Community forum Saturday

The Lebanon Board of Selectmen will host a community forum at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Lebanon Elementary School.

The agenda will include the Old Town Hall Project, the Carl Broggi Highway 2014 paving update and the Lebanon Rescue Station repair fund.

The forum, which is hoped to become a monthly occurrence, is designed to give residents a more informal venue in which to offer their thoughts and ideas to selectmen and town officials on pertinent issues.

The Old Town Hall Project, which was originally designed to bring the historic building at the corner of Heath and Center roads up to code, stalled after cost overruns and additional funding necessary to complete the project was defeated soundly last June.

The Carl Broggi Highway paving work by the state Department of Transportation would take place this summer and includes center line rumble strips over most of the road between Sanford and East Rochester. Some town leaders have also mentioned the need for a turning lane near Trains Plaza, an area of several wrecks over the past few years.

Rumble strips, while proved to be effective saving lives and reducing accidents, have been a contentious issue in some towns in the past as they can produce a distinct “thunder-” like sound in neighborhoods, especially late at night when traffic is light and folks are sleeping.

The effort to repair and rehab the Lebanon Rescue headquarters on Route 202 in South Lebanon began as a spontaneous grassroots initiative sparked by several residents who showed interest in fixing the place up, Selectman Ben Thompson said last week.

Donations by check or cash can be made at Town Offices and will be accepted through May 1. Checks should be made out to Lebanon Rescue Dept. Fix-up Fund.

A community work day may be organized, Thompson said.

Selectmen review Rescue purchases

Selectmen have identified at least two town credit card accounts used for what they believe were Lebanon Rescue Corp. purchases of which the town had no knowledge, prompting them to delve into negotiations with an investigative auditing firm to see whether a wider probe into financial dealings between the town, the Rescue Department and corporation is appropriate.

Town Treasurer Jeannette Lemay apprised selectmen last week about several purchases made on at least two town accounts, one a Walmart credit card for a purchase of almost $700 and another at Staples in which several boxes of colored paper and other crafts equipment was purchased for about $200.

All the purchases discussed occurred prior to the Rescue Department’s transition to new leadership at the beginning of the year.

During the meeting last Thursday night, selectmen agreed to pay all of the credit card payments due to protect the town’s credit rating, but filed all purchases made with town credit cards that appeared bound for Lebanon Rescue Corp. usage in a separate folder to take up with new corporation leaders at a later date. Selectmen would expect reimbursement to the town on such purchases.

Selectmen Ben Thompson on Monday refused to comment on what the balance of the Walmart account was, and what the Walmart purchase or purchases comprised.

He said prior to former Assistant Rescue and Selectman Jason Cole’s departure from the board and department at the end of the year, the town had never seen the bills or been aware of the existence of the accounts, which use the town’s tax ID number.

According to its annual filing with the Secretary of State’s Office last year, Jason Cole was the chief agent, president and served on the board of directors of the corporation. His wife, the former chief, was the corporation’s secretary and also served on the board of directors.

Jason Cole resigned his position as president of the corporation earlier this month, with Teena Meserve assuming control after a vote by corporation officers.

Lebanon Rescue Squad Inc. treasurer Ron German also resigned his position.

It is not clear whether Samantha Cole resigned as secretary of the corporation or whether Jason Cole resigned his position on the board of directors. Samantha Cole resigned as department chief at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, the revelation of such town accounts, which have apparently been flying under the radar of town officials, including treasurers for years, is troubling, Thompson said.

He added that the Walmart account in question has been closed, but not the account at Staples, which is used by various departments. He said they are monitoring the account, however.

Two more seek vacant seat

Two more candidates have thrown their hat into the ring to complete the three-year term of former Selectman Jason Cole, who stepped down at the end of last year.

Corinna Cole, who led the effort to have town government meetings videotaped last year, and Ellen Lee of Orrills Hill Road, took out papers this week.

The two join Chip Harlow and Robie Marsters as possible candidates in the special election this march.

At stake is a selectman’s seat to complete what would have been Cole’s three-year term, which runs until June 2015.

Nomination papers must be in by 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, said Town Clerk Laura Bragg today.

Gerrish, Chandler to meet constituents

Lebanon Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Karen Gerrish will hold constituency hours on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Lebanon Town Office with County Commissioner Sallie Chandler.

The hours were previously posted with Sen. Ron Collins, but he had another engagement that conflicted with the Gerrish’s scheduled hours.