Atkinson officials work to clean up paper trail...

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Atkinson officials work to clean up paper trail
Donors gave $150,000 for new library


By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Kimball Library opened a year ago, but the selectmen recently asked the library trustees to reveal all construction costs that were paid by a group of anonymous donors.

Residents approved spending $2.7 million to build the new library and tear down the old one, but that would only cover the bare necessities. To make up for extra items on the trustees' wish list, some 300 people donated about $150,000 through the Friends of the Atkinson Library to help pay for energy-efficient lights and carpet upgrades.

The problem is the extras were paid for by residents directly to the contractors, according to Selectman Bill Friel.

"None of the paperwork went through the town," Friel said.

The town needs to know exactly how much donors spent on the construction project and what improvements they paid for.

Selectmen also need to see all warranties, contracts and other documents associated with work paid for by the donors.

"The whole paper trail is missing," Friel said.

Until March, only the selectmen were given the authority to accept gifts and they couldn't do so without documentation, Friel said. At Town Meeting in March, residents approved a warrant article that gave library trustees the authority to accept gifts.

Once they have all the requested information, Friel said, the board won't have a problem accepting the donations retroactively.

But library trustees said at a meeting Tuesday night that they had already provided the selectmen with the information they requested.

"Their difficulty is they have a wretched retrieval system," trustee Chairwoman Kay Galloway said.

Ron Lamarre, the architect for the library, said the lowest bid came in about $200,000 more than what the town had approved, so that's why the donations were needed.

A ceremonial shovel, stained-glass window and an exterior clock all were donated to enhance the library, Lamarre said.

"I think there are many people who were happy to be part of the legacy fund," Galloway said.

Miscommunication between the trustees and the selectmen is nothing new.

Galloway said the selectmen were invited to all trustee meetings starting in 2006 during the planning for the new library until after it was opened in October 2008.

"One of the difficulties we've had is a selectmen's liaison that has been absent more often than present," Galloway said.

To resolve the issue, trustees said they plan to hold a meeting to make sure selectmen have all the information they need.

Friel said a meeting would be scheduled soon.

Atkinson gives $5,000.00 bonus to administrative assistant

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http://www.eagletribune.com/punewsnh/local_story_273005140.html

Atkinson gives bonus to administrative assistant

By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON, N.H. — Atkinson recently hired its fourth town administrator in the last two years. Throughout that time, one person has worked countless hours to make sure the town's business has been taken care of.

On Monday night, Barbara Snicer, the town's administrative assistant since 2007, was recognized by the Board of Selectmen for taking over the town administrator's responsibilities and her own.

"It's incredible, the amount of work she's been doing," Selectman Bill Bennett said.

To reward her, selectmen unanimously approved paying Snicer a onetime bonus worth 15 percent of her salary. Bennett said the bonus is about $5,000.

Town employees did not receive any pay raises this year and selectmen said it would be inappropriate to single out Snicer for a raise. But this bonus was the next best alternative.

"It's really small compared to the effort she's put in," Bennett said.

During the latest seven-month absence of a town administrator, Selectmen's Chairman Fred Childs said he would go to Town Hall just about every day to help Snicer. But, he said, she deserves most of the credit for running the day-to-day business of the town.

Town Administrator Philip Smith was hired two weeks ago, but the job had been vacant since late January when the previous administrator quit suddenly.

Snicer has been involved in town government for years as a member of the Budget Committee, the Building Needs Committee and head of the town's television studio, according to Childs.

Whenever a new selectman is elected, Childs said Snicer helps them learn the rules and responsibilities of the job.

"She's got to teach these guys, even if they have experience," Childs said.

Selectmen refuse to let serious town business disrupt their party

A funny thing happened at last night's selectmen meeting....

The selectmen had announced the previous week their intention to keep last night's meeting short, so that they could have a party with a dual purpose. On the one hand it was to welcome the new town administrator, on the other to wish a farewell to Lt. Baldwin who is being deployed to California.

A town resident, Mr. Artus, remained sitting in the back of the room throughout the meeting, until there was a lull in the proceedings, at which time he asked the board if he could ask them a question. They said yes, but keep it brief, while selectman chairman Childs sent chief Consentino out to find the Lt.

Mr. Artus asked the Board, who there had authorized a resident to destroy Valcat ln., a town owned, class VI road? The selectmen immediately retorted that no one there had, and when Mr. Artus tried to follow up on that, Mr. Childs announced that Mr. Artus was not allowed on the agenda this week because of the party, and would have to return next week to discuss this matter. Selectman Chairman Childs then ordered the cameraman to take Mr. Artus's seat at the table, denying him any further comment. The party then commenced without a hitch, although if looks could kill, as they say.....

A little research has shown that Mrs. Maggie Osborne of 8 Valcat ln. has apparently dug a trench through Valcat ln. so that her new driveway to Chase Island rd. will have a gentle enough slope to enable her to receive a clean bill of health from the fire dept. to pave the way for her occupancy permit. She evidently needs the fire depts. blessing because she has failed to install sprinklers in her new house as required by town ordinance, and Valcat ln. is too steep and narrow to permit a fire truck to pass.

It also appears that Mrs. Osborne's neighbors have filed a lawsuit in Rockingham Superior Court, seeking an injunction against her driveway construction, alleging that it is being built on land owned by the neighbor!

With Mrs. Osborne's new house being on the lake side of Valcat ln. and Chase Island rd. being on the inland side of Valcat ln. It appears that Mrs. Osborne has cut a trench 24 feet or so wide, and 8'- 10' deep through this town owned road, to lower the slope of her new driveway project. The hill use to be so steep that you could barely see Mrs. Osborne's house over the top of the hill if you were sitting in a car on Chase Island rd. Now you can readily see her garage.

Mr. Artus brought up a very serious issue last night, and we are disappointed that the selectmen thought a party was more important than this pressing town business. If the selectmen allow this project to continue, than what is to stop any town resident from destroying any town road at their whim? The town can not treat one resident different than they treat another, that is precisely what has caused this town so many lawsuits in recent years.

What will the selectmen do? We can only wait and see....

Elderly Derry driver rear-ends minivan on Route 111

For the record, the "gym" is in Hampstead, and the report of erratic driving at the Sunoco Station is in Atkinson.

Please accept this as an article submission:

Here's a real story from the Eagle Tribune: someone sees an elderly man swerving erratically in the Sunoco on rte 111 in Atkinson. They call Atkinson police out of concern for public safety.

Minutes later a mother and young child are smashed by the vehicle of that same driver.

Considering that this might have been a double fatality if a vehicle was coming in the opposite direction, several factors here need to be considered by the selectmen:

1) What was the nature of the police response to the person who called police? Was a car immediately dispatched, and did they have lights/siren on?
here

2) Where were they when the accident happened? If they weren't dispatched, or weren't hurrying to a report of an erratic driver, why is that?

Our police chief has commented openly that the parts of Atkinson north of Rte 111 aren't "real" parts of Atkinson. As a result, there is virtually no police presence and zero patrolling there. Please write the selectmen and the Eagle Tribune and ask them to follow up on this story.


Elderly Derry driver rear-ends minivan on Route 111

By James A. Kimble
jkimble@eagletribune.com
HAMPSTEAD — An 83-year-old Derry man was taken to a local hospital after his Jeep rear-ended a minivan that was stopped to take a left turn into a Route 111 gym, police said.

Police said Jodi Bedard, 34, of Atkinson, the driver of the minivan, and her 3-year-old daughter were not injured.

Bedard was stopped and had her left-turn signal on when she was rear-ended by Donald Loisel, 83, of Derry, Hampstead police Lt. John Frasier said. Bedard was eastbound, attempting to turn in to the Fanzone building on Route 111 shortly after 1:30 p.m.

Frasier said it's believed Loisel's driving had prompted a call to Atkinson police just minutes before the crash.

"Several minutes before, Atkinson police were responding to a call that an elderly gentleman driving a red Jeep was swerving his vehicle in the Sunoco station up the street, almost hitting a pedestrian," Frasier said.

"It appears to be one and the same."

Loisel's Jeep struck the right side of the minivan, causing the Jeep to spin off Route 111, nearly landing in a swamp. Frasier said a small stand of trees stopped the vehicle.

Loisel appeared to have suffered a head injury and was jolted to the passenger's side of the car, police said. He was taken to Parkland Medical Center, where he was in stable condition last night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Loisel was not wearing a seat belt, police said. The accident remains under investigation.

September 27, 2009 8:49 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will the elderly driver have their license taken away, or will Phil be afraid to tick off his voting base?

Will selectmen be afraid to ask these questions?

September 27, 2009 8:53 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are Kidding right...I see the Atkinson police over near the Sunoco all the time. I work near there I see them around Hall Farm road and I have seen them many times patrolling the sunoco parking lot. Where do you get you Info from?

September 27, 2009 8:54 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Accident Happened In Hampstead....Not Atkinson..so The chief has nothing to do with what happens to this driver....comments like that really do prove you have a vendetta...

September 27, 2009 8:58 AM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sunoco APlus©
ONE HALL FARM RD PO BX 1154
ATKINSON,NH 03811

September 27, 2009 2:44 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Right. That stretch of road is in Atkinson says my map program.

1 Hall Farm Rd
Atkinson, NH 03811

September 27, 2009 2:52 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Anon September 27, 2009 8:58 AM

No it shows how you try to mislead people. It's either that or you like waving your "Stupid Flag" As an observation it's the latter AND a BIG FLAG. Bet you love windy days. You know.........a real BLOW HARD.

September 27, 2009 2:57 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmm...if this is the gym then it is Hampstead.

The Zone Fitness Sportscenter
142 State Rt. 111
Hampstead, NH 03841

September 27, 2009 3:16 PM

Police, dogs find paraphernalia in Timberlane drug search

From the Eagle Tribune;

Police, dogs find paraphernalia in Timberlane drug search
By Jarret Bencks
jbencks@eagletribune.com

PLAISTOW, N.H. — A drug search at Timberlane Regional High School yesterday morning netted drug paraphernalia and a small container with residue of an unidentified substance.

Just after 9 a.m., police with about 10 drug-sniffing dogs canvassed the school. Five teams searched classrooms and hallways in the building.

The search took just under an hour. The substance found in the container will be tested by police.

School officials, who were notified shortly before the search started, wouldn't say what specific paraphernalia was found, or whether any more searches would be conducted at the school this year.

District officials had been aware that a search would be held sometime this year, following a meeting of school administrators and Plaistow police earlier this year, according to a statement issued by Timberlane principal Donald Woodworth.

Yesterday's was the second drug search at the school in the last three years. The last search one was in May 2007.

John Leary, associate principal, said the students found associated with the drug paraphernalia would face "strong disciplinary punishment."

"We want to do this to keep the school safe," Leary said. "It's always good to do something like this to make people realize we are serious about the issue."

Atkinson library trustees, town officials at odds over use of space

From the Eagle Tribune;

Atkinson library trustees, town officials at odds over use of space
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON, N.H. — Kimball Library trustees said they plan to consult the state attorney general's office if the selectmen would like to put town computer servers inside the library.

The town's Technology Committee had explored putting computer servers in the library, but decided it would have to find another location after the trustees questioned whether it was a move by the selectmen to take control of the library.

Selectmen's Chairman Fred Childs said yesterday the news from the committee at Monday night's selectmen's meeting was disappointing.

"I guess they weren't received too well at the library," Childs said.

The town is in the process of improving its technology systems and had eyed the library as a potential site to consolidate servers for all town departments.

Currently, the town's servers are in Town Hall, but the room where they are kept has mold problems.

But Kay Galloway, chairwoman of the library trustees, said yesterday they were not completely opposed to putting town servers in the library.

"We just want to make sure our interests are being protected," she said.

Galloway said she would be seeking guidance from Terry Knowles, assistant director of the charitable trust unit at the state attorney general's office, if the town was still interested in using space in the library.

Under state law, library trustees have the authority to manage the library. The new $2.7 million library opened Oct. 12, 2008.

The library has plenty of space, but Galloway said she's concerned that the library isn't the best solution.

"We were wondering how much it would cost the town," Galloway said. A July 27 report by the town's Technology Committee said using the library would be cheaper than building a new room at Town Hall.

Childs said the town might reconsider its options over the next couple of months while the selectmen work on next year's municipal budget.

Atkinson residents oppose tower plan

From the Eagle Tribune;

Atkinson residents oppose tower plan
By Eric Parry
eparry@eagletribune.com

ATKINSON — Residents living near the Hog Hill tower turned out last night to again voice their opposition to a proposal to add three antennas to the 160-foot structure.

Last night's public hearing was the third in three months. After each of the first two hearings, selectmen requested additional information from the applicant.

Attorney Steven Grill, representing SBA Tower II, told selectmen he opposes the repeated public hearings on the proposal to add three flush-mounted antennas to the tower because no one is adding anything new to the discussion.

"We don't think the public has a right to speak, we think the public has a privilege to speak," Grill said, after describing residents' opposition as "hostile."

But selectmen said they would continue to allow residents to speak on the issue. About a half dozen of the approximately 15 residents to attend the hearing at Town Hall addressed selectmen.

Selectman Bill Bennett said he expects his board to have a workshop on the issue next month, likely generating more questions and possibly another public hearing.

Similar proposals for the site have been considered by the town since 2006. The latest is almost identical to the one denied a special exception by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in March 2007.

SBA Tower II filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in September 2007, but a federal judge ruled a year later that it was up to selectmen to decide the case. The zoning board issued its decision when the 50-year-old tower was owned by Mariner Tower.

The three antennas are expected to improve T-Mobile's cell phone service in Atkinson, primarily near Route 121.

There were some new details released at last night's meeting, but resident Karen Donnelly said she is disappointed in the lack of specifics on some matters.

Donnelly said she is still concerned about people who appear to be technicians working on the tower day and night without her knowing who they are and what they are doing.

"I tend to be a little emotional after 11 years of this same conversation," Donnelly said, referring to a court settlement at that time.

Bennett recommended a fence be installed around the property to help alleviate safety concerns.

"It's part of the problem that the previous owners have not addressed," Bennett said.

Residents also said they were concerned about the tower's ability to handle the new antennas.

But Grill said the tower was inspected by a structural engineer who recommended new foundations for the tower's guy lines. Once new foundations are installed, the tower wouldn't have any problems supporting the additional weight, he said.

"We don't want this thing falling down any more than the town or the residents do," Grill said.

Resident Sheldon Wolfe, an abutter, said he's concerned that if T-Mobile is given permission to install the three antennas, the town may be obligated to allow other companies to install antennas, too.

Wolfe also questioned what effect the changes to the tower would have on property values in the area.

But Grill said the town wouldn't have to allow other companies to place antennas on the tower. They just wouldn't be allowed to exclude them from locating elsewhere in town.

"If you don't allow this application, someone else will come back with another tower nearby," Grill said.