Tag Archives: Windham School Board

March 28, 2015

Al Letizio and Dennis Senibaldi: Intimidation and Cowardice in Windham

By Kimberly Morin

letiziosenibaldibulliesAs you have probably seen in other posts, I have written extensively over the past few months about the Windham School Board and then added more posts regarding the school board elections. Dennis Senibaldi is a member of the Windham School Board. Al Letizio is a Windham Selectman. Both men are elected officials who hold public office.

Apparently Letizio and Senibaldi didn’t like my articles outing their bad behavior. Both men threatened legal action against Examiner where all of my articles were originally posted. Both men claimed I never talked to them about the articles, which is an outright lie. Nor did they try to contact me about any of these articles through Examiner.

Below is what Examiner sent me regarding Letizio and Senibaldi’s complaints:

Ms. Morin, our legal department – as well as various other departments within our company – has received several complaints about your coverage of the Windham School Board. Complaints include factual inaccuracy, defamation of character and an unwillingness to allow the parties involved the opportunity to speak to the allegations you have made.

After posting the article showing Letizio’s false accusations he made against then-candidate for school board Tom Murray both Letizio and Senibaldi claimed I wasn’t telling the truth. I asked BOTH men to point out what wasn’t true in my article and neither of them would. As a writer who spends countless hours researching, I take pride in the factual evidence that I ALWAYS use to back up my statements. Every article ever posted in regards to these two men has contained links proving their behavior.  When I do make the ocassional error, I immediately update the article with the new information.

This is the first article I posted on Letizio and one which he is complaining about and threatening legal action. http://granitegrok.com/blog/2015/03/100394 I took snap shots from his OWN Selectman facebook page of his OWN words.  That’s right, he was posting false accusations against Murray on his public official page. Again, he cannot point out what is inaccurate. He also claimed my posts were ‘defamatory’ yet thinks nothing of the false accusations and actual defamatory posts he posted about Murray. I simply shared the truth.

Senibaldi isn’t happy with a few articles but I think one of his main complaints was over his stealing an email from Windham Town Selectman Bruce Breton.  Again, everything posted is linked to evidence. Senibaldi admitted to taking the email and Breton told the Eagle Tribune that he didn’t give him permission. You can see that article herehttp://granitegrok.com/blog/2015/03/did-windhams-dennis-senibaldi-violate-the-state-computer-crime-law.

What these two public officials are really pissed off about is someone actually wrote about their bad behavior.  Not one lie or false accusation has been made against either man. Interesting that both men have made false accusations against others though isn’t it? Including myself when they claimed I posted false information and ‘defamed’ them.

These men defamed themselves. They are elected public officials. They are using intimidation to stop the truth about them getting to Windham voters. They already proved themselves to be bullies during the Windham School Board election and now they are continuing by trying to bully me into shutting up.

And it should be noted that NEITHER man has tried to contact me directly. They have gone to my editors threatening legal action yet not a peep to ME, the author of the articles they don’t want voters to see. Not only are they bullies but they are cowards as well.

It should also be noted that when talking with Senibaldi over Facebook he ridiculed me for writing at Examiner. If I’m so unimportant, why the intimidation tactics? I think Senibaldi is finally learning how social media works. You’d think he would have already learned his lesson.  Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

And before either man complains about their photos being used – Letizio’s is from his public Twitter account and Senibaldi’s is from the Windham School Board page which is public and paid for with taxpayer $$.

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March 27, 2015

Did Dennis Senibaldi violate NH election Laws as a Windham Town Employee?

By Kimberly Morin

joanisrekartsenibaldiDuring the recent Windham School Board elections there was a photo posted on Mike Joanis’ campaign Facebook page at the Windham Transfer Station that shows he and Jerome Rekart campaigning with a photo of Dennis Senibaldi. No big deal right?

Well it just so happens that Senibaldi is an employee of the transfer station. He may or may not have been working or he may even have been on break but he was wearing the “uniform” of a Windham Transfer Station employee.

It just so happens that town employees are not allowed to use their taxpayer-paid position to campaign for anyone. They can campaign all they want but not if it appears they are representing their employer, in this case the transfer station which is paid for with Windham taxpayer money.

New Hampshire Election Law defines this as electioneering:

659:44-a Electioneering by Public Employees. –No public employee, as defined in RSA 273-A:1, IX, shall electioneer while in the performance of his or her official duties or use government property, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, vehicles, and computers, for electioneering. For the purposes of this section, “electioneer” means to act in any way specifically designed to influence the vote of a voter on any question or office. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Source. 2003, 172:2, eff. June 18, 2003.

This photo was previously also posted on Rekart’s campaign page as well but he has since removed all campaign materials, Joanis has not as you can see in the photo above.  That happens to be a snap shot taken directly from Joanis’ campaign page today.

Looks like Senibaldi has some more explaining to do just as with his taking an email without permission.

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March 27, 2015

Did Windham’s Dennis Senibaldi violate NH computer crime laws?

By Kimberly Morin

121355077-internet-crimesThere is new information concerning the shenanigans pulled by Windham School Boardmember Dennis Senibaldi last week during the school board meeting. On Friday theEagle Tribune wrote about the first Windham School Board meeting with new board members Tom Murray and Daniel Popovici-Muller. Apparently the faux outrage of the day was by shunned board member Dennis Senibaldi who claimed Ken Eyring (who was nominated Chairman over Senibaldi) somehow violated his oath of office by sharing a school board’s general counsel email with a Windham Town Selectman and a lawyer for further advice.

Eyring was seeking further information on whether or not the Windham School Board violated municipal law by voting through the Cenergistic contract without a vote from Windham residents. Since Adam Steel and their general counsel knew Eyring was asking for this information at the public’s request, it is obvious to assume that whatever response he provided would also be parlayed to the people requesting the information and would be shared with others.

Eyring did not make the email public although it falls within public “right-to-know” information as it is not a private document per the exemption rules under RSA 91-A:5. Apparently Senibaldi had Eyring’s email as far back as January 26th but never bothered to share it with anyone until the board meeting last week when he was running for Chair. He not only shared it but he stomped his feet and behaved like a 5 year old childhaving a tantrum. Not only did he waste the board’s time but the residents who were in attendance at the meeting as well.

The big question is – did Senibaldi violate the New Hampshire State Computer Crimes law? Senibaldi admits he saw an email in Selectman Bruce Breton’s inbox. He admitted taking the email. This was reported in the Eagle Tribune:

Senibaldi said he saw the email in the inbox of Selectman Bruce Breton, who routinely asks Senibaldi for email help.

Breton said Wednesday the email was taken from his account without permission.

Senibaldi has known about the email since Jan. 26, but he held off on notifying the superintendent and school board until after the elections. Senibaldi defended his decision to send himself the email, saying he was given the password and access to the account by Breton.

“I held off because I didn’t want to influence any election stuff going on,” Senibaldi said. “There was enough mud slinging and mud throwing. I waited as along as I could and then sought advice from counsel.”

Breton states that the email was taken without his permission. That indeed is a violation of the computer crimes laws under RSA 638 which fall under Fraud laws in New Hampshire:

638:17 Computer Related Offenses. –
I. A person is guilty of the computer crime of unauthorized access to a computer or computer network when, knowing that the person is not authorized to do so, he or she knowingly accesses or causes to be accessed any computer or computer network without authorization. It shall be an affirmative defense to a prosecution for unauthorized access to a computer or computer network that:
(a) The person reasonably believed that the owner of the computer or computer network, or a person empowered to license access thereto, had authorized him or her to access; or
(b) The person reasonably believed that the owner of the computer or computer network, or a person empowered to license access thereto, would have authorized the person to access without payment of any consideration; or
(c) The person reasonably could not have known that his or her access was unauthorized.
II. A person is guilty of the computer crime of theft of computer services when he or she knowingly accesses or causes to be accessed or otherwise uses or causes to be used a computer or computer network with the purpose of obtaining unauthorized computer services.
III. A person is guilty of the computer crime of interruption of computer services when the person, without authorization, knowingly or recklessly disrupts or degrades or causes the disruption or degradation of computer services or denies or causes the denial of computer services to an authorized user of a computer or computer network.
IV. A person is guilty of the computer crime of misuse of computer or computer network information when:
(a) As a result of his or her accessing or causing to be accessed a computer or computer network, the person knowingly makes or causes to be made an unauthorized display, use, disclosure, or copy, in any form, of data residing in, communicated by, or produced by a computer or computer network; or
(b) The person knowingly or recklessly and without authorization:
(1) Alters, deletes, tampers with, damages, destroys, or takes data intended for use by a computer or computer network, whether residing within or external to a computer or computer network; or
(2) Intercepts or adds to data residing within a computer or computer network; or
(c) The person knowingly receives or retains data obtained in violation of subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph; or
(d) The person knowingly uses or discloses any data he or she knows or believes was obtained in violation of subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph.
V. A person is guilty of the computer crime of destruction of computer equipment when he or she, without authorization, knowingly or recklessly tampers with, takes, transfers, conceals, alters, damages, or destroys any equipment used in a computer or computer network, or knowingly or recklessly causes any of the foregoing to occur.
VI. A person is guilty of the computer crime of computer contamination if such person knowingly introduces, or causes to be introduced, a computer contaminant into any computer, computer program, or computer network which results in a loss of property or computer services.
Source. 1985, 139:1. 2002, 261:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2003.

It appears there are several areas in the above could apply to Senibaldi. Even if he was authorized to look at the computer (questionable) he was not authorized, per Breton, to take his email. That indeed is a violation of state law. There are actual penalties for violating this law as well which can be found inRSA 638:18.

Senibaldi actually claims that Eyring violated his Oath of Office. Clearly Senibaldi hasn’t bothered to read the Oath for Windham School Board members. Nothing Eyring did violates his Oath of Office although it’s now questionable whether Senibaldi violated his oath. Trying to get the public the information they requested is actually what a good elected official does.

Windham voters spoke loud and clear when they ousted Rekart and Joanis. A big part of that change was they were sick of the games, unaccountability and intransparency of the Windham School Board. Voters thought they’d be getting some semblance of a reasonable school board back but Senibaldi blew that away with his atrocious behavior at the meeting last week. Senibaldi may want to talk to a lawyer about his possible computer crimes.

Sadly for Windham residents it looks like they have a couple more spots on the school board to ‘clean up.’

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March 27, 2015

By Kimberly Morin

schoolboardLast night Windham voters decidedly voted to rid the school board of Chairman Jerry Rekart and member Mike Joanis. Tom Murray and Daniel Popovici-Muller were the winners of those races. If you recall, the race became quite sleazy over the weekend when Windham Selectman Al Letizio Jr made outrageous accusations against Murray regarding an endorsement. Apparently sleaze and corruption aren’t what Windham voters are looking for in school board candidates.

Much of this began when Rekart called the police on Murray during a school board vote to shove an expensive and seemingly ridiculous “energy behavior program” down the throats of Windham residents with no public input. None of the school board members had much time to research Cenergistic nor did they have the actual contract to vote on when they were told to pass it!

And so began the downfall of two incumbent school board members. Unfortunately for Rekart and Joanis, they chose UNaccountability and INtransparency over protecting the best interest of Windham children and taxpayers. Clearly Windham voters didn’t take too kindly to that.

Then of course there were the sleazy, bullying, Obama-style politics of Selectman Al Letizio Jr. Over the weekend he posted outrageous claims on his official Facebook page against Murray. He also attacked Popovici-Muller. Meanwhile both Murray and Popovici-Muller kept their campaigns about the issues and never resorted to personal attacks.

Interesting that Letizio deleted all of his defamatory posts from Facebook and actually had the gall to post the following:

Congratulations to all winners of the elections. It’s time for all of us in Windham to unite and give these newly elected members our full support.

Of course, all of his previous posts were captured for the record and previously reported on by yours truly. How anyone can take this man seriously after the things he said and did is amusing. When Letizio’s time is up, it’ll be once again time for Windham voters to do the right thing for their town and dump the incumbent. This is the type of “change” voters can believe in.

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March 27, 2015

Windham School Board election gets ugly thanks to Selectman Al Letizio Jr.

By Kimberly Morin

tommurraymarygriffenphotoYesterday the Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectman in Windham, New Hampshire posted some ridiculous accusations against Tom Murray, candidate for school board, on his official Facebook page. Al Letizio Jr is supporting the current Windham School Board members up for re-election Jerry Rekart and Mike Joanis. If you recall, both of these men voted for the almost $600,000 Cenergistic contract before even reviewing the contract.

Rekart is the current chairman of the school board who also called the police on Murray when he spoke out of turn because of the board’s outrageous Cenergistic vote. Apparently that’s one of the reasons Murray decided to run for a position on the school board. Between backroom deals where the public wasn’t allowed input and school board members who weren’t doing their due diligence before forcing the town into expensive contract; the final push was Jerry Rekart having the police called on a concerned citizen who also happens to be on the board’s facilities commission.

Perhaps Al Letizio Jr. is taking lessons from the political thuggery of Chicago-style campaigning. He accuses Murray of providing a “fake” endorsement by House Representative Mary Griffin. Griffin wrote and signed her endorsement for Murray who used it in an ad. Letizio seems to have bullied the beloved 92 year old into thinking Murray did something wrong when he then used her endorsement. Endorsements are meant to be shared and used. The endorsement was also previously printed in a local newspaper. Letizio is posting false information about the endorsement on his officialFacebook page.

Murray has since spoken with Griffin after these accusations came to light and she once again vowed her support for him and has told everyone who asks her that she is indeed supporting and did indeed endorse Murray over Rekart or Joanis. It’s a bit telling about Letizio’s character that he felt the need to question Griffin over her endorsement. Imagine a grown man bullying a 88 year old woman because she doesn’t back his candidate? Despicable.

Letizio also created an ad in which he questions the Windham Taxpayer’s Coalition. An organization that was started over 2 years ago. The volunteer organization works to alert Windham residents about issues in their town. They also put out a voting guide on candidates as well as issues residents are being asked to vote on. Letizio never questioned the organization until, once again, they disagree with his choice for school board candidates.

Ironic that Letizio then paid for his own voting guide which appeared with the newspaper today. Another sponsor who paid for this ad? Jerry Rekart’s in laws – Bill and Judy Newcomb! Based on the man’s behavior, Windham residents should take his advice and actually “be careful whose advice you’re taking when casting your vote.” Letizio’s style of politics seems to be to throw things against the wall to see if they stick rather than using facts (where have you seen that before?).

Clearly Windham residents aren’t happy with Rekart or Joanis if Letizio is expending so much effort and time to literally make things up and hope people believe him. It’s unfortunate that he’s also using his official page to behave this way. Obviously he prefers to work with people like Rekart and Joanis who will just shove whatever they are asked through, ignoring public input and silly things like actual contracts. If Rekart and Joanis rightfully lose, how will Letizio behave?

Letizio has also attacked Daniel Popovici-Muller, the other candidate for school board who is also calling for transparency and accountability. It seems the “old guard” in Windham doesn’t want new people to open up the books to Windham residents. Are backroom deals appear to be the norm in Windham? If voters want to be locked out of decisions for their town they will be paying for, they’ll vote for Rekart and Joanis. If they want to be included in the process and fully know what is being discussed, they’ll vote for Murray and Popovici-Muller.

One thing is crystal clear. Windham voters have to clean up their board of selectman as well when they have the chance. The vote for school board is next Tuesday, March 10th. Will Obama-style lying, cheating and thug politics win out or will honesty and accountability? The Windham School Board election got ugly thanks to Selectman Al Letizio Jr. It further shows how badly voters need to switch out some of the people running things in their lovely town.

NOTE: It was this author’s mistake that when I previously met Rep Griffin I thought she told me she was a great grandmother. That was incorrect and although it’s not nice to post a woman’s age, the point must be shown that Letizio is basically harrassing this poor woman at this point (he has reached out to her yet again) and should be ashamed of himself.

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