From the Eagle-Tribune;
Our view: Atkinson funds need proper management
For years, Atkinson, N.H., police Chief Philip Consentino has argued there was nothing wrong with the way he collected and spent donations of money for the Police Department and assistance to the elderly.
Now, the New Hampshire attorney general disagrees.
The attorney general's office said in a letter to town officials that five donation accounts under Consentino's control are being managed illegally. The office's charitable trust unit wrote that the violations were likely due to ignorance of the law and said that the management of the accounts must be brought into compliance with the law.
Consentino has been a focal point for public criticism due to his multiple roles in town affairs and his handling of the accounts. In addition to police chief, Consentino serves as director of elderly affairs. He once also served as a selectman and was reprimanded by a Superior Court judge for presiding over meetings in which police or elderly affairs matters were discussed.
But Consentino is also popular, particularly among the senior citizens he serves as elderly affairs director.
Consentino conducts a donation drive each year, sending out solicitations on police letterhead, wrote Terry Knowles, assistant director of the charitable trust unit. The money collected is distributed among five funds — the senior donation fund, "Life is Not Done Group," Police Department equipment, DARE and police funds.
The money is spent at the chief's discretion, with the approval of the selectmen. Consentino will make withdrawals from the fund for anything from flowers to fuel assistance for a senior.
There are several problems with this, according to Knowles. First, the chief has sole discretion in selecting who gets money. Knowles recommended that the jobs of police chief and elderly affairs director be separate and distinct and that a system be established for determining who receives money.
Also, Knowles wrote that the accounts need to be placed under the control of the Trustees of the Trust Fund, who would then control who may make authorized disbursements. The trustees would also issue annual, public reports on account balances and activity.
Consentino's methods may have worked well when Atkinson was a sleepy farming town. But it is now an increasingly prosperous residential community, among the fastest-growing in the state. Atkinson officials must act on this report and bring their charitable fund management into the 21st century.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
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11 comments:
you know, for thirty years,
EVERY TIME there is controversy in Atkinson, and it makes the papers, it ALWAYS centers around Phil!
The people questioning him, the names change every few years, but it is ALWAYS Phil at the center of the firestorm, and he is ALWAYS claiming that his antagonists have a "vendetta" against him.
Now the name is Acciard
2007: Grant
2006: Kaye, Zaremba, Woodbury
2005: Acciard
2004: Boyle, Officer Lorden
2003: Boyle
2002: Officer Rivera
2001: Officer Rivera
2000: Officer Rivera, Dale Childs
1999: Rivera, Childs, Fred Childs
1998: Fred Childs
1996: childs
1992: Officer Daniels
1988: Peak
1987: Peak
1986: Peak
1985: Peak
1984: Peak
1983: Peak
1981: Selectman Peak
But the controversy has always revolved around some bone headed thing Phil said or did.
So, are the people who bring attention to his idiotic actions, wrong, or is the dunce committing the idiotic actions wrong?
Well, there two things of amazement here, 1)The ET, for a change, took Phil to task. Is that the earth I felt move, and 2) Some people think he's the greatest guy in the world. Look at today's ET editorial section and you'll see a letter, from someone I really did not expect, singing Phil's praises.
With all that has happened, with all that is on the public record, the personal experiences of many involving Phil (including me), there are still those asking, "Why are you always picking on Phil." Yes, he's done a lot of good things, help a lot of people, volunteered his time. That does not grant one the right to harass, intimidate, bully and play fast and loose with donated monies.
Sadly, I'm coming to the conclusion that unless Phil does something extremely egregious, and I do mean extremely, we're stuck with this embarrassment until he retires.
My biggest concern now is his replacement. It would be really, really, really nice if the BOS would indicate they are considering looking beyond Atkinson's borders for a seasoned professional. My nightmare is that it won't be considered. Can you imagine another 30, 40 years of this nonsense?
The problem nees to be removed! Phil MUST GO!
I am dumbfounded by what is going on now in Town of Atkinson. How can more residents of the town become aware too? The Eagle Tribune is not nearly enough. The elderly have to see how they are bought and manipulated by what appear to be police funded "benefits".
Great point.
Just as a side note, I was watching the Atkinson Planning Board meeting tonight.
Guess what came up? Some groundwater issues.
They were in the middle of deciding whether some project was getting enough water. I'm not sure whether it was the over 55 housing (I tried checking the website for the Planning Board Agenda, but it was 2 months old; God forbid Atkinson residents actually get word ahead of time what's going on there, we might actually want to say something or get involved).
Anyway, someone objects to what's happening based on the fact that a published report has stated that there isn't enough water for the project.
Well, you can predict what happens; Sue Killiam rather rudely (I don't know if she does it on purpose, but when challenged she emits quite the Cruella Deville vibe, I've seen it firsthand) dismisses what the guy says, and the voting goes around the table. Teddy Stewart is ready to vote for the developer's representatives before he even know what Mrs. Killiam is even going to say (I kind of like Teddy, but he's more in local businesses pockets than old lint), the veteranarian business owner is all for it. Now here's the funny part; Selectman Friel admits he hasn't been there for the whole process, so what does he do? He says that he'll defer to (land developer) Sue Killiam! The only one to have the guts is the man on the conservation committee (Tim), but of course he gets out voted.
Next, Tim brings up the fact that he'd like to start moving on making the 7 wetland areas in town "prime wetlands" to try to protect them. This is great, because Harold Morse (Hampstead Water/Lewis Homes/East Coast Lumber) is sitting right across from him. This is when Mrs. Killiam just blatantly gets rude and snotty. If there's a replay of this meeting you have to watch it for yourself.
This town is OWNED by developers/contractors/businesses. Harold Morse and Sue Killiam are both developers WITHIN THE SAME TOWN THEY SIT ON THE PLANNING BOARD!!! Teddy Stewart owns a construction company on the side (which must depend on work by developers). Can anyone in this town understand the basic idea of CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
How do we expect the selectmen here to want to rein in Consentino when they can't even appoint a Planning Board that isn't dominated by developers and those that benefit from development? This situation is a BAD JOKE...
If you don't like the status quo, DO something about it. Like run for a town position or ask to be appointed. Your complaints on this blog do nothing.
Great job on the info 959...
It does amaze all of us, your not the only one. New people need to run, there is no question about it.
And for the local business vet, can I ask how did he get his renovations done to his business and yet does NOT HAVE handicap access? How did this pass for public access?
Curt Springer posted this on the Danville blog:
"I have my disagreements with people in town government but I don't see people lining up to do a better job than the ones we have now."
I was talking with Bill Friel after last night's planning board meeting and he said the selectmen had a lot of trouble this year finding enough people to appoint to fill committee and board vacancies.
A half dozen citizen activist volunteers like John Kiley could turn this town around.
It is no secret the Planning Board is pro-development, pro-construction. Ms. Killam's profession, and her well known demeanor make her an unacceptable individual to hold the position she does.
I wish I could volunteer, but I have to work for a living and my job does not give me the time. But, and I can't say how, I am doing what I can.
Suggestion: There are many retired residents in Atkinson. They have more choices with what to do with their time and their collective wisdom could be of extreme benefit to this town. Then, there is the added benefit that they are not beholden to anyone (and I not speaking of the Chief's voting block). I believe these folks would make up an excellent candidate pool to fill and replace the appointed positions in this town.
I know of many of whom I speak watch this blog. I hope they will consider my suggestion. Their help would go a very long way in eliminating the rampant conflict of interest violations that now exist, and hopefully introduce some civility back into town affairs.
A suggestion...
It would be helpful for someone to post meeting notices and agendas on a regular basis since they do not keep the town website current. It would be helpful to have the Atkinson Taxpayers site maintain a link to this information.
Is anyone in a position to collect the info from town hall and email it to the webmaster? Someone who is around town during the day?
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