From the Eagle Tribune! A heart felt Thank you to Meagan Carey for this story.
ATKINSON, N.H. — Selectmen still haven't addressed letters from the state attorney general's charitable trust unit.
The letters, the first of which dates back eight weeks, direct the board to re-examine the elderly affairs program. Terry Knowles, director of the unit, suggested the board establish a clear boundary between the role of director of elderly affairs and the job of police chief. Right now, both of those posts are held by Philip Consentino. How he runs his departments, solicits donations and spends them prompted resident complaints to the charitable trust unit.
Consentino has done his part, or is in the process of it. He established a new nonprofit group, the Atkinson Police Charitable Fund, and a board of directors.
He said he is getting permission from past donors to transfer a total of $19,700 from the police donation account to the new nonprofit organization. As of yesterday, Consentino said he had most of the needed permission.
But the selectmen have taken no action.
At their meeting Aug. 25, selectmen Chairman Paul Sullivan read excerpts from Knowles' letter of Aug. 5. Afterward, Sullivan said he wanted to separate the departments and the discussion should take place at a workshop.
Selectmen agreed to discuss the elderly affairs program at a workshop this week, to be scheduled at their meeting Sept. 8. But they didn't schedule anything, Selectman Fred Childs said.
He said the board is waiting for Consentino.
"Phil's been getting all his ducks in a row," Childs said yesterday. "He's doing everything he's been told to do. We're waiting for him to finish that."ù
Consentino said yesterday he thought the selectmen decided to hold the workshop on Sept. 23. On that day, he plans to discuss transferring the money and closing the two remaining accounts, the Senior Donation Fund and the DARE Fund. There is less than $50 in each of those accounts, and Consentino tried to close them before, but Sullivan would not let him.
Consentino said he anticipates a battle with the chairman at the upcoming workshop.
"The main thing is he wants to take elderly affairs away from the (Police Department),"ù Consentino said of Sullivan. "It's not a good idea, especially when you've got someone to do it for free."
Consentino works part time as police chief and volunteers as the director of elderly affairs. If he's given an ultimatum, Consentino said he would have to think about which to choose.
"I'd have to sit back and make a hard decision," he said. "But I don't think that will become a reality. It takes two to tango. It takes two selectmen to make (a vote) work."
ù Sullivan did not return phone calls yesterday.
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39 comments:
Show me where the chief has to chose. You separate the departments, appoint a new EA director, done.
The chief continues to believe EA is HIS, and HIS alone. What hubris.
And love his little "Tango" analogy. As he said, it takes two selectmen to do what needs to be done. Maybe the BOS will surprise us and relieve Phil of some of his workload, slush funds, a fleet of vehicles, etc.
What is this from the Tribune? Something that even resembles what used to be known as investigative journalism? I didn't know the Tribune knew what that was. I was just getting ready to cancel my subscription. Maybe I will give them one more month.
"I'd have to sit back and make a hard decision," he said. "But I don't think that will become a reality. It takes two to tango. It takes two selectmen to make (a vote) work."
Well,I take it Consentino knows something the rest of the town has long suspected, that he has two selectmen doing his bidding. I would love to hear Childs and Friel AT A TELEVISED MEETING let the taxpayers and voters hear what THEY THINK instead of reading in the paper how CONSENTINO SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE. What a sad state of affairs our town is in if our BOS are to afraid to speak their own minds.
I for one think it (elderly affairs) can be run from the Community Center quite well and with better records to account for rides and time spent.
And as for "If he's given an ultimatum, Consentino said he would have to think about which to choose." Gosh Consentino let us, give up both (while you sill have the chance to choose) and spare our town any more shame and expensive lawsuits. You are an old man whose time has come to stay home and make bird houses and tend to your cows.
Phil just publicly stated he owns the two selectman,(Fred Childs, and Bill Friel) takes two to tangle out of 3. This is a joke, so lets get the warrant article ready for when the "2" dont vote to move elderly affairs out of the police dept. The chief wants his political power over the elderly with this program he runs out of the police dept.. He cares more about political power, rather than honesty and transparency.
I do believe that the elderly affairs would run more smoothly and better out of the police dept, and the police can do what they are supposed to be doing, getting the bad guys.....
If the BOS don't do what the AG wants and we have to go out on a limb and write one warrant article to move the EA out of the PD then I say let's go all the way and write a second article to make the Chief's job full time.
anon 2:37 while I agree with what you're saying, after seeing what carol and mark have gone through, would you sign your name on a warrant article to submit what you've suggested? many have suggested what you are saying, he needs to be gone, but who want's the abuse carol and mark have been subjected to. the man (and i use that term loosly) is a coward and a bully and uses a badge to make the lives of those who don't bow to his wishes a living hell.
I used to think we needed a full time police chief, but I now believe the position itself should stay part time. The cost would be huge and reality is this is not a big town. We really only need a part time chief.
I thought we need a FT chief just to get rid of Consentino. We DON'T need the cost. There are plenty of qualified, retired state troopers that would gladly take the job and run it right. You know, REAL police officers. And they would do REAL police work. Not this taxi service BS.
In addition it would just become a big fight over making Lt Baldwin chief and we'd have Baldwin suing the town when he didn't get the job (like he did over the Lt position) and it would be Consentino all over again.
I say we stick to part time chief because that is all we really need.
Just my humble opinion.
While i agree with you on the intimidation issue, he cannot and will not intimidate hundreds of signatures. We have the power in numbers. We are in control of our town, not one bully.
Once the momentum starts, it will be hard to stop. I have the feeling that more and more will jump ship once it starts.
maybe leaving the job as part time would eliminate the Lt., either way, we need to bite the bullet and stand up to him.
You can't just "run elderly affairs from the community center" as suggested. The position is not funded and the job entails more than just regular hours as far as I can see. How many people want be ready and able to deal with calls into the evening and weekends? It is one thing to say move it, but the functions of this position are not defined and the job not funded. As Phil said, he volunteers his time to do this. You won't find many so willing. The solution is more complicated than a simple - "move it to the community center". It requires far more thought than that if it is to be done correctly. Unless the motivation is not to have the job done well, but rather just have it done by someone else. That's what this sounds like to me.
Phil only volunteer his time to do it on paper. He is paid $21,000 or so as a police chief, but any of the officers will tell you that 80% of the work he does in the pd is elderly work. So he is really being paid to do elderly work. and he can get away with this because he has a $63,000 paid sidekick.
Anon September 11, 2008 5:44 PM said: "As Phil said, he volunteers his time to do this. You won't find many so willing."
How do you know this? One of Phil and Fred Childs' favorite excuses for keeping things "as is" is the "free" price. But how free is it really? In my opinion, Phil proves the old saying that you get what you pay for. He "volunteers" his time and we get fishy numbers, childish outbursts, and bad publicity. Not to mention the occasional lawsuit, in which case there IS an actual cost!
I agree PC has done a lot for Atkinson, but the recent CONSTANT bad press with him ALWAYS at the center of the controversy is too much. The value is not there anymore.
anon 5:44 "You can't just "run elderly affairs from the community center" as suggested. The position is not funded and the job entails more than just regular hours as far as I can see. How many people want be ready and able to deal with calls into the evening and weekends? "
Not funded? I believe my tax dollars are funding it. How many people want to be ready and able to deal with calls into the evening and weekends? How about expecting calls to be made between the hours of 9-5? If the people that want or need a ride have an emergency, call 9-1-1. If they are calling for a ride to a doctors appointment then they can do it during normal business hours. Need a ride to the hairdressers, for shopping or to go calling on a friend..same thing either use normal business hours or call and ask "your friend" to taxi you about. It should be run like a business and not a 24 hr. taxi service. Trust me, none of the seniors would be left hanging without a ride, they would just have to do business during normal working hours.
I suggest it be called A.C.T., Atkinson Community Transport, be run out from the Community Center, and be run like a business (that can account for all trips, man hours and dollars spent).
My understanding regarding Elderly Affairs is there's no job description, no defined mission, no defined scope, no defined anything.
Phil states the following in the 2007 Atkinson Town Report for Elderly Affairs (see page 30-31).
"YOU CALL, WE HAUL. ONE STOP SHOPPING DOES IT ALL." The report also tells all seniors to contact the Police station for a ride.
Please, someone tell me what other police department on this planet does this? Think about it for a moment. A marketing slogan for the PD?
As the facts clearly show, Consentino has been allowed to define the Elderly Affairs mission and he has turned the PD into a glorified taxi service on our dime while obviously misappropriating taxdollars to support 1,644 rides as stated by Phil. These are supposed to be PD tax dollars and its not what I agreed to pay as a taxpayer.
The AG instructed the selectmen to clearly define the role of Elderly Affairs. They can make it work out of the community center or someone's garage for all I care. But please, please get it out of the Atkinson Police Dept so the budgets can be clear and accurate for us taxpayers.
To suggest the EA can only be efficiently run out of the PD, or that Phil is the only one who is capable of running it, is simply ludicrous.
Their is an axiom in business, you know, the real world. "No one is irreplaceable." This certainly applies to the chief. To use another business axiom, "The cost has outweighed the benefit." Other people can do it, and probably better.
Yes, it would take some effort and coordination to move it out of the PD, but it can be done, should be done, and should have been done long ago. What other community handles EA like Atkinson does? Dare I say, none.
And while we're talking cost, why are Crown Vics used as elderly transport? Seems odd that the primary vehicle, with police package, used by most police agencies is the same one we use for transport. There are certainly other American made vehicles out there that can do the same job, and a lot cheaper.
Didn't this used to be done by volunteers? What happened???
These types of services should be run by volunteers. There are plenty of people in town that could help out a neighbor or a friend with a ride for pete's sake.
The Salem Caregivers offer rides to Atkinson residents too. This should be an all volunteer organization so it costs the taxpayers nothing.
I would like to see us all become
aware of the biggest reward for all this free work being done.
The reward has been a voting block that is used to promote the "right" people in office.
Electioneering is a grievous and terrible thing to be happening to our Town. It has been going on for some time now and it is time for it to be stopped.
When will the people and selectmen stand up against this disgrace.
We need to stand together now to stop this horrible situation of a government in Atkinson. The only non corrupt person in Atkinson is Paul Sullivan at the moment. And this is where we get the Chief's quote here in the paper.."takes two to tangle" now, i'm not stupid, but he sure thinks all atkinson residents are when he said that. He is reminding everyone that he has Fred Childs and Bill Friel in his palms. How does that make you feel?
Sickning isn't it?
He is reminding everyone that he has Fred Childs and Bill Friel in his palms. How does that make you feel? Sickning isn't it?
If Selectmen Friel or Childs have an ounce of self-respect, they should start standing up to Phil. His quote in the paper is mind blowing and arrogant beyond belief. He is thumbing his nose at Paul Sullivan and the rest of the citizens of the town he serves. If Mr. Friel and Mr. Childs do not step-up and do the right thing, let's send them a message when they are up for re-election! Vote the bums out and let the real dance begin!!!!
Dear Atkinson Factor,
Your view point that Mr. Sullivan is not corrupt is because your view matchs his. You are inferring that everyone that does not have the same view point is corrupt. That is a narrow view of the world.
Mr. Sullivan however is using his position as chairman to avoid issues he does not want to deal with between now and when he can run for re-election. The issue with the radio communications for the police has not gone away. Mr. Sullivan just does not want it brought up in the selectmen meetings anymore. So the police officers and the citizens continue to be at risk.
You sit here praising Mr. Sullivan but the issue with the Elderly Affairs is not being addressed. No visible action has been taken to hire a town administrator. Of course everything takes longer when you have run your thoughts past Mr Boyle.
But you hold on to that position that Mr. Sullivan is the only Non Corrupt person in Atkinson. It fits you well.
Actually, what is sickening is reading all this whining about a service that has been done in town by a person not liked by this group here on "the blog", but very well liked by those that use the service that is provided. Not because they feel threatened as it is believe by this audience, but because they are very appreciative that he has cared about them to create such a service in town. You all may not like him, and perhaps you may have a reason not to like him, but please stop putting words into their mouths about why they do like him. While he is certainly replacable (as mentioned, everyone is), those that value him and the work he has done to help them would choose him over anyone else you could recommend - including Noriko Yoshida in the community center, who is also very well liked by the seniors in town. Simply put, you really don't know what or who you are talking about when you say "they" can do better. "They" don't agree.
"They" have been conned by a narcissistic, self-absorbed, power hungry ego-maniac that is out of control.
He's taken advantage of some of our most vulnerable citizens by giving them lots of benefits they have become dependent on.....which were paid for with MY tax dollars that were illegally misappropriated from the police department budget. I challenge anyone to disprove my assertion. You can't because you can't get whatever records exist to show how 1,644 senior transports were paid for with a measly $19,000.
So Phil takes claim to being the savior of the Elderly while using PD resources (my tax money) and then taking all the credit like he is some hero. Then he calls and mails those now obligated to him for their vote to elect his cronies. And let's not forget his abuse of power against anyone that dares to question his funding practices. I am waiting to see if he will arrest the Attorney General for pointing out Phil's illegal funding practices.
If people can't see this scheme for what it truly is, a defrauding of tax payer dollars to run a political organization, then nothing will ever change their minds. And I'm sure there are some people that no matter what, will never own up to the reality they are being used for their votes to satisfy one man's endless need for power in a small town. Go look up the definition of narcisstic personality disorder and you will find his picture.
they dont feel threatened because they have never crossed him.
If they criticized him publicly they too would feel the heat of his vindictiveness.
"Go look up the definition of narcisstic personality disorder and you will find his picture."
I wonder if instead I might find yours! You are so hell-bent on this crusade against him that you want to think all people (and most especially the elderly) "must" be brainwashed if they support him. But you will find, you're wrong.
Your posting fits the category of
"a narcissistic, self-absorbed, power hungry ego-maniac that is out of control" than anything you can accuse him of. Just read these postings - they are comical.
VOR, it is good to read your opposing viewpoints to most of the posts on this blog. However, I believe you are misinterpreting our frustrations as "whining."
The problem is quite simply this; we are asking for more accountability and transparency in the town. In fact, the NH State AGO is now asking for this as well. We, as taxpayers, have a right to know how our money is being spent and clearly, this is not possible with the police department and the elderly affairs dept. being as intertwined as they are. Yet, if you look at PC's recent outburst at the BOS meeting and read the quote in the ET, you see he has no intention of changing his ways...and THAT is a problem.
More troubling is the control he wields over Selectman Childs and Friel. Electionineering, as someone put it.
You write: those that value him and the work he has done to help them would choose him over anyone else you could recommend - including Noriko Yoshida in the community center, who is also very well liked by the seniors in town.
I ask this: Why?
Perhaps Noriko Yoshida would actually do a better job if given the chance. However, like PC, you (or they) all seem resistant to change. What is sad, is clearly this is becoming an "us" vs. "them" issue and that is not good for the town. However, in my opinion, the responsibility for this falls squarely on the shoulders of PC. He thumbs his nose at us with his "tango" statement. He give us a non-statement against the vandalism to Mr. Acciard's car. And the list goes on and on and on. He is clearly a divisive figure in town and he thrives on it. And when he doesn't get his way, you get quotes like, "Take the money, it's yours then!" In short, he is lacking in leadership skills.
That said, I truly hope we can separate the the two depts. and, if he has to choose, he chooses Elderly Affairs. The needs of the town and the Police Dept. have vastly outgrown him. And for all of PC's talk about his "free" work, I, for one don't completely buy it. Most people, who donate their time, prefer to do it quietly and anonymously. They do not throw it in your face when they feel their position in town is threatened. Makes you wonder, eh?
Youse are all being mean to Mista Phil. What..do you all have personal vendettas against him?
Without our private EA cars, Mabel and I would have to share rides with "those people". You know the ones who don't live in lovely Atkinson, but use Salem Caregivers for rides. Heck, those drivers don't even get paid, so they must not be trained like our drivers. And then how would we know who and what to vote for? The nice drivers we have are kind enough to fill us in on who will support EA and who would cancel it.
And by the way, Mabel and I miss the letters in ALL CAPS. We went out and spent $63.00 on special glasses to allow us to read ALL CAPS. Now Walmart won't take them back. Can we get reimbursed out of the donation account?
So youse people just move along, there is nothing to see here.
VOR, as 6:13 PM said,, opposing view points are a good thing, but get your facts straight. "issue with the radio communications for the police has not gone away. Mr. Sullivan just does not want it brought up in the selectmen meetings anymore. So the police officers and the citizens continue to be at risk."
Just so we're clear here, ALL of the selectmen were against the reforming of the Communications Committee as Mr. DiMaggio proposed. Go to the town web site and read the minutes from April 29'th meeting.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the BOS shot Mr. DiMaggio down was that twice the same committee, with the same members, have offered up a solution to the radio problem that far and beyond what is required to solve the problem. Perhaps the BOS was concerned with Mr. DiMaggio's refusal to entertain alternatives. After seeing Mr. DiMaggio's performance at the Special Town Meeting (see on You Tube, pointer on the home page) I could understand if the BOS might feel new leadership is required.
SO, don't lay this one totally on Mr. Sullivan's head. They all objected, and I think for good reason.
anon 6:13pm, incorrect assumption that VOR and myself (anon 5:29) are one in the same. You responded to my post, but referred to me as VOR. I am not VOR, but it is nice to see at least two others with opposing views [(anon 6:01) looks to be another.]
To Voice of reason...
For you to call me narrow minded is narrow minded in itself. Anyone looking at this situation with the elderly affairs Can see it needs to be torn away from the police dept. The service has no place to be intertwined with police duties, or to distract the police chief from his job. Case in point with the attempted abduction in atkinson last spring, the chief had no idea of the situation for 3 or 4 days. So the school had no warning for 5 days after the fact. Thats 5 days of kids walking home from school without any idea of what happened. Must of been a buisy day with elderly affairs that day eh? Mmmm, oh yeah, the AGO's office has also ordered the town to do as well (the AGO must be narrow minded too?) But here we have the Chief fighting till the very end to stop that from happening. His behaivor says everything, his quote in the paper, his childish remarks at selectman's meetings etc.. Phil is a police chief, not a 2 year old. He should be listening to any opinion with openess and understanding, but what we see on tv and read in the newspapers is that of a narrow minded, self centered , needing to be in control personality. So im the narrow minded one? You might be pointing that finger in the wrong direction.
how many times have we seen Phil blow up on TV at someone who was just being critical of his actions?
How many times havve we seen him yell and pound the table?
With how many residents?
I have seen him act irrational with Carol Grant, Mark Acciard, Jane Cole, Eleanor Zaremba, Elaine Woodbury, Brian Kaye, Dale Childs, Fred Childs, Joe Derocher, Janine Sawyer, Brian Boyle. Do they ALL have vendetta against Phil?
Or is Phil the common denominator in all of this? A small minded, childish control freak, who can't stand to be questioned, and publicly "goes after" anyone who does.
I have wondered recently if Fred and Bill have been silent lately because they back what Paul has been doing. I hope so.
It would be good for all of us to have a BOS that recognized PC for what he is, a bully who is withdrawing money from the donation account without the approval of the BOS. This is stealing and the numbers indicate that it is thousands of dollars a year, a felony, black and white.
The lack of separation between the 2 depts. is not ok and this must be resolved, per the AG. PC states that he uses the PD budget to support the EA program, which are funded by two different budgets. This is misappropriation of tax dollars, also illegal.
There must be transparency and accountability and no one can argue with this. No one but PC has the list of people who have donated to the donation account. As a result, he can make up anything he wants and get anyone to sign up and then just take the money from the town and deposit it in his new private slush fund. If he was open about his dealings, this would not be happening.
Though you may believe that PC is great guy doing wonderful things, you are sadly mistaken. He does not offer EA services to all residents, he only offers it to those who donate money to him and who are his supporters. The other elderly residents are denied services. They are told they need to apply for a ride 30 days in advance, they are also told to get an ambulance if they need assistance getting to the house in their wheelchair. Why do we have a wheelchair van?
EA is a taxpayer funded program where the residents vote to support the overhead and vehicles to be used for this dept. That PC can selectively and unilaterally decides who gets service and who does not, is totally unjust, mean, and the basis of the worst corruption in this town.
How would you like it if the Fire Dept decided to provide services only to certain families but not yours and your daughter was choking because you were not on their list because you did not buy a raffle ticket for the turkey.
How would you like it if the school decided to teach only the children of certain families and deny others because the parents disagreed with the new budget they proposed?
How would you like it if the highway dept decided they didn't want to plow your road because you voted against having a second full time person in the dept.?
This is exactly what PC is doing with the PD and the EA. How do you feel about this? I want him out of both positions and would prefer criminal charges be brought against him.
To VOR (not)
The people are at risk, not because the PD has a communication problem and the BOS aren't acting, but because they have PC who ignores police work to support EA. When PC pulls the only officer off the streets to give Mabel a ride, that is not only dangerous but unethical and a violation of public trust. When he is clueless to the fact that someone tried to abduct a child, it is cause for his dismissal in my book. In any other town, they consider this attempted abduction, not here. In Atkinson, they think nothing of it. Parents here should worry about that risk.
Instead of cutting down Paul and Brian Boyle, why don't you look at the real proven risk of having PC in that position, causing lawsuits, bullying people and avoiding his duty as a police officer. (oh, and stealing)
ps - the PEOPLE voted against the communication tower so Paul can't do anything about it.
**********************************
TO PAUL SULLIVAN, BILL FRIEL, FRED CHILDS:
**********************************
When the Chief approaches you with his list of donors who signed forms granting him permission to move money from the town account to the new donation fund, you MUST require unquestionable proof of their donations, copies of cancelled checks will do. If you do not do this, you are setting yourself up for a legal challenge.
We intend to put in a RTK request asking for the donation list along with copies of all the supporting documents. This is public information and you cannot deny us this under the law, per the AGO. Let there be no misunderstanding about this now.
To Anon: September 12, 2008 6:01 PM.
Your rant is that of a petulant child. Your response smacks of: I know you are but what am I? Is that the best you could come back with? Thank you, I needed a good laugh.
You are funny. Are you the man or his wife? We know they read "THAT BLOG!!!" We've seen Phil go insane at people over it. Case in point, 2008 deliberative session yelling at Mr. Brownfield. Wow, Phil was going crazy on camera for the world to see that day. You know, kind of like he has for years. Kind of like, someone that is a narcissistic, self-absorbed, power hungry ego-maniac that is out of control. Yes, I believe there are dozens of video excerpts that show his behavior fits the characterization. Quite frankly, I think I nailed it. Just my humble opinion of course.
By the way, how did Atkinson pay for 1,644 senior transports with a $19,000 budget? Inquiring taxpayers want the FACTS! It better not have been with PD budget and resources because that means my taxdollars were misappropriated and that is against the law! Someone, please show me I am wrong about this. I want to see the documented budget, ledger and rides to know exactly how my tax dollars were used.
Yes indeed, sneaky and unethical. Using Police funds for another thing is wrong and should be just cause for removal. A Police chief doing this activity? Are you kidding me? In today's world? No person in america cannot do this, not even a police chief . Not even a police chief that has 2 to tango.
How can any parent let that abduction incident go? If i had my children still in Atkinson and that happened i would be apeship. Your right, PC should be relieved of his position.
The people that support Consentino are probably vulnerable seniors who don't care that the money for the services they receive are virtually embezzelled from the police budget; if Consentino really cared about seniors, he could have easily done this is an open and ethical way; the seniors just aren't ready to see that Consentino was just trying to find a way to insure his grip of power on the town and their politicians.
I mean really, who thought that we'd end up with spineless selectman like Friel, Sapia, and Childs (Fred used to have the strength to butt heads with the chief, I guess the chief has something on him now, or maybe age has just taken its toll on the old boy)?
The people defending the chief here don't think that there's anything wrong with police harassment, intimidation, misuse of funds, having God knows how many cars for a town of 6,000 people, wasting tax money on unnecessary legal costs, ignoring court orders, and generally a chief that does whatever he damn well wants. All they care about is getting theres. That's why they'll never speak out defend all those other things he did.
The seniors know what he's about but many of them are vulnerable or would not have to rely on him for rides to the doctor or for mere shopping trips. Many of those who support him can afford to but don't have anyone else to turn to for these services. Many also vote (or say to) per his direction to get the services.
PC does have something on Fred, he has flaunted Fred's (public) record to anyone who'll listen so possibly Fred shuts up when he'd rather quiet PC.
It's no wonder Fred spit in PC's face and though I was appalled at the time, I get it now.
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