ATKINSON — Members of the Atkinson Police Association know who they want as their next police chief: acting Chief Patrick Caggiano.
Caggiano was named acting chief Wednesday night after selectmen voted to fire longtime Chief Philip Consentino.
Before Caggiano could settle into his new role, the union endorsed him for the permanent job.
He’s not the only one settling into a new role. Town Manager William Innes has taken on the role of elderly affairs director — temporarily.
After 45-year veteran Consentino was fired, selectmen moved to fill his two roles with existing employees.
But the 15 union members want the word interim removed from Caggiano’s new job title.
“His skills are unmatched and he has an extensive knowledge of the profession,” Detective Nicholas Fiset said. “We recognize how good of a teacher and leader he has been.”
Consentino was a part-time chief, working 25 hours a week.
It’s possible the next chief will be full time, but that would require a Town Meeting vote. It’s early in the process. Consentino emailed selectmen Tuesday evening to announce his intention to retire April 2.
Selectmen men the next night and fired the chief, citing the results of an independent investigation into a personnel matter.
It’s been a busy week.
“There has always been discussion about making it full-time,” Selectmen’s Chairman Fred Childs said yesterday. “But we haven’t decided what we want to do yet.”
No one knows whether Caggiano would be interested in a part-time position; he didn’t return several phone calls yesterday.
“I don’t know if he would want a part-time or full-time job,” Fiset said. “The entire body feels he would be an excellent police chief, whatever fashion that is in is something that would have to be figured out.”
How long Caggiano could serve as acting chief isn’t clear.
But Innes said he only intends to lead elderly affairs for 90 days. While he does, he said, he plans to fully explore how the department operated under Consentino.
“The organization was a political base that was built and exploited in the past,” Innes said. “I just want to ensure that that there is a code of ethics in place that defines the roles and responsibilities of the director and drivers of organization. I haven’t been able to find a document that says what the elderly affairs department does.”
Innes said the salary and the hours of the future director have not been discussed just yet. Consentino was earning $100 a year during his tenure as director.
The elderly affairs department had previously things like buy cigarettes and groceries for older residents, Innes said, something he would like to eliminate.
“That’s not the role of the department,” Innes said. “The role of the department is to ensure the seniors in town have transportation to medical appointments and for some other things which need to be defined.”
The elderly affairs budget this year was $44,500, most of which to pay drivers, gas and maintenance.
The department also used about $30,000, Innes said, from an independent charitable fund run by Consentino. Innes said he hopes to create a new fund for those purposes, records of which could be kept by the town.
“I want to create an environment where money is being appropriated in the right account in town,” he said. “If donations that came into the charitable account now come into a town account, we will be able to provide similar services.”
In the meantime, Innes said they would be using money from the general assistance fund. The 2013 proposed budget calls for the fund to have $14,400.
Innes said he would also look into separating elderly affairs from the police department.
“By separating this out, we can figure out exactly what funding we need in the police department and what kind of funding we need with elderly affairs,” Innes said. “There are a lot of things in the departments that we don’t have a handle on right now because of the way it was being run.”
Innes wants to bring seniors into the process and plans to hold an open forum in the upcoming weeks to learn exactly what they expect from the department.
“I don’t want to do this without them,” he said. “I want to know what works and what doesn’t work. I want to know what they’d like to see changed. I want them to have involvement and input so the department can meet the needs of all of our seniors.”
Caggiano was named acting chief Wednesday night after selectmen voted to fire longtime Chief Philip Consentino.
Before Caggiano could settle into his new role, the union endorsed him for the permanent job.
He’s not the only one settling into a new role. Town Manager William Innes has taken on the role of elderly affairs director — temporarily.
After 45-year veteran Consentino was fired, selectmen moved to fill his two roles with existing employees.
But the 15 union members want the word interim removed from Caggiano’s new job title.
“His skills are unmatched and he has an extensive knowledge of the profession,” Detective Nicholas Fiset said. “We recognize how good of a teacher and leader he has been.”
Consentino was a part-time chief, working 25 hours a week.
It’s possible the next chief will be full time, but that would require a Town Meeting vote. It’s early in the process. Consentino emailed selectmen Tuesday evening to announce his intention to retire April 2.
Selectmen men the next night and fired the chief, citing the results of an independent investigation into a personnel matter.
It’s been a busy week.
“There has always been discussion about making it full-time,” Selectmen’s Chairman Fred Childs said yesterday. “But we haven’t decided what we want to do yet.”
No one knows whether Caggiano would be interested in a part-time position; he didn’t return several phone calls yesterday.
“I don’t know if he would want a part-time or full-time job,” Fiset said. “The entire body feels he would be an excellent police chief, whatever fashion that is in is something that would have to be figured out.”
How long Caggiano could serve as acting chief isn’t clear.
But Innes said he only intends to lead elderly affairs for 90 days. While he does, he said, he plans to fully explore how the department operated under Consentino.
“The organization was a political base that was built and exploited in the past,” Innes said. “I just want to ensure that that there is a code of ethics in place that defines the roles and responsibilities of the director and drivers of organization. I haven’t been able to find a document that says what the elderly affairs department does.”
Innes said the salary and the hours of the future director have not been discussed just yet. Consentino was earning $100 a year during his tenure as director.
The elderly affairs department had previously things like buy cigarettes and groceries for older residents, Innes said, something he would like to eliminate.
“That’s not the role of the department,” Innes said. “The role of the department is to ensure the seniors in town have transportation to medical appointments and for some other things which need to be defined.”
The elderly affairs budget this year was $44,500, most of which to pay drivers, gas and maintenance.
The department also used about $30,000, Innes said, from an independent charitable fund run by Consentino. Innes said he hopes to create a new fund for those purposes, records of which could be kept by the town.
“I want to create an environment where money is being appropriated in the right account in town,” he said. “If donations that came into the charitable account now come into a town account, we will be able to provide similar services.”
In the meantime, Innes said they would be using money from the general assistance fund. The 2013 proposed budget calls for the fund to have $14,400.
Innes said he would also look into separating elderly affairs from the police department.
“By separating this out, we can figure out exactly what funding we need in the police department and what kind of funding we need with elderly affairs,” Innes said. “There are a lot of things in the departments that we don’t have a handle on right now because of the way it was being run.”
Innes wants to bring seniors into the process and plans to hold an open forum in the upcoming weeks to learn exactly what they expect from the department.
“I don’t want to do this without them,” he said. “I want to know what works and what doesn’t work. I want to know what they’d like to see changed. I want them to have involvement and input so the department can meet the needs of all of our seniors.”
33 comments:
“The organization was a political base that was built and exploited in the past,” Innes said."
This one single statement is, by far, the most important in its significance.
The BOS is now, without any doubt, free of Consentino's influence and his operation has been exposed publicly for what it was.
Yes, it has been a long time coming, and I'm sure it would have been hazardous for Innes to make this statement in the past. But, the curtain has been opened and you can bet we'll see more of this.
I applaud you Mr. Innes. Well done.
Signed, your friend from Luxemburg, or the Netherlands if I choose.
Doesa anyone know why there were cruisers in front of his house yesterday afternoon with the lights flashing and the ambulance in his driveway?
See? Isn't it just easier to log in from Atkinson?
Cigarettes? You mean I could have called up and got someone to pay for mine? Crap if I new that I woulddn't have quit smoking. Oh yeah I forgot I quit for my health, better answer. Food on the other hand, dont want the elderly staving, but they can always get food stamps from the Dept of Health under Old age assistance. Alot of other avenues for them too. Check out what other Towns do. I'm sure Mr Innes is going to have an eye opening awakening when he probably finds only certain individuals got more than others. Hey maybe flat screen TV's, car payments, rent, mortgages. Who knows what was paid for. Although wasn't the Town already told to separate this from the AG's office awhile ago and then they wouldn't be scrounging around for information
How did Mr. Innes find out that the Conman spent $30,000 from his own private charity when selectmen gave up their rights to over see that fund? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?
“The organization was a political base that was built and exploited in the past,” because the selectmen were allowing it? They got elected because it! How are they going to stay in office without Consentino's vote getting scheme?
Is the firing of the ”CHIEF” a CYA scheme ? Something should tells us that this is just the tip of the iceberg of other illegal activities are going to come to the surface. Who is going to be taken down next?
Hang onto your wallets folks, more lawsuits coming on the horizon me thinks!
Every dog has his day, and this dog's day has come and gone! Maybe he said the "wrong" things to the wrong person once to often.
Has it occurred to anyone that he may go postal and is he being watched for signs of this?
Yes I do believe something else is definately down the line maybe more resignations, please no more lawsuits we can't afford it. Girlfriend has to go too, she's no use.
What happens if the same Consentino supporters that vandalized Mark Acciard's car and home decide to go postal on each of the selectmen? Hope they have good alarm systems.
Well, the Atkinson Police Union has quite a nerve endorsing acting Chief Caggiano for anything. This all sounds like a rush to judgement. They must be thinking, better get our boy Caggiano in real fast. Sounds like a typical Atkinson political put-up job. We just got through with stuff like this with former Chief Consentino. I am also shocked and dismayed with the Board of Selectmen. The only thing they should be discussing is how to conduct a search for a new chief, not throwing their hats behind the Unionist, Caggiano. He was the Police Union Steward in Plaistow. The Atkinson Police Union isn't a resident of Atkinson. They're just lobbying for Caggiano. Caggiano will probably support the Union as Chief, when he's supposed to be supporting the BOS and taxpayers of Atkinson. Just say no to Caggiano and open the doors to outside candidates.
There, I've said it and I'm glad.
I agree. What's the rush?
I'll second that!
May we have more discussion before we move the question to a vote?
Certainly.
The PD needs to be hyper vigilant at this time. We don't need to be the next town in the obits.
It's sad that the BOS isn't having this discussion and making it public. That's the the reason we voted them in and it's their job. By throwing their support behind Caggiano, it makes the situation look engineered from the beginning. How did Caggiano get over to the APD from the PPD anyway? Was he selected by Consentino? Is he a Consentino boy? Both their names end in "O". Are their relatives from the same mafia town in Italy? Did our lazy BOS merely rubber-stamp his hiring? There a stench coming from the APD and Town Hall. It's too late for bandaids. The whole length of Academy Ave needs to be disinfected.
Let's see anon @ 10PM. The PD had no chief after Consentino's firing. The next in charge is Caggiano (Italian name... scary). In order to remove uncertainty about who was running the police department, they appointed Caggiano "acting" chief. Keep wearing your tinfoil hat. Reynold's wrap appreciates your business.
Don't imply there's no plan in place. I thought the same thing. The BOS needs to go about the search for the best candidate. People always look to what they know and suspect what is unfamiliar. We'll never get a good Chief if we continue to look only in the Plaistow backyard.
Where are the Police logs?? They replaced what little information we were getting with lass information called "Press release and accident reports".
Polce logs are public information. Where are they? How can anyone say Caggiano is doing a great job when less information is coming out of that damn department now?
There is more information in the press releases. What in the world are you talking about? Read a PD log and then read a press release. The PD log says next to nothing about incidents. The press release provides some details.
The PD log lists all the calls they get, not just the accidents and the press releases. What we don't get now is insight into how many calls they get and what they are about. We no longer see the calls for burglaries, vandalism, noise, suspicious people etc. as we did.
Now all we see are a few silly little pages with the same missing names and addresses. Everyone now lives on "BLOCK 0". WTH?
Removing my tin foil hat now.
Don't hand the Chief's job to Caggiano. He just started working for the town a year and a half ago. Make him pay his dues. Open the position up to outside candidates. And tell the Atkinson Police Union you have no standing so butt out. And the same for the rest of the employees at the APD. You all have a conflict of interest so shut up. You're just making Caggiano look like your stooge.
Putting tin foil hat back on.
It becomes you. Remember, change came because of a few brave men in town who dared to speak up.
And women.
When you look at comments like this:
He said the greatest part of his job was developing what he believes is one of the best senior citizen programs in southern New Hampshire.
It is no wonder the police department has no use for him, it seems very clear that although Phil is a great guy he didnt care about the PD, I bet he believed the most important thing in the building located at 27 Academy Ave was Elderly Affairs!
And that's a shame.
Ditto. He is a bully.
Chief Consentino was agreat guy and did a lot for this town as well as the boys in blue, howver Phil obviously did something, he crossed the line and for that the BOS have fired him. They didnt fire him for the good or bad deeds he has done in the past. They didnt fire him for Halloweengate. They fired him .........
To me Fired means you are history and the fact that the boys in blue are supporting a man that is respected, a man that has real police expirience and a man who has led APD since his arrival is the sign that times have changed and those who protect and serve are ready for a new era in Atkinson, one that will bring respect back to all of APD.
Good luck Acting Chief Caggiano!
Consentino could be affable, if it was to his benefit.
He was generous to some and onerous to others, if it was to his benefit.
I am sure that he is satisfied with himself in his denial of the awful things he has done.
I am sure that his elderly affairs officers are satisfied with themselves because they overlooked his very negative actions.
We need to have a thorough search of the police department. What it should look like, before we start talking about looking for a police chief.
Let the selectman review the MRI report and address the issues.
We got to have Phil Consentino because he was there many years ago and it just continued for lack of scrutiny all these years.
It was a free ride for any of the cops who worked for him and did nothing. How do we really know how good or bad this Caggiano is? Too early to tell. I say post the job and see who applies. Give it to the best candidate not the most popular.
shallow new chief in town the partys over
Big party on medication for the new chief fireworks and everything
Amen, post the job. I can't afford a full time chief. The budget is too big now.
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