Guest Post- Mark Acciard: "The Scourge of Atkinson" - Granite Grok

Guest Post- Mark Acciard: “The Scourge of Atkinson”

As we all know a year ago Phil Consentino was FIRED from his position as police chief, and elderly affairs director, and he was fired for cause. What most Atkinsonians do not know is what that cause was. He was fired pursuant to a sexual harassment complaint from a female employee. It was investigated by a third-party firm, and the selectman, immediately upon reading their findings, decided to fire Consentino for CAUSE.

The accusers eight page complaint detailed almost 5 years of repeated sexual harassment from Consentino. YEARS of innuendo, suggestive comments, suggestive gestures, touching her, smelling her hair, groping himself in front of her, staring at her while touching himself, were all painstakingly detailed in her complaint.

I would ask what kind of pig would treat a woman this way, particularly a woman who works next to his wife, but we now know the answer to that question.

In his typical dishonest fashion, Consentino has claimed for a year now that he never got to tell his side. Initially he said he would fight his firing but he did nothing. At candidates night he got the opportunity to tell his side but declined, opting instead to threaten and swear at those asking the questions. Once a bully always a bully.

In case you are wondering about the veracity of the complaint, it was thoroughly investigated.  He was fired and chose not to fight it.  To avoid prosecution Phil, the Town, and the victim, settled out of court.  She was paid $50,000, her lawyer another $50,000, and was sworn to non disclosure.

Now, Consentino could have stayed retired and over time people would have forgotten, much like Bill Clinton, and he would have enjoyed the well wishes of the town, but his ego would not allow that.   He chose to throw his hat into the ring for selectman, once again.

In ignorance of the reasons for his firing the good people of Atkinson elected him (once again)  to the position of selectman, without knowing they had placed a Sexual Harasser back in as BOSS over the very woman he harassed.  There is no way this can end well for the town.

Over the years of Consentino’s tenure as police chief he has been the direct cause of no less than 9 legal actions, resulting in millions of dollars in settlements and legal expense.

He began his tenure as police chief by misappropriating funds, according to the suit filed by former selectman Wayne Peak.   This suit, and Phil’s counter suit for defamation, ran for nearly SIX YEARS! resultinng in, reportedly, one of the largest civil settlements in state history.  The case is sealed.

He progressed to numerous labor actions, even being ordered by the NHPELRB to “cease and desist” from “bullying, harassing, and intimidating his officers.”  HE claimed, once again, that he never got to tell his side of the story.

Over the years Consentino has bullied and intimidated everyone who criticized his actions whether they were inappropriate, or illegal.

Mark R. Acciard

PS: Phil, if you read this and get upset, or want to sue someone over it, you know where to find me. Have a nice day.

>