ATKINSON — An investigation continues into the distribution of details of a human rights complaint and confidential settlement involving Selectman Phil Consentino.
Consentino also was the town’s longtime police chief until he was dismissed in February 2013.
Both during and after his campaign, Consentino was the target of an anonymous, three-page letter that was widely distributed.
It listed 23 separate complaints about Consentino for behavior that allegedly occurred while he was police chief and elderly affairs director.
The Attorney General’s Office is investigating the case from two angles, Associate Attorney General Jane Young said Tuesday.
“We’re looking at the specific facts of this, including whether there was any criminal act in the distribution,” Young said. “We’re also looking at the authenticity of the document.”
No further information on the investigation is available, Young said.
Consentino declined to comment on the case yesterday, saying matters were “in the lawyers’ hands.”
“They’re working on it and I’m just letting things set,” Consentino said. “That’s what they get paid for.”
Town Administrator Bill Innes said there are no issues with Consentino’s role as selectman.
“He can do what he has to do as a selectman,” Innes said.
Consentino was terminated as chief and elderly affairs director last year “for cause.” Officials have not disclosed why and Consentino was questioned by citizens about the dismissal during his campaign.
Last year, police dispatcher Lynne Cunningham filed a complaint against the town with the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The details of that complaint are sealed. Cunningham and the town settled out of court for $50,000.
Innes declined comment on the investigation.
Joni Esperian, executive director of the N.H. Commission for Human Rights, said she couldn’t comment.
“For cases that aren’t public, and public cases are cases where cause has been found, this commission can’t comment on whether any case exists here, according to our statutes and regulatory framework,” Esperian said.
Copies of the anonymous letter were both mailed and simply left in residents’ mailboxes. But the U.S. Postal Service is not investigating.
“We’re not aware of any investigation going on at this time,” said Maureen Marion, spokeswoman for the Northeast USPS.
The mailings went to people’s homes, town employees and senior citizens he knew when he was the town’s elderly affairs director, both in stamped, anonymously sent mail postmarked in Boston and handouts dropped in their mailboxes and at homes.
Earlier this spring, Consentino said he discussed the matter with Esperian, who assured him that neither commissioners nor her staff released the information.
He also said he knew who distributed the information in town, because their actions were witnessed by others, but he wouldn’t identify them.
