ATKINSON — Just three months ago, many seniors voiced their concerns about the future of the Elderly Affairs Department.
Now, details are being ironed out about how it will function under new leadership.
Town Administrator Bill Innes presented a mission statement to selectmen last week that outlined goals and responsibilities of the department under his control.
“I’ve been really looking to have a definition of the department,” Innes said. “I want to put a foundation in place, but it is not my intent to dictate what the department would be.”
The department helps seniors with transportation to medical appointments and other needs. The town has $43,000 budgeted for the department this year. That money covers the salaries of the drivers, gasoline and maintenance.
Innes pointed to the need for a system that would allow the town to identify problems and evaluate all the funded programs to ensure they are effective.
“We are looking to just get a baseline from where the department can meet its needs,” he said.
Innes has served as the acting elderly affairs director since March, when former police Chief Phil Consentino was fired from the position. After Consentino was fired, Innes spoke about a desire to have the department be more transparent than in the past.
While the town is providing seniors with transportation services, Consentino continues to be available to any senior who needs his assistance, using money from a private charitable fund he presides over.
“Anything that doesn’t have anything to do with a ride, I’m here to help out with,” Consentino said last week. “I just helped a woman put a new heating system in her house.”
Innes said the town hopes to work with Consentino on things that can’t be covered by the town.
“I want to work collaboratively,” Innes said. “We’ve looked through assisted items which the town can contribute toward and items that the charitable trust and some other entities in town can do. I believe we worked out a process where we have defined what each will do.”
Innes declined to go into detail about which services will be provided by whom.
Innes has also defined the two ways which the department will be funded. There is the general fund which appears in the budget and is approved by voters at Town Meeting and a fund that accepts donations from residents and sponsors that is managed by the Trustees of the Trust Fund.
The next step for the town is to find someone to supervise the department. Innes has written a job desciption that has been approved by selectmen. The position is a volunteer position.
“I’d like to get it filled as soon as possible,” Innes said. “I’m not sure it will be a formal job search, but I want it to be filled quickly.”
So far, seniors who have worked with Innes on the advisory committee are pleased with the direction the department is taking.
“The process is going along well,” Alan Phair said. “I feel comfortable that we’ve done our due diligence to put in place something that will be workable.”
Ted Houlihan, a driver for the program, said things have worked out as well as he could have hoped.
“It’s different, but (Consentino) built a great system which is still working in the way we hoped it would,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be a deficiency. Now the town is assuming control of that and that’s probably appropriate.”
Innes has laid out plans for several new programs, including a property tax burden program and a senior connection program that would use active seniors as volunteers to help seniors who need assistance.
One detail that still needs to be determined is the location of the department, which is now run out of the Atkinson police station.
Now, details are being ironed out about how it will function under new leadership.
Town Administrator Bill Innes presented a mission statement to selectmen last week that outlined goals and responsibilities of the department under his control.
“I’ve been really looking to have a definition of the department,” Innes said. “I want to put a foundation in place, but it is not my intent to dictate what the department would be.”
The department helps seniors with transportation to medical appointments and other needs. The town has $43,000 budgeted for the department this year. That money covers the salaries of the drivers, gasoline and maintenance.
Innes pointed to the need for a system that would allow the town to identify problems and evaluate all the funded programs to ensure they are effective.
“We are looking to just get a baseline from where the department can meet its needs,” he said.
Innes has served as the acting elderly affairs director since March, when former police Chief Phil Consentino was fired from the position. After Consentino was fired, Innes spoke about a desire to have the department be more transparent than in the past.
While the town is providing seniors with transportation services, Consentino continues to be available to any senior who needs his assistance, using money from a private charitable fund he presides over.
“Anything that doesn’t have anything to do with a ride, I’m here to help out with,” Consentino said last week. “I just helped a woman put a new heating system in her house.”
Innes said the town hopes to work with Consentino on things that can’t be covered by the town.
“I want to work collaboratively,” Innes said. “We’ve looked through assisted items which the town can contribute toward and items that the charitable trust and some other entities in town can do. I believe we worked out a process where we have defined what each will do.”
Innes declined to go into detail about which services will be provided by whom.
Innes has also defined the two ways which the department will be funded. There is the general fund which appears in the budget and is approved by voters at Town Meeting and a fund that accepts donations from residents and sponsors that is managed by the Trustees of the Trust Fund.
The next step for the town is to find someone to supervise the department. Innes has written a job desciption that has been approved by selectmen. The position is a volunteer position.
“I’d like to get it filled as soon as possible,” Innes said. “I’m not sure it will be a formal job search, but I want it to be filled quickly.”
So far, seniors who have worked with Innes on the advisory committee are pleased with the direction the department is taking.
“The process is going along well,” Alan Phair said. “I feel comfortable that we’ve done our due diligence to put in place something that will be workable.”
Ted Houlihan, a driver for the program, said things have worked out as well as he could have hoped.
“It’s different, but (Consentino) built a great system which is still working in the way we hoped it would,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be a deficiency. Now the town is assuming control of that and that’s probably appropriate.”
Innes has laid out plans for several new programs, including a property tax burden program and a senior connection program that would use active seniors as volunteers to help seniors who need assistance.
One detail that still needs to be determined is the location of the department, which is now run out of the Atkinson police station.
148 comments:
Hope the woman who got the furnace replaced wasn't involved with any indecent quid pro quo with Bubba Consentino. I'd avoid him like the plague.
Baaaaaaaaaaah!
Where's the proof of any of it?
So sayeth The Shepherd, so sayeth The Flock.
Baaaaaaaaaaaaah
Heard he was helping people look for there missing cats? There has been a lot of them I guess. Must be you know who at it again!!!
Tell us o wise one? Who?
Oh you know
Stop posting such juvenile comments...re: cats etc. Mr. Innes is doing a good job & we should all support his efforts. I for one, will not be sending any $$$ to Mr. Consentino. Send donations to town hall.
I don't see any criticism of Mr. Innes , just Consentino. He's been fired so why was he even part of this article? Don't involve him in anything anymore. He's hurt enough people.
call the police....my cats gone missing!!!! last seen with sunglasses on dancing!!
I'm not bragging, but I make more that 75K. And I'm a life long saver. Unfortunately, I have a long line of loony relatives that believe in this paper economy or have medical problems and are in hock to the hilt. Whose door do you think they'll be knocking on come retirement time? They're not my responsibility, but I'm a Christian and they're family so I will help as long as I can. No more taxpayer funded free rides in Atkinson for the well to do. Get one of your family members on the phone if you get into trouble. If there's no help there then call Elderly Transport.
Why is Consentino presiding over a private charitable fund?
My cat likes rides and he is kind of old. Can my cat get a ride? He makes less than 6 figures.
People really need to get back to basics.
It used to be that we all knew our neighbors and could rely on them if we needed help. Today, people are hermits and self-centered; most don't even know their neighbors' names.
People need to be helping each other - offering assistance to their elderly neighbors or the single mom or dad that need a hand. Help should not be mandated by gov't. Perhaps if we were more charitable, our taxes wouldn't be skyrocketing and we wouldn't have to be thinking about giving rides or providing assistance to the elderly; it would already be happening.
Im going to stick to call the police on mine and complaining about the constant meowing and purring!
So you're going to start driving your elderly neighbors to dr appointments in Boston then correct?
I'm sure that most people do or would drive their relative, neighbor or friend. How do you think the "denied" have been able to get along so far? hmmmmm?
If the Selectmen told us how many elderly are being serviced v. how many qualify, we would have the answer.
Ask a Selectman and do the math.
Oh good. Another volunteer. When do you start your ride service?
When my family and friends need me, I go. If I need a ride, I get one on my own. The program has been abused for so long, who wants it? They give to only those they want and sometimes to those they should not be serving.
Who wants it? Try the seniors. As far as the other stuff, that may have been true under Phil. News flash: Phil got fired. Now there's new leadership. Do you think maybe, just maybe things might be a bit different?
And what specifically got Phil fired? Why the secrecy? We know more when a teacher gets put on leave for fooling around with a student. Why the special treatment for Phil? Without a clear reason he could return as Selectman next year. After all, he's still running his private Elderly Assistance Service and it creates the same voting block of elderly that muck up Deliberative Session and vote for their interest, not the town's. Not much will change until Phil is dead, once and for all. You boxed him in BOS. Why did you let him go?
The seniors want it? Of course they do, it's free. We should not have to pay for those who can afford it. I want a free ride and can't have one, that's age discrimination.
The seniors pay their taxes too. How much do they get out of paying for the schools? You act like EA is a BIG burden. Look and see how much is spent there and then figure out what percentage that is of the overall tax burden. You're crying over pennies. Boo hoo.
I pay for schools and don't use them, BUT everyone gets to go to school don't they? We all pay and we all went at some point.
It doesn't matter how big or small the burden is, it's about the fact that taxpayers are paying good money for frivolous (not in all cases) trips for some people who can afford to pay for a ride.
What if I need a ride because I broke my leg and can't drive? I am not going to get a ride because I am not old enough to qualify.
It's about principal, not the $$$.
And when you become a senior you can take advantage of EA. See how it works?
I am not interested in participating in this program. I believe it is illegal for the Town to give away taxpayer funds willy nilly.
You should home school your kids too.
We sent our children to private schools. Don't get me started on the failed TRHS.
The point is we pay, as a society, to educate our youth as we should. The two most vulnerable groups are the young and the old. What we spend on our elderly is a mere fraction of what we spend on our children. I don't begrudge either of them. Just because Phil was involved with EA, doesn't mean it's a bad program that needs to be thrown out. Our town is not unique in having elderly programs. If you advocate getting rid of senior programs, then you should also advocate getting rid of youth services as well.
Only problem with this is the elderly, though vulnerable and sometimes in poor health, have most of the money. Check government statistics. How many kids or young adults do you know have extra $$$ to fund anything? They're lucky just getting by in this new US economy.
jmho
I am not against the program but it should only be for those who need help or can't afford it. It should also be extended to residents that have a disability and need a ride.
I was thinking about the numbers last night.
A driver goes to Boston and wais all day for a patient. Cost?
$17.00 X 8hrs PLUS 50 miles @ .565 per mile. That's $164.25 for the one ride for one person. That's after you buy the car and pay the insurance and give the employee benefits.
There's got to be a better choice than this.
Selectmen should talk to the Exeter School Board and find out how they can talk publically about the allegations of sexual assault by three NAMED teachers.
Then tell us what happened in the PD.
Wonder if BOS Attorney Sumner Kalman advised the board to place a gag order on the whole Consentino mess. There's also the possibility that the self-serving wimps on the BOS are afraid that Consentino and his flock would take them out one by one if the real story ever got out. Not a very nice way to treat fellow residents. Everything should come out and let the chips fall where they may.
They were so afraid of Phil they fired him. What a stupid thing to say.
Hey genius
The BOS found out about Consentino. They had MRI
conduct an investigation to cover their asses. I'm sure some residents and town official found out through the rumor mill. There's nothing juicier than a rumor about Consentino. They had to fire him. Too many people knew. Problem is, they all forgot to inform their fellow residents and the voters. The voters should be telling the BOS to come clean or you're next.
jmho
They had MRI conduct the investigation to cover their asses? Maybe they had MRI conduct the investigation because they're professionals and their findings would stand up in court should they be challenged. Gee, where was the challenge from Phil??? Oh yeah, it never happened. And if they wanted to cover for Phil, they would have had him quit before the investigation was complete genius. I stand by my original statement. That was a stupid thing to say. The funny thing is, you're too much of a "genius" to even realize it.
And I stand by my theory that Consentino's flock will get him voted in as Selectman next year unless we all know exactly what happened in detail. We haven't seen the last of Phil and his twisted form of politics. Evil has a way of returning. It's happened in other towns. I expect it to happen here. The only group that can prevent this from happening is the BOS. They've only done half the job and they'll never come clean. They're acting like a bunch of old ladies. Release the minutes of the Executive Session on Phil, release the results of the MRI investigation and turn it over to the State Police. Try to get a little more sleep genius. You should be in bed and fast asleep at 12:37 AM. Well, I'm off to work.
What I want to know is why law enforcement didn't investigate, whi MRI? If a crime was reported then why didn't the Sheriff investigate?
Probably because there wasn't a crime.
You must be an EA driver from the charity to be defending him.
I believe there was a crime. He would never have taken this laying down if he could fight it. There has to be a crime.
Why do you think I'm defending Phil? I already stated I'm glad he was fired and is no longer in a position of authority. True Phil defenders would be telling you to leave him alone.
Let me restate why I don't believe there was a crime. The BOS, MRI, the attorney they hired, and anyone else with knowledge of this alleged crime would be putting themselves at considerable risk. Why would any of them do that?
See, no defense of Phil. He got what he deserved. I just don't think all the other groups I just listed are that dumb that they would jeopardize themselves. For what purpose? Would you be willing to go to jail to protect someone? I wouldn't.
Why do I assume there was a crime and they are not devulging what happened?
I believe there was a crime because I believe he would not go otherwise.
They are falling back on the fact that the victim did not press charges so they are not pushing for charges.
They are falling back on the fact that they can't disclose the facts as an employer.
I am not saying they are defending him, just protecting him by default.
They should find a way to tell us by going out of their way to make it possible. Ask the Exeter School board how they fired those who have not been charged and they did it in the open. This is the same situation.
I am glad they fired him finally, they did the right thing. I want the door closed for good.
Did you know law enforcement can press charges even when the victim doesn't?
Can you spell, CIA, NSA, IRS, DOJ, APD or BOS. All these groups are doing what they do best, lying to protect themselves or their guilty buddies. For all we know the BOS paid Phil off. Let the State Police decide if there was a crime or not. It's as simple as that.
jmho
I agree. I think another agency should review the MRI report and see if things were handled correctly.
Breaking news....Atkinson Elderly Affairs has been driving an underage Selectman around!!
Breaking news! Atkinson Elderly Affairs has been driving cats around!!! This practice must stop! The guilty cats aren't talking after being paid off by the BOS. It's a massive feline cover up I tell you! Call the AG! Call the State Police! Call the National Guard! There must be a conspiracy here!!!!! The signals from my tin foil hat are immense!!!
Well they better have special insurance if they're going to be transporting pets to the vet. I smell a lawsuit coming out of the kitty litter. Wonder how many cats would fit in the "clown car"?
Anyone remember, "Radio Joe"'? He's that guy that used to stand on the street corners in Haverhill, with his arm pointed high in the air. He had no need for a tin hat. His brain could receive all the electronic chatter without it.
The clown car is the purrrrfect vehicle for transporting cats. They don't go to the vets though. That would be a hair raising event. They mostly like to ride around town looking for other cats, but if a destination is involved, it's always the pet store.
I am not surprised if they are driving around people that aren't elderly. They did it for Patty Mangini's son when he needed help.
Not that I am against this but hey, this is a taxpayer funded program gone boss hog wild.
Where's the reform? Where's the oversight?
8:42, 9:16, 9:24, 9:32
you don't write like the real cat blogger & we don't need more than one of those!
No, I am saying there is already one cat blogger who will not go away. We don't need another.
Take a nap or something.
I enjoy the cat calls so long as they're not used to insult
private residents. The Atkinson Board of Selectmen have been protecting Former Chief of Police Consentino for years. It doesn't matter who's in there. BOS Attorney Sumner Kalman seems to be the common denominator. He and Consentino are probably buddies from way back. The BOS has dragged the name of the town way down. They should have gotten rid of Consentino and Kalman years ago. Occasionally a little comic relief is necessary on this blog. Thats why I like all the cat calls.
jmho and if you don't like it Baaaaaaaaaaaah!
I want chicken
I want liver
Chow mix,chow mix please deliver.
Cat lady~
The cat comments have been used to target a resident so how can you like them? Taunting someone is not comic relief IMHO.
I believe I covered that with the phrase "so long as they're not used to insult private residents". Do you read the blogs or only the parts you want to? I especially like cat calls against the BOS and those against the former Consentino Police Department and Elderly Affairs. Unfortunately, the guy starting all the cat fights is attacking a neighbor and not town officials.
Yes, very brave and commendable attacking people, town officials or otherwise, as an anonymous poster on a lightly read blog. Grow some balls and bring your gripes to a selectmen's meeting. Never mind, I'm sure that would never happen with our little pussycat poster @ June 24, 2013 at 12:29 PM. Meow...
The Selectmen? How can they do anything? Do they run the blog? Are they making cats comments? Give me a break.
1229 ought to note who his intended cat target is so we know who hes making fun of
The bos don't meet anymore. No meetings to watch since March.
They have met and are meeting tonight. Try paying attention. I didn't imply that the boys run the blog. What I meant was if you have issues with the way things are run then don't cowardly throw stones as an anon on a blog air your concerns with the officials you're complaining about. The little pussycats won't do that though. I'm sure of it.
I'm not the one with the gripes chicken little.
Funny coming from one who is griping about cats. Loser.
The three stooges are meeting? Since when? The internet site does not show any meetings in weeks. Are they posting meetings anymore?
Funny, but I'm not griping about cats. I said if braveheart thinks it's so courageous to throw around insults to town officials because he doesn't like how things are run, then he should grow some balls and tell them to their face. Get it loser?
As for the videos, the webmaster must not be keeping up. Click on the "selectmens album" and you'll find the newer ones.
It's the BOS that lacks the gonads, sir. BOS, release all the information you're hiding on the firing of former Police Chief Consentino, Including the MRI report. And stop hiding behind your attorney's phony legal theories. Did you get that Kalman? What's good for Exeter is good for Atkinson. We want to see Phil's elderly supporters gasp at the truth. Consentino's treatment of some residents was pretty shitty. What goes around comes around. Stop protecting him like all the Boards before you. A firing is half the job. Strip the guy of any political power he may have left. Then let the chips fall where they may.
The BOS is hoping you will, but never forget what the former police chief has done.
Okay braveheart. Keep posting to an irrelevant blog. I'm sure that will get you far. Have you contacted the members of the bos with your concerns? I'm guessing not. Gee, how's that protest in front of Phil's house coming along? LOL.
Why are YOU posting to your irrelevant blog? HMMMM?
The BOS doesn't have a good rep. If they want to get more involved in fixing problems, they have lots to choose from already. From where I sit nothing much has changed except the names.
In a democracy, the people who are in office were voted in and are representatives of the town. If you have an issue and you fail to communicate that issue to your elected representatives, how can they possibly act upon it? "I'm mad at you!"
"Why."
"Well you should know!"
"Sorry, I don't read minds."
You seem to be reluctant to engage with our elected representatives. Why? Are you afraid of them? I have no problem contacting the BOS, state reps, congressional reps, etc. I've done so in the past and will continue to do so. If they don't hear from you, they don't know what's on your mind.
So why am I posting? Because I am hoping that some will see the light and realize that a blog post isn't going to get anything accomplished. You need to talk to your elected officials. I don't think they are scary people. No need to be afraid.
True to a word by you...However, how does one complain[talk to] to any BOS member when they are the ones who are protecting the wrong doers in town and are part of the problem? If they were up front in what they swore to in representing the town and its residents they would tell us what they know about the CONMAN being fired. They would also forward any information to the proper agencies to investigate and prosecute any wrong doers and above all the CONMAN. Where is the justice that we all seek ? It appears to be none after all this time has past since the CONMAN was fired for just cause. What is wrong with Atty. Kalman that he will not advise and go forward with the process that is law. Maybe he forgot what he learned in law school and years of practice as a lawyer. It must be time to send him on his way else where.
It's easy. Their contact information is right on the selectmens web page. You are making assumptions about the selectmens motives that might be totally off mark. How can you possibly know if you fail to engage them? It's similar to when you say you can't do something. It becomes a self fulfilling prophesy. If you engage them on issues, you might learn something more about the issue you are concerned about and they might even surprise you. You'll never know if you continue on with the "I can't" attitude.
Are you suggesting that the Selectman will be sitting by the phone waiting for us to ask them a question before they are engaged?
Besides, it's not an "I can't" attitude, more of an "I don't want to" attitude.
I'm saying you're not giving them a chance. Whether it be an "I can't" or "I don't want to" attitude, both lead to the same ending. Do you think everyone who gets elected is "bad"? I guess I don't understand why you wouldn't want to engage them when you feel so strongly about something. When I've engaged my reps, sometimes I get good results, sometimes I don't, but at least I was heard.
If the BOS wanted us to know the details of the Consentino firing it would already be out there. They choose to hide it and refuse to justify their actions in public. Shame, shame. We voted them in expecting change. Instead we get the same thing in spades.
The shame is you're not talking to them. How do they know what it is you expect if you fail to express your position? A good electorate is an engaged electorate. Really, you need not be afraid.
to 3;28 - what makes you think I haven't tried to engage them? I was left disappointed.
Do you really need to ask that question based upon our previous exchange? You'll have to forgive me for saying I don't believe you. So, who on the current board did you engage with? Friel? Barbera? Baldwin? Just how did that exchange go? I just love bedtime stories.
Look, we're talking about legacy failure.
Ask mom to read you Spencerville tonight.
Nice cop out. This current board is only responsible for their actions, not the actions of boards in the past. Not only have you shows that you're afraid to express your opinion to them, you're also shown yourself to be a liar.
Ha. A liar I am not. I do not lie when I say I have no faith in your beloved BOS. Read the book if you can.
Beloved or not, at least I engage. You lie when you claimed to have engaged with them. You did not. You're a coward because you won't engage them. Since I don't care for liars and cowards, this will be my last post. Enjoy your fruitless rants and fantasies.
Were those fireworks tonight or lighting?? I can't tell!! I'm getting confused now?? Please help!!
To the cat burglar please stop looking in my windows!!
Sincerely
The real chief
How can anyone tell who is who and what is a lie on here? You can't so why are you belaboring this point?
The trust in the BOS has been long gone due to past members actions and failures to act when they should have for the towns residents. If there be any real changes in the boards politics to show taxpayers where is it? The towns people should be able to know what the official reason[s] were for the CONMANS firing. It would be in the boards best interest to be up front with the taxpayers and the general public to show they are doing their jobs that they under took when they swore their oaths of office.
Back to my original question. How did Exeter get away with firing teachers in public suspected of committing sexual crimes or improprieties against or with students?
What makes the former Police Chief's case any different?
Both are employers in the same state. I believe we have an interpretation of the law that doesn't match that of the Exeter School Board.
If I were a Selectman I would look for a way to let the public know what happened.
Pick up the phone and ask them. I challenge you. Consider this a formal request to engage you in this problem :)
Phone calls are pointless. The current BOS will never be persuaded to release their dossier on Former Police Chief Consentino. It would have been made public weeks ago if they had the aggies. They think they're protecting one of their own, but former Chiefie is nothing more than a sick pervert. Now it's time for the voters to throw the Selectmen out one by one. Who cares if it takes 3 years.
Revolution...
So after reading my nail tonight, I have to agree. Yet another call for dollars that still entangles the town PD and era in the scam. Their silence is their agreement.
Typing mistakes .....Mail and EA.
A coyote is on Meditation Lane right now.
Do you mean Medication Lane where the two legged animals howl at any time during the night?
One and the same.
What a beautiful display of fireworks tonight. Almost like it was planned!!! Hahaha have a great summer!!
Julie newmar (google it!)
75.68.67.157
Google it.
c29f5534ab49b011a8d0a6500f8903b5
Instead of the numbers and letters to ask us to Google them why not tell us in written English what your trying to say? Its bad enough we all have to be anonymous with out having to do what you ask as well.
One is an IP address.
Could this be a way to identify anonymous people foolish enough to respond? What devious things does the IP holder have in mind if one does respond out of being curious?
Is it a response to 10:23?
I heard that big island pond moved there fireworks until Friday. Does anyone know when medication will be having there fireworks???
It depends on the "fireworks" being used at the or any time on Medication Lane during the year.
To 8:59 why don't you tell us when you are having them ?
Big island pond doesn't have fireworks. Just a few low lives in boulder cove .
Fireworks pollute the water. Do you know they contain dioxin, barium and other noxious chemicals heavy metals? (Maybe that's what's wrong with the few town fools who use them constantly.)
Why don't you engage the Selectman and Mr. Innes and they can discuss how this pollution may have contributed to the bad water problem in Town. The affected area is near the pond.
I like fireworks just as much as anyone else but I do not want to hear them at night. It's a quality of life issue and where's the quality in Atkinson?
We have none. Lawrence Mass is doing more than we are for addressing quality of life. What is wrong with our BOS and police?
Check this out -
http://lawrencemassachusetts.blogspot.com/#!/2013/06/quality-of-life-matters-lawrence-ma.html
Yes, Lawrence is just great!
http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x218349084/Driveby-shooter-targets-home
Feel free to move there. I'm sure you'll enjoy their corrupt mayor and criminal elements. Great quality of life with drive by shootings. Sure wish we had that level of quality of life in Atkinson... NOT!
I did not take that from the posting. The fireworks problem people are talking about today is not quality life. You expect people to move if there's a problem? How sad for you to have such a me-me attitude. Why are we always reading about fireworks here, because we have a problem in town and no one is doing anything about it. Speaking of which we have people shooting in our own town too. We hear it all the time and why do we? Hello? Police? Bos? anyone home? The town is the same as Lawrence.
"Move" what a thing to say. You must be a selectman or employee. Drive out everyone but the law breakers and you will have Lawrence, Nh.
Sorry, but comparing Atkinson to Lawrence is just ludicrous. Drive through Lawrence and see just how "nice" it is.
Stay on topic. The topic is not one of visual-feel-good of the town/city. The topic is the fireworks and quality of life issues being ignored by the town officials.
Why would this topic ever, ever raise any objections unless by those causing the problems? Why would the town officials ever, ever want this to contiue? but they do...
Also the original post about Lawrence raised the fact that the police are trying to improve the quality. What's wrong with that, unless you feel quilty for now doing the same?
The funny thing is Lawrence has much bigger fish to fry. Going after fireworks to improve the quality of life when you have drive by shootings, prostitution, murders, thefts, drug dealers, a school system that's in receivership, and a totally corrupt mayor who should be in jail is akin to saying I picked up the Styrofoam cups next to the toxic waste dump. Isn't that great! Lipstick on a pig if you ask me. It's too bad because years ago Lawrence was a pretty decent place. Now it's just a shit hole.
The BOS isn't the enforcement agency for people doing something illegal. If someone is breaking the law, which I'm not even sure if that's the case since fireworks can be sold in NH, then call the police and ask them to respond.
Well we have most of those things here. Don't be a snob, we are no better or worse than people in any other town. TRHS is very poorly rated, our corrupt police dept for decades, dirty politics, drugs, road rage aggressors, sex offenders, vandals, theft, etc.
You are trying to make an argument for why this town doesn't do anything about the little fireworks problem. You have not addressed the posters comment about pollution or about the fact that this bothers people who have rights. You have the dismissive attitude that is at the root of this towns real issues.
Oh please. Do you actually believe Atkinson is anything like Lawrence crime wise, school wise, or politically? If it was, I wouldn't have moved here. Night and day. Stop making ridiculous comparisons.
I'll ask the question again, are fireworks illegal? If not, then you have no basis for complaining unless they are violating a town ordinance. If so, then call the police. It's not that hard. Posting on a blog is NOT the right venue to get your concerns addressed.
Speaking of the police, who on the force is corrupt? Caggiano? As for the schools, the Academy is very well run from all accounts and while TRSD needs improvement, the hiring of a new super is a step in the right direction and there is no indication that the school system is about to be placed into receivership like Lawrence. Snobbery? Hardly. I'll all to very familiar with Lawrence so believe me, I know better. When I see statements that imply Atkinson is on the same level as Lawrence, it tells me what an uninformed individual you must be.
If you got a problem with fireworks, be it noise or pollution, then call the proper authorities. If it's on the pond, DES is probably the place to call to address pollution concerns. If it's violating a noise ordinance or law, then call the police. Is that dismissive? No. That's pointing you to the proper authorities who can do something about it assuming it's even somehow illegal.
Well now, aren't you in a bad mood today. Let me repeat myself. At least Lawrence is doing something about their problems, what is this town doing when residents call and complain over and over about fireworks at the lake? Nothing. Why don't they fine the offenders and maybe they'll think twice about doing it again.
You suggest we call police and we have. They don't enforce the noise ordinance either. Some of the parties up here are very loud, they don't do a thing.
Atkinson has all the same problems as Lawrence and Haverhill so stop making excuses for your snobbery. TRHS is a total failure and has been for years so don't use the new super as an excuse that all is well now, it's not, not until the ratings improve. The proof is in the pudding.
TRHS is not a total failure and they are taking steps to improve. Gee, isn't that what you're touting about wonderful Lawrence? Is TRHS in receivership like Lawrence? Now THAT's total failure. Keep posting. The more you do, the more you show your ignorance.
You've still yet to answer my question. Are fireworks illegal? Here's another question for you. Take the very worst neighborhood in Atkinson. Would you be afraid to walk down that street? I wouldn't. Do the same in Lawrence? Would you be afraid to walk down that street? I wouldn't go anywhere near it. Snobbery. Yeah right.
You're right, it's not a total failure. A few kids can excel anywhere but the school has been an expensive failure in general for years. It's a fact.
I don't know if fireworks are illegal or not but I do know they are dangerous and you are just being a jerk looking for reasons why it's ok with you that others should not have peace and quiet.
I would not walk down my own street in Atkinson at night so apparently you live in a different area than we do. I would think that if you have had such a wonderful experience living here, you would want your neighbors to be equally happy and you would be sympathetic to them. I find it strange that you are so angry that others have a legitimate gripe. You should ask yourself why you are so self-centered.
There is not a neighborhood in Atkinson where I would be afraid to walk down the street, day or night. Here's the thing, if fireworks aren't illegal, then the people firing them off also have rights to do so do they not? If someone was making noise building an addition, are your rights being violated? You might not appreciate it, but it doesn't mean your rights are being trampled. That is why the question of legality is so central. If it's illegal, then you have a legitimate complaint. If not, then you don't.
It's legal to buy firewoks in NH but not all the different kinds are legal to use. People who fire them off over the lake, over my boat, over my dock are not within the law. I am tired off picking up the remnants from the yard and the street. So no, they do not have the right to do what they are doing under the real circumstances here.
It was nice of you to remind me though of the hell we went thru when the house across the street was rebuilt. The contractor showed up around 6AM every day and started up his front loader, then took off to get his coffee, left it running to warm up. This was certainly illegal, but what the police said was "poor guy, just trying to earn a living". What about me working second shift and forced to wake up to this local police protected inconsiderate person who left a construction vehicle running unattended? What part of this is legal?
Sadly, in Springfield, MA yesterday, two homes burned to the ground and eight others were damaged, 15 people are homeless, along with their pets. Fireworks are suspected.
We have ordinances against gun fire. Why not bring up a motion at the deliberative session banning fireworks within the town limits.
they don't enforce the gun laws either. we can ban fireworks but if the town doesn't enforce it we will listen to it all night, like last night.
A local ordinance against fireworks is a good idea because if it's enforced, you'll be happy but if it's not enforced, you can fault the town thru the court system if there is an ongoing problem. They cannot just ignore the ordinances and if they doing so, you should do something about it if the problem is bad enough.
Your frustration about the noise pollution is well accepted as a complaint over all. If the police were to take action on it the courts,and jails would be more than full. [Guess who pays for that!!] Yes I can see a local ordinance to and as being enforced but one has to expect that you and the police will never stop this noise pollution. I can see trying to but by allowing one to three days to make fireworks noise just a day before, during, and/or after the Fourth of July is some thing everyone should endure. After all it is the time of our Independence with family and friends gathering to celebrate the occasion that comes once each and every year. Stricter enforcement of all the noise laws before and after that time with fines and or some kind of court action is necessary. Oh!! I almost forgot to ask if you were a kid before becoming an adult? If so and if you can remember setting off fireworks with friends ,that is before you became a " cranky adult " who doesn't want to acknowledge or have a good time during the fourth of July. Just wondering is all!!
Oh but I love fireworks. Not all year in the middle of the night middle of the week. We have an ongoing problem that is affecting cranky old and cranky young alike.
This is about very loud fireworks in the night that will knock you out of bed. What is it that you and the previous person did not get?
Violations of the noise ordinance are fines, not court time or jail time. Think of it as money to offset the tax rate and the new community center.
In quite a few local communities noise after 11:00 PM and before 7:00 AM is strictly verboten. Even on the 4th of July. I can't believe Atkinson has no noise ordinance. Hell, they try to regulate everything else. I think our Police Department ( under Wunderkind Caggiano) is pretty lax. And just a note on fireworks. The State Fire Marshal and the local Fire Chief are in charge of regulating them. For home use, they have to fall into an approved class and a form needs to be filled out and approved by the Fire Chief before homeowners can fire them off. Google NH fireworks and tell us what you make of it. I might be wrong.
Now I gotta go. A couple of my firemen, police and BOS buddies are planning a fireworks extravaganze tonight at midnight. Just kidding... Maybe this is why the town is so lax. Town employees are the culprits.
Just my take...
Atkinson has a noise ordinance 9pm to 8am. No one is enforcing it. Maybe your Police or Fire Chief ought to man up as point of contact on this one.
The golf course is now setting them off and we are two + miles from there. Town ordinance says 9pm but it's past 930. Loud here but hey they are Lewis people.
Wonder if we can get a kick back for regularly scheduled offenders? You know, for contributing to the low quality lifestyle we endure as residents here.
From what I have read here I can see what is allowable for general public use according to size of the fireworks in use. There is court action ,if caught with bigger fireworks than are allowed. It seems that dynamite sticks or there equilivant are in use by those not licensed are the ones who are to blame for the over whelming noise. Go after them as well as those who fire them and legal fire works at non allowable times of night and day. As for town workers and the Lewis crowd they should be taken in and prosecuted as best the present laws allow. Next would be the loud motorcycles to go after. Question:: Why is it a motorcyclist has to rev there engines between shifts and,especially so, upon starting their bikes up? Where is the enforcement of the muffler laws in our state?
The CC was not having fireworks last night, it was coming from the Salem area.
Another night another beautiful display!! Great job everyone!! Looks like plan is working!!
The thrill of victory!!
The agony of defeat:(
It sounded like a war zone on Sawmill last night. Nothing to see but very loud fireworks.
To 11:03 - You are planning and coordinating your fireworks displays with others? What is the victory or defeat you claim? Eluding the police or disturbing people? I don't get your point.
The point is the ego is in charge here and that never ends well.
The woman who was harassed must have said "Fire HIM or I'll go to the proper authorities!" Obviously Mr. Consentino didn't want the story to become public!!!!
I agree about the very loud noise of motorcycles flying by my house. It is terrible & unnecessary! Is there a noise ordinance in town? Police should take notice. Park on Sawyer Ave. & just listen to them zooming by!
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