Our Town:
The Enterprise—Friday, Dec. 29, 2006
ABINGTON
Atkinson: Creighton should consider opting out
• The beleaguered Board of Health is pondering how to resolve
issues with two unhappy board members.
By Allan Stein
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT
ABINGTON — Board of Health Chairman Roger Atkinson said board
member William Creighton might consider stepping down as an
"option" if he does not want to participate on the board.
"Do I want him to resign? No. I would like him to do what he was
elected to do," Atkinson said Thursday.
Atkinson said that on Wednesday the board sent Creighton and
fellow member Christine Hickey a letter by certified mail.
The letter stated that the state inspector general's office will be
notified by the board that it will not continue an inquiry into missing
health office fees.
Neither Creighton nor Hickey signed for the letter, Atkinson said.
Creighton and Hickey have missed three consecutive board
meetings since October.
Hickey said that because of a previous commitment she would be
able to attend meetings after Jan. 1.
Creighton said he cannot attend meetings on Thursdays because of
his work schedule.
He recently accused board members of switching meeting days from
Monday to Thursday so he could not attend them.
Atkinson said he considers Creighton's continued absences and
other actions a deliberate attempt to undermine the board.
"We never heard from Bill Creighton that there was a conflict. He is
not acting in any capacity that is benefiting the board or the town of
Abington at this point," Atkinson said.
Creighton recently asked the Plymouth County district attorney to
look into a Nov. 30 board meeting posting that contained an
inaccuracy.
Assistant District Attorney Mary Lee denied Creighton's request,
saying the posting had been corrected and the inaccuracy was not a
procedural violation.
Atkinson said Hickey contacted him, saying she wants to resume
meeting attendance after Jan 1.
He said Creighton, by missing board meetings, has become an
isolated member. His three-year term expires in 2008.
"If he opts to stay and starts up the conflict, it's going to be a long
year," Atkinson said.
Creighton had "no response" 1 Atkinson's suggestion that Y could
resign.
"Why would I do that?" he said of resigning.
Regarding the board's decision to end the investigation into missing
health office fees, Creighton said he will not allow the issue to go
away. That is why he would not sign for the certified letter, he said.
The fees, estimated at $10,000 are for yearly rabies clinics an about
700 recycled propane tank: Board members dispute the actual
amount as being much less.
While a June report by the state inspector general’s office could not
account for the missing fees, it could find no evidence of
wrongdoing.
It did however, recommend the adoption of more stringent
bookkeeping practices, which the board voted to implement.
Creighton said he does not agree with the board’s recent 3-0 vote to
close the investigation.
“The Inspector General confirmed that there were tax dollars
unaccounted for. How can you close the issue when the money has
not been accounted for?” Creighton said. “To close the issue is
terrible”.
