From the Eagle-Tribune;
Atkinson intervenes over water company plan
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — Town officials have asked the state Public Utilities Commission to deny Hampstead Area Water Co.'s application to borrow money from the state.
The motion was submitted by town attorney Sumner Kalman last week. But Selectman Bill Friel said this week they need to follow up with more detailed objections as to why an interconnection between Atkinson and Hampstead would not be in the best interest of the public.
Today was the original deadline to file as an intervener with the Public Utilities Commission, but the commission has now extended that cutoff to the end of the month. Two residents — Carol Grant and John Wolters — have also filed to intervene, according to the commission.
The water company applied for a $1.1 million loan to connect Atkinson's water system with Hampstead's over the summer. If the loan is awarded, 15,000 feet of pipe would be laid between the two towns. First, the Public Utilities Commission has to allow the water company to take the loan and increase its rates.
But now Atkinson officials are saying that can't happen. A 1,185-acre increase in the Hampstead Area Water Co. franchise area would hurt a valuable water resource in Atkinson, which the town has a duty to protect, the motion said.
Selectmen's Chairman Paul Sullivan said the selectmen have a list of questions they wanted to ask Harold Morse, the water company president, before submitting the rest of their intervener motion to the state.
Morse had asked to be on the selectmen's agenda Monday night, but canceled just prior to the meeting's start.
"He decided he wasn't coming," Sullivan said. "I certainly wanted to give him an opportunity to talk."
Selectmen are checking with Kalman as to the appropriate way to respond to the Public Utilities Commission.
Morse has not returned phone calls from The Eagle-Tribune.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
Thursday, October 23, 2008
One of Atkinson's favorite Sons, just left this base!
From CBS 60 Minutes;
For those who do not keep up with where our town residents are fighting overseas, one of Atkinson's favorite sons, commanded this FOB until just recently. He was responsible for developing the base into what it is in this broadcast.
Watch CBS Videos Online
For those who do not keep up with where our town residents are fighting overseas, one of Atkinson's favorite sons, commanded this FOB until just recently. He was responsible for developing the base into what it is in this broadcast.
Watch CBS Videos Online
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
And the Corruption continues.....
Did everybody get the letter announcing the chief's new private slush fund?
Well it appears there are a few problems with it, surprise, surprise!
First and foremost, the arrogant egoist, signed it Phil Consentino, police Chief, Director Elderly Affairs! hey Phil, guess what? this is no longer a town fund! You wanted a private slush fund that you and you alone controlled, well, pal, you got it! That means you HAVE TO SEPARATE YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION FROM YOUR SLUSH FUND RAISING!!
You can not sign it police chief, that is not separation! Why is it always up to the people to explain the law to the police chief?
Next, the "police dept. equipment/senior fund" is NOT operating under a new name! That is a lie! It is STILL operating under the Trustees of the Trust funds, open and accountable to the people, the town, and the state!
Phil's fund is private, for his eyes only, and unaccountable to anyone!
Why would anyone donate to a fund that one man controls with no oversight, and can do anything he wants with it? Especially when you can easily donate to the Town's fund, and the money will be spent for the same purposes, in public, with accountability to everyone?
Hey, Phil, if your "fund" can not withstand the light of public scrutiny, it must be bad! This is what got you into trouble over the last fund, dont you ever learn?
Well it appears there are a few problems with it, surprise, surprise!
First and foremost, the arrogant egoist, signed it Phil Consentino, police Chief, Director Elderly Affairs! hey Phil, guess what? this is no longer a town fund! You wanted a private slush fund that you and you alone controlled, well, pal, you got it! That means you HAVE TO SEPARATE YOUR OFFICIAL POSITION FROM YOUR SLUSH FUND RAISING!!
You can not sign it police chief, that is not separation! Why is it always up to the people to explain the law to the police chief?
Next, the "police dept. equipment/senior fund" is NOT operating under a new name! That is a lie! It is STILL operating under the Trustees of the Trust funds, open and accountable to the people, the town, and the state!
Phil's fund is private, for his eyes only, and unaccountable to anyone!
Why would anyone donate to a fund that one man controls with no oversight, and can do anything he wants with it? Especially when you can easily donate to the Town's fund, and the money will be spent for the same purposes, in public, with accountability to everyone?
Hey, Phil, if your "fund" can not withstand the light of public scrutiny, it must be bad! This is what got you into trouble over the last fund, dont you ever learn?
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Does Atkinson do enough for it's Elderly?
Oh yes, we have Phil's taxi service, and as good as that is, he has very little information on State and Federal programs available to our Fixed income elderly citizens.
Imagine, if you will, a TRUE ONE STOP SHOP for ALL Elderly services in town. One where our rides program can go from being a political favor swap for a megamaniacal, self aggrandizing bully. To a True enhanced service for elderly people. ALL Elderly in Atkinson, without excluding those who have pissed people off.
One where, if you need heating oil assistance, the director can help you with the Federal and State HEAP programs, and after that can help you with Town sponsored programs. One where Senior bus trips seamlessly interface with senior games nights, and bingo, and book and discussion clubs.
Here is the beauty of this plan.... The Taxpayers of Atkinson are already paying for this, they are just not getting it efficiently. This TAXPAYER FUNDED PROGRAM can be run without having to listen to anyone constantly craving public adoration for doing their job. Without having to listen to anyone constantly shouting, Hey, Look what I've done!!!
People of Atkinson are good people! Elderly do not allow your kind feeling to be used to thwart accountability. The good people of Atkinson have constantly voted to help our Elderly, and have constantly voted to increase the funding! NEVER have the voters of Atkinson voted to reduce or eliminate this program, in spite of what you have been told.
When the selectmen finally decide to hold a public meeting to discuss separating Elderly Affairs from it's incestuous relationship with the police dept. and move it to the community center, Tell them you want it moved and improved!
Let Elderly Affairs be all it can be!
Imagine, if you will, a TRUE ONE STOP SHOP for ALL Elderly services in town. One where our rides program can go from being a political favor swap for a megamaniacal, self aggrandizing bully. To a True enhanced service for elderly people. ALL Elderly in Atkinson, without excluding those who have pissed people off.
One where, if you need heating oil assistance, the director can help you with the Federal and State HEAP programs, and after that can help you with Town sponsored programs. One where Senior bus trips seamlessly interface with senior games nights, and bingo, and book and discussion clubs.
Here is the beauty of this plan.... The Taxpayers of Atkinson are already paying for this, they are just not getting it efficiently. This TAXPAYER FUNDED PROGRAM can be run without having to listen to anyone constantly craving public adoration for doing their job. Without having to listen to anyone constantly shouting, Hey, Look what I've done!!!
People of Atkinson are good people! Elderly do not allow your kind feeling to be used to thwart accountability. The good people of Atkinson have constantly voted to help our Elderly, and have constantly voted to increase the funding! NEVER have the voters of Atkinson voted to reduce or eliminate this program, in spite of what you have been told.
When the selectmen finally decide to hold a public meeting to discuss separating Elderly Affairs from it's incestuous relationship with the police dept. and move it to the community center, Tell them you want it moved and improved!
Let Elderly Affairs be all it can be!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Fuel stolen from Atkinson mail trucks
From the Eagle Tribune;
Fuel stolen from Atkinson mail trucks
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The mail trucks were stuck in the lot Monday morning, without any fuel for deliveries.
Three mail trucks had diesel fuel siphoned from them over the weekend, police Chief Philip Consentino said. He said he was contacted late Monday by the postmaster, who reported gas had been stolen for the second time this year.
At least three cars owned by the U.S. Postal Service had gas siphoned from them in late June. One of those cars was damaged. Another half a tank of gas was taken from the postmaster's Ford Explorer.
This time, Consentino said, the diesel trucks were hit.
"They're easier because it's a straight opening," he said. "Just open up the caps and it goes right into the tank."
Gas prices have gone down in the last two weeks, but diesel prices have not seen the same drop. The average price of gas in the state was $3.12 per gallon yesterday, compared with $3.78 for diesel, according to AAA.
The tanks were between half and three-quarters full when postal employees parked them last weekend. Consentino said trucks are usually parked in front of the building, but because the parking lot was being paved, the trucks were put in the side lot.
That lot, which is visible from Route 121, but better hidden by the building, is where the cars were parked when tanks were siphoned over the summer.
Consentino had few details about the latest theft. Whoever took the gas left less evidence than the last time, when the nozzle to a red gas can was left behind and the metal spout on a Mercury Sable was broken.
Police did not make an arrest in the June siphoning, and will add this weekend's crime to their investigation.
Fuel stolen from Atkinson mail trucks
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The mail trucks were stuck in the lot Monday morning, without any fuel for deliveries.
Three mail trucks had diesel fuel siphoned from them over the weekend, police Chief Philip Consentino said. He said he was contacted late Monday by the postmaster, who reported gas had been stolen for the second time this year.
At least three cars owned by the U.S. Postal Service had gas siphoned from them in late June. One of those cars was damaged. Another half a tank of gas was taken from the postmaster's Ford Explorer.
This time, Consentino said, the diesel trucks were hit.
"They're easier because it's a straight opening," he said. "Just open up the caps and it goes right into the tank."
Gas prices have gone down in the last two weeks, but diesel prices have not seen the same drop. The average price of gas in the state was $3.12 per gallon yesterday, compared with $3.78 for diesel, according to AAA.
The tanks were between half and three-quarters full when postal employees parked them last weekend. Consentino said trucks are usually parked in front of the building, but because the parking lot was being paved, the trucks were put in the side lot.
That lot, which is visible from Route 121, but better hidden by the building, is where the cars were parked when tanks were siphoned over the summer.
Consentino had few details about the latest theft. Whoever took the gas left less evidence than the last time, when the nozzle to a red gas can was left behind and the metal spout on a Mercury Sable was broken.
Police did not make an arrest in the June siphoning, and will add this weekend's crime to their investigation.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Timberlane schools take new approach to counseling
From the Eagle-Tribune;
Timberlane schools take new approach to counseling
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — The student assistance programs at Timberlane Regional middle and high schools are getting a slight makeover this month to focus more on at-risk students.
Counselors Kelley Binette and Tim Lena just finished training in Project Success, a model prevention program for teenage drug and alcohol abuse. Lena, who was trained in Project Success 20 years ago, secured a grant from the state Department of Education Safe and Drug-free Schools to get the program's founder, Ellen Morehouse, to come to New Hampshire at the end of September.
Lena and Binette are now working to target programs, from support groups to referrals for outside help, to a narrower population in the schools, Binette said. In the past, she was running mood management and divorce groups, as well as other wide-ranging, decision-making programs.
"That's not your role," Binette said she learned. "It's your role to intervene with kids living at a home where parents are using or are using themselves."
She's working with health teachers to see if she can do a handful of lessons with seventh-graders, and use it as an opportunity to identify some students to bring in for later assessment, Binette said. She also is talking with teachers about identifying and referring at-risk students.
At the high school, Lena said he also will "pare back" some programs to focus more on at-risk students.
"We're still going with a broad brush approach," he said. "We're not the substance abuse counselors."
Project Success includes a number of universal preventions, including social norming and counseling. Lena said he will continue checking in with students to see what worries them and to share where they can get help as part of his intervention process.
To do more social norming, he plans to have a "reality wall" exercise at the end of the month. Students will be encouraged to anonymously share stories they or friends have experienced while doing drugs or drinking that had harmful consequences.
"So often they believe it won't happen to them," Lena said. "But the chances aren't too remote."
Timberlane schools take new approach to counseling
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
PLAISTOW — The student assistance programs at Timberlane Regional middle and high schools are getting a slight makeover this month to focus more on at-risk students.
Counselors Kelley Binette and Tim Lena just finished training in Project Success, a model prevention program for teenage drug and alcohol abuse. Lena, who was trained in Project Success 20 years ago, secured a grant from the state Department of Education Safe and Drug-free Schools to get the program's founder, Ellen Morehouse, to come to New Hampshire at the end of September.
Lena and Binette are now working to target programs, from support groups to referrals for outside help, to a narrower population in the schools, Binette said. In the past, she was running mood management and divorce groups, as well as other wide-ranging, decision-making programs.
"That's not your role," Binette said she learned. "It's your role to intervene with kids living at a home where parents are using or are using themselves."
She's working with health teachers to see if she can do a handful of lessons with seventh-graders, and use it as an opportunity to identify some students to bring in for later assessment, Binette said. She also is talking with teachers about identifying and referring at-risk students.
At the high school, Lena said he also will "pare back" some programs to focus more on at-risk students.
"We're still going with a broad brush approach," he said. "We're not the substance abuse counselors."
Project Success includes a number of universal preventions, including social norming and counseling. Lena said he will continue checking in with students to see what worries them and to share where they can get help as part of his intervention process.
To do more social norming, he plans to have a "reality wall" exercise at the end of the month. Students will be encouraged to anonymously share stories they or friends have experienced while doing drugs or drinking that had harmful consequences.
"So often they believe it won't happen to them," Lena said. "But the chances aren't too remote."
Monday, October 13, 2008
Fat Of Head And Flat Of Foot
Article submission:
From NH Insider, posted by Ed Naile.
Fat Of Head And Flat Of Foot
Let’s do some quick math – municipal style.
The Atkinson Town Budget has a line item appropriation of $19,000 for Elderly Affairs.
This money pays for the jazzed up cruiser Police Chief Consentino uses to shuttle little old ladies to doctors appointments. This project helps this incompetent, thick-headed, bully in uniform buy grateful votes for Atkinson Town Meetings. Call it a taxpayer funded get-out-the-vote scam.
Up until this year Consentino was getting donations from some of the little old ladies and putting them in the Elderly Affairs account where he had control of the money. Then, along comes the NH AG’s Office and points out to Atkinson the fact that under state law the Trustees of the Trust Fund control these types of donations.
What does Consentino do? He creates his own non-profit 501c-3 to collect gifts. Now nobody is going to tell the bully what to do! He has his own personal slush fund.
But does he?
Last year, Chief Consentino claimed to have made 1,644 trips with his Town Elderly Affairs money. This is the $19,000 voters raise each year as part of the police budget.
Now is when we ask, how is that financially possible?
It isn’t.
The Chief is obviously using much more Atkinson Police Department money to accomplish his goal of dominating Atkinson politics with his legion of Elderly Affairs beneficiaries. This means fewer patrols by police on duty because the appropriation for that town function is being tapped for sleazy politics.
What about maintenance of vehicles? How can anyone make 1,644 trips anywhere with a cruiser for $19,000? Remember, earlier this year I caught Consentino and a little old lady leaving Manchester in the Elderly Affairs cruiser on Rt. 93 going over 80 miles per hour. Someone has to buy, maintain, insure, fuel, and fix this rig when something goes wrong.
Before Chief Consentino created his PERSONAL 501c3 non-profit Elderly Affairs donations went to the Town of Atkinson to offset expenses, now they go to the bully’s private account.
Consentino has even had the gall to ask people who made past donations to the Town account to request those funds back and re-donate them to his stash - $6,500 has been re-donated so far.
I know two of the Atkinson Selectmen want to comply with the AG’s office and get the Town portion of this scam straightened out but there is the nagging problem of the town resources being used for private gain.
It is not good for any community to have a bully or a weasel in the position of Police Chief. In the end it costs much more than the short term pain of dealing with him.
CNHT is going to ask, through RSA 91-A, for all the records of the Atkinson Elderly Affairs appropriation and publish them on line if the Atkinson Selectmen do not take action themselves soon. Being an Atkinson Selectman and having answers about this shady account would probably make the phone calls from reporters much easier to deal with.
(For a look at some of the many lawsuits Consentino has caused over the years in Atkinson see http://www.cnht.org/news/category/police-departments/ )
From NH Insider, posted by Ed Naile.
Fat Of Head And Flat Of Foot
Let’s do some quick math – municipal style.
The Atkinson Town Budget has a line item appropriation of $19,000 for Elderly Affairs.
This money pays for the jazzed up cruiser Police Chief Consentino uses to shuttle little old ladies to doctors appointments. This project helps this incompetent, thick-headed, bully in uniform buy grateful votes for Atkinson Town Meetings. Call it a taxpayer funded get-out-the-vote scam.
Up until this year Consentino was getting donations from some of the little old ladies and putting them in the Elderly Affairs account where he had control of the money. Then, along comes the NH AG’s Office and points out to Atkinson the fact that under state law the Trustees of the Trust Fund control these types of donations.
What does Consentino do? He creates his own non-profit 501c-3 to collect gifts. Now nobody is going to tell the bully what to do! He has his own personal slush fund.
But does he?
Last year, Chief Consentino claimed to have made 1,644 trips with his Town Elderly Affairs money. This is the $19,000 voters raise each year as part of the police budget.
Now is when we ask, how is that financially possible?
It isn’t.
The Chief is obviously using much more Atkinson Police Department money to accomplish his goal of dominating Atkinson politics with his legion of Elderly Affairs beneficiaries. This means fewer patrols by police on duty because the appropriation for that town function is being tapped for sleazy politics.
What about maintenance of vehicles? How can anyone make 1,644 trips anywhere with a cruiser for $19,000? Remember, earlier this year I caught Consentino and a little old lady leaving Manchester in the Elderly Affairs cruiser on Rt. 93 going over 80 miles per hour. Someone has to buy, maintain, insure, fuel, and fix this rig when something goes wrong.
Before Chief Consentino created his PERSONAL 501c3 non-profit Elderly Affairs donations went to the Town of Atkinson to offset expenses, now they go to the bully’s private account.
Consentino has even had the gall to ask people who made past donations to the Town account to request those funds back and re-donate them to his stash - $6,500 has been re-donated so far.
I know two of the Atkinson Selectmen want to comply with the AG’s office and get the Town portion of this scam straightened out but there is the nagging problem of the town resources being used for private gain.
It is not good for any community to have a bully or a weasel in the position of Police Chief. In the end it costs much more than the short term pain of dealing with him.
CNHT is going to ask, through RSA 91-A, for all the records of the Atkinson Elderly Affairs appropriation and publish them on line if the Atkinson Selectmen do not take action themselves soon. Being an Atkinson Selectman and having answers about this shady account would probably make the phone calls from reporters much easier to deal with.
(For a look at some of the many lawsuits Consentino has caused over the years in Atkinson see http://www.cnht.org/news/category/police-departments/ )
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