for another three to four months until the survey is done and it's going to be really tough going through the summer season."

Now, if an officer is out sick or on vacation, Consentino said, he has to bring in a part-time officer to cover the shift.

"If it's during the daytime, I only have one officer and he will only work two days a week," he said. "It puts me in a tough position. I've already spoken to the high sheriff and he said if I'm in a bind, he'll send someone down to cover calls for me. But I hope it doesn't have to go that far. It's ridiculous."

Bennett said he's going to work with Consentino to think of a solution to the staffing problem.

"It's not going to be a catastrophe," Bennett said. "I don't know what the solution is going to be, but we'll work it out."

Atkinson will have independent review of police department

2011-05-28T15:36:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

May 27, 2011

Atkinson will have independent review of police department
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Fri May 27, 2011, 12:14 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino said he welcomes an independent review of the management of his department.

Selectmen voted unanimously at a special meeting Wednesday to hire Municipal Resources Inc. to study the day-to-day management of the Atkinson Police Department over the next 90 to 100 days.

The town will pay $5,000 to MRI, which specializes in management reviews, candidate searches and studies of local municipalities.

"They will be looking overall at the police department, at management structure, staffing levels, equipment, capital planning," Selectmen's chairman William Bennett said. "That does not mean replacing the chief. But it means looking at how are we utilizing the manpower we've got."

Selectmen gave Consentino a letter yesterday morning, explaining their decision.

"I welcome this with open arms," Consentino said. "Once a group of professionals comes in and sees how we have to operate — understaffed and lacking in facilities — they'll understand. It's a shame for the town to have to go spend all this money, but if they're not happy with the way it's being run, go for it, see what happens."

Consentino said selectmen should have done a better job informing the public about the meeting. The notice for the special meeting was posted 24 hours in advance in Town Hall, as law requires, but no one other than the selectmen and town employees attended.

"Nobody seemed to know about this meeting. Why does every resident have to come to the Town Hall every day to check if something was posted?" he said. "If it involved a particular department head, wouldn't you think they'd at least call that department head and say, 'Hey, we're having a meeting?' I had no notification at all."

Bennett said the board was waiting for MRI's proposal. When they found out it would be ready, he said, they scheduled a meeting.

"It's not an emergency meeting, it was just moving things along expeditiously," he said. "We weren't doing things in the dark of the night."

The board hasn't signed the contract with MRI yet, but Bennett said they expect it to be finalized in the next week. For the 100 days the company is working, Consentino has to run the department short one officer.

May 27, 2011 6:14 PM

Atkinson may see changes in police department

2011-05-26T11:15:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

May 26, 2011
Atkinson may see changes in police department
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — There will be a "change in personnel" in the police department, Town Manager Philip Smith said.

But what that means is anyone's guess at this point — anyone other than the selectmen and Smith, that is.

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett postponed making an announcement Monday about the future of the department, saying the board is consulting first with the town attorney.

He refused to comment about any potential changes to the department.

Police Chief Philip Consentino is frustrated. He's frustrated by what changes might be under consideration that he's not privy to and frustrated by selectmen's lack of response to his request to replace departing Lt. William Baldwin.

"I have a job to run the police department and I'm getting roadblocks set up on absolutely everything," Consentino said. "I do not know the reason why."

The part-time chief has been on the job for more than 40 years. He has a history of butting heads with selectmen and he's a lightning rod for criticism from some residents.

But Consentino has his supporters, too, and some of them interviewed yesterday bristled at the notion the selectmen may be planning big changes.

Over lunch at Eggie's yesterday, resident Theresa McNally said Consentino has done a "great job" over the years.

"When you have a good thing, leave it alone," she said. "If the selectmen are trying to get rid of him, I'd be angry."

Consentino said he thinks selectmen are trying to interfere with the department. He said he asked Bennett why selectmen are so involved in the day-to-day operations of the police department.

"He told me they don't want to see me create a fiefdom, a kingdom," he said. "I said, 'You people are afraid the police department and elderly affairs is running so well, you're afraid I'm creating a kingdom and you're doing everything you can to break it up.'"

Consentino said he's heard the selectmen are considering making a big change to the department, not just hiring a new officer.

"I don't know what change they could make," he said. "They can't create a police commissioner to take over the fire department and police department because voters have to approve that at the annual Town Meeting."

Bennett and Selectman William Friel have been tight-lipped about any changes.

"At this point in time, the Board of Selectmen have not made any decision regarding the police department," Friel said yesterday.

But the third board member, Selectman Fred Childs, denied there will be any changes.

"There are no plans to fire Consentino or hire someone who would be above him," he said. "He's asked to hire a lieutenant, but we don't want to hire someone just now. We want to see what he really needs."

Smith, the town manager, said Consentino has asked to hire a new officer.

"(Consentino's) given them a few ideas and they're digesting it," Smith said. "This is an opportunity to make changes, if they're deemed the best route for the town of Atkinson."

Consentino sees the delay as something new.

"In the past, when we had an officer retire or leave, all we did was place an ad in the paper and hire another officer," he said. "For some reason, it seems like we're not going to replace Baldwin and I cannot operate with only four full-time officers. I should have seven full-time officers."

The entire process should take about three months, he said, once they find the right candidate.

"We need to hire a new officer soon, that's it," he said.

Smith said an announcement was likely to come at the selectmen's meeting Monday.

• • •

Atkinson fire chief is top citizen

2011-05-13T17:27:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

May 13, 2011
Atkinson fire chief is top citizen
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Fire Chief Michael Murphy has served the town for 34 years. On Sunday, he will be honored as Atkinson's Citizen of the Year.

The Atkinson Lions Club gives out the award annually.

"The Lions Club members want to let someone in town know how much we appreciates what they have done," director Phil Consentino said. "This award is not given out lightly; there is an awful lot of thought that goes into it."

He said Murphy joined the volunteer fire department in 1977, and worked his way up, becoming chief in 1990.

"It's a lifetime achievement award," Consentino said. "He's served on many committees, is director of civil defense and now director of homeland security."

Consentino said he believes there will be a high turnout for the ceremony Sunday.

"I'm just humbled and happy they chose me," Murphy said.

Town Manager Phil Smith said Murphy does a wonderful job and deserves the award.

"Chief Murphy is an honest, good man and we, the town of Atkinson, are lucky to have him," he said.

"He works part-time for a stipend; he doesn't get an hourly rate. For what he's doing, it's unbelievable."

Murphy is well known in town.

"He's a natural choice, and everyone knows the contributions he makes to the town," Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said.

Consentino said other recipients of the award have included Selectman Fred Childs, Town Hall administrative assistant Barbara Snicer and Town Clerk Linda Getty.

The Lions Club has been giving out the Citizen of the Year Award for the past 10 years.

• • •

Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.

BOX MATERIAL FOLLOWS

Want to go?

What: Atkinson Citizen of the Year

Where: Atkinson Community Center, 4 Main St.

When: Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Who: Honoring fire Chief Michael Murphy

Atkinson reports spate of break-in attempts

2011-05-11T08:20:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

May 11, 2011
Atkinson reports spate of break-in attempts
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — A series of attempted burglaries in town have police launching a Neighborhood Watch program.

Detective Phil Farrar said there have been two recent break-ins in Atkinson and a number in surrounding towns.

"There's been a real upswing in burglaries the past few weeks in the area," he said. "It seems to be more than usual. We get three or four a year maybe."

On May 5, burglars attempted to break into a home on Conley Road.

"They broke a pane of glass next to the door and undid the deadbolt," Farrar said. "The alarm went off and frightened them away. They didn't take anything."

In another incident, suspects approached a home on Westside Drive, asking for directions to Salem.

Police believe the suspects look for homes with a long driveway or with no vehicles visible, and knock on the door. When the owners answer, they ask for directions or offer job services.

"If there's no answer, they break in," Farrar said. "This seems to be the MO."

He said the police are requesting help from residents to deal with the break-ins.

"People need to be aware that communication is the biggest thing," he said. "We've been trying to start the Neighborhood Watch program. We offered it to neighbors who have been burglarized in the past, but we need input from the people — they're our eyes and ears. If someone sees something weird, we need them to call."

Anyone interested in participating in Neighborhood Watch is asked to call police at 362-4001.

Atkinson Selectmen mull selective rule application again

2011-05-04T11:43:00.002-04:00

Atkinson selectmen demonstrate, once again the very behavior that has brought them so many lawsuits in the last 6 years, selective enforcement of policy.

From the Eagle Tribune;

May 4, 2011
Atkinson selectmen cautious about sprinkler requirements
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Selectmen are cautious about approving construction on two properties that require sprinkler systems to meet code requirements, in part because of past lawsuits.

Sue Killam, chairman of the Planning Board, came to the selectmen Monday night with a request from the owners of 35 and 37 Boulder Cove Road.

"The two properties are side by side," she said. "At 35 Boulder Cove, they want to put a foundation around a year-round dwelling and add an addition. At 37, they want to raze a seasonal cottage and replace it will a year-round dwelling."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the two properties need approval from selectmen, according to RSA 35. The projects are on a Class Six road, which is a private way and not accessible by fire trucks.

Fire Chief Michael Murphy said he recommended the owners either install sprinklers or build a fire access road that meets building code requirements.

"It's paved on the way in, but does turn into a gravel road," he said. "Even the paved road gets narrow in some places, making it hard for trucks to get in."

The issue of fire access roads and sprinklers is a sensitive subject in Atkinson. Margaret and Daniel Osborn refused to put sprinklers in their home back in 2008, leading to a long legal battle with the town. In December, the court ruled the Osborns had to pay the town $122,375 in civil penalties for living in their home without a building permit.

"I think we are going to be more cautious about this because of the Osborn case," Bennett said. "We want to make sure all the I's are dotted and the T's crossed, so we don't end up in another situation like that."

Murphy said he, too, is treading carefully because of the Osborn case.

"We certainly want to avoid any type of litigations," he said.

Murphy said the cost of installing sprinklers varies, depending on the size of the house and the access to water, but is usually around $10,000.

Bennett said he has to look into the matter more carefully, before approving the construction.

"We're probably going to vote on this next Monday," he said.

Lt. Baldwin heads to Plaistow! Chief claims he offered promotion

2011-04-21T11:36:00.002-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

April 21, 2011
Atkinson to lose veteran police officer

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Thu Apr 21, 2011, 12:13 AM EDT

PLAISTOW — Veteran Atkinson police Lt. William Baldwin is leaving the department, but he's not going far. He said he will be hired as a lieutenant in Plaistow.

"I've been given an opportunity to better my career," he said yesterday. "Atkinson has given me everything they can at this point. Moving to Plaistow is a positive career move."

Baldwin has worked in Atkinson for 14 years, and in law enforcement with the military and as a civilian for 21 years. He said he applied for the position months ago when Plaistow received $231,000 from the Community Oriented Policing Services program to hire a new officer.

His salary, starting date and other details have not been worked out. He is paid more than $60,000 in Atkinson.

Plaistow Deputy police Chief Kathleen Jones could not confirm her department is hiring Baldwin because it's not official.

"Technically, he hasn't been formally hired by the town yet," Jones said yesterday. "He hasn't signed on the dotted line. It won't be official until next week."

But Atkinson is already feeling the effects of Baldwin's departure.

Atkinson police Chief Philip Consentino said he is devastated that Baldwin is leaving Atkinson.

"He's my second in command, my number one guy when I need things done," he said yesterday. "It's really a sad day in Atkinson to lose him. He is so well-respected by the residents, and he knows this town inside and out."

Consentino said Baldwin hasn't given his official notice yet, but there will be no counter offer from Atkinson. Consentino said he asked the Board of Selectmen to promote Baldwin in order to keep him in town.

"I offered him a promotion to the rank of captain and offered him a very slight increase in his hourly wage, $1 an hour," Consentino said, "but the selectmen refused to give him that and, consequently, he's leaving. It will cost more money to train his replacement."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said the board chose not to promote Baldwin.

"While Lt. Baldwin is a very good asset for the town, the town is not big enough to need a captain," Bennett said. "Also, we've had all town employees' pay frozen for two years. We didn't think it would be right to the other employees for Baldwin to be singled out and get a raise. We regret losing Baldwin to Plaistow, but we wish him well."

Consentino argued it would be very difficult to replace Baldwin and, until his replacement has been hired, Atkinson will be understaffed.

"I don't know exactly when he's leaving," Consentino said. "I've only got five full-time officers and if I lose one, I'm going to be in tough shape. I need two more full-time officers on top of the five I have. Summer is my busiest time."

Selectmen have the authority to hire new officers and Consentino has already presented a number of options for them to consider.

Baldwin said he hopes Atkinson residents will look at his new job in a positive light.

"I've given a lot to the town all these years and I'm very thankful to the people of Atkinson," he said. "They're why I stayed there as long as I have."

Baldwin also serves on the Timberlane Regional School Board. But he said there is no conflict of interest between his two positions and he will serve the remainder of his term, until 2012.

Atkinson strong man marks 88th birthday

2011-04-16T07:24:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune

April 16, 2011
Atkinson strong man marks 88th birthday

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sat Apr 16, 2011, 01:52 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Fred Archambault marked his 88th birthday yesterday by doing 20 pull-ups — and then 20 more.

"I feel good," he said after his second set yesterday morning.

The Atkinson resident is a world-record holder in power lifting for his age and weight class.

"I set a world record in the dead lift for my age, I was over 80," he said. "I'm the oldest guy to compete in a world meet."

Ted Curtin, co-owner of Hampstead Health & Fitness, has known Archambault for 15 years through the fitness world. Archambault has been working out at Curtin's club for the past five years.

"There's no one like him," Curtin said. "At 165 pounds, Fred can still lift over 350 pounds when he competes, which he seldom does now because he hurt his back. But he competes against guys in their 60s."

Archambault is the number-one-ranked power lifter in the world, factoring in his age, weight and handicap, Curtin said.

According to the Hampstead Healh & Fitness website, Archambault, at the 2007 New England States Open Championship in East Bridgewater, Mass., squatted 370 pounds, bench-pressed 210, and had a dead-lift of 420 pounds for a 1,000-pound total.

"The guy literally should be on Oprah, he's amazing," he said.

Doing 20 pull-ups for his 88th birthday was just a fun goal he set for himself, Archambault said.

"When I was a power-lifter, I always used to set goals," Archambault said. "Now I'm no longer doing power lifting, so I set a goal on the pull-ups. I didn't know it was going to be a big deal."

He started lifting when he was serving with the Air Force in Italy during World War II.

"I was on the ground crew and the long-range planes would be gone for several hours, so we had a lot of spare time," Archambault said. "I found a pair of old axles with the wheels attached from an old mining cart. I would estimate it weighed at least 75 pounds. I got to the point I could do one-hand presses over my head, about 10 on each arm."

When he came home, Archambault joined a power lifting group and continued to train. When he married at age 24, he gave it up.

"I started lifting again after I retired at 60 and, about five years later, I went into my first power lifting meet at 65," he said.

His power-lifting career lasted 22 years. He said he had to stop this year for health reasons. But he still works out three days a week, like he always has.

"My routine has changed a little bit," Archambault said. "I don't do anymore squats or benches because I have a problem with my shoulder. I don't like to do the dead lift much anymore either. I do more legwork and pull-ups now to stay in condition."

He attributed his longevity and health to his strict workout regimen.

"I've had a long, pleasant retirement. I blame a lot of it on the fact that I did get interested in the gymnasium," Archambault said. "I feel real good and I maintained a lot of my strength."

The staff at Hampstead Health & Fitness serenaded Archambault and presented him with a birthday cake.

Former TRMS teacher guilty of porn charges

2011-04-16T07:23:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune

April 15, 2011
Former teacher guilty of porn charges

By Jillian Jorgensen jjorgensen@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Fri Apr 15, 2011, 12:14 AM EDT

BRENTWOOD — A jury deliberated just three hours before finding Scott Buatti guilty on 20 child pornography-related charges.

Family members and friends gasped and cried as a jury foreman said the jury had reached the same conclusion for each of the 10 charges of possession of child pornography and 10 charges of attempting to posses child pornography: guilty.

Buatti, 44, a former Timberlane Regional Middle School gym teacher and coach, shook his head as the verdict was read. The Newton resident will remain free on bail until he is sentenced sometime in the next few months.

As defense attorney Mark Sisti walked him out of the courtroom, Buatti was embraced by his father, who told him he loved him.

About 20 family members and friends were in court to support Buatti. As they streamed out of court, one woman offered a firm "No," when asked if they had any comment.

Sisti and assistant county attorney Jerome Blanchard provided starkly different visions of Buatti throughout the four-day trial.

"He's a novice computer user who browses around and hits adult sites and gets himself in a jam," Sisti said in his closing arguments. "There's no question about that."

The defense argued that Buatti did not knowingly download or look at the eight videos and two images he is charged with having on his computers. The videos, shown in court, include the lewd display of a young girl's genitals. The pictures were of a young girl engaged in a sex act.

Buatti testified Wednesday that he had viruses on his computer and thought they may have downloaded the illegal material. He also said he may have seen child pornography pop up while surfing for adult pornography, but did not look at it.

But Blanchard said Buatti actively sought out the content — paying to belong a website that provided it — and told federal agents that he had paid for, seen and saved child pornography.

"Some other dude did it to him. That's the defense — some other dude did it," Blanchard said. "This is the one they're attempting to run with — seriously, a mysterious program."

While Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents testified that Buatti told them he had images of grade school-aged children that "might" be considered child pornography on his computer, Buatti denied making those statements.

Blanchard asked jurors who was more credible — the man on trial or the law enforcement agents.

Buatti came to the attention of ICE agents because he was on a list of paid users for a site identified as containing child pornography, one of 18 discovered in an international investigation called "Operation Flicker." He registered with his "scottbuatti@hotmail.com" email address, and used his own Newton address when paying $79.95 to join the site.

But Buatti said he would never have paid for anything that advertised child pornography. Sisti said nothing about children was mentioned in the website's name. The site warned of "adult" content and said the models were over 18. But Blanchard said it was illogical to think a website would pull a "bait and switch" with child pornography.

"If you had a legitimate adult pornography site with adult pornography and you wanted people to subscribe to it, but then when you subscribe to it, you get a child porn?" Blanchard said. "What the hell? How illogical is that?"

Sisti said Buatti never tried to hide his tracks. He wasn't purposely doing anything illegal, Sisti claimed, calling him a "poor sucker that got some junk on his computer."

"Was he stupid wandering down those paths? Yeah. Was he trying to obtain it? No." Sisti said. "Is it on his computer? Yeah. Did he want it there? No. Did he try to possess it? Absolutely not."

He asked the jury to "dig deep" in their souls and ask if they ever had something on their computer they didn't want there. And, he asked, what they would do if a federal agent or police officer knocked on their doors about it.

But Blanchard sharply criticized the idea that child pornography just appears on computers.

"I have junk on my computer," he said. "I don't have any child pornography on my computer. I'm 100 percent sure of that."

He attacked the defense's computer expert, Judy Gosselin, for saying most computers contain child pornography.

"Seriously? Does she think we're that dumb?" Blanchard said. "There's child porn on almost every computer? Are you serious? Are you for real?"

Buatti had been surfing sites like "Sin 3D Incest," "Premium Child Porn" and "Lolita Portal" the same day agents first visited him, Blanchard said.

Buatti deleted the videos and images of child pornography after police first visited, Blanchard said, but before they got a search warrant for his computer.

Buatti claimed he ran a virus scan program after the agents visited him, and the program deleted the files.

But Blanchard said Buatti must have had a "very special" program on his computer.

"It's so special that it can find those that are interested in child pornography, those who subscribe to child pornography websites, and then download child pornography," Blanchard said. "And then get rid of it a year later, all without the computer owner's knowledge."

"Where do you get that?" Blanchard asked. "At Best Buy?"

If Buatti were guilty, Sisti said, he would have gotten rid of his computer, the way a murderer ditches a gun or a bloody knife.

He said Buatti continued to teach for months, after 19 years with a spotless record and not one allegation of inappropriate contact with children. He was put on administrative leave in April 2009, after his indictment.

Tempers flare in Atkinson over police details

2011-04-13T11:55:00.000-04:00

Article Submission:

From the Eagle Tribune

April 13, 2011

Tempers flare in Atkinson over police details
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Apr 13, 2011, 12:12 AM EDT

ATKINSON — A shouting match broke out Monday night between Police Chief Philip Consentino and Selectman William Friel over controlling police details for roadwork.

The police and Road Agent Edward Stewart presented a memorandum of understanding at the selectmen's meeting, requiring roadwork on busier roads in town to have a police officer on the scene at all times.

Consentino said he's looking out for the safety of town residents.

"I am going to make sure residents are safe coming up to roadwork," he said.

"Any time a lane is closed, an officer should be there. To have uncertified road workers fill in for professionals is not a good idea."

There is a four-hour minimum for detail work and it will cost $46 per hour for a police officer to cover the duty, at a rate of time and a half.

Friel objected because the memo requires Stewart to run "any and all work" past the police.

"This document, as written, says if he runs out in the street to patch a hole quickly, I've got to pay a cop for four hours?" Friel said. "This document is prohibitive."

Consentino argued the police have control over road safety and should be able to judge the situation.

But Friel insisted the selectmen have the final say and shouted back at Consentino.

"This conversation is over, go rewrite the document and come back," Friel said. "You want to fight that battle, let's go."

Though Stewart is named in the memo, he also objected to the arrangement because of its timing.

"A month after Town Meeting, there's no way to fund it," he said after the meeting. "All my stuff has gone out to bid already, my budget is set and that one thing alone would double the cost of labor for every one of my projects."

Stewart said requiring a police detail would slow down his work and increase the cost exponentially.

"All kinds of little jobs take less than an hour to do on a certain road," he said. "To have a four-hour minimum on a detail, it would cost $160 on a detail to do $20 worth of work."

Selectmen's Chairman William Bennett said after the meeting that it's not really about the money. It's a dispute about who has control over the roads.

"The chief wants to make sure that traffic flows well and no one gets hurt, and the road agent thinks there's a lot of places he can work without that," Bennett said. "But we will resolve this dispute eventually."

April 13, 2011 10:59 AM

Timberlane toughens academic standards for athletes, Get an "F" and your off the team!

2011-04-11T09:49:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

April 11, 2011
Timberlane toughens academic standards for athletes

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Mon Apr 11, 2011, 03:14 AM EDT

PLAISTOW — Get an F and you're off the team.

That's the new rule for athletes at Timberlane Regional High School, and it's one of the strictest policies among Southern New Hampshire high schools.

The Timberlane District School Board unanimously approved a new policy last week to suspend any player who gets an F in one class per quarter. The change is fairly drastic: The old policy allowed three failing grades each quarter from student-athletes.

Timberlane Superintendant Richard La Salle said the board had been considering rewriting the rule for the past year.

"This is a significant change," he said. "It does increase the expectation that a student, to begin a season, should not have earned an F in the previous quarter. We value high standards and we're supporting our students to get there."

La Salle said the school's policy is now much stricter than the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association regulations. The state says high school players cannot fail four classes per grading period, though the rule is just a base guideline for many schools.

Timberlane is one of the only local school districts with zero tolerance for failure. At Salem High School, athletic director David Rozumek said once a student fails two classes, they're off the team.

"There are a few that are a little bit stricter, but we have not done that yet," Rozumek said. "At Salem, we're proactive; we are all about coaches. A vast majority of them have weekly reports on our athletes. We lose very few to bad grades."

Pinkerton Academy athletic director Tim Powers said students must pass at least four classes out of five to play. But the school is considering tightening the requirements at the Derry school.

"The policy is being examined," he said. "The school is thinking of raising the number of classes to pass or a combination of passing and not failing. There are different ideas on the table. It's in the early stages."

Pelham High School athletic director Todd Cress said the school follows a block schedule with only four classes per quarter.

"When report cards come out, they have to be passing three of the four — or 75 percent," he said. "The kids are aware of this and it's really not that big of an issue. For the most part, our athletes do the job in the classroom and get the grades they need to."

Windham High School athletic administrator Bill Raycraft said they follow the NHIAA policy exactly.

"We accept four failures before suspending a student," he said. "That's our minimum standard. If a student had numerous failures, we'd certainly speak to them about whether they had the ability to properly time manage between school and athletics."

He said the school is not thinking of changing the rule.

"Student athletes are already held to a higher standard. They're missing class and homework time, and have to balance that anyway," Raycraft said. "To make it more difficult to stay on seems counterproductive. Athletes generally have higher grades than other students, and to take that away from the borderline students would be detrimental."

Timberlane School Board member William Baldwin was a strong supporter of changing to the zero tolerance policy.

"Now they understand we accept no failures; you either pass and play or fail and don't play," he said. "I don't believe high school is just for sports. I think sports helps to make them well rounded and a part of the experience. Education is the number one priority. And I'll stick behind that as long as I'm on the board."

Other Timberlane board members wanted to be more lenient and open to special circumstances, which did become part of the policy. "If there are extenuating circumstances, there is an appeal committee that (students) can go to," La Salle said.

The Activity Eligibility Committee hears the appeals. If the student can show a valid reason for the failure, the principal can make an exception.

La Salle said there is also a path for students to work to bring up their grades and be allowed back on a team.

"There is some leeway in the policy," he said. "We're going to be monitoring kids while they're in season. If a grade drops to an F before the end of the quarter, they will work with the athletic director to bring those grades up. And during the summer they can remediate a fourth-quarter F."

The new policy also sets standards for class attendance and the number of credits earned each year.

Dale Childs Passed.....

2011-04-04T20:09:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

ATKINSON, N.H. — Dale A. (Deyermond) Childs, 66, of Atkinson, died Saturday, April 2, 2011 at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester.

Born in Methuen, daughter of the late Warren Deyermond and Eleanor McEvoy she was raised in Lawrence and Methuen and was a member of the Tenney High School, Class of 1962. She later attended Merrimack College in North Andover in the Accounting Program.

A longtime resident of Atkinson, Mrs. Childs was a member of the Atkinson Police Department from 1981 until 1998, serving as Juvenile Office from 1992 until 1995 and the Animal Control Officer from 1980 until 1995. She served on the Town Building Needs Committee and was a member of the Budget Committee from 1985 until 1994, serving as chairman from 1986 until 1994 and also served on The Highway Safety Committee from 1989 until 1995 and Co-Chairman of the Dispatch Committee. She has also served as a Cemetery Trustee since 1999 and a Trustee of the Trust Funds for the past 25 years.

Mrs. Childs was also a 24 year member of the Hampstead Police Department, beginning in 1987 and also served as the Town Animal Control Officer and Juvenile Officer. A founder and member of the Hampstead Schools Crisis Team, she represented the Police Department at Project Respect at the Hampstead Middle School. She was Past President and Secretary of the Hampstead Police Association and Past Chairman and presently Board Member of the Family Mediation and Juvenile Services and member of the Board of Directors of the Community Alliance for Teen Safety since 2004.

Mrs. Childs also served as a Special Deputy for the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department.

A member of the Atkinson Congregational Church, she served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 until 2010 and was presently a member of the Pastoral Relations Committee.

A member of the U.S. Trotting Association since 1971, Mrs. Childs owned, trained and raced harness horses and was one of the few women starters in the horse racing industry throughout New England. She was employed by the State of New Hampshire Pari-Mutuel Commission since 1987 and was named Director of Racing Enforcement for the State of New Hampshire in 2006.

She enjoyed traveling, gardening, raising animals and spending quality time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Fred J. Childs; a son and daughter-in-law, Shane G. and Michele Childs of Atkinson; a daughter, Dawn K. Amiss of Cordova, Md.; a step-son, Fred D. Childs of Peabody; three step-daughters, Sue H. Gatzimos and her husband Stratton of Merrimack, N.H., Carol A. Tobey of Eliot, Maine, and Paula J. Hovey of Danvers; nine grandchildren, Kerri, Ryan, Shawn, Courtney, Ashley, Danielle, Zachary, Makenna and Emerson; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Brittany Dawn Childs in 1997.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St.., Route 121A, Plaistow, N.H. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Atkinson Congregational Church, Main Street, Atkinson, followed by burial in Atkinson Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Brittany Dawn Childs Scholarship Fund, c/o Hampstead New Hampshire Police Department, P.O. Box 78, Hampstead, N.H.

Osborns Lose AGAIN!

2011-03-31T06:59:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

March 31, 2011
Atkinson couple loses another case

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Thu Mar 31, 2011, 12:13 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Margaret and Daniel Osborn just can't seem to win.

Earlier this month, they lost a civil lawsuit brought by their neighbor, Carol Davis, costing them more than $25,000 in damages.

Just a few months ago, in December, the Osborns lost a related case brought by the town of Atkinson, which cost them $122,000. In total, recent court actions have cost the Osborns more than $147,000, plus legal fees.

In 2008, the town issued the Osborns a building permit for their home, but that came with a requirement to install a sprinkler system because the property was not accessible by fire trucks or other emergency vehicles.

Instead, the Osborns built a driveway connecting their property to Chase Island Road, hoping that would allow them to qualify for an occupancy permit.

But they cut down trees and built the driveway across land owned by Davis, who lives at 6 Chase Island Road.

"The respondents acted without right or authority when they entered upon Davis' land, cut trees and created a new driveway," Rockingham Superior Court Judge John Lewis wrote in the ruling in the case brought by Davis.

"Although the court finds that they did not do this with a malicious or hostile intent, they acted to use the property at issue for their own benefit, to deal in particular with access concerns raised by local authorities, and acted as well expressly in the face of Davis' opposition."

Lewis awarded Davis $25,436 in damages for emotional distress and for the cost of removing asphalt and replanting trees.

Attorney Michael Bedard represented Carol Davis and said the case should never have gotten this far.

"(The Osborns) were wrong all around," Bedard said. "It seems that it would have been a lot easier from the beginning to install the sprinkler system, get this occupancy permit and go on with their lives."

Bedard said the Osborns didn't have the right to build through Davis' property. He said they should have stopped when Davis first approached them and told them it was her land.

"Instead of going to an attorney and getting their advice, after Mrs. Davis had asked her to stop the clearing, they kept going," he said.

"It would have cost them no money. Instead, they went through a year, maybe more, of litigation. They could have saved a lot of money just being a little more prudent."

Bedard said the ruling also orders the Osborns to stop using the right of way immediately.

"That was my client's main concern," he said. "The new road was maybe 75 yards away from her house. She testified that she could see it from her window."

Atkinson Town Administrator Philip Smith said he had no comment on the case because it was a civil matter that did not involve the town.

Bernard Campbell represented the Osborns and also had no comment on the case. The Osborns can appeal the decision.

Sapia right, Library Show us the Money!

2011-03-29T10:37:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

March 29, 2011
Kimball Library donations a source of disagreement

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Mar 29, 2011, 12:13 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Construction on Kimball Library was completed almost three years ago, but funding for the project is still the source of conflict.

Voters approved a warrant article to spend $2.7 million to build the new library, which opened in 2008.

But there has been a heated debate over nearly $200,000 in donations to the library, which have already been spent. Selectmen recently held a public hearing, required to officially accept the funds. After some fiery exchanges, they opted to postpone their decision.

New Hampshire statutes require any donation over $5,000 to go before a public hearing before being accepted by the town.

"We must resolve what has been wrong in the process of funding the library and fix it," Selectman William Bennett said at the meeting March 21.

The hearing blossomed into an argument between library trustees and Jack Sapia, a former selectman.

Sapia accused trustees of using donations to obscure the real cost of the new library.

"The bulk of the donations are, in fact, cost overruns," he said. "Many of these items are construction items, which would put the total construction cost over the warrant amount. Almost two years after the completion of the library, why are we approving expenses now? It's putting the cart before the horse."

Trustees vice chairman Kay Galloway said the hearing before the Board of Selectmen was just a formality since she was authorized to accept these donations, according to RSA 202.

"We didn't need the selectmen's approval to spend the money. It is not our wish to reopen this," she said. "We would like to see this matter put to rest."

She said the trustees raised money for the Library Legacy Fund and specified that it would go toward helping to build the library and provide things as needed during the construction process.

Alan Phair, chairman of the library trustees, said in an interview after the meeting that he's frustrated selectmen have not accepted the donations.

"We've been going back and forth with the selectmen on this for years and they still have not taken any action," he said. "We documented everything as it related to the donations from the Friends of the Library. Every single transaction was accounted for."

The donations are only 0.07 percent of the total cost of the project. The Friends of the Kimball Library donated $160,585 to the new building, including: $13,000 for the removal of the old library, 17,000 for radiant heat ceiling panels, $47,800 for furniture and computer carrels, $14,400 for computers and three LCD TVs, and more.

Freshwater Farms donated $25,000 worth of landscaping items and work. Project architect Ron Lamarre donated $2,000 worth of shovels and hard hats, and there were other, smaller donations.

Lamarre said the donations were used to buy nicer things for the library, like TVs and higher quality furniture, that the town couldn't pay for.

"The furniture wasn't $47,000," he said. "We upgraded the furniture and paid the difference with the donations. We enhanced the heating system by adding those ceiling panels. The plan was still $2.7 million."

He said donations are still coming in — and should be accepted and used by the town.

"If anything had been done wrong, we would have heard about it," Lamarre said. "There's no smoking gun. The project has been audited by an independent auditor."

But Sapia insisted the donations should not have been spent. He said he was a selectman for part of the building process and the trustees repeatedly told selectmen the project was on budget and on time.

"The truth is, there was a game of bait and switch," he said. "The $13,000 for removal of the old library, wasn't that part of the project? If the money was donated, where did the money go that was part of the warrant? It should have been saved and reduced the overall cost of the project."

Selectman Fred Childs said Sapia had some good points.

"The removal of the old library and the furniture was part of the original plan and shouldn't be a donation," he said. "If you can show these weren't part of the original contract, great. But if these were a part of the original contract, why don't we have the money back? We need to investigate further."

Davis WINS! Court finds Osborn responsible

2011-03-23T17:15:00.002-04:00

Yes, Rockingham Superior Court Judge, John Lewis, handed don his decision today. In the 13page Order, he States that the Osborns "have no property rights" to the Right of Way across Mrs. Davis land, as Maggie has so often claimed.

Judge Lewis further stated that the Osborn's trespassed upon Mrs. Davis' land, and diminished it's value with their "negligent excavating and cutting of trees". The Court also recognized Mrs. Davis' attempts to stop this effective theft of her land, by proscription, by asking Mrs. Osborn to stop, which Maggie not so kindly dismissed. The Court also stated that this WAS a claim for which enhanced damages, for the market value of the trees could be awarded, but he failed to do so, as Mrs. Osborn did not seem to have any idea of the exact number, type or size of trees removed, nor could Mrs. Davis Prove what existed before the Osborn's wanton destruction commenced.

Mrs. Davis has the right to do anything she wishes with the Osborns illegal driveway. The Court also enjoined the Osborns from using the driveway whether Mrs. Davis bars it or not. Continued use of this driveway on the part of the Osborns could result in trespassing charges.

This decision creates a dilemma for the town. Normally for the size lot, and location up on Valcat ln. a permit would only be issued to build a 1,400 sq.ft. home with a sprinkler system. The Osborns were granted a variance on the condition that they had direct access to Chase Island rd. to build a 2,600 sq.ft. house, with a sprinkler system. After obtaining that variance, by submitting plans to that effect, the Osborn's apparently had the Architectural firm of Silverlake Assoc. design a home of over 4,000 sq.ft. which NOW stands upon this site. This is acknowledged by the town, which states a 4,000 sq.ft. home on their tax card.

The Town has obtained an eviction Order for the Osborn's home due to their defiance in adhering to the building permit to which they agreed. The Osborn's are attempting to appeal the amount of the fine and attornies fees to the Supreme Court. Now the Town which has fined and Ordered Mr. Mason to tear down the overbuilt portion of his home, just around the corner from the Osborns, is now faced with a home that does NOT have a sprinkler system, and is overbuilt by 2,800 sq.ft.

Now that the Osborns no longer have access to the road that allowed them to overbuild, nor do they have a sprinkler system, to satisfy their building permit.

This leaves the town to decide if they Order Osborns to tear down the overbuilt portion of their home as they have done to Mr. Mason. or do they simply refuse to enforce zoning ordinances for anybody.

"Oh what tangled webs we weave, when first we set out to deceive"

Atkinson Voting Results!

2011-03-09T08:54:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

March 8, 2011
Atkinson Town Results, 2011

The Eagle Tribune Tue Mar 08, 2011, 11:39 PM EST

Article 1: Election of officers

Selectman: three-year term, elect one

* William Friel: 702

Road Agent: two-year term, elect one

* Edward Stewart: 680

Cemetery Trustee: three-year term, elect one

* Donald Murphy: 693

Conflict of Interest: three-year term, elect two

No candidates

Conflict of Interest: two-year term, elect one

No candidate

Trustee of the Trust Fund: three-year term, elect one

* Barbara Snicer: 666

Budget Committee: three-year term, elect two

* Harold Morse: 628

Library Trustee: three-year term, elect one

* Marnie Finn: 642

Supervisor of the Checklist: one-year term, elect one

* Leslie Barbera: 644

Article 2: Trucking restriction: Are you in favor of an amendment to the zoning ordinance to restrict trucking between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. in all zones by adding subsection "nn" to the Permitted Use Chart.

* Yes: 550

No:255

Article 3: Operating Budget: $3,966,546. Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $3,953,181.

* Yes: 547

No: 268

Article 4: Shall the town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $161,000 for the purchase of a parcel of land located at Map 13 Lot 40 on Academy Avenue, consisting of 0.83 acres, located in Town Center. The purchase price is the current town-assessed value of the parcel. Said sum to come from the unreserved fund balance. The purpose of this land is for open-air activities with all future construction to be limited to a gazebo or bandstand and restroom facilities until the year 2021. This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the Operating Budget.

Yes: 315

* No: 537

Article 5: Shall the town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 for repairs and improvements including the reinforcement of the floors at the Atkinson Community Center? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 2011-3, the Operating Budget.

* Yes: 648

No: 204

Article 6: Shall the town raise and appropriate the sum of $46,080 to replace the roof on the fire station? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3.

* Yes: 508

No: 335

Article 7: Shall the town raise and appropriate the sum of $2,500 to remove an unused chimney that has failed structurally at the Police Station? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 608

No: 240

Article 8: Shall the town raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000 to update the existing Fire Protection System at Town Hall and bring it into compliance? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 270

* No: 573

Article 9: Shall the town raise and appropriate the sum of $35,000 to purchase and install a stand-by, self-starting, propane electric generator, which will provide enough electricity to power Town Hall in an emergency situation, thus allowing the Town Hall to remain operational during a power outage? The installation of said generator will be under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen. This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 225

* No: 622

Article 10: Shall the Town vote to replace the rear sidewalks at Town Hall, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,000 for this purpose? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 319

* No: 529

Article 11: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,500 to irrigate Fields 1, 2, 3 and 4 at Woodlock Park, under the direction of the Board of Selectmen and the Road Agent? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 314

* No: 531

Article 12: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the Recreation Capital Reserve Fund, created for the purpose of acquisition, design, renovation and development of recreation areas, to include, but not limited to, fields and playgrounds? This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 271

* No: 575

Article 13: Shall the Town adopt the following amendment to the Atkinson Conflict of Interest Ordinance: Section VII, Paragraph A (2) Delete "... P.O. Box 224..." and replace it with "... P.O. Box 450 ..."?

* Yes: 666

No: 119

Article 14: Shall the Town deposit 100 percent of the revenue collected pursuant to RSA 79-A:7 [Land Use Change Tax (LUCT)] in the Conservation Fund in accordance with RSA 36-A:5 III, as authorized by RSA 79-A:25 II?

* Yes: 557

No: 230

Article 15: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $40,000 from the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund for the purchase of a new 2011 Command/Rescue Unit as part of the regular Fire Department equipment replacement program? The old vehicle will be disposed of in accordance with Article 2008-32. This article has no tax impact. This is a Special Article in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 609

No: 249

Article 16: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000 to be added to the Fire Department Capital Reserve Fund, previously established for the purpose of acquiring fire equipment and vehicles, as outlined in the Board of Engineers' Capital Improvement Plan? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 504

No: 349

Article 17: Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 40:14-b to delegate the determination of the Default Budget to the Municipal Budget Committee which has been adopted under RSA 32:14?

* Yes: 512

No: 265

Article 18: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $132,100 to reconstruct 0.4 mile of Hovey Meadow Road? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 521

No: 329

Article 19: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $12,300 to shim and overlay 0.12 mile of Hoyt Circle? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 521

No: 330

Article 20: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $109,000, of which $85,000 is to reconstruct 0.25 mile of Merrill Drive, from Old Coach Road to Hovey Meadow Road, and $24,000 is to shim and overlay 0.3 mile of Merrill Drive from Hovey Meadow Road to Walker Road? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes: 516

No: 333

Article 21: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $15,000 to be added to the Winter Expendable Trust Fund, created in 2010 for the purpose of funding additional costs, in excess of the annual Operating Budget, for the plowing and removal of snow and winter weather management? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

Yes: 392

* No: 442

Article 22: Shall the Town vote to discontinue the Library Capital Reserve Fund, with the balance to lapse into the General Fund? (Balance as of 12/31/10: $50,069.52).

* Yes: 603

No: 198

Article 23: The cost to purchase, prepare the site and install a generator at the Library is approximately $50,000. It is proposed that half of the cost will come from the discontinued Library Capital Reserve Fund, which when it lapses into the General Fund is shown as "Undesignated Fund Balance." The second half will come from the Friends of the Library's Legacy Fund. hus there will be zero impact upon the 2011 Town Budget. The net amount to be raised and appropriated through taxes is zero dollars.

Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000 to purchase, prepare site, and install a 3 phase 80KW 120/208 volt Propane Generator with 800 amp 3 phase Nema 3R load shedding transfer switch to run the Kimball Library in the event of a power outage? Half the cost up to a maximum of $25,000 to come from the Undesignated Fund Balance with the remaining amount (up to $25,000) to come from a donation pledged by the Friends of the Kimball Library. The Construction of said Generator will fall under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen and the Library Trustees. This is a Special Article in addition to Article 03, the Operating Budget and has zero impact upon the tax rate.

Yes: 297

* No: 531

Article 24: Shall the Town vote to have all meetings of the Kimball Library Trustees televised by ACTV-20, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000 to fund this directive? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget, but is intended to be incorporated in the Cable TV Operating Budget beginning in 2012.

* Yes: 445

No: 385

Article 25: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $46,470 to be added to the Mosquito Control Expendable Trust Fund, created in 2006? This Special Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget.

* Yes:636

No: 206

Article 26: Shall the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $23,500 to purchase a new police cruiser? One old vehicle will be disposed of in accordance with Article 2008-32. This Special Article is in addition to Article 2011-3, the Operating Budget.

* Yes: 501

No: 341

Article 27: Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $26,315 for the purpose of purchasing a new police cruiser for the Police Department, of which $22,315 to come from the Police Detail Revolving Fund, created under RSA 31:95-h in 2006 for this purpose, and $4,000 to come from the Atkinson Police Charitable Fund. Two vehicles will be disposed of in accordance with Article 32. There is no tax impact for this article. This Special Article is in addition to Article 3 the Operating Budget.

* Yes: 536

No: 306

Article 28: Shall the Town accept Ashford Drive as a Town Road?

* Yes: 580

No: 236

Article 29: Shall the Town accept Brittany Lane as a Town Road?

* Yes: 577

No: 241

Article 30: Shall the Town accept Blackford Drive as a Town Road?

* Yes: 580

No: 245

Article 31: Shall the Town delegate the responsibility of accepting town roads which have been approved by the Planning Board and the Town Engineer, to the Board of Selectmen, per RSA 674:40 a?

Yes: 526

No: 293

Article 32: Shall the Town vote to change the purpose of the existing Cable TV Capital Reserve Fund created in 1993, Article 40, "... to develop and equip a facility for Atkinson Community Television ..." to include Information Technology (IT) services, and rename the fund ACTV and IT Communications Capital Reserve Fund? The fund would be used to purchase equipment and software, support all aspects of ACTV and IT needs, as well as future technology changes not explicitly listed herein. Two-third's vote required for passage.

* Yes: 521

No: 287

Article 33: Shall the Town vote to create an additional part-time Clerical Position for Town Hall, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $9,200 to fund this position? This Article is in addition to Article 3, the operating budget, for a period not to exceed 12/31/11 and thereafter to be at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen.

Yes: 146

* No: 598

Article 34: To see if the town will vote to establish a Recreation Commission under the provisions of RSA 35-B, consisting of five members: Two persons for three years, Two persons for two years, and one person for one year. Their successors shall be appointed for three year terms. Current members of the "Recreation Commission," that is currently in place, shall serve out their current terms.

* Yes: 505

No: 325

Timberlane voters quickly dispense of school budget matters

2011-02-11T10:09:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

February 11, 2011
Timberlane voters quickly dispense of school budget matters

By Doug Ireland direland@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Fri Feb 11, 2011, 12:58 AM EST

PLAISTOW — School district voters made quick work of the proposed budget and other spending proposals last night, plowing through a list of warrant articles in less than 40 minutes.

Nearly 100 people turned out at the Timberlane Performing Arts Center to consider articles that included the proposed $62.4 million school budget and a $300,000 plan to renovate the Pollard School kitchen.

Despite the large crowd, only a few voters stepped to the podium during the annual deliberative session to ask questions about the articles, including Kate Russell of Danville.

Russell asked school officials where the district would cut seven positions that Budget Committee Chairwoman Michelle O'Neil said would be eliminated. O'Neil gave a brief presentation on the proposed budget before the discussion began.

Superintendent Richard La Salle outlined the cuts, which include a custodian, two support staff positions, and also teaching jobs at the elementary schools.

A declining number of elementary school students means fewer teachers are needed, La Salle said. The superintendent also presented the proposal to spend $300,000 on renovating the Pollard School kitchen.

When the district began renovating its buildings several years ago, the kitchens were never upgraded, La Salle said.

"During the renovations, one of the areas in the schools that was not addressed was the kitchens," he said. As a result, they are inefficient and do not meet code.

The district is now making the upgrades a priority, renovating the Atkinson Academy kitchen last summer and the Danville Elementary School kitchen two years ago.

The $300,000 would come from a capital reserve fund.

Although no one voiced their opinion on the article, resident Martha Fowler questioned how much money was in the fund.

"It would essentially use the money that is there," La Salle said of the renovation project.

The capital reserve fund contains a little more than $300,000 and would be replenished through another article that asks voters to add $200,000, the superintendent said.

There were no public comments on that article as well.

The $62,437,055 operating budget outlined by O'Neil is a decrease of less than 1 percent compared with the previous budget. The default budget is $62,708,119.

All five articles were quickly approved and sent to the March ballot after little or no discussion.

As one resident approached the podium, longtime town and Timberlane moderator Barry Sargent said the meeting was one of the shortest in memory.

"It is the quickest one I've had in 20 years," he said.

Perhaps it had something to do with the upcoming tipoff between the Celtics and Lakers, with Boston star Ray Allen looking to beat the NBA record for making three-point shots.

"Not to mention the Lakers and Celtics start in less than an hour — make it quick," Sargent joked.

39 people effectively add over $250,000 in fluff to the Town budget.

2011-02-06T10:04:00.001-05:00

If we let it pass the ballot!

From the Eagle Tribune;

February 6, 2011
Voters approve article calling for land purchase

By Jillian Jorgensen jjorgensen@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sun Feb 06, 2011, 12:03 AM EST

ATKINSON — Residents will have a chance to vote on purchasing land in the town center at the polls this March.

The proposal to buy less than an acre of open space for $161,000 was moved on to the ballot at the town's deliberative session yesterday, along with everything from an amended operating budget, to new generators, to a new roof at the fire station.

The article asking voters to purchase the .83 acres of land across from the library was amended yesterday. The land was originally slated to be used only for open-air activities, with "all future construction limited to a gazebo or bandstand and restroom facilities."

But Selectman William Bennett suggested an amendment that added "until 2021" to the end of the article, restricting the use for just 10 years. Several people had expressed reservations about buying the land and using it only as open space, saying future needs for the property could change.

Resident Carol Grant spoke about past land purchases in town where property went unused for years, but later became town recreation areas, the Fire Department and the current Town Hall.

"I would just ask that the townspeople look to the future," she said.

But others took issue with the cost, which they said was above market value. An amendment would have lowered the amount raised by the warrant article to $130,000, but it failed.

Bennett said he had spoken to the landowner, and said he might be willing to sell for $160,000, but not $130,000.

Residents also moved forward an article asking voters to spend $12,500 to irrigate baseball fields at Woodlock Park. An amendment proposing to ask for donations for the sprinkler system, rather than raising money for it, failed.

Other items moved to the ballot included a new $50,000 generator for the library, half funded by a donation and half by money in the library trust fund, which voters will be asked to dissolve; a new fire vehicle for $40,000; and road improvements on Hovey Meadow Road, Hoyt Circle and Merrill Drive

Atkinson voters asked to OK land purchase

2011-01-26T08:09:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 26, 2011
Atkinson voters asked to OK land purchase

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Jan 26, 2011, 12:13 AM EST

ATKINSON — Voters will be asked to approve the purchase of 0.83 acres of land on Academy Avenue. But the purchase price is in question.

A warrant article calls for $161,000 to buy the parcel, but Selectman Bill Bennett said the price could be amended at the deliberative session Feb. 5.

Selectmen put their support behind the article, but the Budget Committee didn't — because the sale price is above the assessed value, Bennett said.

"That is probably above market value at this time, so we will be negotiating the price with the seller and probably will amend the value at Town Meeting," he said. "The Budget Committee didn't want to put their recommendation on that higher value."

Bennett said the land would expand the town commons area and remain a green space for concerts and other town events, if voters approve it.

The Budget Committee was a little more fiscally conservative than selectmen when it came to backing warrant articles with significant price tags.

"All the departments were made aware that we are still in economic difficulties and they should come in at the bare minimum of what is needed," Town Administrator Philip Smith said. "Some things just have to be done. Some stuff is safety, like generators and fire protection. The voter has to balance and decide what's important to them."

The 34 warrant articles total $883,000.

The Budget Committee did not recommend articles calling for $60,000 to update the fire protection system at Town Hall, $50,000 for a generator for the library, $35,000 for a generator for Town Hall and $9,200 for a part-time clerical position at Town Hall.

Bennett said a new sprinkler system at Town Hall is not a frivolous expense.

"The Town Hall sprinkler system does not offer adequate fire protection," he said. "Though the budget committee took the attitude it's been OK for all these years, I can't, in good conscience, support waiting."

But there was some agreement. Both boards recommended $spending $10,000 for repairs to the Atkinson Community Center.

"The floors of the center need to be resanded and refinished," Smith said. "It's an old building and needs yearly repairs."

Smith said the other big issue is road repairs.

"The roads are really falling apart. People call in to say they can't drive on them," he said.

Bennett agreed and said not keeping up with road repairs would be "penny wise and pound foolish."

Both boards recommended the town spend $132,000 to reconstruct 0.4 miles of Hovey Meadow Road, $12,300 to repair 0.12 miles of Hoyt Circle and $109,000 to reconstruct two parts of Merrill Drive. Those repairs also were recommended unanimously.

The town's deliberative session is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at Atkinson Academy.

TImberlane reports fewer dropouts

2011-01-25T08:59:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 25, 2011
TImberlane reports fewer dropouts

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Jan 25, 2011, 12:12 AM EST

PLAISTOW — Fewer Timberlane students are dropping out of high school.

The dropout rate fell from 2.7 percent to 0.7 percent in the past five years, according to Superintendant Richard La Salle.

The data is part of the district's annual report to the School Board, comparing information from the 2005-2006 school year to 2009-2010 school year to track progress.

"The dropout rate is the number we're most proud of," La Salle said at a recent School Board meeting.

He laid out the numbers as an example of the success of new programs at the district's schools.

Assistant Superintendant Winfried Feneberg said the change in the dropout rate can be traced back to programs specifically for kids with lower grades.

"The high school has really worked extremely hard to provide alternatives for children that struggle in school," Feneberg said. "We provide evening divisions and GED options, a lot of alternatives apart from and in addition to the standard diploma."

Feneberg said these options are preventing students from dropping out, but they still can't graduate without the necessary knowledge.

"The standards of the school have not gone down, it's actually increased," he said.

La Salle said the number of college-bound students also increased over those years, going from 74 percent to 86 percent.

"We have more kids going to two-year colleges than four, but that's a good option for some students," La Salle said.

Feneberg said two-year colleges have become a trend in the district.

"The ability to transfer from a two-year college into a four-year college is, in part, an economic decision parents and kids make," he said.

The data on the report also included ups and downs in New England Common Assessments Program scores, with a trend toward the positive.

"It's a whole lot of positive indicators that we feel came with hard work," Feneberg said. "There's certainly more that can be done and will be done. It's our goal to make everyone successful in high school.

Charlie McCarthy to retire!

2011-01-25T08:57:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 25, 2011
Atkinson celebrates longtime crossing guard

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Jan 25, 2011, 12:28 AM EST

ATKINSON — Officer Charles McCarthy was brought to tears yesterday morning at Atkinson Academy.

The elementary school students and teachers surprised McCarthy with a special assembly to honor his 31 years of service as the school's crossing guard.

The assembly began when a student found McCarthy at the back of the gym and led him by the hand to a chair at the front of the room.

Students sang and spoke to McCarthy, thanking him in many ways.

"No matter what the weather, you were there to keep students safe," said Ryan Beaulieau, a fifth-grader.

Atkinson police Chief Philip Consentino awarded McCarthy a certificate of appreciation for his years of service and the school gave him a blue ribbon. At the end of the assembly, the students all stood and sang, "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" and applauded.

After the ceremony, McCarthy said he was overwhelmed by the attention.

"I didn't know about this; it was a surprise," he said. "I worked part time here all these years. I try to stay in the background and then to have everyone do this for me." He shook his head and smiled.

McCarthy's children and grandchildren attended Atkinson Academy. He said he was happy to be involved and do something in the community for so many years.

Another member of the Atkinson Police Department will be assigned to fill his position.

Principal Kathy Dayotis said they tried to keep the assembly a surprise.

"He thought just a few police officers would be here to say goodbye to him," Dayotis said. "We've been very fortunate for the past 31 years. He's been here as long as I have."

She said he has directed every bus and made sure every child crossed the street safely.

"The kids were really excited to do this for him," she said.

Before heading back to class, many students stopped to give McCarthy a hug and say "thank you" before they left.

• • •

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Timberlane students learn financial realities

2011-01-15T10:11:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 15, 2011
Timberlane students learn financial realities

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sat Jan 15, 2011, 12:09 AM EST

PLAISTOW — Cam Altobelli spun a large, brightly colored wheel passing by a $500 inheritance to stop on a $40 fee for a bounced check.

Cam, an eighth-grader, frowned and wrote the number on a worksheet. The game represented real costs of living, all a part of Timberlane Middle School's second annual Financial Literacy Fair.

Teacher Sharon Skinner said the fair is part of her consumer education curriculum.

"Students choose a career and go to a website that will tell them the education and training needed for the career and expectations of a work environment," she said. "It also gives projected yearly salaries for the career. They take the yearly salary and deduct taxes, Social Security and the kids are left with a monthly budget."

Schools from around the state participate, including Woodbury School in Salem and West Running Brook Middle School in Derry.

At Timberlane yesterday, students lined up at various booths to "buy" a car, an apartment, clothes and food.

"During the fair, they have to budget their lives," Skinner said. "They pick housing and transportation they can afford, based on their monthly estimate. Kids who want to be doctors can pick out the sports car they want. Kids who want to be an artist are looking at taking public transportation because they can't get a car."

Eighth-grader Sarah Cole chose a career as an art director and had $3,976 a month to spend.

"I really like art so I wanted to find a way to make a career of that," she said. "I spun the wheel and lost $250 on car repairs. I think my balance is still OK though."

Cam said he chose a career as a head football coach with a net salary of $2,700 a month, after taxes.

"I want to be a coach and football coaches make the most money," he said. "I have to get a degree in sports management."

He said he's learned a lot from the project.

"This is pretty stressful," Cam said. "I bought a car for $17,000, I'm paying $82 a month for cable and Internet, and $10 a month for a gym membership. I decided to share a house with friends to save money."

Maekalah Macleod and Diana Aresio both chose to be hairdressers and each have $1,500 a month to spend.

"We're going to live together in a small, two-bedroom apartment," Diana said.

At the end of the two-hour program, students meet with a credit counselor to go over their list of expenses.

"If they're in the negative, they have to go back to a booth and get a cheaper car or lose a cell phone," Skinner said. "They can't be in debt at the end of the day. It's a good lesson; some adults should take this, too."

Regionalized Policing. Atkinson is perfect for it.

2011-01-10T18:27:00.000-05:00

Anonymous Anonymous said...

PLEASE POST THIS ARTICLE:

Regionalized Policing. Atkinson is perfect for it.

All over the country towns are banding together to realize the cost savings by eliminating redundant overhead costs associated with redundant facilities, insurance, utilities, police cars and computers. Atkinson could outsource its police department and save half of its police budget which if tallied accurately is now close to $1 Million. Instant savings of $500K per year which is $5 Million over 10 years.

How did such a small town grow such a large PD budget with all its unnecessary and redundant assets, cars and don't forget the detective, oh yes how many crimes solved by that unnecessary position, think about it really. Too bad we have no crime stats to base the need for so much expense. The demand simply doesn't exist. We have 12 police cars? Really? WHY? And don't quote me the 1 police officer per x number of residents BS, that formula works for towns like Derry or Salem where they have crime and commercial districts. Our police costs are twice what they were less than 10 years ago. What will they be in another 10 years? And what happens when they push for a new police department. The current PD building is insufficient so taxpayers better get ready for a new $1 Million police facility. Bend over. We have to create a full time chief position cause a nice guy is involved and he'll need a nice new building.

People I have bills to pay and am sorry the current arrangement is driving my taxes up and having a different colored police car driving around would make zero difference.

We could outsource to Plaistow or Salem since we only need 3, 8 hour shifts covered (1 shift 24/7). No more extra salaries or insurances or lawsuits or vehicle maintenance or free gas and cars to the privileged few which happens NOWHERE ELSE. And with all of the workforce administration eliminated we free up the town hall personel to do real work for us taxpayers. No more personnel complaints. No more dealing with payroll and benefits of all the extra unnecessary staff. It would be like a vacation working at Town Hall.

I's the law of supply and demand. We have an oversupply of a police department for small amount of criminal demand. We cut a deal with say Plaistow to keep the current full timers for at least one year, guaranteed and after that the chips fall where they may. We sell all the police dept assets and raise like $400,000 to pay down the tax rate or pay towards the library bond.

WE DON'T NEED THIS BLOATED Dept. Someone please prove to me with facts we need it. PROVE IT I DARE YOU! It is the 21st century. As long as we have 24 hour coverage, that's all we need. I know the notion of not having a PD is foreign to everyone. Do some research for yourself. Regional policing is common practice. Imagine for a moment the reverse was true where we had regional policing today and someone proposed establishing a police dept with a building and cars and computers etc. It would NEVER pass the voters because it would be to costly! You know I'm right.

With the savings, we hire a part time person to run Elderly Affairs and heck we can increase the EA budget.

AND with the $500K per year savings we can pay off the library bond in 3 years and save another few hundred thousand.

The bloated PD is so much overkill its beyond ridiculous. When you have to move line items out of your budget like insurance to hide the bloatedness of your budget, the writing's on the wall.

We live in Mayberry RFD. There's no crime here. Why are we paying like its Haverhill?

Regionalized policing. We save a fortune and have the lowest tax rate in the state. Love the idea. The 21st century is coming soon to Atkinson.

January 10, 2011 5:55 PM

Atkinson man wins New England Book Festival Award

2011-01-07T07:45:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

Atkinson man wins New England Book Festival Award

ATKINSON — Photographer Paul Wainwright's new book, "A Space for Faith: The Colonial Meetinghouses of New England," has received the New England Book Festival Award for best photography/art book of the year.

Wainwright works with a wooden large-format camera and sheet film, and develops all his images in his darkroom. He uses traditional processes that force him to slow down and really think about what he wants his images to be.

"A Space for Faith shows a true artist's eye for detail and serves as a wonderful guide to a part of the region that deserves more attention," said Bruce Haring, director of the New England Book Festival.

The New England Book Festival Award will be presented at the Festival's award ceremony at 7 p.m. Jan. 15, at the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston.

Wainwright's black-and-white photographs paint a composite portrait of these once ubiquitous landmarks of the New England landscape.

"I am extremely honored by this award," he said. "New England's meetinghouses embody a large part of our nation's history, and my work photographing them was aimed at bringing their story to a broad audience."

Atkinson teen heads to Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl

2011-01-04T09:57:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

January 4, 2011
Atkinson teen heads to Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Jan 04, 2011, 12:19 AM EST

ATKINSON — Michael Balsamo is ready to prove he can run circles around the best football players from Texas, Kansas and Michigan in the Super Bowl for 14-year-olds.

Michael is the first player ever from New Hampshire to compete in the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl, a national game featuring the very best up-and-coming middle-school football players in the United States and Canada.

The Atkinson native is the captain of the Timberlane Tornadoes and in November led his team to the championship game, but lost. He said this game is another chance to win a championship.

"It was tough to lose and it makes up for it to go to this game," he said yesterday. "I can't wait to test myself against different talent from around the country. I bet I'm going to make a lot of friends."

Michael, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, is a running back and free safety. Coach Jerry Lovett said Michael's talent is impossible to ignore.

"Someone like Mike could be almost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to coach," Lovett said. "We've had some tremendous players, but I don't think any of them had the talent Mike has. He can play any position and he'd excel at it."

Lovett nominated Michael for a Football University summer camp in Boston, reserved for the best players in the area. From there, coaches in Boston nominate two or three of the best kids to attend a "Top Gun" national camp and Michael was invited to go for the past two years.

Those opportunities led to Michael's invitation, one of three players nominated in the Northeast, to the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl.

"Being the first player ever from New Hampshire to be chosen for this is huge," Lovett said. "Having the opportunity to play with kids from down South and the Midwest, where football is really big, shows the rest of the nation we're not as far behind in terms of football in the Northeast. I think he'll hold his own and he'll impress some of the coaches."

Michael attends Sacred Hearts School in Bradford, and started playing football with teams in Atkinson when he was in fifth grade. He also played other sports — hockey, basketball and baseball — but he said he always felt football was his sport.

"Football is fast-paced and uses a lot of determination, passion and hard work," the teenager said. "I just love it."

He plays a number of positions, but said running back is his favorite.

"I know it's not just about fame and glory, but at running back you get all the touchdowns," he said.

His father, Joe Balsamo, said even though it looks like football comes easy to his son, he works hard for everything.

"This invitation is just a testament to how hard he works and how much he loves the game," Balsamo said. "His passion and love for the game just shows every time he plays. Mike is a very quiet kid, but when he's on the football field, he just leads by example. And the kids rally around him and really look up to him."

His mother, JoeAnn Balsamo, said throughout everything, her son has remained humble.

"He didn't really start telling his friends about anything until recently," she said. "I thought it would be blasted on Facebook, but he really kept it quiet."

Both his parents will accompany him on the trip to the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in Texas. But the trip isn't free. The family paid for the flight to Texas, along with the hotel and food for the five days of the event. His parents said they are both thrilled to be there to support their son.

Michael said he tries to keep all the attention from going to his head. He said he couldn't have done it without the support of his teammates, coach and family, especially his brother, Stephen, 18, who is a hockey player and helped him train.

"Hopefully, I can keep my grades up and work hard every summer, and keep doing what I'm doing," Michael said. "My dream is to play college football. I'd love to play for the University of Miami."

Michael will play safety for the eighth-grade USA football team against Canada on Sunday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game will be webcast online at footballuniversity.org.

Public Information obviously not a priority for Atkinson

2011-01-03T17:11:00.002-05:00

here it is a New Year!

New Hampshire has one of the most comprehensive open meetings and sunshine laws in the country, and yet in Atkinson, our town officials make residents go to great lengths to obtain simple public information. At a time when Sunshine movements across the country are helping town, city, and state governments create transparency websites, with as detailed information as the municipal checkbook available online to the taxpayers, the Town of Atkinson, can not even post meeting minutes.

The town website shows the last selectmen meeting minutes available to be April 6, 2009! Almost two years ago! The budget committee has 2009 season, but no 2008, or 2010. And the 2005 meetings have been deleted.

The last planning board minutes are from January 5, 2010. The last ZBA minutes are from October 14, 2009!

We HAD a technology committee that went through every dept. in town making recommendations for cost savings, and IT upgrades, including the website, but to date, nothing has been done. The website costs the town an outrageous sum per month to host, and the town gets nothing for it, unable to support streaming video of meetings, unable to even get minutes posted in a timely manner. And if you are aggressive enough to take off work, and go to the town hall during business hours, and ask Phil Smith or Barbara Snicer why the minutes aren't on the website, you get told, "we sent them over".

is this any way to run the town?

Illegal occupancy will cost Osborns $122,375

2010-12-19T18:50:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 19, 2010
Illegal occupancy will cost Atkinson couple $122,375

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sun Dec 19, 2010, 12:30 AM EST

ATKINSON — It cost Margaret and Daniel Osborn more than $500 a day for each of the 223 days they lived in their 8 Valcat Lane home.

The Osborns must pay the town of Atkinson $122,375 in civil penalties for living in their home without an occupancy certificate, Rockingham County Superior Judge Kenneth McHugh ruled Thursday. The couple also must pay the attorney fees the town incurred fighting the matter in court.

The town ordered the Osborns to install a sprinkler system in their home because it was not easily accessible by fire and other emergency vehicles. A building permit issued in May 2008 specified the necessity for a sprinkler system.

But the Osborns didn't install one and moved in anyway, occupying the house from Nov. 30, 2009 until July 10 this year.

McHugh ordered the Osborns to pay statutory penalties of $275 for the first offense for living there without the certificate and $550 for each subsequent offense — incurred daily.

"They didn't have the necessary occupancy permit," town attorney Sumner Kalman said Friday. "The town sent them a cease-and-desist notice as of Dec. 14 (2009), and they had five days to conform to regulations and they ignored that. The town told them again and again to comply, but it took until the spring of 2010 for the town to go for legal action. It was a long process and it's not like the town didn't give the Osborns enough time."

The Osborns received a $5,700 cost estimate for a sprinkler system in May 2008. But they tried to avoid the need for such a system by building a new driveway instead, according to court documents. A proposed driveway plan, with a grade of 23 percent, was submitted to the town in October 2008. The town immediately deemed that plan as "not acceptable."

The Osborns did have two avenues of appeal, McHugh noted in his decision, but did not take advantage of either one of them. Margaret Osborn testified she wasn't aware of the right to appeal, although she was a member of the Atkinson Zoning Board of Adjustment for two years while that board considered her request to build the home.

Fire Chief Michael Murphy wrote in May 2008 that a sprinkler system should be a condition of a building permit. The town building inspector adopted Murphy's recommendation and made it a construction requirement.

McHugh called the case an issue of "he said, she said," with arguments back and forth between Margaret Osborn and Murphy, along with other town officials.

"The important thing in this case is there was a disagreement between Mrs. Osborn and the chief between what was said in a meeting," Kalman said. "Only one could be believed and it was quite obvious the judge believed Chief Murphy. Mrs. Osborn's story was just not reasonable. It was a good decision."

The Osborns could not be reached for comment Friday. Their attorney, Bernard Campbell, said he had not read the decision and could not comment on it.

If the Osborns install a sprinkler and have the house inspected, they could qualify for an occupancy permit and move in legally, Kalman said.

Town Manager Phil Smith said he is glad the case is completed.

"We want to put it behind us and move onto other things," he said.

Atkinson man guilty of hiring illegal immigrants

2010-12-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

December 15, 2010
Atkinson man guilty of hiring illegal immigrants

By Doug Ireland direland@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Dec 15, 2010, 12:28 AM EST

ATKINSON — A 53-year-old local man has pleaded guilty to employing illegal immigrants at his Dunkin' Donuts stores in Maine.

George Valvanis of Atkinson pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland to a single count of recruiting or hiring illegal immigrants unauthorized and one count of lying on an immigration document, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II of Maine.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's homeland security investigations.

Valvanis managed several Dunkin' Donuts stores in the Portland area and employed 18 illegal immigrants between 2001 and 2009, according to court records.

He faces a maximum prison term of five years on the charge of lying on a document and six months on the hiring charge.

"ICE HSI will hold employers who knowingly hire an illegal work force accountable for their actions," said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Boston.

"Our office will continue to investigate and find employers who flout our laws and hire illegal labor in order to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful work force," Foucart said in a statement. "ICE HSI will use enforcement tools, civil and criminal, when appropriate to bring about compliance."

Valvanis is to be sentenced in April by U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby.

Report from the Courtroom 2: Davis v. Osborns, et al.

2010-12-14T20:44:00.002-05:00

For the past two days, The Osborns have been fighting in Court to retain the driveway which they built across Carol Davis' land.

First up at bat was James LaValle, the contractor who not only surveyed the land upon which they built the driveway, but he is also the man who put the right of way on Carol Davis plot plan back in 1995 for then owner Valenti. In Atkinson v. Osborn, Maggie claimed alternatively that "the Town" had told her that she "owned the deeded right of way", "her lawyer" told her that she "owned the deeded right of way", and that "Mr. LaValle" told her that she "owned the deeded right of way". Maggie's only problem today is that Mr. LaValle testified that he "did not tell Mrs. Osborn that she owned the deeded right of way". Sorry Mags, Somebody is lying, and it doesn't look good for you. After Maggie backed off, in Court, her oft tearful claim that she owned a deeded right of way across Mrs. Davis land, she claimed that it was a "road of aged". The only problem for Maggie was that In order for it to be a "road of aged" or a "road by prescription" it had to have been "in regular and constant public use" for a minimum of 20 years. Mr. Lavalle testified that he did the original design in 1995, in addition he admitted that the original road, Valcat ln., was not shown on any of his plans for the driveway. Again, Sorry Mags.

Next up was Paul Shea, neighbor to the osborn's who was there to testify to the "history of the land" up there. Unfortunately for him Davis' attorney questioned him on his investment in the Osborn's illicit driveway. It seems that Mr. Shea ponied up $14,000.00 to invest in the driveway, after Maggie advised him that he had a deeded, right of way through there. Again, too bad for the osborns, under cross examination, mr, Shea admitted that he had no knowledge of any right of way existing there until Maggie told him about it, he further testified that he consulted no attorney, or advisor, instead investng his money on the word of Margaret Osborn alone. Sorry, Paul should have bought Enron stock.

Last up today was Maggie Osborn. Maggie NOW claimed that she notified Mrs. Davis up front about the driveway she intended to build and Mrs. Davis had no problem with it. Of course this flies in the face of her admission at the ZBA that she had forgot to notify Mrs. Davis of the meeting. Another lie? Maggie then had to backpedal, when asked to show where on HER DEED, she was granted access to Mrs. Davis land. (cue the crickets)

Shortly after this exchange the Judge pulled the attornies into chambers, when they emerged he told the Court that he would rule on this case but first he wanted the parties to get together and try to work out a settlement. He cautioned the parties that although he would issue a ruling in this case, his court was not the lottery and no one should expect to get rich there, Mrs. davis is the only party with a claim.

the two sides have 2 weeks to file their closing arguments, then if no settlement is reached he will rule.

Question is: What will the Town then do, when The Osborn's lose their driveway, THAT was the ONLY thing that allowed them to build a 2,600 sq.ft. home on that site, Without that the site would only support a 1,400 sq.ft. home.,and not the 4,400 sq.ft. McMansion that sits there now.

Report from the Courtroom: Atkinson v. Osborns

2010-12-11T09:54:00.002-05:00

Yes, although it is not known to most the Town has been in court twice in the last week against the Osborn's. This stems from the eviction Order obtained by the Town this summer against the Osborn's. The Osborn's are trying to do an end around the town by attempting to get the Court to rescind the eviction Order and allow them to live in the home until the issues are resolved "because it is the Christmas Season".

Maggie, in her Court testimony claimed to be "homeless", And Town Counsel, Sumner Kalman dropped the ball by not following up asking her where they stay every night, which would be the home that sits at 8 valcat ln. that they were evicted from in May.

Maggie in her court testimony also claimed that "they have done everything that the town has asked of them, except for two issues, which are in dispute" those being the sprinkler system and the tearing down of the boathouse. She conveniently ignores the fact that she agreed to the sprinkler system because the town can not get a fire truck up that road because it is too steep. She also claimed that she "thought she didn't need the sprinkler system after talking to the fire chief". She re-counts the town's numerous attempts to help her with a work around, but ignores her end of the proposals, for example:

She proposed a dry hydrant drawing from the lake in lieu of sprinklers: Problem is no one has a pump that can pump the volume of water necessary to fill an 8" pipe(hydrant width) to a height of 130', (roof elevation above the lake.)

She then proposed a cistern at the top of the ridge, which she claimed would benefit her neighbors as well. This never materialized.

She then claimed to have a "deeded right of way, directly to chase island rd.". Chief Murphy told her that if she did have that, and the grade was such that he could get a pumper up there, he would work with that as soon as she provided engineered plans for it. She provided no engineered plans, but went ahead and built her driveway(which it now looks like she may lose, because she built it) across Carol Davis' land, and even after cutting through Valcat ln 8' thereby cutting off access to the lots beyond hers, the grade is still 13.6%, FAR too steep for a 63' long, 17 ton fire truck.

Maggie's lawyer, made the claim that there was no access problem for their house, because her neighbor gets his pickup up there to plow, UPS and FEDEX get up there. Once again, Sumner dropped the ball by not following this juvenile comparison up by asking the relevance in these examples to getting a 63' long, 17 ton fire truck up that hill.

Forgotten also in Maggie's cloak of victimhood was the fact that the town ONLY gave her permission to build a 2,600 sq.ft. home because she claimed ownership of a direct right of way to Chase Island rd.and agreed to sprinkle, without that she would only have been allowed to build a 1,400 sq. ft. home on that site. She also forgot to mention that after submitting plans for a 2,600 sq.ft. home to get the building permit, she had Silverlake assoc. design a 4,400 sq.ft. home which is what was built.

The town, for their part does not want to "beat up" on the Osborn's during the Christmas Season, but spent the money, time and effort to go to Court to obtain an eviction Order, which they are now content to ignore. Why did they spend the money in the first place if they were not going to enforce it? The town is also faced with the hypocrisy of obtaining a court order for Mr. Mason to tear down the overbuilt portion of his home on the lake, while ignoring the VASTLY overbuilt Osborn Manse.

And our selectmen wonder why people get pissed at the high handed manner in which they selectively enforce and prosecute laws and violations in this town.

Atkinson energy audit shows potential savings

2010-11-30T08:01:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 30, 2010
Atkinson energy audit shows potential savings

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Nov 30, 2010, 12:01 AM EST

ATKINSON — The town could save 53 percent on fuel and 30 percent on electricity to heat the town's buildings, but only by spending $706,000 on energy-saving repairs and updates.

The just-completed energy audit of eight town buildings is the first of its kind for Atkinson, according to Town Manager Philip Smith.

"The town has addressed issues individually as needed, but never as comprehensive as what's been done now," Smith said. "The last thing they did that was an electric audit, an electric company coming in and looking at the electric usage. But this looks at much more."

Elmer Arbagast of Arbagast Energy Auditing did the audit and analyzed the energy usage in each building, coming up with changes, large and small, to improve energy efficiency and save money.

"I went to all the buildings and looked at all the energy usage, temperature and humidity, took all the data collected and put together a list of potential recommendations," he said.

The list includes changing lighting, weatherizing buildings with new insulation, and upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Arbagast said there is potential for on-site renewable energy: a thermal solar unit at the police station and a combined heat-and-power unit at Town Hall. He said the changes would reduce the town's CO2 emissions by 53 percent.

However, all of the recommendations would be expensive, costing more than $700,000. Arbagast said most towns don't do everything on the list.

"Most towns implement some of the recommendations over multiple years," he said. "I would anticipate Atkinson implementing half of these over five years."

The town applied for a federal stimulus grant to fund the energy audit, which cost just under $15,000. Because of the funding, other towns also are looking to have energy audits, and Arbagast said he might be working with Windham next.

Smith said the town will officially unveil the report and all the details at the selectmen's meeting Dec. 7.

A look at Southern NH superintendent pay

2010-11-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 28, 2010
A look at Southern NH superintendent pay

By John Toole jtoole@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sun Nov 28, 2010, 12:41 AM EST

Londonderry School District's Nathan J. Greenberg is New Hampshire's superintendent of the year. But he's not the highest paid superintendent in Southern New Hampshire.

That honor goes to Timberlane Regional School District's Richard A. La Salle, whose $135,960 salary is tops among six superintendents in the region, according to figures released last month by the state Department of Education.

But Greenberg, whose pay for 2010-2011 is $131,325, has something La Salle can't claim this year: a raise. Greenberg's School Board gave him a $2,575 increase over last year's salary.

There is only about a $20,000 difference between Southern New Hampshire's highest and lowest paid superintendents. Their contracts are typical for New Hampshire superintendents, falling in the range of $120,000s to $130,000s. The state's highest paid superintendent is Manchester's Thomas Brennan at $160,471.

Superintendents work an average of 70 hours a week, getting up to check on road conditions before dawn and meeting late at night with school boards, according to Mark Joyce, a former superintendent who is executive director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.

"Being a CEO, you are 24/7/365," Joyce said.

The job has great challenges and great rewards, he said.

"You cannot operate in the role to make friends," Joyce said. "You have hard decisions to make on the part of children."

Is Londonderry's Greenberg worth the money? His School Board thinks so.

"Nate every day is like a page out of a how-to-grow-your-business-successfully book," Londonderry School Board member Steve Young said. "He's always in the schools, with management and with the employees. He knows everyone."

Greenberg has coped with reduced personnel, but "not reduced the delivery of the product, which is the education of the student in the classroom," Young said.

The Londonderry superintendent also has been in the thick of the state school funding fight, helping to start a coalition to look out for the interest of school districts.

"It was very important to him that we not make this a fight for us, but make it for every child in New Hampshire," Young recalled.

By the numbers

A superintendent, like a ballplayer, also can be measured by statistics.

Look at key numbers compiled for the state Department of Education and Greenberg comes to the head of the class.

His dropout rate? One of the best in New Hampshire at 2.8 percent. His student attendance? Beats the state average at 95.9 percent.

Salem's Michael Delahanty ranks fifth in pay among the region's six superintendents at $120,500.

Salem School Board member Bernard Campbell said Salem's superintendent should rank first or second in the region for pay.

"Mr. Delahanty's salary has been dropping (in comparison to other superintendents) for some time and that concerns me," Campbell said. "He has a sincere desire to see students succeed. He does not rest, literally and figuratively, to achieve that goal."

Joyce said pay for New Hampshire's school superintendents is typical for northern New England, but much lower than Massachusetts.

Andover, Mass., earlier this year advertised a superintendent's post with a salary range of $180,000 to $200,000.

Parents should evaluate superintendents on the experience of their children in schools, on the superintendent's communication from school to home, Joyce said. Taxpayers, who may not be parents, should look at their superintendent's stewardship of public resources and skills in management, he said.

Some say pay is too high

George Lovejoy, chairman of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, which has campaigned for local government tax and spending caps, said school administrators are costing taxpayers "way too much money."

It's not just in the top salaries, but the growth in the administration: more assistant superintendents, more business managers and finance officers, Lovejoy said.

"They get pay increases when the general worker, the taxpayer, is out of work or not receiving pay increases," he said.

They also get benefit packages and retirement plans, Lovejoy said.

The number of administrators has grown even as the number of students enrolled has declined in recent years, he said.

"There's something wrong with that," he said.

Lovejoy advocates a state study of school administrative units. He wonders if New Hampshire would be better with fewer of them through consolidations.

"Do we need a district in every other town?" he asked. "I think we can do a better job than we are now doing."

If teachers aren't doing the job in the classroom, they should be replaced. The same goes for superintendents, in Lovejoy's mind.

"Do we have progress in performance in the subject areas in the classroom?" Lovejoy asked.

Rick Trombly, director of public affairs for the National Education Association-New Hampshire, which represents 16,000 unionized teachers and support staff, said some of his members will tell you their superintendents are paid appropriately, while others will have a less rosy view.

That's because of the natural tension between labor and management, he said. Their opinions, he said, vary district by district, almost member to member.

Parents, in evaluating whether their superintendent is paid appropriately, should look at a variety of factors, in Trombly's view. How does the superintendent get along with the school board? The faculty? Does he understand the laws that govern education?

"Is the superintendent able to inspire not only the school community, but the local community" in support of education, Trombly asks.

"Can you say the superintendent has the interests of the students at heart when he makes a decision?" he said.

But Trombly admits the job of a superintendent isn't easy.

"Sometimes these people are running a school community that is larger than some of the towns in this state," Trombly said.

All about superintendents

Superintendent Pay 2010-2011

Richard A. La Salle, Timberlane, $135,960

Nathan J. Greenberg, Londonderry, $131,325

Frank Bass, Pelham-Windham, $121,411

Brian J. Blake, Sanborn Regional, $120,750

Michael W. Delahanty, Salem, $120,500

Mary Ellen Hannon, Derry, $117,749

Thanksgiving to All, In the President's words.

2010-11-25T08:48:00.002-05:00

President George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation. Reads as follows, and is followed by Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation.

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION – 1789

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor; and whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the twenty-six of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that Great and Glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country, previous to their becoming a nation; for the single manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, in the courage and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of Government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

“And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether
in public or private institutions, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a government of wise,
just, and constitutional laws, discretely and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us) and to bless them with good governments,
peace and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science, among them and us; and generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity an He alone knows to be best.”

______________________________________________________________

Proclamation of Thanksgiving by the President of the United States of America

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

[Signed]

A. Lincoln

Most people forget the origin of Thanksgiving, and our children are usually taught in school that it's purpose was to give thanks to the indians that helped the pilgrims through that first winter. In truth it was our leaders giving thanks to God for our Nation. For Freedom, our Constitution, and the ability to live their lives without having to ask permission from an overriding government, or a tempermental King.

Timberlane Administrators take Vegas trip on our dime!

2010-11-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 22, 2010
Timberlane officials tight-lipped about Vegas trip

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Mon Nov 22, 2010, 02:05 AM EST

PLAISTOW — Four Timberlane School District administrators flew to Las Vegas for a two-day conference this month, but district officials won't say whether taxpayer money funded the trip.

The School Board chairman and the superintendent also refused to identify the four employees who made the trip.

Edwina Lovett, the district's director of pupil personnel services, said she and three other administrators paid a significant portion of the cost themselves, in order to save the district money.

"The trip was approved, but we paid a good portion of this on our own, including accommodations and food," Lovett said. "For myself, I applied for a grant and paid for the registration of the conference, roughly $500."

The conference was held at the Bally Hotel in Las Vegas Nov. 4 and 5 and focused on school improvement.

Pollard School principal Michelle Auger also attended the conference. She said it was worthwhile to hear from education expert Robert Marzano, the main speaker.

"I think the district got a good deal out of it," Auger said. "We brought back quite a few things we're beginning to implement. There were some great ideas about critical commitments essential to improving student achievement, which is what Pollard School needs to do."

Neither Lovett nor Auger would identify the two colleagues who accompanied them.

"I feel like there's a bus driving around and I don't want to throw anyone under the bus," Auger said.

She defended the trip and the money the district spent on it.

"The only thing the district paid for was the conference itself, which was about $500," she said. "We paid for the flight, our hotel and the food."

From what little information has been made public, it doesn't appear the district invested a lot of money in the trip. But officials and School Board members refused to respond to repeated requests for information.

Numerous telephone calls were made late last week to all nine School Board members. Only one board member — Louis Porcelli — responded. But Porcelli said he had never heard a word about the trip.

Superintendent Richard La Salle and School Board Chairman Elizabeth Kosta did not return repeated phone messages.

Approached before the Timberlane School Board meeting Thursday, board members and La Salle refused to comment on the trip.

When asked directly Thursday evening, La Salle deferred to Kosta.

She initially refused comment, saying there wasn't a story.

When pressed, Kosta would only say the School Board does not approve travel expenses for the district.

At least one parent is less than pleased. Peter Bealo of Plaistow has two children at Timberlane and said at first, he couldn't believe the administration had really gone to Vegas.

"I had heard of one or more members of administration attending a conference," Bealo said in an e-mail. "I assumed it was a New Hampshire statewide conference, not some trip across the country."

He said it just isn't right to spend money on this type of trip, even if the administrators paid for some of it themselves.

"In this time of cutbacks all around, and with plenty of taxpayers out of work, such a trip would be a very bad choice," Bealo said.

But Lovett defended the conference trip.

"I don't believe we're wasting money at all," she said. "There were colleagues from all over the U.S. and Canada that attended this conference. These are experts in education."

Lovett said she invites anyone with questions or criticisms about the trip to call her directly.

The Eagle-Tribune Friday filed Freedom of Information Act requests for the names of the school employees who took the trip, the amount of money the district paid and who approved the expense. The request is still pending.

Report on the SAU Budget public hearing

2010-11-18T06:03:00.000-05:00

ARTICLE SUBMISSION PLEASE

Report on the SAU Budget public hearing.

by Mark Acciard

For those of you who were unaware, and I am guessing that is most of you, the SAU held their budget public hearing tonight.

How this works is that the two school boards; Timberlane and Hampstead, both approve the Superintendent's budget for the SAU, then the SAU has it's own budget public hearing, voting to move the budget forward, the next time you will hear about this budget is when we get to school district deliberative session in February. It will show up in the Timberlane budget as a single line item for 75% of the $1.3 million SAU budget. The other 25% is Hampstead's portion.

As I told Mr. LaSalle and Mr. Stokinger at the meeting tonight, Thank you! They prepared a very tight budget for the SAU for the coming year. $1.3million to service the 13 employees of the SAU. As expected health insurance is up significantly, as a re other benefits. Administrators will receive a 2% raise this year. What I found most disappointing, other than the lack of public participation( I was the only member of the public there until Mr. Artus arrived, then there were two.) was the sad fact that not one member of the school district budget committee felt the need to attend. Granted, I asked all the questions about what was in various line items that they should have been there to ask, but not even the chair felt the need to find out what would be presented to them as a single line item later on. As this was a public hearing, it is the last chance to change or question that budget, and the budget committee obviously felt due diligence was beyond their ken.

When will we ever have a school district budget committee that does not see it's role as "selling the superintendent's budget" but in following state budget law, and preparing the budget?

November 18, 2010 12:02 AM

Atkinson man faces 29 sex assault charges

2010-11-17T08:39:00.000-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 17, 2010
Atkinson man faces 29 sex assault charges

By Jillian Jorgensen jjorgensen@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Nov 17, 2010, 12:16 AM EST

BRENTWOOD — An Atkinson man has been indicted on 29 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault for allegedly abusing two girls — one a blood relative — in the 1980s.

Robert Sturk, 68, of 8 Sawmill Road, was indicted this month by a Rockingham County grand jury. The indictments allege he abused two girls, beginning when both were under the age of 13. The alleged abuse goes back to Jan. 2, 1981, and continued into 1990, all in Atkinson.

The earliest indictments are for crimes alleged to have occurred in January 1981, when the first victim was 8 years old. Sturk repeatedly touched her genitals, including while she was showering, raped her, and made her perform oral sex on him, according to the slew of indictments listing her as the victim. The abuse continued until 1984, according to the documents.

Sturk also is accused of similarly abusing another girl, who the indictments say was a blood relative, beginning in 1986 when she was 9 years old. That abuse included Sturk touching the girl's genitals and penetrating her sexually with an object, and it lasted until August 1990, according to the documents.

Sturk did not return a message left for him yesterday. Prosecutor Karen Springer, with the county attorney's office, said he did not have a lawyer when his case was considered by the grand jury.

The case came to the county attorney's office through the Atkinson police, Springer said.

"It sort of came in the routine way for the police department and, as a result of that, we had contact with the victims," Springer said.

Atkinson police referred all questions about the case to the county attorney's office.

Springer said the statute of limitations in the case allowed prosecutors to charge Sturk for sexual assaults dating back to Jan. 1, 1981. There were so many counts, many alleging conduct over six-month periods, Springer said, because prior to 1994, prosecutors could not charge someone with a crime committed as a pattern over time. Other indictments do allege some of the conduct, such as the rape of Sturk's first victim, occurred sometime in a period that lasted for multiple years, and Springer said that was due to "economy."

"I could probably charge a lot more," she said.

For each of the 29 counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, Sturk faces seven and a half to 15 years in prison.

SCOOP: Judge Denies Osborn Motion, trial in 1 month!

2010-11-11T08:14:00.003-05:00

For those who have been following the saga of the Osborns alleged unauthorized taking of Carol Davis' land, the Rockingham Superior Court Judge issued the Osborns a stunning rebuke this week. In his Order meticulously researched with and laced with case law citations, he denied the Osborn's claim that they had a right to build on Carol Davis' land.

Despite Maggie's incessantly repeated claims here in town of "owning a deeded right of way" for the last two years, strangely enough when filing motions in Court she has noticably backed off that claim, retreating so far as to try to claim that the driveway which she cut down trees and graded the land to build was ACTUALLY a "public way" in regular use for at least 20 years! That's right she went into court trying to claim it as a "road of prescription". Sorry Maggie.

The judge rightly stated that the ROW did not even appear on Mrs Davis' plot plan until 1995, when it was a "proposed road". He rightly points out that it was never conveyed to anyone, leaving the rights to it in the hands of Mrs. Davis alone. He further points out that in 1995, the land underlying the ROW, was conveyed and specifically included in Mrs. Davis' deed "to correct a zoning violation" for an undersized lot.

He noted that Mrs. Osborn's deed DOES give them a ROW to Chase Island rd. and that the ROW appears to be Valcat ln., as has been used as such for 90 years, as laid out in the plot plan which the Osborn's deed specifically references.

It now appears that the Court has validated the arguments made against the Osborn's unneighborly encroachments upon their neighbors land, validated the problems pointed out at planning board meetings by Mr. Artus, and soundly rebuked the legal ramblings of the ZBA chair Mr. Polito.

Trial is in mid December in Rockingham Superior Court, but we can not see upon what basis the Osborn's can possibly continue their proposed theft, but it will be interesting to watch. We wonder how this will affect all of Maggie's legal claims against he neighbors?

Timberlane: More learning, less pressure without exams

2010-11-08T07:20:00.001-05:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

November 8, 2010
Timberlane: More learning, less pressure without exams

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Mon Nov 08, 2010, 02:54 AM EST

PLAISTOW — Now that Timberlane Regional High School no longer has midterms or final exams, both students and teachers say they feel more relaxed in the classroom.

"I feel like it's not as stressful," said Sam Hackney, a Timberlane junior. "You're not worried about cramming before the midterm and then just forget everything after. Now we're learning more."

Over the summer, Timberlane principal Don Woodworth announced the decision to eliminate the exams that counted for 10 percent of students' grades.

Now, after teaching for a few months with the new program, he said teachers focus on reaching competency levels in each subject.

"We're still going to have large tests, we're just not calling them midterms and finals," Woodworth said. "Now the teachers can decide how much a test is worth per quarter. We're assessing with more of a plan in mind about if all the kids reach a competency, such as learning an algebra concept."

If kids don't understand a concept at the end of a section, they are sent to a lab to get extra help. Woodworth said this style of teaching helps students with different learning methods.

James Kelly, a social studies teacher, said he's changed the way he teaches.

"Not having midterms and finals allows me to be more flexible and gives the students a chance to be creative," Kelly said. "One project we do is an Ellis Island simulator. Students have a role of coming to America as an immigrant in 1900. We act it out and they can talk about their experience."

He also said the new system also allows him 10 more days of instruction, days that used to be taken up with reviewing for and taking the exams.

"That's almost a whole unit in a half-year class," Kelly said. "All in all, I'm loving it so far."

But some parents are less pleased with the changes at the school. Peter Bealo of Plaistow has two children at Timberlane, his son, a freshman, and his daughter, a senior.

"The other part that bothers me is about being an experiment," Bealo said. "When some parents asked could you tell us what districts have done this successfully, the principal said someone up in Maine and a district in New York state have tried this. But no one in New Hampshire. Let's let someone else be guinea pigs."

He said he understands the school had to make some changes because of poor New England Common Assessment Program scores. But he said he is worried the lack of testing would not prepare students for college, where midterms and finals are often the only grades in a semester course.

Woodworth argued the big tests are part of the problem holding back learning.

"Kids sometimes put off trying to learn until the large test," he said. "I think that's where failure comes, when kids misjudged and try to cram and achieve significant learning at the end of a long period of time. We want to make sure they're learning all the way through so when we give a cumulative exam, they'll do better."

Melissa Zorn, a Timberlane junior, said she's enjoyed the change in teaching style.

"The assessments are a wide range of tests, not just a big paper-and-pencil test," she said. "In my biology class, we had to show and narrate how DNA creates proteins. I didn't get it until someone showed it to the class. Actually doing it with the physical model made such a difference."

She said it gives the class a completely different feel.

"It's not just filling out A, B, C, but more creative," Zorn said. "I feel like I'm learning more because they're giving us information in a new way. I agree that maybe the lack of tests could hurt some students in college, but there is just as much pressure on competencies. We still have to learn the information, and we still have to study."

Atkinson Developer opens Model Green Senior Housing Project

2010-11-01T10:34:00.001-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 30, 2010
Affordable housing project opens in Salem

By Jillian Jorgensen jjorgensen@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Sat Oct 30, 2010, 01:17 AM EDT

SALEM — Local and state officials cut the ribbon yesterday for a 26-unit housing development that will provide affordable homes for seniors using federal tax credits.

Glenridge Apartments, off Veterans Memorial Highway, will see its first tenant move in today. It was built by developer Steve Lewis and his partner, Gino Baroni, who received tax credits from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program.

Those funds are competitive. Each year, they are awarded by the federal government to each state, based on population. In New Hampshire, they are allocated by the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. This year, the program had more funding than usual, thanks to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"I don't think we'll see many projects like this happen because it's very difficult to get the tax credits," Planning Director Ross Moldoff said.

He said the project was great for Salem, and for a state that did not have much affordable senior housing. Of the units in the housing, 80 percent must be rented to people who make 60 percent or less than the area median income. For a single person, that's $35,880 annually. The rest of the units must be rented to people who earn 50 percent or less than the area median income.

Lewis said he chose to build affordable housing beside his Braemoor Woods development to overcome the "foolish, ignorant" belief that affordable housing lowers property values.

"There are million-dollar houses on top of the hill," he said.

Rent in the development will be subject to a federal cap that aims to keep the price at less than 30 percent of a tenant's income, said Dean Christon, executive director of NH Housing Finance Authority. Legally, it must remain affordable housing for 99 years.

The multi-family housing also incorporates green building technology, stormwater management, and low-impact landscaping that includes rain gardens and bio-retention basins to save water.

Timberlane superintendent predicts tough budget year

2010-10-28T11:29:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

Timberlane superintendent predicts tough budget year

By Cara Hogan chogan@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Thu Oct 28, 2010, 12:24 AM EDT

The Timberlane Regional School District may have a tough time balancing the budget this year.

The district Budget Committee will meet for the first time today to go over the proposed school district budget for fiscal year 2012-2013.

It's early in the process and Budget Committee members were reluctant to say much about the proposal at this point.

Last week, the school administration presented a small fraction of the proposed budget — about $6 million of the probable total of $60 million.

"What you see there is a preliminary budget," Budget Committee Chairman Michelle O'Neil said yesterday. "It doesn't include health benefits or personnel costs, and more. We don't have a total dollar value yet."

But Superintendent Richard La Salle had some predictions for the challenges facing the school district this year.

"The economic situation of the state is tough," La Salle said. "The state sends us money for providing an adequate education, called adequacy. In the past two years, New Hampshire has paid for adequacy out of the Obama stimulus money, so that money goes away. There's a large shortfall, as much as $220 million the state has to make up in revenues this year. That has implications in terms of how much the state will be sending us."

He said the state also voted to decrease the money it spends on employee retirement by about 10 percent, while increasing the amount required, putting another burden on local schools and towns.

"The cost of employee retirement is expensive for us," La Salle said. "That's a very large ticket item for us, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars."

The loss of revenue, combined with increased expenses, makes this a difficult year for the school, he said.

"We still have to pay our bills," La Salle said. "Administrators have been charged with coming in with an extremely lean budget and they have accomplished that. But we're in the people business and the majority of our budget has to do with personnel costs. Our enrollments are declining a bit and I suspect we will have some reductions of positions due to class size."

La Salle said the committee still has some big decisions to make.

"It's an extremely tough time for the state and for those agencies, whether municipalities, fire, police or schools," La Salle said. "The School Board and Budget Committee know this and we're working hard. We'll continue to work on this through December."

Last year's Timberlane District budget was $62 million.

The district includes Timberlane Regional Middle and High School, Atkinson Academy, Danville Elementary, Pollard School and Sandown Elementary schools.

Heard in the Town Hall: Chief wants another 10 years!

2010-10-25T18:53:00.002-04:00

Yes you heard that right! Apparently Atkinson's own police chief, Philip V. for Vengeance Consentino has been quietly talking to certain selectmen about retaining his position for 10 MORE YEARS!

He has also been lobbying the selectmen to accept HIS proposition that any new chief, must also agree to head Elderly Affairs! What unbridled arrogance! Didn't the Attorney General's office demand SEPARATION BETWEEN POLICE AND ELDERLY over 2 years ago? Some separation!

Supposedly the chief is supposed to keep a time sheet detailing his police hours and his elderly hours. The AG's office said they should clearly be able to tell where the police dept stops and the elderly dept. starts. Thats not happening!

10 More years??? Poor Billy! After all the demeaning, honor destroying, syncophantic duties he has had to perform to maintain his "on deck" position, to have his turn at bat put off for 10 years, That has to be a low blow indeed.

You’ll Decimate the School Distrct Budget

2010-10-19T16:14:00.001-04:00

From DanvilleDelivery.com

You’ll Decimate the Budget
October 16, 2010
by danvilledelivery

Thursday the budget committee received La Salle’s first presentation of the 2011 budget. The presentations were very high level. The video and the presentation are posted on the budget committee web site.

The committee met after the presentations and the vice chair asked if it was possible to segregate discretionary spending from obligations. The answer, as always, from SAU 55 Business Administrator George Stokinger, was that this would be very difficult. He went on to complain that we wasted a lot of time on this last year and it was time to move on because the SAU respects the wishes of the taxpayers.

I reminded the committee that the SAU just asked the school board to allow $1.2m not allocated for school construction to be used for engineering studies and permitting for a new high school. Before I could add that Mr. La Salle warned the school board that a no vote on a construction warrant would preclude misappropriating other funds for this purpose, I was ruled out of order by the chair.

There was other discussion of the budget process culminating in the annual pronouncement that the budget committee recommends changes to the District which may or may not be accepted and that the administration is free to spend the budget as they see fit once it is passed by the voters. I countered that the administration could not transfer funds to a line that was zeroed and asked Mr. Stokinger if he would split buckets so that we could zero out frivolous expenditures. He said that the state sets the buckets — which is a half truth. I told him that not allowing us to zero out unwanted items by putting them in buckets with necessary items could result in necessary items going unfunded. Mr. Stokinger said that doing that would decimate the budget. And that is the SAU 55 tactic for boxing a timid budget committee out of the budget discussion.

The budget committee attended a Budget and Finance workshop offered by the New Hampshire Local Government Center. I would have called this Loopholes 101 as the program seemed to be designed to help government officers secure more funding from stingy taxpayers. Top of their list of problems was SB2 which allows taxpayers to vote on local matters under cover of the secret ballot. Government employees and officers fear the taxpayers will vote down the budget each year and they will have to make due with a bare bones default budget. SAU 55 has found a work around for this problem. The administration submits a default budget that is more than the requested budget so that a vote against the proposed budget will put more money in the hands of the administration. Brenda Copp and I challenged this tactic last year and Mr. Stokinger stated that the DRA (Depart of Revenue Administration) reviewed and approved the default budget. I asked the DRA rep at the seminar about this at Loopholes 101 and was told the no one from the state reviews the default budget. She stated that the practice of submitting a bloated default budget violated the spirit and letter of state law but that the only remedy was to challenge the default budget in court. And that is the SAU 55 tactic for boxing the voters out of the budget process.

I can think of other remedies. The most important thing we must do is to replace the school board members. The district is able to do all these bad things only because the school board rubber stamps La Salle’s edicts. Elect one decent person to the school board and it would not be possible to seal the minutes of a meeting for 99 years. Elect five decent people and the schools will start getting better. Change starts in March!

Until we can elect a decent school board, we can attend the Deliberative Session and amend the proposed budget. This would put La Salle and his Posse on notice that if they do not start teaching, we will not give them any money. See you at the Deliberative Session!

Atkinson home burglarized

2010-10-19T08:02:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 19, 2010
Atkinson home burglarized

By Doug Ireland direland@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Tue Oct 19, 2010, 12:49 AM EDT

ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino is concerned about a rash of burglaries in town, especially one Friday when an intruder broke into a house in the daytime when the homeowner was sleeping.

The burglary occurred on Crown Point Road between 7 and 10 a.m., when someone entered the house by breaking a window in the front door, Consentino said yesterday.

The intruder ransacked the house, stealing numerous items, including jewelry, before fleeing, the police chief said.

"The disturbing aspect of the event was the homeowner was sleeping in the upstairs bedroom during the burglary," Consentino said. "When they do it when a resident is in the house, it was a real red flag for us."

Consentino said this is the third burglary in Atkinson in three months. He asks that anyone who is home when a burglar enters gets out as soon as possible without confronting the intruder. The resident should then call 911 from a safe location, Consentino said.

"This is the third one we've had (recently), so it's been a problem," he said. Atkinson police can be reached at 362-4001.

Burglaries have been a big problem in other Southern New Hampshire towns, including some where the rate has risen 50 percent, according to area police.

Salem police said they had 56 burglaries by the end of September compared with 50 in all of 2008 and 51 in 2009.

In Derry, there have been between 175 and 180 this year, police said.

Atkinson man will remove illegal addition

2010-10-15T07:46:00.000-04:00

From the Eagle Tribune;

October 15, 2010
Atkinson man will remove illegal addition

By Jillian Jorgensen jjorgensen@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Fri Oct 15, 2010, 01:49 AM EDT

BRENTWOOD — An Atkinson man will tear down what town officials have said was an illegal addition to his house.

John T. Mason Jr. reached an agreement with the town in Rockingham Superior Court yesterday. As a result, he will have to remove a 10-by-25-foot addition to his 4 Rocky Point Lane home by April 30, 2011. But first, Mason will have to get a demolition permit from the town.

He also must pay the town $15,000 in fines and penalties, and $7,500 in attorney's fees, according to a decree signed by him, his lawyer, town officials and lawyers, and Rockingham Superior Court Judge John Lewis. Mason will pay $300 a month, beginning in May.

"I think it's a reasonable resolution of an issue that arose as a result of a man trying to improve his property," said William Mason, John Mason's attorney. "Perhaps the course he took was not the course that the town wanted him to take."

The dispute between the town and Mason was scheduled for a bench trial yesterday, but the parties reached an agreement instead.

The addition to the house was discovered in 2007, according to Atkinson code enforcement officer James Kirsch. The addition was equal to half the original size of Mason's home, and he needed a building permit to construct it, Kirsch said, but never applied for one.

The construction of the addition also violated other town ordinances and state laws, Kirsch said. In Atkinson, there must be at least 15 feet between the edge of a home and the edge of the property line, but the addition put the house much closer than that, Kirsch said. Because the addition brought the property closer to the shoreline of Island Pond, Mason also needed to get approval from the state Department of Environmental Services, Kirsch said.

"That's what's in the town's regulations," he said yesterday. "People have to abide by those regulations.

Mason applied for a permit in September 2007 to "rebuild existing structure." That request was rejected because it did not meet wetland zoning regulations and needed DES approval and a town zoning board variance, according to court documents. But by then, the addition was built.

A year later, a DES inspection of Mason's property found it in violation of state law. The state agency sent him a letter Dec. 2, 2008, ordering him to remove a wall for an enclosed porch. On April 28, 2009, Mason applied to the zoning board for a variance, but it was denied that July.

The town inspection office, in a letter dated July 23, 2009, demanded Mason demolish the addition. He refused.

It's unusual for a code enforcement issue to drag on for so long, Kirsch said.

"Normally, I would say, code violations get resolved before you go to court," he said.

Sumner Kalman, town counsel for Atkinson, said he didn't know why Mason didn't resolve the case before it went to court. Attorney William Mason said he couldn't speak for "the paths people take in order to get to court."

"In this particular situation, maybe it could have been resolved sooner or maybe it couldn't," William Mason said. "I don't know. I can't speak for both sides."

He said having a court date at least brought both parties into the same room so they could talk about a resolution.

"My client's position was that he would rather have it resolved sooner rather than later," Mason said. "But these things take on their own life once they're filed."

John Mason wanted to keep the addition, but had exhausted his options, his lawyer said. He said the agreement was a reasonable one to bring the house into compliance.

Railway Yard in Wetlands?

2010-10-13T16:17:00.001-04:00

Article Submission: Please post as new:

Efforts by NH DOT, Mass DOT, MBTA, Rockingham Planning Commission and various officials of Plaistow have led to an application for funding to convert the old Westville Homes site to a rail layover yard with 6 sidings for passenger trains. This site in New Hampshire appears to be the trade-off for getting passenger trains to stop in Plaistow to pick up commuters.
The problem is that the layover site they chose is on the edge of a large wetland where Bryant Brook runs through and forms the border between Atkinson and Plaistow. It is one of Atkinson's Prime Wetlands, as voted by the Atkinsonian Voters. The proposed yard is a few hundred feet from many of the condos at Bryant Woods. Residents of that area are justifiably concerned about how their homes will be affected by noise and air pollution. Other sites were considered in Plaistow and Haverhill, with the potential for less impact to neighbors. Documents relating to this topic can be viewed at the Atkinson Selectmen's office. Please educate yourselves, and share your ideas; is this a good thing or a bad thing for Atkinson?

October 12, 2010 8:52 AM