Atkinson Taxpayers Document Archive

In 2004, several area Police Departments including Atkinson, Plaistow and Kingston, collaborated on a solution to the police radio communication problem plaguing the area. Plaistow Police Chief Savage headed this effort, a study was done and a Federal Homeland Security Law Enforcement Terrorism Protection Program ( LETPP) grant application was filed with the State of NH Department of Safety. Over $81k was received in 2005 and in accordance with Federal law, reports filed detailing the location of the equipment in Atkinson, Plaistow and Kingston.

Police Chief Consentino has repeatedly and publicaly denied receiving any grant money. In fact, this equipment was purchased and recorded as being installed in Atkinson! Up until recently, requests for the grant documentation under RSA 91A, were denied by the State of NH, Department of Safety. According to the grant documentation, Atkinson received a receiver, canopy microwave and two IPmux.

According to a recent statement by Atkinson Selectman Bill Bennett, Plaistow Police Chief Savage and Atkinson Police Lt. Bill Baldwin thought the the equipment could be placed on the APD antenna but it wasn’t high enough so it was thrown into a closet in Plaistow. The equipment was never installed but the funds were disbursed to 2-Way Communications for the installation and to the town of Plaistow for the equipment purchase.

Bennett claims that a repeater purchased under this grant was instead installed on Timberlane HS to improve police radio communication in the school. Bennett is also looking to find out what happened to the rest of the equipment Atkinson received since the Atkinson Communication Committee is looking for similar or identical equipment to solve the problem now. Bennett claims that Lt. Baldwin has the information but cannot be reached at his post in the Middle East and has no access to email.

Is anyone else wondering why they pushed so hard for a $700k tower to support $9k worth of equipment?

Where did the repeater at the HS come from?

How much more of this solution was not installed and not used as reported?

The Federal grant indicates that a study was done yet no one knew the APD antenna was not high enough, not sturdy enough?

Why does the application claim that the Atkinson equipment would be installed on the Atkinson Fire Department, while Bennett claims the plan was to install it at the APD?

First Responder Grant Documents [PDF]
First Responder Grant Documents II [PDF]

Josiah Bartlett Reports on NH Budget

Admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:32:50 +0000

The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy has come out with a report that outlines the State Budget featuring 38 new taxes and fees.

Josiah Bartlett Report – Click Here for PDF File

Election Information March 10, 2009

Admin — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:38:29 +0000

The Budget as Proposed

The Town of Atkinson is asking for Four Million One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand, Six Hundred Sixty-nine Dollars ($4,134,669) This represents an increase of almost 3.6% over 2008. This is after $450,000.00 was taken from the unreserved fund to offset the tax rate.

This is the worse economic time in over 25 years. We do not need a bigger budget.

The following budget line items with proposed increases over what was expended in 2008:

Legal Fees 1,495.00
Personnel Admin 2,321.00
Planning and Zoning 6,703.00
Buildings 28,220.00
Cemeteries 1,770.00
Insurance 5,312.00
Advertising 151.00
Police Department 124,657.00
Elderly Affairs 10,097.00
Building Inspector 210.00
Homeland Security 150.00
Highway Department 25,009.00
Sanitation 37,049.00
Health & Welfare 13,535.00
Culture & Recreation 68,004.00
Conservation 33.00

Article 2009-7 Multiple-Year Collective Bargaining Agreement

To see if the Town of Atkinson will vote to approve the cost item included in the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Board of Selectmen and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local #563 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing level:

Yearly Estimated Increases

2009 $6,978
2010 $15,679
2011 $18,993

…and further, to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-eight Dollars ($6,978) for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits over those of the appropriation at the current staffing level paid in the prior fiscal year?

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–The town employees will not be receiving raises

Article 2009-8 Authorization for Special Meeting on Defeated Collective Bargaining Agreement

If Article 2009-7 is defeated, shall the Town of Atkinson authorize the governing body to call one Special Meeting, at its option, to address article 2009-7 cost items only (Majority vote)

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–If the town votes down Article 2009-7 it should remain defeated

Article 2009-9 Operating Budget

Shall the Town of Atkinson raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by Special Warrant Articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote for the first session, for the purpose set forth therein, totaling Four Million One Hundred Thirty Four Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-nine Dollars ($4,134,669) Should this article be defeated, the Default Budget shall be Three Million, Nine Hundred Ninety-two Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty-three Dollars ($3,992,853) which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town of Atkinson or by law; or the governing body may hold one Special Meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only. (Majority vote required)

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
– The proposed budget roughly doubles last years Elderly Affairs budget due to separation from the Police Dept. yet the Police Dept budget was not decreased accordingly.
– Increase in the Library Budget
– Economic conditions indicate frugality by all.

Article 2009-12 Recreation Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to be added to the Recreation Capital Reserve Fund? The purpose of this fund is the acquisition, design, renovation, and development of recreation areas, to include but not limited to fields and playgrounds. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Not a necessary expenditure in these economic times

Article 2009-15 Cable Television Capital Reserve Fund

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate up to the sum of Twenty-one Thousand Dollars ($21,000) to purchase remote recording and editing equipment for off-site broadcasting and other minor equipment needs, and to authorize the withdrawal of Twenty-one Thousand Dollars ($21,000) from the Cable Television Capital Reserve Fund established for this purpose. As of 9-30-08 the balance of this fund was in excess of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). No new tax dollars are needed for this article. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE YES: Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Does not affect the bottom line

Article 2009-16 Police Station Generator

Shall the Town vote to raise and appropriate up to the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to purchase and install a stand-by, self-starting, propane electric generator which will provide enough electricity to power the Police Station in an emergency situation, thus allowing the Police Department to remain operational during a power outage? The installation of said generator will be under the supervision of the Town’s Building Maintenance Supervisor. This article is in addition to Article 2009-9, the Operating Budget.

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Unsubstaniated cost, no bids solicited.
–Consultation with the Electrical Inspector is not documented
–Specific technical needs have not been formally addressed

Article 2009-29 Petition: Posting Tax Information

By Petition: “To see if the voters will vote to direct the selectmen/assessor to post all property tax cards information on the town web site, so taxpayers will not have to take a day off from work when they need that information. When passed, this warrant article will become effective immediately.”

VOTE YES: Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association

Article 2009-31 Petition: Improve Elderly Services

By Petition: “Shall the town of Atkinson direct the Board of Selectmen to implement Elderly Affairs and handicapped programs regardless of age, as budgeted and discussed in 2008 for 2009?”

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–Article improperly limits the program

Article 2009-32

By Petition: “Shall the Police Department command structure remain the same as prescribed under the RSA’S?”

VOTE NO: NOT Recommended by the Atkinson Taxpayer’s Association
–There is no structure defined in the RSA’s

Town Annual Reports

Admin — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:36:59 +0000

Atkinson Town Report for 2008 [20.7 MB - linked from Town's Website and best to download to disk]

Atkinson Town Report for 2007 [1.6 MB - best to download to disk]

RSA Chap 42 – Oaths of Town Officers