One month ago, when this blog stated we put up a poll concerning one of the pressing issues of that time.
Just to refresh the memory, In the May 12, 2008 selectmen's meeting the Chief revealed that he has been approving Lt. Baldwins time sheets requesting sick days so he could go on his National Guard Summer camp each year for six years, despite the fact that the Town has a written policy forbidding the use of sick days if you are not sick.
Much debate ensued, on town blogs, and around town, and we posted the poll at right, so the people could voice their opinions, and you did.
Ironically we got the same number of votes(315 ) as the Chief got in his last bid for selectman! Omen? Maybe.
An overwhelming 80% of you feel that the Chief should be fired over this.
10% felt he should be suspended
and a paltry 6% felt that nothing should be done.
For the Lt.;
39% felt he should be fired for filing false time sheets
16% felt he should be suspended
and 5% felt nothing should be done.
The issue here is not one of supporting our troops as the chief likes to say, but of an employee, two employees following town law and town policy. Chief might be able to make that argument if it were someone going to war, but it is summer camp, nothing more. He is going to earn a paycheck form another employer, while we are paying him for the same time.
It is wrong. but then again, the selectmen are refusing to enforce town policy, once again. Why is it they are always quick to enforce, or even make up new town policy when it comes to the road agent, but the police chief, and Lt. can do whatever they want?
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
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10 comments:
I, for one, think it is time for Phil to retire as police chief. He can stay director of elderly services if he wants, but it must be run out of the community center with all the other senior programs.
I don't think Phil should run the elderly affairs dept. It should all be run from the community center, by Noriko. Phil picks and chooses who get services and that is not ok.
He should be fired from the PD too.
Lets see;
The town settled with Grant to avoid court.
It lost to Acciard once already.
it settled with Lorden.
it settled with Rivera.
maybe if Acciard wins, the BOS will finally realize that this guy breaks the rules and should be fired.
Time and time again the court rules in the favour of everyone except Phil C. This is a pattern that needs to be stoped. Why wait for him to retire selectman of Atkinson? Your job is to uphold the law and to do what the residents direct you to do.
Just to remind everyone...in the interest of fairness...the poll only asked what would happen at YOUR job...NOT whether or not you want to see the chief or his lieutenant fired / suspended / etc.
anon 7:22
A distinction without a difference.
I believe the intent is to also determine how such behavior would be addressed by the real world and whether the Chief and LT should be held to such real world standard or the chief's "make my own rules as I see fit" world.
My employer changed from a sick time policy to "Paid Time Off" that is separate from accrued vacation. That way, employees can use the time for a sick kid, doctor visit, or even a round of golf. The number of PTO days is fixed for all employees. Vacation time depends on years of service.
If Atkinson took a PTO approach, this whole thing could be avoided.
But the policy is what it is right now and it was clearly violated deliberately.
They shouldn't react any differently to town employees than a typical business would. In fact, I believe public servants should be held more accountable.
Thye should be fired.
Article Submission:
MISAPPOPRIATION OF TAX DOLLARS?
I want the facts on how Atkinson paid for 1600 rides for seniors on the Elderly Affairs budget of about $19,000 - see Atkinson annual report for 2007. That is not much money to run a commercial taxi service using fuel inefficient police cars.
I believe a full audit is needed given the recent findings by the NH Attorney General's office about the illegal handling of funds by our town officials. As a taxpayer I want someone to check and verify that our tax dollars are being used appropriately and have a thorough audit of the police budget. We'll get to the others, next.
Here is my opinion: I do not believe the numbers add up based on what is commonly known: Cars are expensive to buy, insure, fuel, and maintain. Add in the cost of paying drivers to give people rides. 1600 Rides for $19,000? Really? Show me the money.
A driver, getting minimum wage, and assuming each "ride" is really 2 trips, pickup and return, say about an hour each. That is about $7 per hour for labor times 3200 (1600 trips at an hour each way) = that comes out to $22,400 and we haven't discussed the costs of the vehicle and gas.
I realize this implies that tax dollars in the PD budget are not being used for what they were budgeted. It also implies the town/selectmen/taxpayers would have to approve any changes in spending.
Or maybe the PD donation accounts provide substantial cash infusions to pay for costs? Well then there should be a full accounting trail on all of it, right?
I also am troubled by these donation requests from a man with a gun and a badge. As someone else said, for a police officer to make soliciations to vulnerable citizens that have become dependent on the PD, that can be considered extortion. Our Police Dept should not be allowed to make financial solicitations to people that rely on PD services, rides, free fuel assistance or whatever. No, I don't believe this is right. And shame on me/us for not having done more to protect our neighbors and friends from these predatory practices.
If people need assistance, there are numerous state and local support services that should be explored FIRST. Friends, neighbors or relatives, perhaps? But no, we should not call our Police Dept at the first sign of need. They should be doing Police work, first and foremost.
Have you seen the ads in the Eagle Tribune? "Call the Atkinson PD.....for a ride to visit friends." Sorry, but this is not what I signed up for. Do you see any other towns doing this?
I want to know how those 1600 rides were paid for. I want to know every vehicle cost including gasoline, repairs, insurance, labor, etc. How much have we SPENT on all this? I want to know the exact amount.
The AG already found the donation accounts that Consentino controls has not been handled legally for the past 14 years. So if one were to look further, and think about what it costs to run your vehicle and pay for gas, repairs, insurance, registration, etc, and we are talking about low mileage vehicles, here, and they are taking a lot of trips that are outside of town, not just down the street.
As a taxpayer it is my right to get these questions answered.
The Chief should be fired, and he should not be alowed to be involved in any town activities. A new person should be brought in as Chief and the town of Atkinson would be a much much better place to live. Just think, no worries about being attacked for asking questions about anything at a selectman meeting, or town meeting, or in your back yard. Can't wait for those days to be here. Can you?
FYI:
All budget and expenditure information is public by law. Anyone can ask the town bookkeeper for the expense reports for any dept. in town, you can even get the reports for the donation acct.
The problem is, and what you won't see in these documents is the overlap between the police budget, and the elderly affairs budget. For instance gas;
If the Chief budgets, say $2,000 for gas for elderly affairs, then at some point during the year he just has Sandy, or maybe she does it on her own, I dont know, but someone rolls $2,000 out of police budget cruiser gas, into elderly.
There is no accurate accounting of what is spent. And dispatch is paid for by the PD as well. There are other expenses as well.
The budget committee, for 6 years tried to separate the two depts. for transparency and accountability. We succeeded in separating the budgets. But for the last two years the budget committee and the selectmen have allowed these depts. to merge ever closer, thus once again blurring the lines between the two.
It was a vindication of sorts to have the director of the AGO Charitable trust division echo what Jane Cole and I had been saying on the budget committee for 6 years about separating the two depts. and the duties.
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