From the Eagle Tribune;
October 31, 2011
Town's new website brings everyone together
By Cara Hogan
chogan@eagletribune.com
ATKINSON — The town's new website went live Tuesday, creating a central site for the entire town. Previously, several departments had their own websites.
The site has many new features and offers more information, including recent meeting minutes and agendas.
Todd Barbera, chairman of the Technology Committee, said the new website was recommended by the IT assessment the town did in 2009.
"The old website was created with Front Page, which is obsolete software," he said. "There were also multiple websites for the town. If you go to recreation or conservation or the police department, each has their own website with a different look and feel. We wanted to bring it all under one umbrella and make it easier for residents to use."
All the work on the website was done by Technology Committee member Wendy Barker over the past 18 months — at no cost to the town.
"Wendy saved the town thousands of dollars on this project," Barbera said. "Residents should be really grateful to her."
Barker explained the changes from the old to the new website.
"This website includes such improvements as Google calendars for both government and community events, a search field, and an FAQ page," she said. "It has been designed for ease of navigation and to be viewed easily on any mobile device."
Barbera said the committee still plans more improvements to the website in the future.
"We want to take every meeting that is broadcast on TV — Conservation, Board of Selectmen, Budget Committee — and have those be available online," he said. "Not permanently, but so you would have the opportunity to watch the most recent meetings. It will be a convenience for residents who were unable to watch a meeting live."
Barker said they're also working on integrating social media.
"Future improvements will include such things as Twitter feeds and online submission of web forms," she said. "This has become an ongoing project and every effort will be made to keep its look, feel and functionality up to date."
Atkinson Town Hall
The Norman Rockwellian picture of Atkinson
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135 comments:
Geesh! Give them a break. Rome wasn't built in a day. They just converted the old, outdated web site to a new format and made some changes. Give them credit for that at least. I'm sure they will be updating it with new info now that the transition has finished.
I think it is a sad state of affairs that the Atkinson Taxpayers website has more information on it than the town website does.
I agree with the first poster.
Great that they eliminated the other sites, no need for more than one in town.
Great that Wendy did all this work for nothing.
They can only put in what the departments give them so blame those in charge of the depts. if the content is not to your liking.
It is early, wait for them to add more info.
Does anyone in Atkinson have power yet?
Call Unitil. Or maybe the APD. I don't have power and all my phones are dead.
APD - funny. The Chief has been speeding all over town in a lg white SUV with lights flashing.
Is this a PD car?
Trick or Treat was cancelled per the Town website. Too bad no one will know since everyone's power is off.
I'm now convinced most everyone on this blog has Attention Deficit Disorder.
A topic is posted, a few comments relating to it, and then it turns to chief bashing or defending.
Here again is a posting about a citizen(s) who has/have done good for the town at their expense and time only to see it rapidly descend into the all familiar topic that is hashed over and over in every single posting.
For those of us who have given our time and energy to better this town, thanks for nothing.
Excuse me, but most of the comments about the website were positive and thankful to Wendy (yes, and Todd and the others).
I do not see any Cheif bashing or defending here. Read again.
The only interuption is about the power outage and understandably so.
Maybe someone on this site has a reading comprehension problem.
Only pointing out a consistent trend. Watch.
BTW, how do you rate October 31, 2011 2:27 PM?
there you go again mark negative bla bla bla
Just went to the Atkinson Taxpayers Association and look what I see on the bottom:
Updates to this website were last added on: January 31, 2011
Yes Mark, clearly there is much more information that's 9 months old. Here's a suggestion, get over yourself.
Ts isn't about me, this is about transparency to the people paying for it.
For an example look at Danville's site. Also until recently the minutes from selectmens meetings had not been updated for 9 months, and the budget committee for almost two years.
The taxpayers should be able to get a wide variety of information without having to file RTK requests.
"Until recently". Okay, new website, up to date information. The MRI report and the emergency communications report is there. They say video of the meetings is coming. So where's the beef?
Mark, why do you post as admin/team member and then comment under your own name? Where is the transparency in your actions?
I haven't seen any admin /team member posts. What are you talking about?
Chief cancels Truck or Treat. Doesn't postpone it, he CANCELED it. First kids from Haverhill can't come here, now no one can.
Old grouch.
At least Mark puts his name along with a few others.
Trick or treat is not cancelled according to the website.
ZBA Mags and pfffrank want no treats for Halloween. The bad news is hey picked up the same costume for the party,,,,Nixon in drag.
Word on Academy is Mags then showed for the BOS party dressed in black satin trimmed in skunk with a witches hat, camera, big umbrella, voice recorder, and lots of like.... I don't owe you vigilantes nuttin.
After the phfreaks showed with Nixon in pumps and the umbrella broom, they had enough and told law enforcement to call off Halloween for the town. That's how it really went down, frankly.
But the video guy and technology committee want Mags and tricky dick broadcasting on Act TV. Late nite "I am not a crook, i am innocent" bedtime stories.. in costume.
They decided to call the show....Nightmare Alley.
Yesterday, it was posted as CANCELED. Maybe they took so much flack that they had to change their minds.
It was also on the WMUR News on TV, ATKINSCROOGE CANCELED.
Did you think that perhaps it was cancelled for the day it was scheduled for? Would you want your children to go around to dark neighborhoods with downed power lines and limbs dangling from them? I know chief bashing is a favorite sport on this blog, but try to use some common sense.
I post under my own name. It really is that simple. You should try it.
So Mark, are you denying you are not a team member of this blog?
mark uses this blog so he can hear himself talk
Do I think it was cancelled for the day it was scheduled for?
It was canceled. Are you asking if they meant to postpone it but did not know the right word?
It was cancelled with a comment saying it was not yet determined when and if it would be rescheduled. Clearly it was. Try to find a real issue to get your faux indignation up.
Read it and weep.
http://www.eagletribune.com/newhampshire/x783647870/October-snowstorm-alters-Halloween-plans
"ATKINSON: Cancelled trick or treating tonight. Not yet re-scheduled."
who is ZBA Mags referenced above?
I am a follower, what is a "team member"?
How funny it is that the town and its officials have spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to find out who runs the first Atkinson Reporter, and this one, and it is STILL a matter of concern.
Actually what was funny Mark was that your original criticism of the new website was torn apart leaving you with no answer. The emperor has no clothes.
As I stated...YESTERDAY, the TOWN website said canceled and WMUR posted canceled al night long. So they changed it after the fact. What's your point? They didn't change it until people started complaining.
What part of this don't you get?
The website was done by one person who solicited the info from the town, but Mark's comment is legitimate, there is more on the CNHT Atkinson site than the town site and that is pathetic. Not Wendy's fault, or the fault of IT.
And it was cancelled for MONDAY night. What part of that do you not get? You think people were really worried about this issue and complaining when they didn't have power??? Get a life.
"there is more on the CNHT Atkinson site than the town site and that is pathetic"
The Atkinson tax payers website deals with lawsuits and such. Is that what you are looking for on the town website? That site was last updated in January so it's not even close to being up to date. I have no idea what you think is missing from the town website and I doubt you do either.
Team member definition: http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?answer=41440
Does that not define your association with this blog?
It was pointed out on AR2 several years ago that you were listed as a team member for this blog and the presidential blog. Your name disappeared almost immediately after.
So, for transparency sake, don't readers of this blog have a right to know your association so that they may better judge your comments? Otherwise, it is very misleading and unethical "reporting".
funny marks all woried about atkinson and he does not even live here, all he is is a negative trouble maker
Mark is one of the few brave souls to fight Consentino corruption in my opinion. He stood up to Frank and never backed down in those rigged deliberative sessions.
Is there no one in this town that is not filled with hatred??
Every one seems to have a chip on their shoulder.
There are still a few people in this town that care to make things right and are willing to try.
Maybe you are not getting what you want to hear ,and that's OK but,
those that are working at it would be glad to hear constructive
criticism. Bet they would be more than glad.
To those that still care about the Town I say--- Thankyou
Isn't ZBA Mags a reference to the infamous Maggie Osborn? Are the Osborns still living in town? Are they still illegally occupying that house? Are their kids still going to Timberlane schools? Did they ever pay that fine to the town of Atkinson? Imagine how nice the town website could be if they paid that fine. Would also make a nice down payment on the communications tower or pay for thousands of elderly rides. If it wasn't for the town' s unequal treatment that is...
Just a few of my humble questions. Wouldn't want to forget friends and neighbors like the Osborns.
Can you elaborate on what you mean by "unequal treatment"? I do not think you are informed as to the current status of the legal proceedings between the town and the Osborns.
While the Osborns are seeking an appeal in Supreme Court, thus far they have lost all decisions and are into the town big-time for fines and possibly legal fees. They're in deep, VERY DEEP, and their options are running out.
Your implication that the town has somehow looked the other way concerning their situation is simply incorrect.
Unequal? yes! Osborn's were attempting to steal another person's land with town approval. IE Frank Polito. Chairman of ZBA!
Osborn's beat the town out of legal fees because town counsel missed a filing date that forced the judge to rule in their favor.
Than was no accident. You smart enough to figure out how that happened? Apprently not.
Lesson.............Don't trust the people you elected to be in power to protect you or your rights.
Conman decides who gets prosecuted or gets their rights taken away.
How do you like getting your rights taken away by a few crooks?
My cousin use to say "The more I screw people, the BETTER THEY LIKE IT"!
How do you like getting screwed? The more you do nothing the better Consentino likes it. He went to school with my cousin.
Only those that get something for free, like our Conman. The honest people hate what he does.
Now do you understand whay honest people are upset?
Unequal? yes! Osborn's were attempting to steal another person's land with town approval. IE Frank Polito. Chairman of ZBA!
Osborn's beat the town out of legal fees because town counsel missed a filing date that forced the judge to rule in their favor.
Than was no accident. You smart enough to figure out how that happened? Apprently not.
Lesson.............Don't trust the people you elected to be in power to protect you or your rights.
Conman decides who gets prosecuted or gets their rights taken away.
How do you like getting your rights taken away by a few crooks?
My cousin use to say "The more I screw people, the BETTER THEY LIKE IT"!
How do you like getting screwed? The more you do nothing the better Consentino likes it. He went to school with my cousin.
Only those that get something for free, like our Conman. The honest people hate what he does.
Now do you understand whay honest people are upset?
How do I become a team member of this blog?
The wrongs from town officials, town employees, town moderators, ZBA wrongs against homeowners in favor of their own ZBA "team members" disgust me.
I am willing to committ 20 hours a week working against scum in Atkinson and the yellow belly selectmen defending them.
I got to be on thie blog team. I volunteer!!
I will never volunteer for any town committee in Atkinson. I want to hang with good and honest people. Shame on you people who hang out with dishonest bullies and crooks in town hall. They take advantage of the elderly and good people and rip them off and have no guilt. Not a drop. You will get your just deserts for volunteering in Atkinson with thieves and liars running the show.
The assertion that Polito or the ZBA in some way approved or endorsed the Osborn's actions with cutting a driveway on Davis' land is simply not reflected in the record.
I believe Polito actually refused to discuss it with the Osborns as a possible course of action because it was outside of ZBA jurisdiction. It was a civil matter between two private landowners. Refusing to discuss a matter is not the same as approving or endorsing it.
Can you point to anywhere in the (ZBA or trial) records where the ZBA approved or endorsed the Osborn's actions?
I know facts can be inconvenient for Polito-haters, but this is one popular bashing-point that is flat-out wrong.
Why isn't Chiefo checking on the elderly? I've had two of them call my house looking for help and moral support while sitting in the dark and the cold for 4 nights.
We know the ZBA did not notify the owners ON PURPOSE regarding the dastardly acts against the homeowners.. You lie. And that's typical at town hall.
I am also helping a absent minded elderly lady with no heat. No calls returned. She forgot to donate.
Mark Acciard is a very honest, forthright, and honorable man.
There is nothing more disgusting than to see the 'haters' continually go after him on the blog.
What are the motives of these haters? Think about that everytime you see an attack on Acciard on the blog.
Mark Acciard is a very good man who fearlessly served the town on the Budget Committee, doing his job according to the requirements of the NH Municipal Law, and not being afraid to take on Consentino for his intrangience concerning the spending of taxpayers' money.
It is very reasonable to assume that the 'Mark haters' on the blog are the same ones who continually attacked him when they were town officials -- the Consentinos and their syncopants, Sapia and Polito.
Shame on them. They need to get a life and stop fixating on Mark.
Hank, Thank you for your informative, and attributed post.
I would submit that DRAFT minutes are available to the public not more than 5 calendar days after the close of the meeting, or in the case of non-public meetings 72 hours. See RSA 91-a:2 and :3.
Therefore those minutes could be put on the towns websites within those time frames.
it's nice to see some people working together. There is a lot of integrity out there and just ignore the the ones that don't even know what they wanna-be. Almost every one grows up someday.
mark, grant, cat lady are all a bunch of fruit cake trouble makers trying to get everyong going
Then you must be the fruitcake maker cause they were never a bother to anyone before. Carol Grant did a lot of good things for Atkinson in water conservation and helped form Elderly Affairs. Mark was Budget Comm chair and others were town volunteers.
You broke the law time after time and they fought you. You attack the messengers with a smear campaign consistently telling us they're fruitcakes, crazies, blah blah blah.
But our chief is n-n-n-normal? ROTFLMAO
Show us the legal bills and total losses we taxpayers pay becuz of Mr. Normal himself. Hundreds of thousands.
Just my fruity humble opinion
I'd rather BE labeled a fruit cake trouble maker who is NOT breaking the law, NOT slandering anyone, NOT corrupt, than to BE an iliterate, unqualified misfit who IS breaking the law, attacking people for no reason and who has no shame or remorse.
Thanks for telling Hank Riehl, Chair ZBA, the law. Why was he ignorant of the law? Will he obey the law?
Now watch em. The garbage can of excuses for withholding public info. ---Oh, it could take 3 whole months for us to bother with the law because, because, because, blah, blah, blah. Selectmen pull the same trick but different. They set the example for other committees and employees. Look how that is working out for us struggling little people--- as they like to call the voters.
trying to get everyong going
HAHAHHAA
Thank you Wendy for the time you give. The site looks great. I know you don't go on this rag. To bad it really needs help, your talents would serve them well. Crazy is as crazy does=The Atkinson Reporter news team.
Yeah, and Wendy can spell too! You could take some lessons from her.
IMO, he only attacks the people he is jealous of and is afraid of. Those who have seen the problems and try to fix them. What is wrong with this? Not a thing, in our minds. To have the nerve to disparage people just to shut them up is not really working.
To 2:18pm;
forgive me, but I quoted the law, not as a commandment to Mr. Riehl to post them immediately, Just as a point that there is no NEED to wait until the next meeting for those boards meeting irregularly
Information withholding is a long term tactic to work in secret. This avoids the scrutiny. It is an aberration of democracy that should not be tolerated by the voters.
And the explanation, please, as to all the withholding of information by the ZBA, untrained town moderators, the BOS, Atkinson police department? Logs and minutes and RSA laws are missing or simply ignored leaving the population violated and in the dark without a generator 24/7, most of the year.
Mr. Acciard, you have a kind nature. Perhaps too kind. Often you show kindness to the undeserving. That is very generous but also a weakness. Virtues and vices are flip sides of each other. For example, You may have the virtue of generosity, but the flip side (vice) is you give money away with no reservation and overlook fiscal management.
All meeting minutes and police logs should be published on a rigorous schedule, the guidelines already provided by the state of NH. Doing that would expose to public view decision making and actions or danger to the public. Why do you suppose the guidelines are in place to begin with?
Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Gaddafi, Putin, Caligula, Idi Amin, George Bush, George Soros, Goldman Sacks, Country-Wide, Bernie Maddoff, our disfunctional Attorney Generals office. There are too many to mention....all superb at information control and keeping information from public view. (Oh, well, after 99 years we will learn the details of the scandal at Timberlane.)
Do you see the manipulation and control over a supposed "free" people?
Wow you need help! Is your daughter a cheerleader? There is no scandal. The coach couldn't handles the team. That's it, happy now. No you will never be happy because you are sad, miserable person. Filled with negativity.
So many people still without power, go to the community center. Bring food, do dishes, clean tables. Stop thinking of yourself for awhile. Obama Care is not helping you at all.
Strange post with so many assumptions about someone!
This is a bone of contention with me. People post here anonymously and others attack them and make unfounded accusations about them when they don't even know who each poster is. It's ignorant.
To 11/3 @ 9:11;
Actually I think his 99 years reference was to the Timberlane school board's illegal sealing of meeting minutes for 99 years. Lt. Baldwin was the chair at that meeting.
As for your cheerleader comment, It was a combination of factors; And inexperienced and ineffectual coach. 2 senior girls and 1 junior girl who were obnoxious and bullies. Those girls parents who extended their daughter's misbehaviors to the AD, and the AD himself who allowed this situation to fester since August refusing to kick the bullies off the team for their behavior, refusing to nip the situation in the bud before it got out of control.
So everyone suffers because of a couple of bullies. Sounds familiar.
Great to see the MRI report and Emergency Communications committee reports on the new website. In the old days,those reports would never see the light of day nevermind posted on the town website. The reports expose our chief for what a fraud he is. He almost forced on us a $700000 communications tower we never needed. Yup he's gotta go. I'm looking forward to when they post his retirement date on the website.
The MRI report should be posted without the hack lawyers revisions with Selectmen approval.
Disgusting violation of the public right to know. Someone needs to file a RTK and go after the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
There was very little that was blacked out. I for one am willing to give the benefit of the doubt that the blacked out portions fall squarely within the RSA91A guidelines.
Well I for one will except none of this. BOS and their Attorney Kalman have learned to hide their tracks well. They've ruined the MRI report for me. If these guys were so trustworthy they would have told Consentino to pack his bags years ago. They're all part of it.
Just my 1st Amendment thoughts for today.
thanks carol for the wild turkeys,bang bang we are going to eat good tonite
To Todd Barbero and wendy Barker,
Thank you for all of your hard work. Dedicated un-sung town volunteers like you are what make the town work.
Are you the person so ignorant of the law who is shooting the wild turkeys in the middle of Atkinson and violating NH hunting laws?
There are few, if any open spaces that qualify as hunting areas in Town.
To Anonymous, Nov. 5, 12:48,
I loved your post! It bought a big smile to my face and made me laugh with delight.
Everytime a town resident phones me to tell me there's one or a flock of wild turkeys on their lawn -- OR ONE SITTING ON THEIR PORCH BALCONY (really!, one did!!), or roosting in a tree, it delights me so much!! I love hearing about wild turkey sightings.
So many town residents, including the Selectmen and Conservation Commission were supportive of the project to restore and protect wild turkey habitat in town.
I had asked a biologist from N.H. Fish & Game to come down and do a study of the 68+ acre Sawyer land to confirm that it had all of the requirements for wild turkey breeding -- water, berries, food, field with high grass, and a sandy area for them to take ''sand baths'' in. The State Biologist confirmed it as perfect for wlld turkey breeding habitat.
The then-selectmen were approached and those very future-looking men very graciously unanimously voted to contribute the 20 acre then-town portion of the Sawyer land to the abutting 48 acre conservation land to make up one big protected turkey breeding area. (Actually, contributed it until the town had a better use for the town parcel).
I understood that local hunters, on their own, were respecting and leaving alone that particular habitat.
The turkeys who visited the area that season breeded there, and have since then repeatedly come back with their progeny to breed more wild turkeys.
We're so lucky in Atkinson to be able to enjoy wild turkeys. They're a very special part of Americana. Our children are given a chance to experience something special.
Did you know that Benjamin Franklin actually proposed to Congress that wild turkeys become the national symbol? Congress instead voted to make the American bald eagle our national symbol (a much better choice!)
To 12:48 Anonymous,
'Bang, bang'???? Do you need two shots? Can't you shoot straight? Did you fail your hunter safety course?
November 4, 2011 5:18 PM
You sound like the type who would not have been happy if nothing had been redacted. I was actually surprised very little was blacked out. Be happy the meat of the report remained.
By the way, it is "will not accept any of this", not "will except none of this." Your lack of tolerance is only matched by your poor grammar.
PS, if you are not going to accept any of this, what ARE you going to do? Your statement implies some sort of action will be taken. I'd like to be there.
Hey grammar fart, I love you anyway. How's that for tolerance?
November 4, 2011 5:18 PM
I disagree. Recall the first announcement of the receipt of the report. It was in DRAFT form. Two weeks went by before anyone read the version marked FINAL. The entire report could have been rewritten without anyone being the wiser. To say just a few lines were redacted is a moot point given the facts. A cloud of deception hangs in the air.
Carol, you are such a dear. I love to see the turkeys in my neighborhood but I also hate to hear the gun shots and the dwindling size of the flock. I think they are being shot over by Sawyer.
To Anonymous Nov. 5, 12:48 & 12:55, Nov. 6, 7:48, and everyone interested in the wild turkey flock in town.
I checked my old Town Reports. On March 14, 2000, Atkinsonians voted for and passed ballot item 2000-31 which bans hunting on 14 of the 59 town-owned open space parcels.
There are no restrictions on the other 44 town land parcels or the hundreds of acres of privately-owned land, except the state law forbidding shooting near homes.
The 'no hunting' article appeared on the ballot because during the previous 1999 hunting season, hunters' bullets shot into 2 homes -- on Pine Knoll Drive and Robie Lane -- narrowly missing children.
The 19 town-owned parcels where the voters banned hunting ALL ABUTTED HOUSE LOTS.
Those 19 town parcels abutted the homes on Pope Road, Hoyt Circle, Old Coach Road, Hovey Meadow Road, the WILD TURKEY BREEDING HABITAT ON SAWYER AVENUE, Meadow Lane, Sleepy Hollow Road, Forest Road, Juniper Lane, North Broadway, lower Main Street, Bryant Woods, Robie Lane, Deer Run Road, Oak Ridge Drive, Brushwood Drive, Washington Road, Wason Lane, Crown Hill, Pine Knoll Drive, Crystal Hill Road, and the woods abutting the Pope Road Recreation Area and the Atkinson Community Center.
Thanks Carol, lots of great information. We can hear shooting on almost a daily basis in the area of the Sawyer and Main St. This is too close to homes.
gobble gobble, bang
I want to thank Ted Stewart for his good work during the storm. I called for a tree over the road and he came right away. Good job Ted.
you would think mark and carol are saints to listen to them talk
ben franklin who cares just shows you how off the wall you are
We a bunch of people who bad mouth others, have poor performance in their chosen field and blame everyone else but themselves for their failures. You can pick them out by the bitter comments and disgraceful behavior.
We have another bunch of people who contribute positive suggestions and try to make things better in Town. You can pick them out as they turn the other cheek and continue to do what's right and do not stoop to vandalism, dishonesty, or threats.
Which group are you in?
Did you see this?
NH Judge rules "audio recording of a police officer in the course of his official duties in a public place is protected speech under the First Amendment.”
Here's a link to the article. I'm going out to get myself a recorder.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/9635-nh-judge-upholds-right-to-record-police-in-public
Looks like Weare Police Dept. has to learn the same lesson Polito had to learn the hard way.
Another win for Citizen Rights.
WHO'S NEXT?
RSA 91-A:2 and 91-A:4 indicate a board must make minutes available for public inspection at its office within 5 days of a meeting. There is no mention that minutes must be posted on a town website; ever.
Posting of upcoming meeting agendas MAY be (but do not have to be) posted on a town website as one possible (of two required ) "appropriate places".
It is however, THE most appropriate place to put meeting minutes. Everyone is sitting around a web browser these days and it only makes sense.
Just good old fashioned sense. Why do anything else but this?
Why? Because the law stipulates the minutes be made available at the board's office, not on a website.
Also consider the town's past experiences with volunteer webmasters. Was the lack of timely information caused by reticent boards, or simply no one minding the website?
I see lots of minutes on the new website so maybe past failings were due to web practices, not boards' nefarious intentions.
your poor neighbor
The criminals in town have plenty of their own bad energy, they don't need any help from your cartoon solutions.
To November 9, 2011 6:24 PM
The law may require the minutes to be available at the Selectman's office, but it does not prevent them from being posted on a website. It is a convenience for the residents and why would anyone be against that? Hmmm? Why?
If in the past the Town was relying on volunteers and using that as an excuse to not keep the town site update to date, they are still to blame as it was their own decision to do so.
Their website, their volunteers, blame them. I'd like to see the town show some respect and transparency going forward.
I don't think anyone said they were against posting minutes on the website. The earlier point only cited the relevant law, which requires only that minutes be available in town offices, not on a website.
Then that got twisted into accusations that some (presumably town officials) are against posting minutes on the website at all.
However, the new website has up-to-date postings of board minutes; which furthers the contention that past failings may have been due to inattention to the website, not any goal to hide information from the public.
The obvious fix is to make the webmaster function a paid position accountable for performance. Who's in favor of that?
I'm guessing many of those critical of the prior website's outdatedness are the same who would rail against spending money to keep it updated.
We are already paying for the minutes to be posted, and you want to create another position to do the job twice?
Only Conman would post a stupid comment like that!
To Mark Acciard:
Many here trust your views. Could you please comment on the reasonable expectations citizens should have from town volunteers versus town employees? You've been there and know volunteers don't always fulfill the need in timely fashion, notwithstanding their good intentions.
The website has been volunteer-run. Volunteers do what they want when they want. If the voters want guaranteed up-to-date info on the town website, the voters should fund a town webmaster and not rely on volunteers.
It is pure baloney to blame boards for not having their minutes on the website. Selectmen, PB, Conservation, ZBA, Energy, COI and other committes make their records available. It is not up to them to also get them on the website.
If you want immediate postings to the website, fund it with a paid webmaster via a citizen's petition.
PS
We also don't need a high paid TA that you can't find when you need them. Especially when they are out in their car talking for hours on their cell phone.
PS
We also don't need a high paid TA that you can't find when you need them. Especially when they are out in their car talking for hours on their cell phone.
Minutes are done on a word processor. Once approved, Barbara Snicer can upload it to the website were minutes are posted.
We need less paid incompetent hack, political town employees, and more competent results from the ones we have.
Anytime a taxpayer walks into town hall, all they see is Childs "Shooting the breeze" about all the cow dung he shoveled that day, and stopping employees from their work. You will also see Snicer talking to friends on the phone about nothing and or eating a sandwich.
Walk into the planning office and you'll most likely see whomever reading a newspaper or bored out of their minds with nothing to do.
The only ones that work are the employees that work in the Town Clerks office. They rest of the town employees should just stay at home and save us taxpayer’s money.
If you want someone to post to the website, give the responsibility to someone that already works there. It would take all of five minutes out of their week, and then they can go back to doing nothing.
Another paid hack is something this town doesn't need, so give it a rest already.
We are over staffed. 1) The dispatchers have to go, we are paying them for 40 hours what Plaistow is doiing for 128. 2) We don't need to create a greeter job that we've never missed. 3) There is already a clerical line item on the PD budjet, no sense in creating a new unnecessary job for clerical work that's alreay coevered. 4) We cannot rely on volunteers to do the website for free, it's unfair. We need to fund the positon by required more competent help in town hall. Give it to Rose and Company, she is always reliable. 5) We don't need transportation, get CART. Get rid of the cars, the drivers and the graft.
I am tired of subsidizing a bunch of people who give no added value to the Town RESIDENTS.
I take what your saying is we're already paying an IT support contractor to maintain the site and the content built into their contract while Ms. Barker provides new features to it at no cost.
If that's that case I'm good with it.
There is no need to submit a citizen’s petition for the creation of a webmaster position. The Technology Committee considered the issue as to who would be responsible for maintaining the website and we were concerned about the use of a volunteer as well. Although Wendy, a volunteer, is presently updating the site in the short term, this will ultimately be turned over to First Choice Networks. FCN is the Towns IT support vendor. We built website updates into the contract with FCN.
The various departments and committees are ultimately responsible for keeping their content up to date. Ultimately the Technology Committee wants to see as much information posted on the site as possible. This both opens up Town government to our residents as well as reduces the amount of Right to Know requests. Wendy is continuing work on the site to add additional functionality such as an embedded Twitter account for instant updates (warming center open, trash pickup canceled, etc) as well adding streaming video of the ACTV broadcast meetings.
If you have questions I would encourage you to go to the Technology page on the website. There you will find our email and I will be happy to respond to your queries.
Todd Barbera
WTF is going on with this blog? A lttle too much moderation?
Great job Todd and Wendy (and all the other IT volunteers).
This means alot to me to see the minutes posted. When you start streaming or posting meeting videos I will be halfway to heaven.
How about putting up meeting notices as well? Do we need to do a warrant article to get this obviously needed policy?
How about police logs, this should also be MANDATORY policy and put in the newspaper or the website ALL the time. We have a right to know what's going on around us.
Can you help with these things Todd?
Go to the police page. Police logs are there! It's a miracle!
Did they ever get to the newspaper?
The meeting notices are on the Government Calendar. As far as the police logs, we have requested and received them and Wendy has them posted on the Police page. We are not involved with the newspaper aspect, but we did want to ensure they were available on the Town website.
It's refreshing to see the MRI report, Emergency Communications report and Police logs on the new website. Maybe we've finally moved into the 20th century (LOL). This info was never easily obtained in the past without your name going on a watch list for requesting it.
GREAT WORK TODD AND WENDY!!
And the rest of the Technology Committte too, Bill Innes and Tom Cannon. I see the names are on the website. Very easy to find.
I'm in heaven.
Now to get the dispatch mess straigtened out.
And the cars, and the rides no one can get, and...ugh
I see that the police logs have been doctored up. Posting them publically is one hurdle but posting something other than what is called in is unacceptable.
They left out stuff too. These are not legitimate police logs, they are incomplete and have been changed to protect the crimnals.
It should show the names of those arrested like all other towns do.
What do you expect of the Conman. It’s business as usual for him, even with the new IT advances. He will fight to keep his actions (inactions) secret till the day he dies or gets fired. He knows he can't operate in the light of the day, or he would get sued repeatedly.
Congratulations to Todd, Wendy, and all the IT committee for their hard work and doing what they can to bring transparency back into town government that is otherwise corrupt.
Great Job! Keep up the good work. It already has gone a long way to taking our town back.
To IT - if you need any money warrant articles approved , nows the time. You're on TOP OF THE WORLD!!
Todd is on Budget Committee too so he's got real municipal experience beyond IT.
He should run for Selectman.
Well, maybe that's a good idea. He did his due diligence on IT.
Let's see how the BC goes this season of broke taxpayers.
I think the budget committee should quickly check out the cost of getting CART and get a quote from Plaistow about taking over dispatch 24/7 and recommending these two changes. Let it go to the ballot and let the chips fall where they may.
If he did this, I think both would pass and he'd be in like Flynn in March. I'll hold the signs.
OMG. We'd get CORRECT police logs from Plaistow!
YES!
to Anon November 11, 2011 3:14 PM
While I love your idea I don't think the budcom can actually do what you suggest. I think the budcom can only set budgets and that's it. I could be wrong but I think BOS are appropriate people to do what you suggest. And they should.
Anyone can file a petition warrant article. It depends on what channel you want to use. The selectmen could do it, a resident - TODD is a resident - he could do it even if he can't do it thru the BudComm.
It needs to be done, it's a good suggestion by MRI and it's been suggested in the past many times.
I am not going to deal with the issues of who is losing a job, or who's nose might be out of joint by this suggestion. I don't care. It needs to be presented, it should be presented and yes, the Selectmen should initiate it.
Maybe Todd could get with them and ask what they want to do about it. If he takes point on this, it will help his campaign. Go Todd.
Everyone is so ontop of OUr budget committee, try devoting some time to the School District budget committee, THEY are responsible for 80% of your tax bill! And they don't even look into the budget, they take what is presented by LaSalle.
He gets to write the budget he spends!
It's not the budget that is my concern, it is the blatant double charging.
lets get the air quality at the pd fixed before some one else passes away, friels guys could do it for $4999.00 profesonal bids came in at 72k yea right bill stick it to us again no kick back for you this time
just another reason we don,t need the pd in atkinson
Has anyone ever heard of a contracting company called Pro Site? They are the company that just submitted a low bid for the PD ceiling. HMM if you havent heard of it before check with Mr Friel, I belive he has heard of them before, right Bill? Inquiring minds would love to know :)
Lots of inside info on the PD posted above. Why are we hiring deaf cops or those who cannot spell? The postings are disgraceful.
pro site sounds like fly by nite outfit ill check with the state to see if there registerd
pro site has no web site and they are masonry contractors . why would friel open a bid after the bids were already anounced. maybe it is some one friel nows. and there bid was lower after bos announced the bid that came in on time
SOUNDS LIKE A SHADY FRIEL DEAL TO ME
So the Conman is hiring deaf night cops that can't take complaints! Isn't that interesting? Think we need to know that cops name and what disability he is receiving at taxpayer expense.
Nice try Phil but that is not going to fly with taxpayers.
How about it selectmen...........you supporting paying deaf cops at taxpayers expense?
Please justify your position on the blog, otherwise fire the bum!
With all due respect, a deaf cop is not a good idea. Is this true? How do you know?
To November 16, 2011 8:44 AM
Why don't you ask JOE LEE POULIN (who Consentino doesn't like) and no police log available to back up the complaint he filed. What happened to them? Call him and he will tell you the truth. Then again Consentino supporters don't
want to hear the truth, so I’m guessing you won't make the call.
Deaf Policemen hired by the Conman is just the next excuse the Conman will use to not protect the taxpayers of Atkinson. He will say it's the law that we have to hire the disabled to his benefit.
Consentino has cost this town MILLIONS and got away with it for the few dollars we have spent taking care of the elderly.
We don't know how many millions the town has gained by stealing from the elderly. (especially since we don't know how many were senile when Consentino stole from them and their families)
Theft under any other name is still theft. When it's done by a police chief, it's still theft.
Who takes advantage of the Elderly?
Our Police Chief and our Selectmen.
To bad they won't be around to file the complaint.
How sad that town officials are wolfs in sheep’s clothing and the elderly don't realize what's happening to them.
Our Town government is as corrupt as can be and they will do anything to us to stay in power.
That is the corruption of the Elderly Affairs dept.
We believe in taking care of the elderly, but not of them to be taken advantage of by our police and the selectmen that protect him.
What makes you think I am a Con supporter? CAN YOU READ? He hired a deaf cop, if the postings here are correct. WHY, would you think I am a CON supporter?
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