From the Eagle-Tribune, Thank you Meaghan.
State takes Atkinson to task for donation accounts, chief's dual roles
By Meghan Carey
Staff writer
ATKINSON — The Police Department and elderly affairs donation accounts are being run illegally, according to the state attorney general's charitable trust unit.
The attorney general's office sent a letter to police Chief Philip Consentino and the Board of Selectmen, outlining the exact problems with the five accounts and what needs to be done to bring them into compliance with the law. The office sent a letter to town officials last month, notifying them of a three-month inquiry, spurred by residents' complaints to the state.
The first letter suggested ignorance on the part of the town for mishandling the accounts, but the second letter takes a firmer tone — both over the accounts and the director of elderly affairs position, also held by Consentino.
"While we recognize the donations made over the past 14 years have improved the lives of many citizens in Atkinson, it is our opinion the current method of administering these funds is not in accordance with New Hampshire law and must therefore be brought into compliance," Terry Knowles, the unit's assistant director, wrote.
The accounts — the senior donation fund, "Life is Not Done Group," Police Department equipment, DARE and police funds — and Consentino's roles in town have long been debated by residents.
Part of that debate has centered on where and how the money is spent. Selectmen often hold public hearings for the chief to withdraw money for anything from flowers to fuel assistance for a senior citizen.
Consentino holds a donation drive each year, sending solicitation letters on police letterhead, seeking donations to the "APD (Atkinson Police Department) Equipment Fund," Knowles wrote. The money is then distributed among all the accounts, and it's at the chief's discretion — with selectmen's approval — how the money is spent.
The attorney general's office identified three "challenges" and possible solutions for selectmen.
Transparency is an issue, according to Knowles' letter.
"For example, we have been unable to determine the criteria used in selecting or rejecting those projects and/or individuals who receive or fail to receive payments from the various funds," she wrote. "Although the Selectmen vote to authorize generally the distribution of money from the five funds, it appears the Police Chief and/or the Director of Elderly Affairs has full discretion in selecting the projects and/or individuals that receive distribution from the funds."
Knowles recommended the board study the director of elderly affairs position and how necessary it is. If the post is deemed necessary, selectmen should adopt a set of criteria for making an appointment to the position, document the duties and responsibilities of the position — including internal controls and a method of reporting fund activity — and decide how project funding would be determined.
She also recommended the town make certain the chief's position and that of the elderly affairs director be distinct.
"Because the function and accountability of the two positions are distinct, the Selectmen must implement a clear separation between the duties of the Police Department and the duties of the Director of Elderly Affairs, no matter who holds the position of Chief or Director," Knowles wrote.
As for the issue of who holds the donated money, Knowles said a purpose and balance of each fund must be recorded, then each fund must be put into the custody of the Trustees of the Trust Fund. The trustees would be instructed as to how, when and who can make authorized disbursements, she wrote.
The trustees are required by law to write a report of activity annually, and the donation accounts should be part of that report, according to Knowles. Since the activity of all five questioned accounts will be included, Knowles recommends making the trustees' report available to the public.
Calls to Consentino, selectmen and Trustees of the Trust Fund were not returned.
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
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17 comments:
Phil strikes again!!! YEE HAAA!!!
Phil not return Meghan's phone call. Why is it he has no trouble calling here when he wants something from her?
You know, I imagine the powers that be in Atkinson reading this blog occassionally, thinking to themselves, "Well, those people are just over the top..."
Do they understand that all most people want is TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY and FAIRNESS in our local government? Here, let's make it easy for them:
1) Rein in the Chief, please finally make him ACCOUNTABLE to the Selectmen. He is not Duke or Baron, and we are not his subjects; he is an elected official subject to the direction of the board. Childs and Friel need to get off the "old boy" train and join Sullivan in doing this. And while I used to support Frank Polito, watching him on a recent Zoning Board meeting makes me think we're under attack by fascist yuppies trying to turn us into a bedroom suburb or Salem instead of a small country town. Too much power in too few hands here.
2) Atkinson should be CITIZEN friendly, not BUSINESS FRIENDLY. This small town allows too much influence to be handed over to the local developers; developers and their supporters dominate the planning board, and AGAIN, the board of selectmen are unwilling to appointment members who aren't in the back pocket of local businesses. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROTECT THE TOWN'S RESOURCES IF WE DON'T HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS WILLING TO STAND UP TO BUSINESS AND DEVELOPERS?
Lewis Homes do not OWN Atkinson; we need elected officials willing to stand for the interests of the RESIDENTS.
WOW, anyone notice the poll results in the top right corner?
90% think Phil should be suspended/fired over falsifying sick time vouchers for Lt. Baldwin.
56% think Baldwin should be suspended/ fired over same.
270 votes is more than 10% of the people that put the selectmen in office!
11:13 AM
"he is an elected official subject to the direction"
Actually, he's appointed (which makes this whole thing even worse), not elected, and it is my understanding the appointment is required to be done on a regular basis (yearly, bi-yearly, not sure) and that his last official appointment was many years ago.
The appointment part I'm sure of. Perhaps someone in the know can clarify the rest.
Totally agree with the rest of your post.
Phill did't return the phone call? how is that? He always loves the spotlight in the media... How many times is he going to break the law before he gets let go by the town of Atkinson? I have lost count..In my opinion he should of been let go a long time ago. Kevin D should take his place, Not Mr. Baldwin.
to the best of my knowledge, his last official appointment expired on May 1, 1999. and the selectmen have not renewed it, in 2005 Carol Grant brought this up and they said they didn't have to re-appoint because under the RSA he is allowed to remain in office until a successor is found. Of course they failed to mention that they are not looking for a successor.
Finally, the Tribune printed an article without putting a town favored SLANT on it. They reported it the way the AGO wrote it. Will wonders never cease?
Notice that Megan never tried to get a comment from our selectmen? Wonder why that is. A good reporter would be all over them, asking for a response. Guess she is still in their pocket, huh? To bad, cute girl but bad, bad reporter.
Advice for the Chief. Resign NOW. Since you can't be trusted to run donation accounts legally, clear out your office, put on your Kojak hat, stick a lollipop in you big mouth and get out of Dodge. You are a disgrace to all of us. Clear out your office and go the way of Sapia. Don’t make the people of Atkinson take further action, which we guarantee you won’t like.
Oh, where is the rest of the money Phil? How much was taken in, and where did it go? Let’s discuss this subject at Monday nights selectmen’s meeting. Might be a long meeting, since we have fourteen years to cover. TIME TO OPEN THE BOOKS AND BE INVESTIGATED. Only hope you kept GOOD RECORDS, cause we think you are going to need them.
The IRS has been notified of these improprieties. The BOS is not the only source of relief in this matter. We have the RICO Act, a federal law enacted to penalize criminals involved in organized crime. The 14 year history of the funds qualifies this as organized crime. (You're are correct when you refer to yourself as the Atkinson Mafia.) The town government is functioning as a gang, extorting money with a badge, protecting cronies with the promise of security, allowing the dumping of hazardous waste, bullying.
It's not over, not even close.
anon 7:07P
There is also federal public corruption statutes.
Federal statutes regarding trust funds may also apply. The BOS failure in their obligations regarding public trust funds may touch them as well.
And given the Chief's demonstrated use of intimidation and retaliation while wearing a badge of authority, his annual "fund raiser" can easily be interpreted and an annual extortion drive. Who is going to say no to him knowing that harassment could follow by doing so?
It is possible that he has never harassed someone who said no. But the odds are against it. Giving favorable treatment to those who do donate is just as alarming.
I have a federal prosecutor in the family. Maybe he should be checking out the blog too.
The above person is flinging red herrings around; there will be no state prosecution of the BOS or of the chief, and unless someone has information about a pattern of harassment for donations, that's someone blowing smoke.
We should use some self-discipline and keep this blog from turning into "conspiracy central". Let's stick to the facts folks, and preserve this blog from turning into a farce.
There are enough REAL offenses that the local yocals have been doing around here, we don't need to start inventing paranoid delusions....
But paranoia can be so much fun.
You are right though. There will be no prosecutions of anyone even after they continue operating as usual while thumbing their noses at the AGO. After all, the AGO letter merely suggests that the Chief and BOS comply with the law. It does not say they must make changes to come in compliance. Since the chief's position is always "I have done no wrong" one can probably expect nothing to change.
The simple act of the Chief soliciting any donation is an act of intimidation.
I got a call from the local police "charity" soliciting a donation the day after police responded to an alarm at my house. The tone was not pleasant when I said no.
Maybe I am just projecting my own experience on the Chief.
But in general, I do not belief any public safety organization should be able to solicit any donations.
No. The AGO is telling them they have to comply with the law.
Article submission:
Water company seeks $1.1 million to connect systems
By Meghan Carey
mcarey@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON, N.H. — The Hampstead Area Water Co. plans to connect its major systems and will increase its rates in order to do so.
The water company applied for a $1.1 million loan in June to connect Atkinson's water system with the company's Hampstead system, according to general manager Harold Morse. If the loan is awarded, 15,000 feet of pipe would be laid between the two towns along Route 121 next summer, he said.
The low-rate interest loan, 3.49 percent, would come from the State Revolving Loan Fund for drinking water, which is governed by the state Department of Environmental Services. It's the water company's second active application with that department.
The other is a large groundwater withdrawal application to take an additional 100,800 gallons a day from Atkinson. That application led residents to enact a water withdrawal ordinance in September 2007. A second Special Town Meeting, scheduled for Sept. 9, has issues related to water withdrawal on the ballot.
The deliberative session for next month's Special Town Meeting was held the day before the water company notified residents of the loan application.
The water company just drilled five new wells to accommodate the proposed groundwater withdrawal increase. Residents at a public hearing with DES in May expressed concern their own wells could go dry over the 15 years the water company proposes increasing its pumping.
State officials told those people they would have to work out a solution with the company, whether it be for Hampstead Area Water Co. to pay to drill homeowners new wells or to install hookups to the community water system. In that case, residents would have to start paying for water.
Morse said yesterday the interconnection of the two major systems has nothing to do with the application for large groundwater withdrawal. The interconnection is a safety feature for the company's current customers, he said.
The company will take out the 20-year loan to pay for 75 percent of the project, and a state grant will pay for the other 25 percent, Morse said.
"There's a grant out there encouraging these connections," he said. "We couldn't afford to do it on our own, so the state will pay 25 percent. That's how important they think it is."
Morse said all customers will see a 3.48 percent raise — 32 cents per 100 cubic feet — in their bills after the work is completed. Based on annual consumption rates, that's an average increase of $7.04 a quarter, he said.
The loan application must be considered by Gov. John Lynch before the money can be awarded, DES spokesman Jim Martin said.
The state Public Utilities Commission also has to approve the funding, according to Mark Naylor, director of the Gas and Water Division. A prehearing conference has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 3 in Concord. The public is allowed to attend.
Article Submission:
Latest denial by the Chief to the AGO
Terry M. Knowles August 6, 2008
Assistant Director-Charitable Funds
Dept. of Attorney General
33 Capital Street
Concord, N.H. 03301
Dear Terry Knowles:
I have received your letter dated August 5, 2008. There are several issues that need to be clarified and I hope I can provide you with the needed information to clarify those issues.
At the present time there are only three (3) accounts that I am involved in, they are the Police Departments Donation/Equipment Fund, the Special Senior Fund and the D.A.R.E. Fund. The Special Senior fund has a total of $30.14 in this account and the D.A.R.E. account has a balance of $33.69. Both of these accounts will be closed out by Tuesday August 12, 2008. The other two (2) accounts that you made mention to do nor exist. The Police Fund and the Life is Not Done Group do not exist.
The Life Is Not Done Group is an organization in town that has donated funds to our Donation/Equipment Fund from time to time and those funds have been deposited into our Donation/Equipment Fund that the town’s bookkeeper has control of. I am not associated or belong to that organization, again the Police Fund you mentioned is unknown to me.
In our conversations you presented me with several ways to properly handle the funds that the residents of Atkinson have so generously provide us with over the past years. One is the one you mention in your recent letter and the other is to put in place an association similar to the ones the Fire Department and the Friends of the Library have. We have opted to go with the formation of an association.
We are in the process of completing the association’s by-laws. When we have completed this task we will be taking advantage of your offer to come to your location so you can review our by-laws and our articles of agreement. Hopefully we will have those documents put together by Monday August 18, 2008. Once we have completed that task I will call your office to set up an appointment to go over our application.
I wish to thank you for your continued support in providing us with the needed information and assistance in helping up set up our new association.
Sincerely;
Philip V. Consentino
Police Chief Proudly celebrating my 40th year of service
Director of Elderly Affairs
Cc: Atkinson Board of Selectmen
: Files
PVC/pvc
Charitable Trust
Who does Phil think he is.......GOD! What makes him think he can lie to the Justice Dept. and get away with it! Who does he think he is, to lie to the people of Atkinson? Does he really believe that CROWN on his head at the country club, gives him the right to take our rights away?"
He is not GOD...........no matter what he thinks of himself! This MAN MADE GOD (KING)..........needs to be flushed! DOWN WITH THE KING.......!
Speaking of "Kings" (BOS supporters of the Chief) It's time for Sullivan, Childs, Friel to be run out of town! Down with all of them and anyone that supports them! Tomorrow is TRASH day! Atkinson taxpayers........PUT OUT THE TRASH!
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