Atkinson Town Hall
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Consentino Resigning? Could it be?
The Talk in the Town Hall is that Long time, controversial police chief Philip Consentino may be retiring soon. At over 70 years old, this should have been expected, but the rumors are that this one is not totally by choice.
Sources form inside law enforcement were overheard laughing about Consentino's latest foibles, There are rumors of a threatened lawsuit, although the details are being closely held.
We will endeavor to keep you posted.
One can only wonder what this latest threat could be, given his uncanny ability to enlist his good works with Elderly affairs to provide cover for his shenanigans as police chief in years past. His career as chief in Atkinson began ignominously with an accusation of improper use of funds, that blew up into a six year lawsuit with former selectman Wayne Peak. Then there were legal issues with his officers, labor relations cases with his officers, accusations of union busting during their organization drive, The infamous
"Town that hates halloween" story made national news after his boneheaded comment that "his men" will turn cars with Mass. plates around at the border. Illegal, but that is nothing new for chief. Then there were more labor relations suits, his conflict of interest issues, his sleight of hand with donation funds, his conflicts between his numerous hats, his willful disobeying of Court Orders.
Yes, Phil's tenure has been both expensive for the Town, and colorful. To the best of our knowledge he is the only part time chief in the state to be found in contempt of court, and to have pleaded the Fifth over 20 times on the witness stand.
We can't wait to see what new chapter Phil will add to his legacy.
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60 comments:
Listen up BOS! Don't you dare replace Consentino with Baldwin. They're both cut from the same corrupt cloth. And about the new tribe of COPS Consentino brought in, they're all opportunists.
New blood needed at APD and EA. Bring in folks with well documented track records. No more country bumpkins.
JMHO
Great idea anon! Any idea how much one of those "folks" will cost the town? PVC made 25,000 (a great bang for our buck). The new guy who we get after a nationwide search will be cheap if he asks for 75,000.
If Baldwin ever got the job, the entire police department would fall apart. Just ask the Plaistow officers about his leadership skills...oh wait...
Have heard about Baldwin but don't know of him, I agree with ANON 9:25 sounds like this is a new chapter for Atkinson to start fresh with a clean slate for the Police dept, and Elderly affairs. So as far as pay, you get what you paid for, you got a lot of lawsuits and bullying, for cheap money. The new person will need more money, and Town will have to pay for someone with a clear head and background for the police department, and for the elderly, they won't be at loss without him. Plenty of people will take the challenge for the right amount of money, and ethics. Our Town can maybe be whole again and desireable to live here without lawsuits all over the place. Personally I think more should be resigning if they can't handle the trash.
This town is going to miss this Chief, he was very helpful in the community. He did a lot of good things for the town of Atkinson. He is a stand up man and its hard to find one these days. Heard Baldwin is the front runner for his replacement, im sure he will do a stand up job.
God Bless
We are headed in the right direction. Move forward with the new cops we have and forget Baldwin. Caggiano is the one who has turned the PD around.
February 27, 2013
Atkinson police chief announces retirement
By Jo-Anne MacKenzie
jmackenzie@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune Wed Feb 27, 2013, 12:07 AM EST
ATKINSON — Police Chief Philip Consentino, 72, announced his retirement last night after 45 years with the department.
In an email to selectmen yesterday evening, Consentino cited past and present health issues as the reason for his decision. He referred to a hospital stay this past weekend.
He also will be stepping down as director of elderly affairs, a role he has served in since he established that department some 20 years ago.
“It has been a great 45 years and I feel confident in retiring at this time due to the great police force I have put together over the past several years,” Consentino wrote to selectmen, “and the terrific guys that work for the Elderly Affairs Department.”
Consentino said his last day will be April 2.
He cited support from many residents and his great pride in the elderly affairs department.
“I think the greatest part of my tenure was developing probably one of the best senior citizen programs in the southern part of the state,” Consentino wrote.
Elderly affairs provides transportation, financial assistance and more to the town’s oldest residents. Previously, Consentino estimated he works 15 to 20 hours a week in that role — without pay.
Those dual roles were not without controversy over the years.
In 2008, after receiving some complaints, the Charitable Trusts Unit of the Attorney General’s Office conducted a three-month inquiry into Consentino’s dual roles of police chief and elderly affairs director.
Detractors complained Consentino wielded too much power and controlled too many accounts, a system muddied by a lack of transparency and accountability.
The state agreed — to some extent. Some changes were made and the state appeared satisfied.
Even last year, there was an effort to move the elderly affairs department out of the police station. But Consentino and his supporters fought back and the effort failed.
In 2011, Consentino was on medical leave for some two months. At the same time, the town paid Municipal Resources Inc. to do an independent audit of the police department.
That 20-page report included about two dozen recommendations, ranging from updating policies and equipment to hiring more officers.
Consentino and selectmen appeared to have resolved their differences and the town hired a number of new officers to fill out the force.
A part-time chief at 25 hours a week, Consentino long refused raises and longevity pay. He earns less than $30,000 a year.
Prior to the MRI audit, the department lost some longtime members and the force was stretched to the limit. After the report and apparent resolution of differences between the chief and selectmen, Consentino started hiring.
The department website lists 13 patrol officers, a detective, a corporal and a sergeant.
Selectmen did not respond to requests for comment last night.
Earlier in the day, before the chief’s email, calls to board members about his status also went largely unanswered.
Town Manager William Innes and Selectman Todd Barbera did confirm Consentino was still the chief, but would not say whether he was on leave. Both cited personnel issues as their reasons for not answering that question.
Selectmen met Monday night for a regularly scheduled meeting. At the end of the regular meeting, less than 30 minutes long, the board voted to go into closed session, citing RSA 91-A:3 IIc, which addresses nonpublic sessions.
“Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting,” the statute reads.
No one would say yesterday whether that closed session related to Consentino.
Police Sgt. Patrick Caggiano, the second highest ranking officer in the department, said yesterday afternoon that Consentino was still chief and referred all other questions to Town Hall.
Phone messages left for Selectmen’s Chairman Fred Childs, Selectman Bill Friel and town attorney Sumner Kalman were not returned yesterday.
Consentino himself was not available yesterday and has been difficult to reach for the past two weeks. Prior to that, he told a reporter he hadn’t been well.
Over the years, Consentino would sometimes interrupt phone interviews with exclamations about his cows getting out or be unable to take a call because he was chasing an errant calf.
He referenced his farm in his email to selectmen last night.
”I look forward to working on my health problems, working around my farm and spending more time with my family,” he wrote.
Bye Jody.
But what will become of me now? I only get $24,000 a year from Social Security. Another $24,000 a year from my pension. And I get $24,000 a year from savings, my reverse mortgage and some bingo wins. Who's gonna pay for my propane and food if "Brother" Phil retires now, the Catholic Church? I'm gonna have to start clipping coupons to use at Shaws. The Elderly will demand a stronger say in Phil's replacement. You just watch!
Has anyone ever heard of means testing? And what about the real needy in town that have been refused help. The entire EA program needs to be reviewed and revamped.
He cost us $25,000.00 is salary and millions in lawsuits between the payouts and the legal bills. Anyone who tells you he is a bargain is a moron.
I say it's time to have an audit of the PD and EA. Oh, that's right, they just did an audit...hmmm....connection?
Is Barbra leaving now too? Say it's so.
Sargeant Caggiano has the knowledge, leadership and demeanor to steer the department into the future. All the full time officers have less than 2 years on in town but years of experience in police work. Good things are happening.
IMHO, Phil did not choose this so I would like to thank Fred, Todd and Bill for this.
I agree that Caggiano is the right choice moving forward.
The locksmith is at the PD right now. What does that tell You?
Is it true about the sexual harrassment complaint? Is that why the selectmen forced him to retire? Did she agree to drop the complaint if he retired? enquiring minds want to know
It tells me something else is at play.
Should not be any talk of a new chief or of a new elder affairs director until we are told what the real work load is for each department.
Maybe we don't need either.
Caggiano does not have the right temperament for the job of Police Chief. Take it from someone that used to live in Plaistow. He's a unionist and an all round pain in the "a"
double "s". You sir, are comparing him to Consentino. With those two as a comparison, my Grandmother would do a better job of running the APD. Our town deserves better and better means new blood from the outside.
JMHO
Consentino causing another lawsuit for the town. Sexual harrassment finally got him? How fitting! How much is this suit going to cost the town?
I hear that he harassed a woman at the pd. It must be either Jody or Cunningham.
It the Atkinson Spring.
Next one to get rid of is Fred. Another dinosaur who's time to move on. Phil you gonna support the guy that just enabled your retirement? Craig is Friel's other puppet and Friel helped enable your retirement. I'm guessing Phil throws all his support for Bill. Bill Baldwin for selectman!!
Thanks Phil but electioneering can get you into trouble.
Vote Craig!!
Where are the polce logs? They stopped putting them on the website.
So the fat, old, corrupt bastard is going to be gone. God works in strange ways but at least he will finally ba gone. To bad it's not to jail where he belongs. There are people there that would like to call him bubba.
Sergeant Caggiano is the right guy for the next Chief of the Atkinson Police Department. The improvement since the Plaistow officers arrived is unmeasureable. Adding press releases to the website, Twitter, Facebook, etc. are all signs of progress that were brought in by Sergeant Caggiano. There is a positive relationship between Sergeant Caggiano and the officers below him, as opposed to Baldwin and the mess he creates on a daily basis with Plaistow PD.
All this screaming for new blood from the outside, what do you think has taken place in the past two years. Four officers from Plaistow, two from Salem, one from Newton and one who is new to police work. The old APD is slowly being phased out. It takes time, and quite frankly the place improves every day.
Not one of those new Officers did a thing to rid the town of Consentino. They didn't raise a finger against Phil. They're as guilty and unethical as the BOS. Doing nothing is collusion. Facebook... Twitter? Get real.
Let's bring on a slate of local candidates and new blood and let the competition begin. JUST REMEMBER THE BOS APPOINTS THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN ATKINSON. Now that's a scream. The better the BOS the better the chief.
And you know they did nothing how? Because they didn't run to the Eagle Tribune and announce it? Are you even serious?
We can elect a chief from the ranks using a warrant article. Heck we can call a special town MTG to get this away from the bos.
Is the little Mrs. taking home boxes of files again?
You know it had to be something bad for the BOS to ask him to retire, they can't afford more lawsuits and they finally smartened up. Never believed it was his health that made him announce a retirement. Poor wife now she has to deal with him being home. Can't quite control who the next person for the position is, who ever it is, it gotta be better than the last. THe old timers are not going to be running this town anymore. Ya hear, good for the woman if true for not being afraid and threatening a lawsuit. Someone should have done that sooner, I bet he harrassed alot of woman the dirty old man. Yes OLD MAN, YUCK
The APD has to rely on the Plaistow department for many things other than communications.[mainly mutual aid] The men who formerly worked in Plaistow, now here, have reasons for leaving other than those having been publicly made known. How can Atkinson get along with Plaistow and vise versa when there was and still is so much bitterness and contravercy over the hiring of our former Plaistow officers? It would be best to have any one with good police credentials from outside the APD and Plaistow departments as the selected chief to run the APD. It would also stop any conflict of interests between both departments.[ Lt.Baldwin] . You have to consider the equipment that both departments haven't as yet to account for and just where the equipment is now. jmho
Cagiano, Cagiano, Cagiano, Ra, Ra, Ra, Zip, Boom, Bar.
Some cheerleader is trying hard to anoint him Chief. Bring in someone from outside. Make it woman. They know about sexual harassment.
Spelled correctly there are two g's. c-a-g-g-i-a-n-o
And I doubt Caggiano plans on hiring his wife and son.
Hey Anonymous February 27, 2013
I bet you voted for Obama too.
Sing us some more songs about C-a-g-I-a-n-o.
Bring in folks from the outside and make Cagiano
earn the position of Chief. Your plan just gives it
to him. True Atkinson residents want to see him
dance. You should be ashamed of yourself for
pushing a Cagiano "put-up" job. That's how Phil Consentino got in. Could it be Cagiano is afraid
of a little fair competition? You do him a great disservice.
JMHO
Where do I call, I'm down to my last Swanson Frozen Salsbury Staek Dinner and I need one of the cops to go to Market Basket for me?
Oh Phil come out come out wherever you are!
Oh my it's cold in my house. I don't think I have any oil so I just called Murphy and Sons Oil and told them to phil it up and send Fill the bill.
The Atkinson Elderly Affairs Program is instituting a new program for our seniors. I have found on several occasions when doing a senior transport that the seniors have not been able to get out to do any food shopping. One senior had only one frozen dinner left in her refrigerator. This should not be happening in our town. For that reason, we are offering this new program.
If a senior needs help on days when they cannot get to the store to purchase food, they only need to call the Police Station at 362-4001. We will have a person come to your home and pick you up to take you food shopping. That person will have a $100 food voucher to purchase your shopping needs. If you cannot do your own shopping, that person will provide that service for you. You only need to prepare a list and they will bring your groceries directly to your home and put them away for you.
We have also been receiving calls for fuel assistance. We received a call from an oil company stating that one of their customers only wanted to purchase 20 gallons of heating fuel, as that was all they could afford. The oil company gave us a call and we had them go to that senior’s home and fill the tank.
If you or one of your neighbors should find yourself in this situation, please give us a call and we will make sure that no senior in Atkinson goes cold or hungry. If you wish to call me directly, you can call me at my residence at 362-5627. All calls for service are held in the strictest confidence.
Phil Consentino
Director of Elderly Affairs
Police Chief
Atkinson
- See more at: http://www.eagletribune.com/opinion/x1746087028/Letter-Seniors-can-call-for-help-with-food-fuel#sthash.eCMCsRAZ.dpuf
With all that has been written so far it shows the need to hire a chief from outside the town . I do not mean a town officer residing outside of town or working in another city or town as a police officer. The town has had nothing but bad policing from the way back when. Drugs and drunk driving cover ups, personal attacks and property damages,costly court suites,shameful public embarrassment by officials locally and nationally, etc. ,etc. Now is the time to make the BOS that the time has come for picking from a qualified state law enforcement selection that comes from outside the town and its well known scratch my back I'll scratch yours politics. A chief that has no ties to the town will level the field of equality in law enforcement that never was equal in the past for all living here or passing through.
I agree. Why limit ourselves with what is under our noses? Let's open it up to the best that can be hired.
Should it be a requirement that the new chief move and live in
Atkinson?
I think it's better to get a non-resident, someone not connected to the town.
A selected chief doesn't have to live in town . The chief has to be within easy reach and available when the time requires it. The chief, male or female, doesn't have to live in town unless the appointing authority says different. It would be better if the chief didn't live in town if the APD is to be reconstructed to be what it should be after all the past things that have happened. A new broom sweeps well.
Yeah Cagiano is the man for the job alright! He already raked the taxpayers by asking for a high salary walking in the door because the department was desperate. Cmon people - this is a sleepy town. He is a teamster through and through. He will be attached to a certain body part of the taxpayer by double dipping. He will retire, collect a pension, get the stupid Selectmen to hire him for 32 hours a week as part-time chief - probably at a higher pay than he is getting now so basically doubling his salary. You are all foolish if you think this man cares about your community. He puts on a good game face but will only do what benefits him. We deserve new blood in as the next Chief or we will live to regret it.
Sounds like a bitter cop talking here. One former cop was trying to double dip with Conman's help and the BOS put a stop to it.
No one can be as bad as the FORMER, FIRED, Phil CONSENTINO
Hey Anon 1111,
Tell us how you really feel, btw what do you think of Bill Baldwin as our next Selectman?
Oh wait I know, you love him because Anon 1111 is Billy "boy" Baldwin!
Stop beating up the elderly affairs. Someday all of us will be there. Social Security doesn't allow for most, they are in the poverty level limits. I happen to be amazed that Atkinson can provide all these services compared to other richer towns. The state and federal goverments hardly help them. I have no idea where the funds and resources do come from to provide outstanding services. I am sure that alot will change and may be more in line with other Towns. Don't know Atkinson can afford it. You will never get someone to do it for free. The Town should have a Welfare department that can assist not just the elderly in times of need. That way you know what is going out for costs. Sorry not a Phil lover, but do respect my elders. I have seen first hand what they go thru.
First, Caggiano didn't sue the town to get his promotion like some. Second, he is by no means a Teamster "through and through", however he knows how to deal with them. He's a not a pushover by any means, but I'm sure he won't rack up 20+ grievances in months because he doesn't know his a** from his elbow like some.
First, Caggiano didn't sue the town to get his promotion like some. Second, he is by no means a Teamster "through and through", however he knows how to deal with them. He's a not a pushover by any means, but I'm sure he won't rack up 20+ grievances in months because he doesn't know his a** from his elbow like some.
To February 28, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Don't be too amazed that Atkinson can afford these services because Atkinson residents do not ALL get these services, only the ones who were favored by the former Conman.
Caggiano doesn't have the temperament for the job of Chief. My 80 year old mother had to scream at him to get his ass off her property once. The offense? Caggiago didn't like how her son-in-law and her grandson were shoveling out her walks one winter. They took a break for a little father-son snowball fight, during which a small chunk of snow became dislodged and rolled into the street seconds before Caggiano drove by. Caggiano acted like a Bull Dog. There is something seriously wrong with a COP that treats the public which he's supposed to be serving in such a shabby manner. I agree with an earlier poster. BOS, ditch Caggiano and hire a woman!
Too bad but time is up, Phil
Something smells bad in Atkinson and it's the Consentino "cheese"
Gravy train is OVER Phil
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