ATKINSON — It took a couple of years, but Bill Baldwin has finally took his place with the rest of the selectmen. Baldwin had his first meeting as selectman last night after being elected at Town Meeting.
“It feels wonderful,” Baldwin said. “The people were overwhelmingly supportive of me and I don’t take that for granted. I hope to do the job they elected me to do and then some.”
Baldwin, 42, said he is trying to get a feel of what is needed out of him and the dynamics of the board in his first couple of weeks. The new selectman said one of his first orders of business was addressing the state of the Elderly Affairs Department and Police Department following the firing of former police Chief Philip Consentino.
“I want to be as proactive in possible in having the programs move forward and having it be even greater than it was,” Baldwin said.
Since the police chief vacancy opened up, Baldwin said he has been encouraged by many to pursue the job. But he denied all interest in the job last night.
“I want to be part of the process and help lead the community in the direction that they want it to go in,” Baldwin said. “At this point in juncture, I have no interest in that police chief position at all. I’m happy where I’m at in Plaistow right now.”
Baldwin worked in Atkinson for 14 years before moving to the Plaistow department in 2011 where he is a lieutenant.
Because of his position in Plaistow, Baldwin said he’s heard skepticism that he won’t be able to vote on certain topics due to conflict of interest. But he doesn’t anticipate there will be any problems.
“I don’t see any conflict,” Baldwin. “I’m a resident here. I don’t work for this town anymore and I have experience and knowledge in other areas which will lend itself here.”
Baldwin defeated longtime selectman Fred Childs at Town Meeting earlier this month. Childs had been a selectman for 12 consecutive years. Baldwin ran after losing out to Todd Barbera for selectman last year.
Prior to the meeting, new Selectman’s Chairman Bill Friel thanked Childs for his service to the town and welcomed Baldwin to the board. Friel was voted as chairman by the board, as it is the third and final year of his term.
While Friel appreciated Childs’ service, he said he is looking forward to the future of the board with Baldwin on it.
“It’s exciting because you get a new perspective on things,” Friel said. “He knows more of the residents than most new selectmen because of his career. We’re going to lean on him for a lot of experience.”
That experience already came in handy last night. Baldwin was a key part of a discussion about switching health care providers for full-time members of the Police Department.
In addition to his police experience, Baldwin also served as a member of the Timberlane Regional School Board for 10 years. Last night, Town Administrator Bill Innes named him as the selectmen’s liaison to the Timberlane Regional School District.
“It feels wonderful,” Baldwin said. “The people were overwhelmingly supportive of me and I don’t take that for granted. I hope to do the job they elected me to do and then some.”
Baldwin, 42, said he is trying to get a feel of what is needed out of him and the dynamics of the board in his first couple of weeks. The new selectman said one of his first orders of business was addressing the state of the Elderly Affairs Department and Police Department following the firing of former police Chief Philip Consentino.
“I want to be as proactive in possible in having the programs move forward and having it be even greater than it was,” Baldwin said.
Since the police chief vacancy opened up, Baldwin said he has been encouraged by many to pursue the job. But he denied all interest in the job last night.
“I want to be part of the process and help lead the community in the direction that they want it to go in,” Baldwin said. “At this point in juncture, I have no interest in that police chief position at all. I’m happy where I’m at in Plaistow right now.”
Baldwin worked in Atkinson for 14 years before moving to the Plaistow department in 2011 where he is a lieutenant.
Because of his position in Plaistow, Baldwin said he’s heard skepticism that he won’t be able to vote on certain topics due to conflict of interest. But he doesn’t anticipate there will be any problems.
“I don’t see any conflict,” Baldwin. “I’m a resident here. I don’t work for this town anymore and I have experience and knowledge in other areas which will lend itself here.”
Baldwin defeated longtime selectman Fred Childs at Town Meeting earlier this month. Childs had been a selectman for 12 consecutive years. Baldwin ran after losing out to Todd Barbera for selectman last year.
Prior to the meeting, new Selectman’s Chairman Bill Friel thanked Childs for his service to the town and welcomed Baldwin to the board. Friel was voted as chairman by the board, as it is the third and final year of his term.
While Friel appreciated Childs’ service, he said he is looking forward to the future of the board with Baldwin on it.
“It’s exciting because you get a new perspective on things,” Friel said. “He knows more of the residents than most new selectmen because of his career. We’re going to lean on him for a lot of experience.”
That experience already came in handy last night. Baldwin was a key part of a discussion about switching health care providers for full-time members of the Police Department.
In addition to his police experience, Baldwin also served as a member of the Timberlane Regional School Board for 10 years. Last night, Town Administrator Bill Innes named him as the selectmen’s liaison to the Timberlane Regional School District.
34 comments:
I thought he worked for Plaistow Police and they work for us so he works for us. That's the same as being an employee.
If he be honest and up right in doing the job of selectman he will do what is right. 1. He will and should be aware of his most likely of being in conflict of interest whether or not the town has a conflict of interest committee now or in the future. 2. A five member board would be best for the town in order to avoid these possible problems of conflict of interest[s]. A majority of the four remaining selectmen will be the showing of of true expectation of the BOS and no one can then protest their decision. - 3/26 @ 12:17 does bring up a strong point and this person is right in what they say. Lets not have to go to the state agencies to sort out his being a Plaistow police officer and an Atkinson selectman again as has happened in the past with all the crap that took place in the past with the prior selectman and chief, better known as the Conman, who finally has been fired. If those elected to their positions represent the taxpaying voters as they should then there will be no further problem[s] in town. With this kind of attitude by those holding office doing their elected jobs then there will be always some one watching for any "misdeeds" by those who hold office. I'm sure we all look forward to equal,fair and just treatment in all respects from the towns officials with total honesty in their jobs functions and decisions. JMHO
Why is it the above comment were deleted? Was the prior comment hitting the nail on the head? Is that commenter afraid of the truth when it comes to elected officials doing what is expected of them? Lets not have another Conman happening as the past has shown doing the town in with dirty politics,unwanted expense and notable state wide and beyond embarrassment. Sorry to have hurt your feelings cat person.
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Isn't all this peace and quiet lovely? Can it last? Can we be free of the corruption and the secrecy that has plagued the Town for decades? Can the new Town government operate in the open with the interests of the residents foremost in their minds? Wouldn't it be nice?
Yes , up to now at this minute I can say yes. can it last ...no way. The towns government can operate with the townships residents with the interests best in mind. Yes!! It would be nice. All it takes is for people to be aware of what is going on and attend BOS meetings.
What will we do when PVC runs for BOS?
not vote for him.
he will not be able to run and expect that the reason for his firing won't be openly discussed, cause it will.
I do not think he will run for any thing because of his being fired and the reason for it. If he were to run for office after being fired and its reason made publicly known he'd never make it any way .
The Conman is the ONLY ONE THAT CAN tell the Elderly and the public why he was fired. He is blocking the selectmen from telling for fear of another lawsuit.
What will the elderly say when they find out (in the public's opinion) that not only was he fired for sexual harrassmentt but for sexual ASSUALT?
How safe can the public be from a police officer who assuals people?
Hope he does appeal his firing to the court so those he assualted can hold him personally resposible and the town that allowed him to get away with it for so many years.
Question is: How long will it take till those assualted will own his farm and bank accounts?
joho
That maybe the case but the RTK law has some strength to make the cause of firing the Conman known. The person who has been offended by the Conman has the right to bring court action and if they do the charges are then public. The BOS has the obligation to make the offense publicly known if it is demanded by the towns people. After all that has happened up to now I would think the state courts and other agencies would make the BOS come forward with the reason[s] for firing the fool in the first place.
Maybe they don't want it public, maybe there was a pay off. Either way, I don't see how they can withhold this information.
I do agree with you but then...... If there was or were a payoff I doubt if it were the whole BOS. The woman offended by the fired chief could have been payed off ,however, the amount of the pay off would be far less than what he would have paid her off for. This woman would/could make more money in comparing a pay off with a law suit that is if she has the guts to sue him and the town. Try to remember that the town has insurance for this if it were to happen. That isn't to say the person would take all the money awarded her because she can turn it or part of it down after the court awards her any monetary gains. If it were me I'd go for it and decide then if I would accept the towns portion of the money or both the insurance and towns award after or at the closing of the case. One has to consider that a suit will be publicly showing what the reasons were for the suit to have been brought forward in the first place. Exposure of wrong doing will keep most every official in line in doing their jobs as it does in any of the other work places.
I think if she was assaulted, she should get paid off. Her name protected and his name mud.
Why is it we have to read things such as the above that has nothing to do with the subjects here? There isn't supposed to be a place here for commercial soundings or for a jerk to tout his/her work place like the blog site above. This is about the town and what is town related.
Why wasn't there a BOS MTG Monday? It was on the calendar...
have the ag look into the conman and his bank accounts
We can expect to see him back unless they make sure he can't come back, either as an employee or by ballot. I think he has no shame and will try to get elected to something. The victim should find a way to let the public know what happened. We have a right to know. If this was another state, it would be all over the news.
Why is he special to keep his sins hidden?
What the heck is that gobbleygook all about??? The police charitable fund is still looking for money! Send donations to the town hall c/o Bill Innes. He will do right by the seniors.
Donations made by check should be made out to: Atkinson Dept. of Elderly Affairs, and sent to 21 Academy Avenue, Atkinson, NH 03811.
They can also be given to the transport drivers who will turn them over also. But Dept. of Elderly Affairs is the way to go.
Given to the drivers? They work for the secret charity. CONflict CONflict.
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