Our Voice : Citizens For a Better Lebanon Maine

252 responses so far ↓

• 1 striveforchange // Dec 2, 2009 at 6:59 pm

  I have a couple of questions. One is why aren’t alot of these subjects that are discussed in the workshop discussed at the selectmen’s meeting? I just don’t understand. Also, why aren’t they giving as much consideration to a new ambulance as they are giving attention to a new fire truck? Do we need another fire truck? This thinking is just not rational to me. Correct me if I am wrong…………………….What do they think at town hall, are the residents of Lebanon a cash cow to be milked???????????????

• 2 WHATEREVER // Dec 15, 2009 at 10:47 am

  Here you go again. The Fire Department is not asking for another fire truck. They are asking to replace a old one that is costing too much money to repair.

• 3 striveforchange // Dec 15, 2009 at 11:34 am

  WHATEVER,

  Please tell me what your thinking is on a fire truck.

  If the Fire Dept. wants to replace a truck that costs too much to continue to repair, what do you think they will replace it with? Another old truck that DOESN’T cost too much to repair?
  NO, but a brand new, shiny fire truck that will cost US taxpayers lots of money. Then the Fire Dept. will be able to answer calls in other towns…………on our dime, and be proud of their shiny new truck!

  How about Lebanon fires? Will they save this NEW truck only for “out of town” fires?

  Maybe you had better rethink your reasoning on this subject!

• 4 WHATEREVER // Dec 15, 2009 at 4:20 pm

  Do you really think that a new truck would only be used for out of town. When the town purchased the newest one that they have now that truck became there first due. Now if the town would create a capitial improvement fund and lets say put $50,000 in it every year. Then bond the new truck for whatever, it would only cost the taxpayers maybe $10 or $12 a year more in taxes. Now this is just throwing this out there the numbers could be wrong. It would have to be looked at hard.And this fund would help both Fire and Rescue for new trucks and equipment that both departments really need. And this looks like to me that it would not cost alot of money. I’m also sure that this $50,000 could be found in what the taxpayers are paying now. Then there would be no increase in taxes.

• 5 striveforchange // Dec 15, 2009 at 6:19 pm

  You seem to know alot more than what you are letting on here. I, and I imagine most other citizens don’t have access to the figures you are quoting. Where are you getting your information? Could you be one of the Town Hall ladies? Oh WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!

• 6 WHATEREVER // Dec 16, 2009 at 8:40 am

  It was just an idea

• 7 WHATEREVER // Dec 16, 2009 at 8:42 am

  To go forward it was not a quote

• 8 WHATEREVER // Dec 16, 2009 at 8:44 am

  This idea came from hearing about how other towns are able to support there departments and those numbers were just thrown out there for a example.

• 9 Average Joe // Dec 16, 2009 at 9:51 am

  If they set aside the $50,00o a year for either fire or rescue, I would agree that the rescue needs it. We have 1 ambulance and most towns have 2. The ambulance brings in money and pays for itself. They save lives. How often would this new truck be used. i see they have had 2 structure fires this year. From what I hear, they have 4 pumpers. Sanford has 4 pumpers, why does Lebanon? We should get a list of fire trucks from area towns like acton, shapleigh, and the towns that have the same amount of calls and do an analysis of what we need for fire trucks. I strongly support an ambulance as i think they need one. But for 250 calls a year, why does the fire department need so many trucks? I read the logs in the paper and it shows the fire department had 15 calls in the whole month, and that is what the rescue does in 1 week. Visit the websites of both the rescue and fire. When you read the fire log, there are weeks they have 1 call. Then you look at the rescue log and there are weeks they have 20 calls. Lets get the rescue the resources they need and then worry about luxury fire trucks. I also laugh that now that they want this new luxury truck, their call stats have changed. They have a furnace fire with no fire and its reported out like it was this big fire. How many trucks were needed for this call? I understand that didn’t have to put any water on it and just investigated it. How do I know so much, I have friends on both the fire and rescue and they share these stories.

  P.S. whaterever, you may want to spell check your screen name – its supposed to be whatever!

• 10 striveforchange // Dec 16, 2009 at 10:12 am

  As I see it, one of the basic reasons for this web page is to give Lebanon residents a place to come together and exchange information and ideas to make our town better.

  Joe has it right. It’s clear that he has done some research into the subject of the fire and rescue departments, and presents what he has found out so we can clearly understand it.

  INFORMED voters and citizens can make can make better decisions on election day. These decisions effect us all in Lebanon.

  WHATEREVER or WHATEVER you want to call yourself……………… I applaud your concern regarding our town. The more you learn about what the ACTUAL facts and figures are concerning the issues, the better you can make INFORMED decisions on how to vote.

• 11 WHATEVER // Dec 16, 2009 at 1:19 pm

  Heres a thought. How many times are 2 ambulance neede at the same time? Its not the number of calls it is what is needed. As for number of fire trucks needed at a call is something the Chief could address . But without any fire hydrants I would say they have to bring there water. Also what information did they have when they got the call? Didn’t know there was no fire until they were on scene. Oh and thank you for pointing out my grammar.

• 12 Chris // Dec 16, 2009 at 4:41 pm

  I’m still wondering when someone is going to post a nice write up on why the FD “needs” a new truck. A report with an accurate number of structure fires would be nice too. I think last I saw there was 1 structure fire listed and then after digging deeper it wasn’t even in Lebanon. If the FD really wants this they should be the 30 minutes of effort into why it’s needed. A simple statement of “our current truck is too old and too expensive to fix” is just unacceptable.

• 13 striveforchange // Dec 16, 2009 at 9:10 pm

  They probably will not write a report. When and if they do, it will look good only on the surface. I have found that this Town is lacking some moral compass in their everyday lives. I just don’t understand how they can do what they do and sleep at night.

• 14 striveforchange // Dec 16, 2009 at 9:11 pm

  I don’t mean ALL of the people, just some of them.

• 15 Concerned Citizen // Dec 16, 2009 at 10:21 pm

  Whatever,

  I know they can use the 2nd ambulance often. I spoke with Jason about last friday, when they needed 2 ambulances for the 7 patients in the carbon monoxide. They also had an accident with 3 injuries and at the same time the child in the river. I see many times where they call in mutual aid ambulances for crashes. I would say they would need the second ambulance far more times then we need so many fire trucks. 2 structure fires this year??? Why do we have the biggest fleet of firetrucks for 2 structure fires a year? I have friends in Newfield who said Lebanon Rescue is far more busy then they are, and they have 2 ambulances. I guess Limerick, Limington, Buxton, Hollis, Berwick (AMR), Milton, Sanford, Rochester, Farmington, Dover, Somersworth, Eliot (AMR), Kittery (AMR), South Berwick, Rollingsford, Dayton, Lyman, Kennebunk, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, York, Wells, Newfield all have 2 ambulances, some have far fewer calls. (The list is longer, I just remember the ones Jason told me).

  So, lets get the vehicle we need- which is the second ambulance. Its a no-brainer, when it transports someone, it brings in revenue to pay for itself.

  I have heard the fire department wants over 400,000k for this new fire truck. What dream land do they live in? If the truck breaks, get rid of it (oh yeah, we just put over twenty thousand into it). That would still leave us with 3 pumpers, 2 utitilities, a forestry and a boat. Why do towns with the same call volume have far less?

  Get the ambulance and then maybe set aside money for a fire truck down the road.

  LOL on the spelling error!!!

• 16 Concerned Citizen // Dec 16, 2009 at 10:24 pm

  I also see the log you now have on the fire website and am grateful you put it there. It shows us that we don’t need the firetrucks we currently have. Some weeks you have 1 call? Does that warrant 8 vehicles? When you get like 6 people at a scene, does that mean you car pool back to the station to get more trucks?

  I applaud the rescue for getting the info out there to justify the ambulance. Come on fire department, show us the information. Show how many times the trucks are “truly” needed.

• 17 Average Jane // Dec 16, 2009 at 10:39 pm

  I do not speak out often, but am disqusted at what whatever wrote.

  Do they live in a clamshell? The rescue folks just saved a little boys life because they got their quickly and they had an ambulance. They were on another call and luckily those people did not need to go to the hospital, because then they would have waited for another town. I know Sanford is always busy because I hear them calling in other towns for their own calls. So, would these people wait for an ambulance to come from Acton or Shapleigh or Wells? You have got to be kidding me. I drive by and see the fire trucks rusting from never going out. I see the ambulance out on calls daily. And its so freaking stupid that they bring in the money and have to ask to spend it. They have been self funded for years and we should be thankful for that.

  I do know there is a lot of jealousy and the fire department feels they need this luxury truck because there newest one is a 2006. The only ambulance the town has was approved in 2003. I also looked at both departments websites. The ambulance goes out like 600 times a year, which is probably the combined total for the massive fleet the fire department has.

  Whatever, come to grips and lose the jealousy. The problem is the fire chief has not presented why this is needed. They gave such a poor presentation at the elections, I was appalled to hear it was because we could go sit in the Sanford station and wait for calls while they fight a fire? Let them buy us the truck. Everyday I see the rescue out on calls. Everyday I go to the store and hear about what wonderful things Lebanon Rescue has done. I understand their operating budget is like $75k (all paid for by their revenue) and they are more then double as busy and double the manpower then the fire department, but their budget was like 120k last year? Whose pockets are getting lined?

  Send a hint to the fire department, vote no on their budget. Might open their eyes.

  You have got to be kidding me!

• 18 Whatever // Dec 17, 2009 at 7:01 am

  Ok, Here lies the problem. Instead of going to one source for your information do a little research from other sources. As you stated Rescue needed 2 ambulances twice in how many calls? 6oo? Does that justify the need for 2?

  You have got to be kidding!

  Also I would like to know how a comment on this site is rated as jealousy.

  Where can a person go and get the right information so they can see both sides and then vote. Not just the 2 or 3 at this site.

  Go back and just look at this site. Say somthing about the fire department, town hall, or the dump and you all freak out. I do have to say this Rescue does one of the best jobs in publicity. Thats all you read about. From what I see the Fire department just goes about there bussiness. Going to the schools to teach, Giving out christmas gifts to the families who will have none, just to menation a few things that don’t get in the papers. A majority of the calls Rescue goes on Fire is right there with them.

• 19 striveforchange // Dec 17, 2009 at 10:57 am

  WHATEREVER;

  I believe that we have finally met one of Selectman Patch’s constituients,…in you.

  With such miopic reasoning, it’s a wonder that Lebanon ever made it to the 21st century.

  No, whaterever, I’m not kidding, but serious as a heart attack.

• 20 WHATEVER // Dec 17, 2009 at 1:39 pm

  Strive,
  Do you mean myopia? I need someone to tell me what is self funding? From what I have gathered is that all the money that Rescue collects from transporting goes into a general fund. But that money is EARMARKED for Rescue. How can that be ? That money belongs to the townpeople. If that money can buy them a new truck ,if they had permission, how about using that money towards taxes, road improvment? Remember that department works for the town.

• 21 striveforchange // Dec 17, 2009 at 2:12 pm

  myopia – a condition that comes to a focus in front of the retina.

  miopic – on the other hand is a deficiency of foresight or discernment (narrow mindedness).

  I believe what I was referring to was the latter of the two definitions. For someone who spells business (bussiness) and doesn’t know the proper useage of there, they’re and their in a sentence, I would hardly question anyone elses command of the english language. Your lesson is done for the day.

• 22 WHATEVER // Dec 17, 2009 at 3:15 pm

  SNAP!

• 23 WHATEVER // Dec 17, 2009 at 3:28 pm

  You attack me for the way I spell but don’t ever come back with answer. PLEASE.

• 24 Griffin // Dec 17, 2009 at 4:00 pm

  Whatever,

  The fire department does not respond with the rescue on most of their calls. I used to be on the department and know that the fire department does not do much.

  The fire department has always barely done anything. The rescue did toys for tots with the fire department and still does toys for tots. The fire department does not justify having the trucks they have currently, never mind a new truck.

  I am fortunate to have friends on both departments. Last night the ambulance had 3 calls back to back and had to call in another town to help because we only had 1 ambulance. All three were serious calls. They had crew enough. I know of at least 5 or 6 times in the past few weeks they needed 2 ambulances. I cannot think of anytime in the past month they needed 2 fire trucks, never mind the 4 pumpers we have, a forestry and 2 squad trucks.

  The money is carried over for the rescue to keep them self funded.

  Whatever (glad you fixed your spelling errors!), maybe you should get your facts straight I have friends also on neighboring towns, and they comment on how wonderful Lebanon Rescue is, but several towns will not call Lebanon Fire for mutual aid. They have like 15 firefighters, most are officers.

  I know several families that are writing letters to support the ambulance because they had to use a mutual aid ambulance because ours was tied up.

  The ambulance is the busiest emergency vehicle in town. The back-up ambulance went on more calls then the fire department does all year long. So lets compare some numbers.

  The sad fact is the fire department doesn’t warrant any new equipment and the rescue desperately needs a second ambulance.

  The only thing I see the fire department do is go put out little camp fires while kids cook marshmellows – been there, done that. Good way to boost your stats when you have no real calls for service.

  So since the rescue has like 50 calls a month and the fire like 10 a month, who should get the equipment?

  Seems like a no brainer – I agree with everyone else.

  Whatever, maybe you should spend more time at the transfer station and fire station getting more false info!

• 25 Griffin // Dec 17, 2009 at 4:01 pm

  I think Whatever is a member of the fire department who is jealous of how successful the rescue department is…………..

  I agree, it does look like he is very jealous!

• 26 Griffin // Dec 17, 2009 at 4:26 pm

  Maybe the fire department could provide us with stats that show how many times each truck went to EMERGENCY calls and what function they did. Did they just drive them there to get a “stat”. If you look on the rescue website, it lists each vehicle and call volume by month. This would help us see the need for this new truck. Is the fire department saying that the fire trucks are busier then the ambulance and back-up ambulance? I don’t understand

• 27 striveforchange // Dec 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm

  Gee Whaterever, I hope you didn’t hurt your hand with that SNAP!!!! Do you have the rescue number handy? I can send it to you if you wish.
  LOL
  oh I like Whaterever the best………….LMAO

• 28 Average Jane // Dec 17, 2009 at 8:21 pm

  LMAO Strive,

  If he calls for the ambulance, he may get mutual aid. I know that Lebanon Rescue has had 5 calls today so far. I saw them at the gas station and they looked tired. I offered to buy them a coffee, but they said no thanks. Its amazing how some jealous people try to make the rescue folks look bad. Fortunately, the townspeople know what a great job they do.

  Whatever or whateteever, do your homework. Get the facts straight and take a deep breath, its going to be ok. If not, maybe they can come with the ambulance when they are clear their 5th call of the day. I like being able to see the calls for the fire department on their website now, it truly shows us how not busy they are and how they DO NOT NEED a new luxury sports fire truck. It is kinda funny that they usually follow what the rescue does, I am glad to see they followed Sam’s weekly report! it gives us an up close and personal view of their lack of calls!

• 29 unsure // Dec 17, 2009 at 9:21 pm

  i thought this site was to info out not to bad mouth people. let fire and rescue put what they want on the ballot and the people vote on it. just like in the past if you want it vote yes if not vote no.
  both department do a very good job and give up alot of time. so what if one department gives better reports. they both help the lebanon people and that is all that should matter.
  maybe if some of the towns people didnt pin them against each other on this web site things wouldnt be so bad.
  vote how you want to vote and stop acting like 2nd graders. no one is perfect so what is someone spelled something wrong. do we have nothing better to do then put other people down on this site. didnt think that was what this was for.
  sorry day in lebanon when people have to fight back in forth on this site
  merry christmas to all

• 30 striveforchange // Dec 17, 2009 at 9:47 pm

  Everyone is entitled to their opinion and are allowed to share it on this site. As far as I know no one is fighting although there are differences of opinions. As I said before everyone should be informed as to what the facts are concerning each and every department. No one is pinning anything on anyone. What is making it so bad here in Town is the fact that many of the citizens of Lebanon are not informed or are misinformed as to what is going on with our tax dollars and other issues concerning our town government.
  On another note, if I unknowningly hurt Whaterever’s feelings by correcting their spelling/and or grammar I do APOLOGIZE Maybe its the teacher in me.

• 31 Whatever // Dec 18, 2009 at 1:12 pm

  I didn’t know we were fighting , But if you want to apologize for the personnal attack your forgiven.

• 32 striveforchange // Dec 18, 2009 at 2:05 pm

  I know we weren’t fighting. Unsure was the one referring to us fighting. When I am wrong about something I WILL apologize.

• 33 striveforchange // Dec 18, 2009 at 2:18 pm

  I meant to say that when I am wrong about something I will apologize, but in this case I don’t feel I am mistaken. It was not a personal attack on you, but I’m also sorry that from what you said, you don’t seem willing to listen to other opinions than your own.

• 34 whatever - version 2 // Dec 18, 2009 at 4:59 pm

  I think everyone wants the same thing in this town. Responsible government, fair taxes and appropriate services for our taxes. I agree, we will all get to vote in June on these items. I think it is good to have healthy discussion on the merits of large items tickets. I would expect that up til the election we would get reasons for these large items. I am a very big supporter of our volunteers and do believe we are long overdue for an ambulance. A new fire truck I will need to see more info on. I listened to the firemen at the election day and was not sold. I do agree if they post the information on how much each truck is used for calls it will help us see the need to buy a new truck, if there is a need.

  Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.

• 35 rescue member // Dec 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm

  i laughed when i read this. Tonight Lebanon Rescue had 2 more calls at the same time and had to call in another ambulance for the 2nd patient. Sanford was tied up. Acton couldn’t get a crew or driver and Shapleigh was tied up. Another reason they need a second ambulance. This is another day they have had 3 or more calls

• 36 striveforchange // Dec 19, 2009 at 11:32 pm

  After reading rescue member’s posting, a thought came to mind. I hope the Town Selectmen take heed at this and really think about what could happen if the rescue people don’t get their new ambulance as soon as possible.
  An old adage says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
  The analogy is this, if by chance no one could come to a person’s rescue because Lebanon’s
  ambulance was not available, and no other emergency vehicle was anywhere to be found, what do you think would happen then???
  Perhaps, besides the loss of life this might cause,
  the relatives of the victim would seek legal remedies to compensate for medical expense or worse yet, the loss of a loved one.
  And who would they take to court? The Town of Lebanon, who else?
  Is it better to pay out thousands of dollars for a new ambulance, or hundreds of thousands in medical fees and punitive damages?

• 37 chris gilpatrick // Dec 19, 2009 at 11:36 pm

  could our rescue chief possibly figure what the town has lost for revenue due to the lack of another ambulance?also,how many mutual aid calls have been made to transport patients?as far as purchasing a new ambulance,lebanon had a chance in november to start the process by putting the referendum on the ballot as registered voters signed a petition.however the constituents that frequent the dump objected to the wishes of the taxpayers.are the same constituents deciding if a new fire truck or ambulance is being put on the ballot in june?are our elected officials looking out for the best interest of the town or more worried of their salaries being cut to keep taxes low?don’t our elected officials work for us or is that just how it works in other towns?could we hold the election in june at the dump because this is where all the issues in town are decided?maybe set up a drive-thru voting booth?just some thoughts.

• 38 chris gilpatrick // Dec 19, 2009 at 11:47 pm

  a question to the residents.why did the tuesday morning workshops become a meeting?don’t be hoodwinked ,last tuesday morning the meeting adjourned at 11:30.started before 9:00.2 1/2 hours ,what was discussed?no one knows because no minutes are kept.just a way to keep residents out of the loop and make deals out of the public eyes!!isn’t it ironic how lebanon lost all its transparency since last june?same ol’ same ol’!!

• 39 striveforchange // Dec 19, 2009 at 11:54 pm

  Isn’t it time we file to get a petition started for a recall ordinance? I don’t know about anyone else, but I sure am tired of the BS at Town Hall.

• 40 Whatever // Dec 20, 2009 at 10:02 am

  All I can say is get the facts of needing a second ambulance for transportation.How about this Rescue has 2 other vehicles that could be loaded with supplies that are needed. Depending what information is given ,example. cut hand, stubbed toe,bad back. Could not one of these vehicles handle that kind of call? Then the ambulance would not be tied up and ready for critical calls. I’m not saying don’t get a driver at the station to move if the EMS on scene needs it. I’m just saying maybe theres a way to use what we have better that what it is used for now. On a other note how many times is a amblance called from a other town and Lebanon only needs to give the hurt person a higher level of care then what is on scene? We all know that the fire service does not make money for any town. Why do you think some fire departments are doing EMS? Its a cash cow just by its nature. Most calls today are EMS calls not fire. And that is where the money is.

• 41 Glen Stadig // Dec 20, 2009 at 2:01 pm

  If we “have” to spend or “need to spend….
  Then my money goes to supporting the “cash cow”

• 42 striveforchange // Dec 20, 2009 at 2:09 pm

  Maybe there are ways to use what we have with the fire department also, instead of getting another new fire truck to just sit in the firehouse.
  My money is on the “cash cow” to, Glenn

• 43 Rescue Man // Dec 20, 2009 at 10:41 pm

  Whatever, maybe you should take a tour and ride with the ambulance crew. Being on the rescue, I DO see the need for the 2nd ambulance. Try telling the person having a heart attack they need to wait to see what ambulance is available because the ambulance is tied up. I know we had a chest pain call the other night, then had to wait a long time for another community to come because we had our 1 ambulance tied up. They were barely responsive according to the dispatch. They had crews for both calls. Then last night, another incident where we needed a second ambulance. They were out on 1 serious call and another came in. They tried to get another ambulance, acton didnt respond, shapleigh was tied up and sanford didn’t have an ambulance available. What if that was your loved one having a heart attack. The rescue HAS shown us residents they need it, they need it much more then a fire truck to sit in a station. What about the 7 patients with carbon monoxide and they called in another ambulance. Had crew enough, just had to wait for another town. What about the accidents on Rte 202 where they call in a second ambulance because of multiple patients. What about the times they have to quickly get rid of one patient and rush to another call, even though there is crews around in town to respond with the second ambulance. Look at the revenue the town is loosing. Its too bad people like whatever doesn’t have a clue on the true need for things in town, they just live in a fairy land. Talk to any town around us, not only is Lebanon Rescue highly respected, but they are one of the busiest departments. They have similiar (last year more and so far this year more) calls then waterboro, who spends over half a million dollars on ambulance budgets and has 2.

  Whatever, do some research – the rescue has shown the need. It far exceeds some dream fire truck you want to show off at parades and isnt needed!

  I am sure Jason or Samantha can give you the stats, look on their website, they are very open with their departments stuff.

• 44 Rescue Man // Dec 20, 2009 at 10:42 pm

  Whatever,

  You are correct, most calls handled are EMS and not fire. The last magazine I saw was like 80% EMS.

  I am glad you got one fact straight!

• 45 John R // Dec 21, 2009 at 11:27 am

  Rescue man,

  Don’t worry, the townspeople are behind your new ambulance. I also do not see any justification for a new fire truck. I agree, maybe after we get the new ambulance which IS needed, we can look at a fire truck. Maybe next year if they get their ambulance this year. I know families that have waited for another town to show up because the towns ambulance was on another call.

  It would be nice to get the facts on why we need a new fire truck. I visited the fd website and the weekly log shows they didn’t need all the trucks they have. Maybe we could sell some of the older trucks and get 1 good one in addition the new one we just bought?

• 46 striveforchange // Dec 21, 2009 at 11:45 am

  John:

  That’s a real good idea. I bet no one thought of that.

• 47 WHATEVER // Dec 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm

  Ok lets back up. The townspeople need to know how many times 2 critial calls come in at the same time. As for the 7 people on the CO call, How many needed to be transported ? With 7 people wouldn’t a other town of been called in anyway? What would 2 ambulances of done? How about this one. Sorry we are waiting for a ambulance because Lebanon’s is transporting someone with a twisted angle. What was the second call? Did it need a ambulance? I guess that is what I was trying to get across. Oh and heres one, sorry homeowner we waiting for water from out of town because we ran out and we can’t save a life or property until we get more water. And I think the Fire department already has a dream truck.

• 48 John R // Dec 21, 2009 at 4:29 pm

  One of the post I saw showed that they were on a chest pain call (seems serious to me) and they got a call for a person down in severe respiratory distress and waited for another town. And they also stated that they took all 7 in 2 ambulances, so once again you do not seem to know the facts!!! The chiefs report shows it happened 2 more times last week.

  As far as the water for the fire, they have had 2 fires all year. They didn’t have enough manpower anyway, and Milton and other towns helped them. Those 2 times a year, they may need help. The rescue does like 3 times the calls then the fire deparmtent, and they provide their stats, which shows they are not “minor” calls!

  I agree with the other posts, you do seem to be awfully jealous!! The rescue people are superb, as are all the volunteers.

• 49 John R // Dec 21, 2009 at 4:30 pm

  Yes, they have 4 pumpers, 2 squads, a boat and a forestry – way to much for our small town!

• 50 John R // Dec 21, 2009 at 4:40 pm

  Maybe we should ask the fire department how many times 2 calls came in at the same time! Since some weeks on their logs, they have only 2 calls during the entire week. I saw some times where they often have 10-15 calls per month, which when you see the rescue, thats an average week!!

  So, how often do they really need 8 vehicles? None!

• 51 striveforchange // Dec 21, 2009 at 4:44 pm

  Whaterever:
  Lebanon has been backing up for too long. It’s about time that they move forward.
  Although, there are certain people with interests in this Town , such as large land owners, who I can see wanting another fire truck to protect their investments.

• 52 Roberta // Dec 21, 2009 at 5:14 pm

  I must agree with everyone else, I do not see the need for any new fire truck. I do agree they need a second ambulance. I have friends on Milton Ambulance and they get 1/2 the calls Lebanon does and they have 2. Whatever is obviously a firefighter who doesnt want the rescue to have a vehicle that would respond to more calls then any of their trucks combined. Fortunately, the townspeople see the need. Look at the petitions, they did awesome getting signatures in 2 weeks. Whatever, why don’t you go bust the kids cooking marshmellows on the River Road again, and put out their little camp fire! It could spread with all this snow and you may need the 8 vehicles to respond lol!!

• 53 Roberta // Dec 21, 2009 at 5:14 pm

  LOL strive, you spelt whatever like they used to! LMAO

• 54 striveforchange // Dec 21, 2009 at 5:21 pm

  Roberta,

  Yes, I know I spelled Whatever the way she used to, LOL. I decided I liked it better that way.

  What can I say?

• 55 Roberta // Dec 21, 2009 at 5:45 pm

  the other funny thing is that whartever also said they would not come back on because they were proved they didn’t know what they were talking about, and they came back – must be a slow day at the station! No kids cooking marshmellows

• 56 chris gilpatrick // Dec 21, 2009 at 8:48 pm

  after reading residents postings daily i sit back and scratch my head.pitting fire against rescue whenever an issue is brought up concerning these VOLUNTEERS.where is the concern when we have elected officials fleecing this town year in and year out.dump department head hiring his wife making over $11,000 per year (wasted money),putting dump department head on salary costing over $6,800 more per year than being paid hourly(wasted money),selectman owner of contracting business overcharging for material and equipment used on road projects(wasted money),road commissioner put on salary costing over $25,000 per year plus billing for owner/operator when equipment is being used on road projects(wasted money).need more examples look in your town report!!!is it no wonder two selectmen voted against the ambulance referendum?!the residents signed a petition to vote on an ambulance but they rejected the petition,therefor whats the chances of a fire truck being on the ballot in june.slim to none unless theres a cousin or uncle that deals in fire truck!!do the math ,see where the money is going and wonder why we have no capital account for fire equipment but take from the rescue account to keep the money flowing to keep bills paid.just food for thought.

• 57 Average Jane // Dec 21, 2009 at 10:43 pm

  Chris,

  I think some jealous people just like to try to stir the pot. The town has wonderful volunteers and its nice reading about all the things they do. If yuo read back all of whartevers messages, you will see some real jealousy.

  I agree, we should focus on the corruption at the town hall. It never seems to get any better. Hopefully in June!

• 58 Average Jane // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:37 am

  Doing the numbers quick in my head, it looks like they “needed” this 4th fire pumper 15 times since 2005 (According to their website for working fires). So, in almost 5 years, the truck would average 3 calls a year, when it was truly “needed”. They told me at the election that it would be $400- $450k for this new truck. So, that would make it cost about $30,000 for each fire it responded to (30×15). So, basically if we average 2-3 calls a year where it is truly needed, we are spending about 100k for the truck.

  I am not trying to pit one volunteer against another, but the rescue has done a good job showing the need. I know a family that waited for an out of town ambulance, and waited a while. There loved one was unresponsive and very bad (not a sprained ankle whartever), and I see in December alone they have called several times for additional ambulances. So not to say one is better then the other, but I feel we really need the ambulance more then the fire truck. Also the ambulance pays for itself, and doesnt effect the taxes. The fire truck would raise my taxes. I think for 2-3 times a YEAR, you could probably call in help because you have already said you would need the manpower only.

  Please don’t construe my feeelings as anti-anyone. I simply seek clarification on the need.

  happy holidays! Thank you to all the volunteers, from the rescue and fire folks, to the budget and planning committees.

• 59 striveforchange // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:01 am

  I think Whaterever should just give it up. They aren’t going to get us to change our mind between an ambulance or a shiney new fire truck.
  I guess you could look at the posts as pinning our volunteers against each other. I don’t see it that way. We are all allowed to share opinions on here and its just that. OPINIONS!!!

• 60 WHATEVER // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:24 am

  Look, I’m not one of the things you people say. What do I have to be jealousy about? I just want the righ questions to be asked. And not just by Rescue also the Fire side. The only reason I said anything is the people here bash the fire department so quickly without any facts. I hope someday the questions asked here could be answered so the townspeople can go to the polls with the right information.

• 61 striveforchange // Dec 22, 2009 at 11:58 am

  Whaterever,

  The facts are right in front of you.

  Your questions have been answered.

  I see that Rescue, on this site and in person, has tried to answer questions and give facts.

  WHERE IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT???
  There has been minimal response from anyone connected with the Fire Department, to either answer questions, or provide statistics.

  WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU??? It tells me many things.

  We are not pitting the volunteers against one another. It’s wonderful that we have such dedicated volunteers. But the facts aired here
  certainly seem to speak for themselves.

• 62 Former Member // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:26 pm

  I hope that the fire department does show us the need for this new truck. Being a former member of the fire department, the volunteers were great. The leadership in some cases lacked. I think that is why so many people left the fire department and went to the rescue. Last I knew they had like 20 members on the rescue that used to belong to the fire department and left and only wanted to do the rescue, which is OK. But there are no members who left the rescue just to do the FD. The leadership of Samantha is incredible and they really treat their volunteers great.

  Whartever, I don’t think anyone is bashing the volunteers but are frustrated looking for info on the need for the new fire truck after getting a disappointing “introduction” to this new fire truck while voting and hearing how we need it to go sit at Sanford fire station while they are out on calls. Give us the numbers. I do not think anyone is saying either dept volunteers are better then the other, but one department clearly does a better job with their website and giving the public info. I noticed the rescue also publishes the minutes of their meetings including the balances of their corporation. I know that townspeople have asked for the same from the FD with no luck. When I was a member, we were in the process of selling a piece of land DONATED to the fire department. I heard from someone that we sold that piece of land for $50,000.00 and it went into the corporation account. I was just curious how much they had in this “account”. AGAIN, NOTHING AGAINST THE VOLUNTEERS!! I USED TO DO FIRE AND RESCUE AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

  Just be transparent. I like how the rescue does their stuff, its in the open and they invite the public to their meetings and I asked for a copy of something and got it right off!

  Happy Holidays and keep working hard!

• 63 Former Member // Dec 22, 2009 at 1:42 pm

  The only other thing bothering me that I noticed was that I looked at the fd website. I know they have volunteers who maintain it, but if you have a website, you need to maintain it. It doesn’t look updated in a while. I noticed they followed the rescues lead and started a weekly chiefs report which is weeks behind. If you read through the log, you see they just have 2-3 calls a week. But when you click on “EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES” there is a firefighter position listed as open. If you read this it looks like they are hiring a full time ff for “Employment” – in small print it says its a volunteer. It should say Volunteer at the top.

  Also, they used to be strict with who they let volunteer. I drive to Portland everyday and can get there in 3o minutes. The website says they will take anyone who lives within 20 minutes of the EAST LEBANON STATION. So, if you live in Scarborough and can get to the station in 20 minutes coming down the turnpike and onto Rte 111 like I do everyday. Why do we want people coming from Scarborough to help save us. I think 20 minutes is a little far! Why isnt it from the other station too? I know they had members from Gonic/Barrington area, are they within 20 minutes of East Lebanon Station?

  Again, not to bash the members, but another question for the leadership.

• 64 Griffin // Dec 23, 2009 at 12:44 pm

  I agree former member, i looked at the posting and it looks like we are HIRING firefighters!

  Thats also a good question, if my house is on fire, do I want to wait 20 minutes for someone to drive from a long ways away to save my house????

• 65 Concerned Resident // Dec 26, 2009 at 5:55 pm

  I try not to get involved, but laughed at the earlier comments on this board. I have a scanner and listen to Lebanon all the time. They have had 3 back to back calls and had an unresponsive patient and now have a chest pain. They had a crew at the station and went over and the ambulance is coming from Goodall clear cross the town to River Road area. So, I think these calls are a little more serious then twisted ankles, heart attacks and unresponsive patients. It would have been nice for the emts at the station to be able to take an ambulance to help the heart attack. Hurry up June!

• 66 Concerned Resident // Dec 26, 2009 at 6:42 pm

  Whartever,

  You should buy a scanner!!!

  Lebanon just got a 4th call back to back, needed another ambulance – if they had the 2nd, they could have staffed it, they had like 5 members sign on -

  More revenue gone out the window and more importantly the patients have to suffer waiting for other towns

• 67 Worried Resident // Dec 29, 2009 at 1:13 am

  All the volunteers this town have do what they can when they can. Now I am NOT saying rescue doesnt need another ambulance and yes sometimes they have call where they need two but answer me this. Why do is the ford expedition owned by the TOWN at the rochester PD a couple times a week and at the grocery store. It is NOT the coles personal vehicle. they do not log hours and milage on there call sheets so members can go joy riding??? I know through friends that the FD makes there members log milage and hours after each time a truck is used. the Truck they want to replace is more than 20 years old which is old for any vehicle. it is unsafe and none of the FD’s trucks meet current NFPA standards. The FD is not trying to steal money from the town for a truck but the fact is when the selectmen tell them to spend more money to fix a truck then its worth. you know there is something wrong and perhaps a little onesided to. Now the FD does not advertise things like rescue simply because title like “rescue has clean up day” should NOT be a special occasion your station is your house and should ALWAYS be clean. and why does rescue have two intercept vehicle when they are never used for that purpose.

  There are a lot of questions that need to be answered on both ends but do not bash one just to make an ambulance look better. will that be keept at the coles house too. just like the expedition???? and where will they put this new ambulance? in a new station???

  BTW you went from a town with 10 fire trucks to a town with 4 which is the bare minimum you can have. you need atleast four trucks to operate at a structure fire… and there are days where fire will have three calls + in a row.

  and unlike medical which unlike house is fairly simple. there are problems which have pre known answers . eg heart attack you give nirto etc. Fires are all diffrent and houses all very in size shape etc.

  again I just worry about the people of this town and how blind eyed they are. Just because you dont want to see a wrong or hear a wrong does not make it not exist.

• 68 Current Member // Dec 29, 2009 at 4:39 am

  Dear Worried Resident ( Your IP Address Looks Familiar as a Different Posting Name also!)

  Let me tell you first hand as a member of the fire and rescue departments, that you are not getting the correct info. I see this first hand. We are required to log on with dispatch whenever we take the ems trucks out. I cannot say the same with the fire trucks, sometimes we just go out driver training or riding the roads and do not sign on. Second, everyone drives the first response vehicles. I know they let Andy Noyes from the Fire Department take one up to Skowhegan for a training because he needed a vehicle and it was for fire training. They keep a log, as you can see they keep very detailed stats, whenever the vehicle leaves the station or yard. The mileage is checked and logged daily. They are not intercept vehicles, they are equipped with equipment like the ambulance to save lives. Everyone on the department who is 21 is able to drive them. The purpose is to get them to the scene to provide oxygen or defibs until the ambulance gets there. So, once again, you have wrong info!!!

  I am not sure where you get your information on our fire trucks. First of all, most towns our size do not have as many pumpers as we do. We just went to Sanford for a fire, where they always run 3 engines at most for fires and maybe need to call in a tanker in a non-hydrant district. Most towns our size have 2 trucks and call in mutual aid the 2 times a year you may need it.

  The rescue does a great job showing the community the work they do to save money. If you read the fire log, each week you’ll see we do multiple listings for “cleaning the office, cleaning the bays, cleaning the back room” its all the same day, just done by room to “enhance” the log. Look at the calls for service, I will be the first to admit we have very few, sometimes 1-2 a week. it is very rare that we do multiple calls, except when we are called to babysit power lines down or sit with a tree limb in the roadway.

  The rescue does need the second ambulance. There are a lot of times we needed it. I can think of at least 10 this month, and I don’t make all the calls.

  I have been with Jason when we go to Wal Mart or to the pizza place to get supplies and/or food for the station and training. So yes, you may have seen the first response vehicle at WalMart getting toilet paper for the volunteers, someone shoot Jason for thinking about them!!!

  You should become more educated on things in town. We have 2 squad trucks now with the fire department. One is Skips old van. I just found out skip gets like 400 a month for travel expenses. Why doesn’t he use his old van? Why doesn’t he ever take a fire truck when hes at the station and a call comes in? This is why members get frustrated at times!! I will not reveil my info as I know they would get upset, but we have a freedom of speech!

  And we have had like 10 fires in 5 years. Tonight we had smoke in a building and it took 4 tones and A VERY LONG time before we got a truck on the road. The rescue was on scene by the time a truck went enroute. Not all of the trucks got out. It is very unusual to need all the trucks. Ask for a log of how many times each truck is truly needed for the year.

  I know last week, we had 4 back to back medical calls and kept going to calls. We had crews for 2 ambulances, and often do, but no ambulance. To me, we need more ambulances then fire trucks. Every town you hear, they have way more ambulance calls then fire calls.

  Why do you say none of our trucks meet NFPA. What about the new fire engine we have? If it doesn’t meet NFPA, then why did we buy it???

  And most fire calls in Lebanon are the same. A tree on wires, call CMP. Someone cooking marshmallows or a camp fire, put it out. Look at the fire log on line.

  I also have some other issues that someday I hope to share. But, before you speak, you should get your info straight, whartever!

  It is nice to see the community so supportive of our volunteers – there will always be some un-informed ones out there!!!

• 69 Current Member // Dec 29, 2009 at 4:41 am

  Concerned,

  You are right, the scanner has been busy. We have been doing 3 medical calls a day for most days.

  Thank you for your support!! The members appreciate it

• 70 Jason Cole // Dec 29, 2009 at 9:50 am

  I wanted to clarify some postings I just read. First of all, the new first response vehicle is used by all members of the department and is equipped with the tools to help stabilize and treat patients in town until the ambulance arrives. This vehicle was DONATED to the town. The older vehicle was offered to the fire department to use as we had just put a lot of new equipment and work into before we found out we were getting a new one DONATED. They did not want the vehicle and due to the call volume, we put the old equipment from the 2nd ambulance and parked it at the station where the 2nd ambulance would go to respond to 2nd calls, which it has and does. The other night it responded to a serious chest pain call until the ambulance could drop one patient off and come back. Yes, we have had a lot of back to back and same time calls. And yes we have tried to call for mutual aid and the area towns were busy or no response was received by another volunteer department.

  The vehicle is not parked at ROchester PD a couple times a week. I can recall it being there once after clearing from Frisbie Hospital and stopped to get a wallet that I forgot on my desk, so that I could buy the volunteers coffee, so I am sorry it parked at the Police Department with 2 people in it while I grabbed my wallet to reward volunteers who had just spent 8 hours on calls by getting them a coffee. I will try to do better then leaving my credit card at work next time!

  The vehicle is used by all department personal. We have been tracking the milage in the computer, as we do all department apparatus. We also now have weekly maintenance logs in all vehicles.

  The rescue chief has always tried to be as transparent as possible. We put spending and revenue reports up on our website for everyone to see, its their money, they can see where every penny has gone. The rescue corporation is also very open by posting its monthly financial reports and expenses and donations on line each month as well. I would encourage all departments to be transparent and put as much info on line for the public to see.

  I spoke with Samantha and she is more then happy to put the weekly vehicle logs on the website, which shows the date, the generic street address (box number removed due to HIPAA), the mileage, the reason the vehicle was out, etc. She will post this with next weeks chiefs reports. We can scan the logs for anyone that has any questions. We also log EVERYTIME a vehicle is on the road with dispatch, so there is redundency. Again, we have nothing to hide and this brings up yet another area we can post our logs and be even more transparent. The vehicles are used for department business only. We do let members take them to training, usually in groups. We did let firefighter Noyes take the vehicle up north when he asked for it as mentioned above. The vehicles are not intercept vehicles, I have never heard them called that. They are first response vehicles. They respond to calls and provide life support until the ambulance gets there. With the ONLY ambulance in town at Blaisdell Corner, it is nice providing life saving equipment to residents in other areas of town while we wait for the ambulance. The older EMS truck was purchased through donations and the new EMS truck was DONATED.

  The 2nd ambulance is needed. The average ambulance life is 6-10 years. I am pretty sure the towns only ambulance has the most milage of any emergency vehicle in town (besides the donated van and squad truck that the fire dept uses). The ambulance, as in ALL communities, is far more busy then fire trucks, and thats ok.

  I agree with the posts, we do have great volunteers and the town should be very proud of them all. This shouldn’t be a “fire vs rescue” thing. If the towns people feel there is a need, they can vote.

  I also agree with the posting that there are jealous people out there that thought the rescue would never be so successful. By the support the town continues to give us and the awards and recognition our volunteers have received federally, by the state, county and local level, I think it shows they are doing a great job.

  The chief and rescue members have done ALOT of work to save money. Our station is one of the largest town buildings, but our electricity is the lowest and fuel savings is huge because of work done by the volunteers. They also saved over 2,000 by repairing cracks and repainting the station this year. The residents have been very supportive of this work and we appreciate it.

  You are very correct, you will never please everyone and someone is always out there to try to advance their cause. Its obvious reading similiar posts up above. That is why we have and will continue to be as transparent as possible and after reading this will be happy to print and post the vehicle logs to show the residents where every mile is done, why its done (the amount of true calls these vehicles go on), etc.

  As always, anyone who has questions that would like true and accurate (backed up by evidence) answers, instead of listening to people who think they know about things that they actually do not, should free to contact the Chief at (207) 608-5614 or myself at (207) 608-5615. We always welcome and solicit feedback, evident by our very successful survey of patients which has resulted in great feedback and praise for our volunteers.

  We update our website DAILY and also our new Facebook site, which has been a huge success. The more we can keep the residents informed, the better. And it helps with our goal of being as transparent as possible.

  I wish everyone a great New Year and again, always encourage you to call with questions.

  Jason Cole
  Assistant Rescue Chief

• 71 striveforchange // Dec 29, 2009 at 1:02 pm

  Current Member,

  I think you hit the nail right on the head! After reading “Worried Resident’s” comment, I thought that something about the way it was expressed (the “catch phrases” and repeated same errors) was more than familiar.

  I guess “Whaterever” figured that two screen names would make it seem as though more than one individual had the same outllook, and was gathering to “their cause”.

  Thank you, Current, for your observations and the timely information you provided

• 72 Worried Resident // Dec 29, 2009 at 10:50 pm

  you are actually very incorrect. my IP is through a firewall. (I am a Techy), I also use a proxy to mask it from snoopy people. good try though.

  and to Mr. Cole it is more than one time I have seen the Expedition outside of town on personal business.

  Plus I bet it is nice for rescue to have a slectmen on there payroll. I want this and this and guess what most of it happens. not questions asked.

  Don’t get me wrong he is great at PR. which is good for him but how come there is never any negative pr? nobody is perfect.

  and for those of you who do not appreciate the FD you will think again after your house burns down and they didn’t have the equipment to put out the fire or there truck was too old and unreliable to make it. Firefighting is a very strenous activity. Physically and mentally.

  Normally I am not into personal slams or bashing other people and I don’t want to be but don’t turn a blind eye to the Crooked politics and Politicans of this town the whole lot of em’ what we need is an outside town manager who has no special intrest but the people of the town.

  speaking of interest wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest to have a selectmen be an asst. chief and his wife the chief?

• 73 laugh out loud!!! // Dec 29, 2009 at 11:18 pm

  most IP addresses are still detectable (mr techy!)

  I am sure if you have the dates and times, we can check into the expedition with the rescue. They are very detail oriented – I often see it in Sanford or Rochester coming back from a place called the hospital, LOL!!!

  I am assuming that the PR is positive because they are always doing positive things above and beyond what they have to. We are very lucky to have them in town!!

  As far as my house burning down, again I laugh!! When I see pictures of fires, I see more pictures of out of town people. I listened to the radio last night and it took 4 tones and someone who was able to drive a fire truck finally signed on! LMAO!! Why is it that all the area towns can do it with less fire equipment? I have friends on Alfred, they have 1 pumper, 1 tanker and a forestry, – like most towns! We have 4 engines, 2 squad trucks, a boat a forestry. Whats next, the helicopter to dump water because in 1947 they had a big woods fire?

  I am a resident and I am also one of the overwhelming residents that voted for Mr. Cole, and I think everyone knows his relationship to the rescue chief. I also think Jason has done a great job not getting involved with the rescue business and abstains from everything. I also recall he developed a conflict of interest policy which some feel is too strict.

  I have heard many things about some questionable spending at the fire house, like if it was really necessary. When I confirm, I will be happy to share it with you worried. You would be amazed at some of it, coffee pots with special coffee for the volunteers on the trucks, and much more. But I want to get copies before I say more!

  Unlike you, I get the facts before I speak!!

  LMAO!!!!

• 74 Worried Resident // Dec 29, 2009 at 11:46 pm

  So now a coffee pot is questionable spending. are we sure that didn’t come out of fire corporation funds??? and I too have a scanner and now the diffrence between fire and rescue tones yes they are diffrent. why did rescue get toned first to the house with smoke in it??? and btw there where only 2 tones for fire the first 2 where for rescue. this is probabley due to new dispatchers???

  and why would the expedition be going to the hospital and not the ambulance?.

  No matter how unbaised someone says they are it is of no meaning for being biased is human nature.

  if you compare lebanon with towns that only run fire calls we run about the same amount but they get better newer equipment is the safety of your volunteers not paramount does someone need to die before getting the point doing the job with outdated and substandard equipment is not safe.

  P.S. even with a proxy and such you can see the IP but it is not accurate to the actual one my cpu has.

• 75 laugh out loud // Dec 30, 2009 at 12:05 am

  Well, wrong again!! All four tones were fire! Rescue was never toned. I have friends on fire and said it was all 4 fire tones. And the fire chief signed on after the 1st tone.

  I heard they didn’t buy it through the corporation, maybe the corporation could be as open as the rescue and show us some info. I have heard it was bought by the town and they buy coffee every month……

  Actons trucks are older, and I think Alfreds. Milton buys used trucks???

  And I think sometimes the EMS truck may go get personnel – the amount of calls they get back to back, they respond often from Sanford or Frisbie!

  LMAO!!!

• 76 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 12:12 am

  Hey guy. You are WRONG I have friends on both depts. and I listened to the tones The first two where for Rescue and the Second Two where for fire.

  and since when do we only compete with Acton, Alfred, and Milton c’mon lets look at other mutual aide city’s/ towns…

  -Rochester
  -Sanford
  -Berwick
  -No Berwick
  -Farmington
  -Shapleigh

  you think your right and I respect that. everyone has the right to think.

  however I would recommend that you KNOW your facts and go buy word of mouth. is everything CNN says true. I think NOT.

• 77 striveforchange // Dec 30, 2009 at 12:24 am

  Hey Worried Whart,

  Have you ever thought of auditioning for a comedy spot on one of those TV amateur night shows? My wife and I think you’re hilarious (really, we’re not slamming you), you have us laughing out loud!!!

  Keep practicing, and don’t forget your dictionary, LOL.

• 78 Current Member // Dec 30, 2009 at 12:40 am

  Whartever//Worried Resident,

  I think you are wrong yet again. The 4 tones were all fire. I know after the 2nd tone rescue asked to be toned due to the nature, but the female dispatcher hit the fire tone again. There were 4 tones and we know that.

  I have to laugh at how some people who think they may have a tid bit of info can get something so wrong.

  And yes, all postings and IP addresses, no matter how you try to secure them, are discoverable. I can show you some decent software for a decent price!!

  Its funny you compare us to sanford, who runs 3 pumpers and we have 4 and Sanford does like 2000 more calls then we do a year, LOL.

  Rochester handles most fires with 2 pumpers. Occassionally they bring in their tanker to help in non-hydrant areas.

  Milton does do a good job at buying used fire trucks. maybe we should look into that, that is a good point. Milton has less pumpers then we do also, and they are busier then us.

  Strive, i also laugh out loud at how some of these people think they know our jobs! It is funny!!

• 79 Jason Cole // Dec 30, 2009 at 1:46 am

  To Worried:

  First, to correct one thing that I know is wrong. They never toned rescue for that call. After hearing the call, the Deputy Chief asked for rescue to be toned due to how cold it was and the potential for homeowner or firefighter injury. The dispatcher, is a competent and has been a dispatcher there for a while, retoned fire. She then said to the fire chief that there was 3 tones and no trucks and he said to do the 4th tone. The reason I am aware of this is because of new technology. Our radios have built in pagers to save money. They flash “EMS CALL” or “FIRE CALL” based on what tone the dispatcher sends off. It also records for several minutes after each tone. I have all 4 tones saved on my portable. They save until you reset it. So, I would be more then happy to set up a time to play it back to prove that your information “you hear” is incorrect.

  Second, I think its insulting to the firefighters who took the time to spec out the fire engine we got a couple years ago and build it to their specs for you to say that its not NFPA compliant. Basically your calling them idiots for the town buying this new truck thats not compliant??? I am pretty sure the truck is fully compliant, but thats you just being mis-informed and thinking you know more then you do.

  I would love any times and dates that any town vehicle you feel is being used inappropriately. The chief takes all citizen complaints very seriously and it will be investigated.

  I am amazed how people who probably sit at home and watch soap operas all day can bash the true heros of the community, the volunteers, who give so much to the community. These guys and gals get up 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Do you know how many times in the past 10 years I have responded to calls on Christmas? Every year except 1. Most of these calls were for people in cardiac arrest or deceased. So we go to save people and have to give bad news to families. Then we have the very positive calls, like the infant several years ago that fell into a bath tub in Indian Lake Shores and was lifeless. That child made a recovery. Then a couple years ago we had a small child fall into a swimming pool and again was lifeless. Again, the rescue responded and the baby is alive today. And most recently, our Christmas miracle as he’s being described, the 2 year old that fell into the river and was lifeless. He came to our Christmas party to thank the volunteers who worked so hard to save him.

  So when you want to step in the feet of one of these volunteers and give up so much to help their neighbors, I may start to respect your postings. But when you simply post false information that can be so easily proven false, you are only making people laugh at YOU, which is obvious from the postings above.

  And, I do have the guts to put my name – why don’t you share yours! Most of us know who you are anyway

  Strive, as always, thanks for the positive postings for our volunteers. Thank you to everyone else as well. The volunteers do appreciate it. It is not a “fire vs rescue” thing, it appears its 1 un-educated person who thinks he may know something, but has proven otherwise!

  Have a great week and please bundle up – prepare for this really cold snap and a major storm on New Years!

• 80 Kurt Schluter // Dec 30, 2009 at 7:38 am

  I wish to formally express my family’s undying gratitude to the Coles and to the entire Rescue & Fire personnel. Last year they saved my wifes life twice by their quick response. The rescue squad arrived in 2 minutes at 4 in the morning with oxygen and other things when she had a heart attack. I have never experienced an emergency situation before and was amazed at the quiet and urgent professionalism of these amazing people. We live on Depot Rd. and hear all of the calls that they have to respond to in our “little” town and know how truly busy they are at all times of the day and night. This town is incredibly lucky to have so many caring and skilled professionals willing to sacrifice so much of thier time out of their own lives day after day to save the lives and properties of others. I am truly proud to be a citizen of Lebanon!
  A special mention to the Cole family for thier tremendous service to our town in all that they both do while raising a family at the same time.
  I cannot thank them enough for saving my wifes life this past year. They did this not only through the personal act of Jason arriving in 2 minutes at 4 am to provide oxygen but in Samantha’s management of the squad. These people are superbly motivated by her leadership so that they can provide the best services to the town. These volunteers spend many, many hours of their own time doing training to stay current on issues that may save your life. I thank each and every one of them!

• 81 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 9:50 am

  about the whole truck not being compliant that is simply because like every regulating body the standard upgrade every year and what once is. is no more. I think all the volunteers are great that this town has but my problem is That one thinks they deserve something more than the other. this town has operated safely with one ambulance for years. yes it would be nice to have another but we have frisbee near.

  oh and back to the tones the other night

  dispatch: Lebanon Fire stand by for your tone
  (tone is actually a rescue tone)
  Dispatch: lebanon fire stand by for your tone
  (again recus tone is sent new dispatch wrong button?)
  Dispatch: lebanon fire would you like a third tone?
  LFD: yes
  (Fire tone)
  Dispatch: there is no engine on the air would you like a fourth tone of mutual aid?
  LFD: fourth tone please.

  BTW a lot of fire pagers don’t pick up rescue tones so they didn’t know there was a call untill the 3rd/ 4th tone.

• 82 Jason Cole // Dec 30, 2009 at 11:52 am

  Worried,

  Again, I would love to meet you at anytime to play the call for you from beginning to end. The rescue tone is never sent. There is more traffic then mentioned. I have it saved and am saving it to a CD from a digital recorder. All 4 tones were fire. I will be happy to drop it off at your house if you would like.

  I am not sure why there is an argument over the tones, but it shows how you have half the inforamation and try to make the rescue volunteers look less then the fire volunteers? Maybe your position on that department?? LOL. Again, I have the proof you are wrong and would love to meet up with you to give you the copy – end of discussion! Its hard to beat true evidence!

  The great thing is that the townspeople will get to decide in June what THEY want. I am sure your negative postings will not effect anyone, because people know who you are and why you are “jealous” as mentioned above.

  Mr. Schluter, we TRULY appreciate your post and these emails and posts really help the volunteers. Samantha had sent me an email earlier with a posting from the Rescue Website, and we truly appreciate your support. It has been our pleasure to help your wife and hope your family has a great New Year!

  Mr. Schluter and his family are examples of some of the great emails the rescue gets daily. We are so fortunate to have the support of the majority of our townspeople, people like Worried “aka” Whartever are just uninformed!

  Also, in reference to Frisbie. Do you know that Frisbie calls in mutual aid ambulances EVERYDAY to cover their city because of how busy they are. They have already said they were too busy to cover Lebanon. My question for you Worried “aka” Whartever is this: On the 4th (the day we had 13 patients in 1 day) – we had an accident where 3 patients were injured. All 3 thought they wanted to go get checked out. The call came in for the baby in the water, not breathing. The patients at the scene told us to go help them and they would go later by family. What would have happened if the ambulance was committed? Just last week we had 2 calls, Sanford had no ambulance available to assist, Acton could not get a crew and then Shapleigh got a call in their own town and responded to that. Frisbie was tied up also. If that second call that night was your loved one, would you want to wait for towns 1/2 hour away to come? How do you sit with a mom who just pulled her son from the water and explain an ambulance from 5 communities over will be coming as soon as someone gets there to drive it? Oh by the way, we have the manpower and money for the ambulance, but Worried “aka” Whartever felt we needed to replace the 4th pumper for the 2 times a year they use all their trucks? What about the several patients this month ALONE that could have used the 2nd ambulance? We have several families coming to the public hearing that waited for the 2nd ambulance during serious medical calls even though we had several trained rescue personnel there, just no ambulance.

  The differences between this ambulance and the new firetruck are vast. First, the new ambulance is paid for by revenue it brings in. It will not raise taxes. If the new fire truck is about $400,000 as I have heard it may be, at least that much, that would be almost a dollar on the tax rate per thousand. Even if you spread it out, it still adds a dollar over the years of the payments. Second, the ambulances are busiest emergency apparatus in ANY town. We are averaging 3 calls every day. Some days we have 6 and some days we have 1. But the average is about 3 a day. We have detailed call information and apparatus information for each truck and its posted on our website. You can see how much each vehicle is used for calls. Maybe we could get that for the firetrucks so the residents see how often each pumper is used. That would help us all. 3rd: The second ambulance brings in revenue to help keep the rescue SELF FUNDED. We are giving the revenue to the other towns for taking our residents to the hospital. 4th: By transporting with our ambulance, we can WRITE OFF ambulance bills. Several residents who have had to wait for mutual aid ambulances because we were on a call and then got huge ambulance bills, and they would not write any of it off. By keeping it local, we have more control. The MOST IMPORTANT reason is the safety of our residents. You mention if my house burns down I will be glad Lebanon has so many trucks. Those 2 times a year that they have fires we always call in other towns to help. Sometimes because those towns are full time, they can get to Lebanon faster then us. Those 2 times a year, I can wait for mutual aid. Its like saying we can have 1 fire truck and even though we have the money for a 2nd, we will wait for another town to come over. The difference is that EMS is far busier then fire. In most towns, JUST LIKE LEBANON, the ambulance is NOT part of the fire department (most communities have seperate ambulances). EMS has been doing a better job educating people on EMS activities and building their image over the past 2 decades. Ambulance calls in most commuities count for 80-90% of all rescue and fire calls. So, would you put the ambulance as the priority to make sure it is available for 90% of the calls or the 4th pumper, which is utilized very infrequently? The most important thing to think of is if your loved one needs an ambulance and due to the busy work of EMS, there is no mutual aid available nearby (HAPPENED LAST WEEK WHEN WE NEEDED ONE), would you want to be that person sitting while your loved one is injured or really sick? Oh yes, we have the money and the manpower, but Worried “aka” Whartever felt we didn’t need it.

  Sorry to ramble, but education is key – and having the facts straight is even more key!!

• 83 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 12:38 pm

  You probably think you know who I am and I give you props for trying but you dont and saying you do doesnt bother me. (if you did you would have used my name by know)

  If my family member is hurt I will bring them to the hospital thank you very much.

  I think all the volunteers are great and Jason I know you where once on the fire department so I would expect you to know that for any structure fire you need ane engine for the attack line.
  and engine for the back up line
  an engine for water supply
  and an engine for water shuttles since we dont have many hydrants. count that thats 4 trucks.

  Like I said I am not against rescue getting a new ambulance but going about it by attacking the fire departments NEED for a fire truck is disgusting they serve the same people you do and for a common good.

  But you have yet to explain wha the selectmen where thinking when the FD asked to put the repair cost of the old truck and use it as a down payment on a new one. but you said no spend more on a truck then what its worth!!! that is just dumb.

  Listen I am not trying to personally attack anybody but there is a much better way to get your ambulance. (if you have the funding maybe you sould explain that to the towns people. Hey we have the money we just need you to approve the spending of it. not that hard)

  Fire trucks are expensive but they last about 20 years.

• 84 Jason Cole // Dec 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm

  Worried/Whartever,

  I am pretty much sure that we are telling people we have the money, we actually obtained over 500 signatures in 2 weeks to support it. We will make sure the townspeople know that we have the money, just need their permission to spend it and it WONT increase their taxes but actually help their taxes by keeping the department self funded.

  I am not trying “attacking” the need for a new fire truck. I am actually quite opposite. If you attended any meetings or read the info up top of this posting, I support another new truck if its practical and fits the towns needs. I don’t feel we are competing for tax payers money, as the ambulance doesnt cost tax payers money. If we were competing, then maybe we would be out there trying to say why one is needed more then the other.

  Yes, I was on the fire department for about 13 years working my way from a junior firefighter up to 4th in command, so I am very aware. I am also very aware that often because of manpower issues with volunteers, you rely heavily on neighboring towns those 2 fires a year.

  ALL of the volunteers are great in this town, as I have said in several venues. From the planning board and budget committee, to the rescue and fire, the town is very fortunate to have a lot of great volunteers.

  The meeting I was at, your fire chief asked us to fix the truck. Its his department, he knows the needs, so it was fixed. I dont recall the selectmen ever voting to spend money, just telling the fire chief to do what he needed to within his department. That was a while ago, so I will check my notes.

  Also, can you share with us what part of NFPA that the new truck we do have doesn’t meet as you stated?

  I am sorry that it took me a little while to reply, I was out on more rescue calls and helping the community.

• 85 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 6:45 pm

  the newest 2005 truck that the FD has does not have chevrons on the back or pull out drawers and will not meet the new 2010 emissions (which it does not have to)

• 86 Jason Cole // Dec 30, 2009 at 6:50 pm

  Well, anyone who knows about NFPA realizes that trucks purchased PRIOR to new standards are grandfathered. The 2006, not 2005, International could have the chevron stickers added for a couple hundred dollars. All of the trucks could – maybe thats a way to save some money, lol!!

• 87 striveforchange // Dec 30, 2009 at 7:05 pm

  I can’t believe that Worried Resident, or Whaterever, or Whartever, or which ever name they are hiding behind, are nit-picking over something as mundane as “chevrons”, which are little more than decorations or markings on an official vehicle. Add to that a few “pull out drawers”, and THIS is what this person is making such a BIG DEAL out of?

  Don’t you have anything better to do with your time than to sit on your computer and engage in banter over NOTHING, occupying the time of our volunteers?

  For shame Worried Resident!

• 88 Observing // Dec 30, 2009 at 7:17 pm

  That is hilarious!!

  And they wonder why people question things in this town. A member of the Fire Department says “our new truck doesn’t meet NFPA standards” because of stickers??? LMAO!!!

  Of course, they just publish that “we do not have any trucks that meet the standards” and then it takes someone with a clue to ask why, and they say it is missing some decals on the truck, that werent even required and they are grandfathered? Instead of buying a $450,000 truck, why don’t we take a collection and pay the fifty dollars to get the stickers you need. lol!!!

  Wow, can you say trust issues!! I am glad that we get to see this stuff before we vote in June.

• 89 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 8:47 pm

  first, I am not on the FD or Rescue (if you didn’y guess that) . I do know people and google is a wonderful tool. there is also a lot more then chevrons that are unsafe. like an open back cab which most states and depts. do not allow members to use.( again if you google new nfpa standards you will see a whole lot of stuff) or how about the fact that the airpacks they have are also rather old and vital to the safety of those people.

  I understand the budget is tight hey I don’t want my taxes going up either but my point is. Is this the best time to buy an extra ambulance or a needed fire truck. you may say there are only two structure fires in town a year and we have mutual aid etc. but if you don’t know how it works. if a mutual aid truck does not go to help sanford per say they arn’t gonna send one to help us.

• 90 Laugh Out Loud!!! // Dec 30, 2009 at 8:54 pm

  LOL, an “extra” ambulance or a “needed” firetruck -

  I am not sure what planet your from, but when a vehicle would be used 10-15 times a month, vs a vehicle that we already have and just put a lot of money into making it work well and is needed 2-3 times a year, I think the “NEED” is the ambulance. Thats my personal opinion.

  Many towns have open cabs, some ladder trucks and old macks have even no roofs.

  As far as going mutual aid to Sanford, any of the 3 other pumpers can go. And this truck that is going to be replaced still runs and has a brand new pump among many other things, so any of the 4 pumpers we have that work fine can go to Sanford.

  So I am not sure why you would think a firetruck is “needed” when it works fine, just got a brand new pump and many other parts, and is used 2 times a year, verse an ambulance that would be used several times EACH month, bring in revenue and save lifes. HARD DECISION THERE!!!!

  And, nice try on not being on the fire department!!

  Time to crawl back to sleep and find another non-reason to get a new truck

• 91 Jason Cole // Dec 30, 2009 at 8:56 pm

  Wow, another great post Worried/Whartever!!

  Needed vs Extra – 1 gets used 2 times a year, 1 gets used 2 times a week and brings in money.

  Also, the current truck they want to replace is WORKING FINE!! IT HAS BRAND NEW PUMP AND PARTS!!

  This is the best comedy show I have seen, you should help sell the need at the elections again!

• 92 Worried Resident // Dec 30, 2009 at 10:59 pm

  you honestly think I am on the fire dept. I really think that is cute. and I havn’t set foot at down hall in a long time. (dont like hangin out at cesspools)

  and I am very sure that truck gets used more than two times a year. such as car accidents. illegal burning. forest fires etc.

  really I think its great you think I am on fire. but who do you think I am I might know the person. like I said I know people.

• 93 Laugh Out Loud!!! // Dec 30, 2009 at 11:09 pm

  Since you have such intimate details about the fire dept, how often do they use all 4 pumpers for illegal campfires?

  I would love to see the stats for all the fire apparatus for calls, since you have “CONNECTIONS”

• 94 Laugh Out Loud!!! // Dec 30, 2009 at 11:15 pm

  Whartever/Worried FD Member,

  Also, don’t they have a FORESTRY truck for the illegal cooking of marshmallows?

• 95 striveforchange // Dec 31, 2009 at 11:20 am

  Me thinks that Whartever has overdosed on s/n’s. lol. We need to call rescue quick………. lmao

• 96 Why Not Buy Used?? // Dec 31, 2009 at 9:54 pm

  Today I read with great interest in the Observer that Acton Fire, which has about the SAME call volume as Lebanon Fire, is looking at replacing their 2nd (they only have 2) pumper with a used truck. The 1988 GMC engine 2 is going to be replaced with a 1986 Mack Truck. The cost, $15,000!!! So, they actually had more building fires then Lebanon and they are getting a back-up pumper that is a 1986. We are looking at buying a new one to replace a 1989 that we have dumped over $20,000 into and now has a brand new pump, which is the main part of the truck.

  So the question is, why do we have to have brand new back ups pumpers when other towns buy used? I think I also just saw the Newfield Fire Corporation buy a used tanker for like $10,000 to use.

  So why does Acton, which has the same call volume and actually more building fires, have a 2003 Primary truck, a 1988 back up (which they are replacing with a 1986), a 1953 forestry truck, a 1990 tanker and a 1984 Forestry truck.

  Why do we need a 2006 pumper (practically brand new), 3 other pumpers that are 1989 or newer, a forestry and 2 squad trucks?

  And I looked at Miltons website, thanks worried, I learned about Google as you suggested, and it looks like they always buy used (except the ambulances that gets used daily).

  So why do we need such an expensive back-up pumper?

  I googled used fire trucks and there are thousands available, and most towns would love to have our 1989 with brand new pump. It looks like a cadillac compared to what a lot of Maine towns use.

  http://www.firetrucksplus.com is a great resource.

• 97 Worried Resident // Dec 31, 2009 at 11:33 pm

  sorry for the late reply That nice. call rescue. no i’d rather die. um first.

  Y’all have a great new year (I beleive in respect even when there is a diffrence in opinion)

  I would not ask my friends to get stats I don’t know it they even have access to such things. and maybe marshmallows should be illegal to cook after all ther fatty.

  anyway. to prevent further bickering here is are my final words on this subject.

  -1st google NFPA compliances for vehicles that what I did (good intel on trucks)

  -2nd Why not go to the fd and just ask about info on the trucks or a tour?

  -3rd Im sorry if it sounds like a bashed the volunteers in no way was that my intent and to Mr. Cole sorry (kinda) I really don’t like any of the selectman and I know you dont think being a rescue chief and a selectmen is a conflict of intrest but most people I poll do perhaps becuase people are natrual biased (all part of being human)

  (I hope there is a wauy for both rescue and fire to get the vehicles they both need and to prevent the infighting that does exist. *which my be why I have the resent do to the stories I hear from my friends)

  anyway Be safe G’night and have a great new year.

• 98 Corinna // Jan 1, 2010 at 12:51 pm

  Wow! What great response to a Selectman’s Workshop. Imagine if they were all recorded…

  First of all I know first hand how hard it is to get people involved and I have to agree with many of you that ALL of the volunteers are great in this town. From the planning board and budget committee, to the rescue and fire, the town is very fortunate to have a lot of wonderful people volunteer no matter what they do.

  As the many entries show, and a verified petition, I believe the majority of the townspeople would support the adding of a second ambulance. The statistics show that there it is a need, it would not add to the tax rate and only bring in revenue.

  Unfortunately it did not seem important enough for two of our Selectmen to warrant a ballot last November (and if you review the meeting notes of 9.15.09 the cost of preparing the ballot was not even an issue as several people volunteered to cover the cost).

  As far as NFPA compliancy of our existing fire trucks, I would hope that our Fire Chief is handling that and keeping our Selectmen informed if there are issues. Together they should have an ongoing plan developed that would keep the town meeting State requirements.

  If a new truck is needed to be in compliance, it is needed. The Selectmen and/or Budget Committee will put it on the ballot if they feel it is necessary and not just a “want”.
  A secondary plan should also be in place by the Fire Chief and the Selectmen to meet State requirements and to plan for the future if the referendum is turned down.

  Just as a side note if I were to guess… I would think Worried/Whatever was one of our Selectmen (that do not post on this site). Watch the minutes of 9.15.09 and see that this was when the fire truck issue was first brought up by one of them…right at the end. The same night the verified ambulance petition, verified Town Manager Plan petition and CEO budget were put on hold until June sighting budgetary concerns.

  May you all continue to be involved in 2010 and vote for change in June! May you all have a happier new year!

  I hope to see you all at our next Citizens Roundtable on January 7th at the Lebanon Elementary School.

• 99 Why Not Buy Used?? // Jan 1, 2010 at 10:23 pm

  Last night I made a post, but it didn’t show up?

• 100 Average Jane // Jan 15, 2010 at 10:29 pm

  Hey Worried Resident/Whartever,

  Since I got home from work, Lebanon Rescue has had multiple calls again and needed another ambulance AGAIN. This happened yesterday, they had to drop one serious patient off and then go treat 2 more. Both times they needed 2 ambulances AGAIN. This has been happening several times a week, I haven’t heard anything needing 4 pumpers or 8 firetrucks in a while???

  And each time they have needed the second ambulance, they have had lots of people for both calls, so thats not an excuse!! They are out with a serious chest pain call right now and just got another serious call. Too bad the selectmen didn’t adhere to the request of over 500 citizens before, maybe that new ambulance would be in and people not have to wait for other towns to come, and collect our money!

• 101 chris gilpatrick // Jan 15, 2010 at 10:53 pm

  i’m sure the fire department recognizes the seriousness of the calls the rescue responds to.however,it wasn’t up to the fire department to put the referendum on the ballot for the ambulance.it was the do nothing duo (very appropriate name)that listened to the “dump constituents” not to put it on the ballot.people should get over the fire truck vs. ambulance concept.these are two completely different issues.residents should attend the meeting with the fire department on the 20th of january at the east lebanon station to at least hear what the fire department is requesting and what/why it is needed.better informed with the factual information than hearsay information

• 102 Average Jane // Jan 15, 2010 at 10:56 pm

  I agree, just living near the rescue I see and hear these guys go out all the time, and I think everyone is frustrated at our selectmens inactions on listening to the taxpayers. I was appalled at what whartever aka worried was saying about needing the fire truck more. It seems like they never use the one at the station by my house

• 103 chris gilpatrick // Jan 15, 2010 at 11:08 pm

  hopefully residents will attend this meeting and if your questions aren’t asked by anyone on the budget committee others will be able to ask questions whereas this is just an informational meeting.

• 104 striveforchange // Jan 16, 2010 at 11:42 am

  I noticed that they are having another meeting on January 19th. They have been ordered into anothe Exec. Session to discuss a PERSONNEL MATTER. My question is can they keep using the same ol’ same ol’? Don’t they have to tell us what the matter is? If it is the same as last time I doubt that Skip Wood is the Personnel Matter.

• 105 Heather // Jan 17, 2010 at 6:00 pm

  I have been very fortunate to work with Lebanon Rescue at the hospital and they are terrific – they are always so nice and so compassionate towards the patients. They always do extra things too. The patients have stated they get cards and just adore Lebanon. I wish my family lived over there, you guys are very lucky. They are also one of the only ambulances still left that are all volunteer and they always come in with a great crew. All of the volunteers should be very proud of their community service!

• 106 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:13 pm

  this morning I got an email from andy about the budget committee favoring buying another new fire truck.

  I pay taxes too. I am only 1 person but have concerns too. I was told by a selectman that this hasn’t even been approved by the selectman for the ballot and they did not not have much info on the truck. Isn’t the budget committee advisory only? Why wasn’t the presentation last night to the selectmen, who decides what goes on the ballot? If they do not put it on, then they will have a hard time finding enough people to sign a petition.

  I am confused why we need this new truck as a 4th pumper when we just fixed it up?

  EMAIL:
  Hi All,

  As most of you are aware we met with the budget committee last night. The meeting went very well and we answered plenty of questions on the need for a new truck. Overall the budget committee is in favor of supporting the need for a new truck and we will be moving forward.

  The truck committee will meet again in February to start the next step in the process.

  Thank you to everyone who has helped this far.

  Have a great day!!

  Respectfully,

  Andrew Noyes
  Lieutenant / Webmaster
  Lebanon, Maine Volunteer Fire Department

  Chairman
  Lebanon Fire Department Corporation

• 107 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:29 pm

  Boy, I saw this and I am HOT. I thought this meeting at the Budget Committee was an INFORMATIONAL MEETING? How can they make a decision to support this new fire truck when the head of the Budget Committee is the wife of the Fire Chief, Fire Capt. or whatever he is? Aren’t we going to be able to vote on this? Another example of CORRUPTION IN OUR TOWN. Get informed people. When is this ever going to end?……….

• 108 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm

  I am hoping glen has a video to show us from last night. I think that there are a couple that cant vote, including the chairman. I would have gone to listen if I knew they were going to vote, even if it was just a show of support.

  But, since the chairman has a relative who is a chief on the FD, you know they will do anything to get this new fire truck which WILL RAISE TAXES!!!

  I AM JUST AS STEAMED AS YOU ARE STRIVE

• 109 chris gilpatrick // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:51 pm

  the budget committee is an advisory board.this is why the fire department wanted our advise to either request a new fire truck and how to pay for it or to start a c.i.p fund.to impliment a c.i.p fund this would take several years to build up enough money to buy a truck.example a truck costing $350,000 putting $50,000 in per year would take seven years to purchase,but by then the truck might cost $100,000 more.we could never catch up.leasing a truck we could get it now and pay it over five years and be done.it was discussed to start a c.i.p. and request a new truck but everyone knows times are tough and people are tightening their belts.to request both,the fire was afraid both referendums would be rejected. residents should attend these meetings to hear what is needed and why and how this effects the taxpayers.the fire department didn’t want to waste their time looking for and specing out a truck if the board thought it wouldn’t pass.any more questions could be answered better by the chief or asst. chief and they said the door is always open to hear questions and concerns.hope this info is helpful.

• 110 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:56 pm

  Chris very helpfull thank you,

  Confused FF: a firefighter against getting a firetruck that makes no sense.

  Strive: you speak of corruption when the chair of the budget comittee is a relitive to a person on the fire dept. But yet there is nothing wrong with Jason Cole being a selectmen and a rescue chief, please explain your logic?

  enough said.

• 111 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:57 pm

  Chris, since you were there, was there a video? Also I heard from someone there that the chairman of the new truck committee said “No, we do not need this truck this year?” So why are they going for it?

  I think setting aside money is great, it makes more sense then replacing a fire truck we just fixed and “NO, we do not need it!”

  Did they talk about a demo? Look in the magazines. They have them for $100k. They also have normal fire trucks like the brand new one we have for 200k. Why do we have to be one of the only small towns to get custom chassis trucks?

• 112 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:01 pm

  I know jason doesnt vote on rescue stuff. I guess Nancy did last night and I understand she and others cant vote when the final vote comes.

  “NO, WE DO NOT NEED THIS TRUCK ”
  that from the leader of the fire dept committee for a new truck?

  Yes, firefighters can be against the new luxury truck that is not needed! People pay taxes and do not want ANY tax increase, period!!

• 113 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:02 pm

  All the firefighters got the email I posted

• 114 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm

  I just don’t understand why they are even considering a new truck. Why didn’t the Budget Committee say NOT THIS YEAR. Everyone always says one thing and does another. Confusing?
  I really don’t have to explain my logic to anything, but if you must know, at least when Jason says hes going to do something he does exactly that. He doesn’t say onething and do another. He is very forth coming and HONEST. Its more than I can say for the others…..

• 115 chris gilpatrick // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:13 pm

  there was a pin point presentation given to us.yes mr.roy said we could get by another year with the truck we have but it does need to be replaced within two years.prices of the truck going up every year and fear that if it doesn’t pass this june they’ll have time to do it before the second year is why they want the truck now.we basically only talked of need and how to pay for it.the selectmen and fire department will be responsible on what is bought and how much is needed for the purchase.the budget committee has no part of this process.

• 116 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:18 pm

  So your telling us there will be NO VOTE in June on the fire truck? Now we all know why there were meetings with the selectmen and skip wood. I am so pissed. Why do we have rules in this town? Just go and get on the good side and be a good ol’ boy you’ll get what you want!!!!!!!

• 117 chris gilpatrick // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:25 pm

  the town WILL vote in june on this referendum IF the selectmen decide to put it on the ballot.don’t be pissed just stay informed and ask questions and vote.the taxpayers will decide this referendum,not the budget committee,not the selectmen,not the fire department.

• 118 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm

  Chris, the main word is IF the selectmen put it on the ballot. You know very well how things work in this town. I am going to say no more. We have seen it over and over again. Even though we vote. Open eyes wide………………..

• 119 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:31 pm

  P.S. Chris thanks for trying to explain things. …..

• 120 NO NEW FIRE TRUCK!!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:50 pm

  The promising thing here is that the selectmen still could vote not to put it on the referendum. I cant wait to hear from the FD why we need so many trucks. The other towns have less and why do we need to be the only small town with these massive custom pumpers? Why do the normal trucks not work? Didn’t it just work when we bought the other new fire truck? Didnt acton and newfield just buy used fire trucks OLDER then this one for like $10,o0o and there newest truck is older then our new one? Why do all the other towns seem to get trucks at 200,000 and we need double that for Lebanon? How many times did the truck really need to respond, actually go to a fire and pump and just not sit there? I heard this truck they wanted to replace sat at the end of the driveway at the last fire and never get used, as well as the other dozen trucks sitting there.

• 121 NO NEW FIRE TRUCK!!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 7:58 pm

  the other good thing is if the selectmen put it on, we have several months to educate voters on why WE DONT NEED THIS TRUCK. This is not the year. LETS GET THINGS WE NEED FIRST!!

  WE CAN WORK ON GETTING INFO ON NEIGHBORING TOWNS, USED FIRE TRUCKS AND DEMO FIRE TRUCKS MUCH REDUCED PRICE

  NO TAX INCREASE – NOT EVEN A PENNY!!

• 122 chris gilpatrick // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:04 pm

  meetings as the one last night is an example why the selectmen should purchase a visual recorder for residents to view meetings at home.residents should be kept in the loop and know what is happening.most people in town work and want just to get home and put their feet up when they get home.most elderly residents hate driving at night.buying a recorder and posting these meetings on the town website for residents to watch any time would answer alot of questions and inform them on how to vote when the referendums are put on the ballot.glen does a very good job at this but it’s not up to him to pay for everything and to make his life revolve around the meetings held in town.this is falling on deaf ears due to the fact a majority of our selectmen would like us to be uninformed and put their twist on how you should vote.

• 123 NO NEW FIRE TRUCK!!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:09 pm

  The truck they want to replace has a brand new pump which usually comes with a 5 year warranty. If we set aside $50,000, then we could get a normal fire truck like we just bought AND have inflation money. There ARE a lot of 2008 and 2009 demos out there that are exempt from new air standards, but even the new trucks arent 20k more then the fd supposedly told people last night.

• 124 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:14 pm

  This is so true Chris. I believe that this is why the selectmen do most of their business in the morning meetings. So we the citizens are out of the loop. They were getting too much flack when their business was taken care of in the evening meetings. Also, it maybe why they go into executive sessions. They are doing business. This is entirely wrong.
  One other thing on the fire truck. Remember, the selectmen did NOT let us vote on whether or not to fix the other truck they just gave the fire department the money. I truly fear this is what is going to happen with this new fire truck. It is truly sad how they just take and take from the citizens of Lebanon.

• 125 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:21 pm

  I agree, if the FD says they dont need the truck this year, set up an account, then next year if they NEED it, then come forward.

  During these bad economic times, they should be ashamed of themselves for bringing this forward when “NO we dont need it”

  more mis-management of our town!!

• 126 chris gilpatrick // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:25 pm

  are you speaking of the ILLEGAL meetings called workshops?? we all know who is responsible for the same old stuff happening that occured years ago.morning meetings lasting over 2 1/2 hours now only to cancel the night meetings.transparency ??not in our town.the least informed the residents are the better some like it.

• 127 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:31 pm

  so them saying a vehicle only has a year or so left on it is saying we don’t need a truck? now work with me on this but why buy used, Whe people sell used cars it is normally because there is a problem. the same with fire trucks do we need to buy someone elses problem. and custom fire trucks are cabovers which is what most depts use. google fire truck companies, you can learn a lot. like a commercial chassis is just like your everday freight truck.

  I wish the meeting the other night was record because you people who do not know what happened are so open to bash the fire dept, even when you have no clue what is going on because you dont want to take the time to learn because you are biased or just looking for someone to shit on. guess what our taxes are going up anyway because the state is broke and is not giving the towns as much money as they used to for schools and such.

• 128 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:37 pm

  Acton, regular trucks, shapleigh, regular fire trucks, north berwick, regular trucks, and all the small towns = regular trucks.

  I think the comment was “NO – WE DO NOT NEED THIS NEW TRUCK”

  i wish i could have seen it, sounds very interesting. We will all work together to make sure our neighbors realize this WILL raise taxes. Just as you said, the state and schools are cutting resources and the town taxes are going up. Even more reason for the FD to be ashamed of themselves!! Why did acton just buy a 1984 truck when we are getting rid of an 89 with brand new pump and lots of other things

  mis management!!!!

• 129 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:42 pm

  I do believe this is the first time I’ve seen FOUL language used on this site.

  I also believe that HUH is our “old friend”, Whartever.

  No matter who you are HUH, if you can’t write a comment without including an expletive, then perhaps you should go to another site to use profanity.

• 130 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:46 pm

  typical whartever (firefighter) swearing because people are learning the truth of why we DONT need a new truck.

  The people will speak in June, maybe the budget will also be voted down to send a message of their waste!

• 131 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:49 pm

  sorry I did not consider my terminoligy as being a swear. However what mose people consider a regular fire truck is a custom fire truck all custom means is that it is a cabover chassis instead of a standard delivery truck chassis. and the fire dept should be ashamed to ask for a truck to replace something that is on safe and oh yeah by the way at the acton fire it couldn’t make it up the hill so they had to go around the long way. is that safe, NO. and what other towns do is not our business, you should want the best for your town and your volunteers safety wise. did you know that our fire dept budget is less than that of Milton NH, and all the towns that surround us.

• 132 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 8:53 pm

  Lebanon is double shapleigh and much more then acton, north berwick and MIlton fd budget is NOT higher then lebanon. Milton also has more calls!!

  The truck couldnt make it up the hill because they went the wrong way in. If the truck is not safe, why did the fire chief just sink so much money into it ==== mis management>??

  Most towns our size use commercial trucks because they last the same time and are SO much cheaper.

  Keep responding DUH, it only shows us how much we don’t need the truck!! Have a good night whartever/worried resident/DUH

• 133 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 9:01 pm

  To “I Agree”,

  I think we all agree with you! LOL

  Chris,

  Yes, we agree with you also. Illegal meetings are just that — ILLEGAL. If some of our selectman can’t stand the heat, “They ought to get out of the kitchen”, or possibly town government!

• 134 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 9:10 pm

  The milton fd budget was 144, but they pay more for coverage and have ALOT MORE CALLS than Lebanon FD.

  The interesting thing is they pay about $180,0o0 a year for ambulance coverage, we pay zero, they have LESS ambulance calls and ALL their transport money goes into a revolving ambulance replacement fund, which they currently have about $105,000. So, we pay zero, we have more calls and we need the second ambulance (yes, they have 2 ambulances and did I say they had LESS ambulance calls)

• 135 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 9:18 pm

  I am not here to argue on the merits of an ambulance, my point is the money was spent to fix engine one because the selectmen said to. commercial chassis do not last longer or as long as custom chassis because the frame bends between the cab and the pump becase they are not designed to maintain a constant load. the Firedept budget for last year was what 110K dollars, what about rochesters 1.5-2 Million and what about sanford they are surrounding towns, you cannot pick and choose to make your argument. get real fax or stop talking please.

• 136 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 9:27 pm

  DUH:

  I think you are confused. Lebanon has a population of 5000. Rochester and Sanford 30-35,000. Lebanon FIRE does about 260 calls, Rochester and Sanford does about 10-15 times more then Lebanon – No comparison!!

  Compare to towns our size and call volume, and Lebanon is much more expensive.

  Why did Lebanons normal chassis trucks last over 20 years just like custom?

  So, maybe you should get facts related to Lebanon – not compare us with a CITY. This is funny worried/whartever/DUH!

  Lets try not to be a city fire department. This is Lebanon where you do a couple fire calls a week. The cities do in 1 month what you do all year!! Most of your calls are YOU driving around seeing kids cooking marshmallows over a little camp fire so you respond all these trucks so you get a statistic. Trust me, all of us in town know and have seen it.

• 137 i agree!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 9:37 pm

  And i think to answer your question, the fire chief from what i have been told advised the selectmen this would make the truck work safely and adequately for years to come.

• 138 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:05 pm

  the commercial chassis you are talking about are the tankers which do not respond to car accidents and such. in reality there are two fire engines and two tankers the tankers are simply because we do not have many hydrants and you need a tanker to back up an engine at a fire. engines to most of the work from car accidents, assisting rescue, fires, jumpers stuck in a tree or missing there DZ, illegal burning which more often then not if the people are cooperative an engine will not role but the chief or and officer will ask said person(s) to put the fire out. fire alarms, etc.

• 139 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:27 pm

  DUH/HUH:

  I think if you look around, most towns the size of Lebanon have commercial trucks. All across America, towns use these trucks. Yes, Cities that have millions of dollars worth of revenue and can AFFORD custom trucks get them.

  Berwick just got a new truck on a regular chasses. Shapleigh has a newer truck on a regular chassis, north berwick has regular chassis, acton just bought a USED 1985 (yes, older then the one we jus fixed up and put a brand new pump in), I will get a list – most towns get normal trucks and they last – an example, Acton just replaced their 2nd due pumper for like $10,000 and its a 1985 and still safe and operates fine (or why would they buy it????). And its a regular cab!!! Look at the towns around us – regular cabs work fine!!

  It is a case of our dept trying to get something that a city needs on a budget Lebanon CANT AFFORD

• 140 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:33 pm

  come on huh,

  how many times do we go to skydivers in trees. Maybe once every couple of years. The same for assisting rescue, maybe once or twice and I don’t remember the fire truck going, they just needed lifting assistance.

  Why cant the other 3 pumpers (they all are certified pumpers) besides this truck role? Why do the area towns have 2 or 3 pumpers, but Lebanon with less calls needs 4?

  Again, I agree, mis-management of resources!

• 141 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:35 pm

  who are you? I know a lot of the fireman in lebanon and I cannot see anyone of them basing there own dept., It is my opinion you are most likely a rescue member if not Jason Cole himself.

• 142 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:36 pm

  I am actually not on the rescue, someday I may be. If you noticed, jason was not on the list to get your email you sent out!!

• 143 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:38 pm

  Good try though, blaming this on a rescue member!! Maybe you should just admit like Dan did, “NO, WE DO NOT NEED THIS TRUCK!!”

  And I respect Jason and the rescue officers far more then any fire officer.

• 144 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:38 pm

  I am not Andy, I do know him and I can tell you he is too calm to respond to this. and if you want to join rescue good because they don’t need people like you on the fire department.

• 145 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:39 pm

  why would a rescue member bash the fire department??

  I have applied, but they do a thorough check

• 146 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:41 pm

  simple fire is a threat to the rescue dept. they want a bigger share of the budget and the fire dept. stands in there way.

• 147 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:44 pm

  Bigger share of the budget?? Last I heard the rescue is self funded and even though they are self funded, their budget is like $45,000 LESS then fire (again, better management!), they also do like triple the calls and have triple the members.

  I think you should probably do your research, I don’t think ANYONE on rescue is jealous or threatened by anyone on fire – thats the funniest thing I have heard!!

• 148 Laugh Out Loud!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:45 pm

  That is the funniest thing I have ever heard of, I think its the other way around – look at how successful our rescue department is!

• 149 Laugh Out Loud!! // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:47 pm

  Confused FF – you are correct, they take zero for a budget. Our fire department has one of the highest budgets for fire departments its size. The fire department has always wanted to think it was a city fire department.

  ROFLMAO!!

• 150 HUH // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:48 pm

  there is no such thing as being self funded since the money from rescue goes into the general fund, plus gas expenses maint. bills etc. Rescue has three times the members and about 3/4 of them are inactive or rarely show up.

• 151 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:51 pm

  Thats funny, I see like 20 of them at scenes when fire gets 3.

  I vote each year to carry the money over, and they bring in the revenue and are self funded. Do some research!!! Read a town report, or maybe we could draw some pictures.

  They also have 3 times the calls and have saved a ton of money for the town via energy improvements, etc. That is why they are better managed and their budget is like 45k less!!

• 152 Laugh Out Loud // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:53 pm

  They are self funded, they bring in revenue that off sets their budget and costs the town nothing. It goes into the general fund like all revenue, but it is placed in an account called “Ambulance Revenue”!!!

  LMAO- this just shows us residents why we should not vote for this fire truck. Turn the whole thing on a rescue member?? Great management and great members – lol!!

  Sorry Confused FF – I am sure there are some who have a clue!!

• 153 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:54 pm

  No problem, laugh out loud, I agree.

  That is so funny – and shows people the difference!

• 154 Confused FF // Jan 21, 2010 at 10:57 pm

  Milton ambulance, with less calls, costs like 180,ooo a year PLUS all revenue goes into a new ambulance account.

  Lebanon Rescue is one of the only self funded departments out there, and we are lucky to have them!! They are very pro-active (not re-active to kids cooking marshmallows!) and actually get grants to help the town!!

  Huh, I think its time to wear a scott pack when you go near the smoke!!

• 155 Disturbed // Jan 21, 2010 at 11:16 pm

  It is a shame that Huh has to turn this into a fire vs rescue thing. Both have important jobs. The people will have the decision in June – We may be against the fire truck but let them show us, I think that if it was less money, it may be better received. Times are tough, people are losing their houses. I want to learn more info on this truck and see why a regular truck wouldn’t work. I may be numb, but didn’t we just get a regular fire truck? If its sub-standard, why did we get it. I will also say I am very supportive of the need for the 2nd ambulance – I am one of the over 500 that signed the petition and are upset the selectmen ignored the people. I think Huh needs to focus his energy into being positive and not bringing the rescue into this. This discussion appears to be about a fire truck and there are very strong feelings about this truck. Don’t try to take down the rescue people because people support their ambulance. They bring in more money then they spend and are self funded. The town is lucky to have all its volunteers, but its people like you Huh that hurt what the fire department is trying to do.

  Thats my 2 cents

• 156 striveforchange // Jan 21, 2010 at 11:48 pm

  2 cents very well spent disturbed. I have to admit that I like to stur the pot a bit. I have been watching this whole thing and it really seems as though HUH, DUH, Whartever, Whaterever really is truly trying to make this between the rescue and the fire department. I ask myself why? The only conclusion I can figure out is that he is trying to get more people on the side of the fire department so they will get a new truck. Really he is making his look VERY BAD in the eyes of our citizens.
  I for one am very upset by the way some of our town officials really take advantage of the citizens of Lebanon. They are SUPPOSED to be working for us NOT against us. When is enough enough?

• 157 HUH // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:13 am

  I am not trying to make it against fire and rescue, and if you want the fire dept. to be self funded maybe they shoul bill you for illergal burning, chinmeny fires, car accidents, house fires, and permits…

• 158 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:24 am

  Now that is just utterly ridiculous HUH. Your going to bill us for a car accident or chimney fire? I think that some of the town officials drink from the same water.
  If you aren’t pitting the fire against the rescue, then you must be trying to take the focus off of the selectmen and all the OTHER dirty dealings that are going on in town.

• 159 Laugh out loud!!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:30 am

  Last year the town voted to allow the fd to bill NON-RESIDENTS for automobile crashes and that money to go to general government revenue. I have heard that they are billing LEBANON RESIDENTS. I have not had a chance to talk to our selectmen, but if this is the case, tbat is illegal because that is not what we voted on. MIS-MANAGEMENT!!

• 160 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:39 am

  Laugh out loud: I don’t remember what we voted on? Is this really true? Your right this is total mis-management and CORRUPTION at its best. Haven’t we all had enough yet? The citizens of this town have become a cash-cow for the town officials and most departments. I have never seen anything like it in my life. The sad part is the State of Maine is broke and they have NO moneys for investigating all this mess. Thats why it just keeps going on and on.

• 161 jasoncole // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:46 am

  Wow, 160 comments about a selectman meeting. I apologize that I was at a family function last night HUH and I am not surprised that you would blame residents expressing their concerns against me or a rescue member – typical for someone who is trying to push an agenda, when down, try to take down someone else.

  To clarify, the rescue does not bill for ALL calls. We only bill for transports, which were about 315 patients out of 736 last year. Some of those other “non-transports” were transported by Acton, Shapleigh, Milton, Rochester, North Berwick and Sanford as we had to call them in to transport because we did not have the 2nd ambulance.

  To clarify, all of the rescue members have to attend mandatory training and keep up with their skills. Many people have been removed from the rescue for not meeting the criteria. We do have 2 members at college, 2 in Florida for the winter and one serving our country for the past several years, but when they are here, they are active and we keep them on our roster. I am sorry you feel serving our country in war we should remove them from the roster, it wont happen.

  I think the townspeople have made it clear about charging for burn permits. I am not aware of any other town that does it. Taxpayers have the right to services. The ambulance charges a user fee for transport, which insurances pay. Most insurances will not pay for basic services provided by towns for emergency services. Like Progressive Insurance just sent a letter stating to the Town not to bill them for basic car accidents by the fire department because that is a basic response and they will not pay it. But if a patient is transported, there is an expectation for ambulance transport.

  Through the next several months and public hearings, we have several families that have volunteered to speak about waiting for mutual aid and then getting whooping ambulance bills. If someone doesn’t have insurance, we write the ambulance bill off, other services WILL NOT and DOES NOT do this.

  This should not be a fire vs rescue thing and HUH should not have brought that into this. They are two seperate departments (as is most communities) and have two very different functions. Each will have their chance to show the needs for the new vehicles. I can assure you that we will be well prepared to show tax impacts (actually a positive effect on taxes with the ambulance as it comes from revenue and continues to make the rescue self funded (yes, huh, we are self funded).

  Anyone who has questions about the ambulance or need thereof, please feel free to contact the Chief at (207) 608-5614 or myself at (207) 608-5615.

• 162 Laugh out loud!!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:52 am

  HUH, unless the fire department charged like $475 for EVERY CALL they went on, they could never be self funded. They do not have many calls. It would be interesting to see how many “self generated” calls they do each year, like driving around and putting out little camp fires while its raining (I have several neighbors who have spread the word about how rude they were treated about their little campfires) – people do talk and people will vote. It may have been a “stat” so you guys would look busier, but it had an adverse effect, now you want a truck and we remember the clown car coming around.

  This is Lebanon, not Sanford or Rochester. Nice try huh!!

• 163 Laugh out loud!!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:56 am

  and since a lot of your calls are from the little wind storms, are you going to charge God $475.00 for everytime a little tree limb falls on the power lines and you sit there until CMP gets there since this is also a majority of your calls. I think on your website it says you had 2 actual fires last year? Are you going to charge them each $60,000 to make up the budget? One was a garage fire and 1 was a single wide trailer – most towns can handle it, but Lebanon has to call in the back-up to put the fire out.

  Come on huh

• 164 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:27 am

  Thank you Jason taking time out of your busy schedule to come on here and explain things. See HUH this is why I admire Jason so much.
  Ok, I have a scenario for you all. It is up to the selectmen to have the fire truck put on the ballot in June. If they decide to go ahead and give the fire department permission to buy a fire truck without a vote, what are we as citizens going to do? We all know that two of the selectmen are partial to the fire department and give them whatever they want. So what are we going to do if this happens? Sit on the sidelines or actually DO SOMETHING. We ALL know the back room tactics they use. (You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours)!!!!!!!

• 165 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 4:09 pm

  you think frizzle and patch are biased against rescue and pro fire???

  I think this is not so. again I am NOT saying they don’t need another ambulance but just becaue the selectmen don’t think they do does not make them pro fire. did you know that the Fire Dept. has tools that are older then there oldest truck. (now thats stretching a budget) by the way you all realize that the gear a fire fighter wears cost around four thousand dollars minus the air pack which is about another three. and this is the average price everywhere you go, also fire gear expires every five to ten years or when it becomes unsafe be it torn to much to be repaired or burned, etc. I saw you pointed out that the fire budget is 45k dollars more than the Rescue budget well wouldn’t that make sense since firefighting equipment is a lot more expensive.

  if you go to globefiresuits.com you can “build your own” basic gear and it is about 17o0 for the pants and 2200 for the jacket 250-300 per helmet and 200-250 for boots (not including gloves, hoods, etc.)

  all in all thats my point is that budgets are just how they are, now If a new truck is NEEDED then yeah okay go for it, but if you can get another year out of it and we can wait until next year to by one then wait as long as it can be built and arrive before its too late. I would like to see a new ambulance too but am a bit confused about where it would be housed, it seems both the bays at both the stations are full.

• 166 chris gilpatrick // Jan 22, 2010 at 4:49 pm

  if these two selectmen were pro fire and rescue why do the things they do?? why not put the referendum that had a petition with more than enough signatures on the november ballot for a new ambulance?pro rescue???why not have started a capital improvement fund years ago to buy the fire department the equipment they need,after all one kept the chair warm for what twenty years??pro fire??lets wait til someones life is lost or someone is seriously injured fighting a fire with outdated equipment(jackets,pants,etc.).sorry,pro help ourselves is their stand!!

• 167 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 4:58 pm

  wow chris you just said what I was trying to get across in a lot less words, Kudos to you.

• 168 i agree!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 5:13 pm

  = HUH = Whartever = Concerned,

  First of all, being a former FF and EMT, I know that rescue uses the same GLOBE GEAR. They have 3 times the people and they all have gear. The difference I see is the rescue is pro-active and has got two grants for gear. They have the same maintenance, etc So since they have 3 times the people, looking at your reasoning, their budget should be higher!

  You must have just got home from school and decided to change your name, again!!

  The rescue I am sure has already addressed the whole parking issue at their station.

  Also, you may want to ask skip how much gear costs, you are about double what they pay for gear – nice try though.

  Also, what tools are older then the oldest truck? Maybe they should prioritize replacing some of the old gear instead of buying items they don’t need, again MIS-MANAGEMENT!!

• 169 i agree!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 5:15 pm

  and you act like its “another ambulance” its a replacement for the 2nd ambulance thats been out of service for 2 years. I think they have shown us the need!

• 170 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 5:20 pm

  since huh brought it up, if anything the rescue has triple the people, triple the calls and triple the need for a new vehicle.

  I am surprised that the budget committee would recommend a new fire truck if they were told that they didnt really need the truck this year. I agree with the other posts, wait a year, see how the economy is and then buy it. Maybe set aside a small amount this year. Why raise taxes knowing that the state and schools will be getting less money. I for one am a taxpayer and am insulted the budget committee would even recommend this. But I also see that by the posts, theres some biased by the budget committee.

  I hope someone can answer why we need more fire trucks then all the other compariable towns?

• 171 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 5:22 pm

  LOL , DUH-HUH, Whartever, or my personal favorite whaterever LMAO
  Boy, I think you are truly a lonely person. I personally have enjoyed you no matter whether it made any sense or not……………..
  On another note, if you are so concerned about where the rescue should park the new ambulance, maybe you should rent them a space at your house. (LOL) Only kidding Jason.

  One other thing, Maybe I didn’t clarify myself enough. I TRULY believe that Patch, and Frizzell are for themselves and what they can get out of anyone. I am wondering what the fire department has promised them to get what they have gotten so far?

• 172 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 5:23 pm

  if i remember correctly, the fire department tried for a new truck and a fund for a new truck the same year, shows how greedy they are.

  Maybe they shouldnt make all the residents mad. By doing this, everywhere I go, I hear how out of touch the FD is wanting another new truck. Does anyone there realize how many people are loosing their houses? Does anyone remember my taxes going up over 35% two years ago? Come on, this IS Lebanon, not FDNY!

• 173 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:06 pm

  first off, rescue does not use the same gear as the fire department yes globe makes both of them but it is nowhere close to the same, rescues gear is more like winter pants and a jacket, fires gear has thermal liners and barriers, etc. fire gear is very expensive, like I said why don’t you look it up before you comment, and why do you assume I am other people.

  I never once insulted rescue I have presented facts and now you try to paint me as the bad guy. isn’t that funny. maybe you need to put the booze down and take a nap.

• 174 chris gilpatrick // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:12 pm

  kristina,unfortunately you ,like the rest of the residents didn’t attend the meeting with the fire department.i for one brought up how the taxpayers are thinking(lost jobs,residents losing their houses,etc.).where do we go?vote on a capitol improvement fund?been trying that for years but selectmen refuse to put it on the ballot.my thoughts at the meeting.if the town needs a fire truck shift money from departments so tax bills aren’t skyrocketed.this is how other towns deal with these matters,don’t jump taxes by 35% in one year.example if the payment is $80,000 per year stop spending $80,000 ditching on the same road we spent $80,000 on the previous year.change in tax bill $000.00. as a budget committee member i look at everything.where is lebanon headed if our volunteer fire department refuses to respond to fires due to safety issues??wasn’t mentioned but could happen.if we ask these residents to volunteer lets give them the equipment they need to do the job safely whether it be fire and/or rescue.biased??? which is cheaper doing as we have for years or subcontract out or hire full time help??come to a budget meeting and see how bias i am.you’ll clearly see where i stand.

• 175 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:44 pm

  

  now that you got off the school bus and mommy has probably cooked dinner for you, maybe you should check your facts.

  The rescue gear has a blood borne pathogen liner and is fire resistant and is very expensive. The gear you looked at is for fire depts who do several major fires a year, not average departments. Maybe the fire chief could show you how much they spend on pants and coats. So maybe you should get your facts straight about the ems gear, i have friends that work at the pittsfield plant.
  Maybe the fire chief should put money into his budget if you have unsafe gear? Maybe that is more important then some of the many thousands of dollars worth of extras the firefighters got. Also in the paper, the acton firefighters just all gave up their stipend to get better equipment, in Lebanon thats over $30,ooo plus mileage benefits.

  Didnt someone say that all 4 pumpers work fine? MAYBE in a year or two we will need to replace 1? If the voters want to, they can vote to set aside money, just dont be greedy and ask for the world.

  Oh yeah, still waiiting to see what tools are older then the oldest truck.

• 176 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:46 pm

  good concept chris, maybe set aside the stipend money for new gear. If the true cost for the fire gear is $2,000, EVERY MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT COULD GET BRAND NEW GEAR IN 1 YEAR!! Half of them cannot enter a burning building anyway from what I have heard.

  The public will get to speak and the fire department listen in June.

  Unfortunately its people like and whartever and concerned and whatever he calls himself that day that makes the dept look bad.

• 177 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:51 pm

  I am not against you or the work you do, this is a bad year. If there is wasted money ditching, lets cut it. Lets cut all the useless spending. Just because we save 1.00 doesn’t mean we have to spend 1.00 when they even said they didnt need the truck from what I am reading. Everyone is hurting. From what I have heard, area departments would love to have some of the equipment lebanon has. We are lucky to have all our volunteers, but just because we can save money in one budget, dont just spend it — give us tax relief – thats what we need. I am still late on my taxes and cant find the money.

• 178 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 6:57 pm

  Now theres a concept Kristy, save a buck and not foolishly spend it!! Can we get you on the budget committee! Times are tough. I heard at one of the meetings the town had like 200 foreclosures, which is like 10% of the houses in town. So, if we “dont need the truck” this year, lets wait! Watching the news, the state budget is in even more trouble. The town is probably going to lose a lot of money. Its scary. I actually am ashamed of them coming forward with this when “they dont really need it”

• 179 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:06 pm

  1st of if you are questioning my credibility years ago (more like ions) before I moved to lebanon I was a firefighter in Epping NH, anyway the Rescue gear comes no where near the cost of fire gear per person, and another thing who are you to insult the volunteers who spend countless man hours and risk there lives for the towns, and townspeoples safety?. and Bunker gear 2000 or less a set, yeah about 5 years ago. but wait oh yeah inflation happened. I would never ask our volunteers to give up there stippend of what is it 4.10$ a point. im sure for most that doesnt even cover the gas to go to the calls.

  just remember show some respect to the men and women who are gonna save you when your house is on fire because I would bet that fire dept. members watch these discussions and I know if you lived in epping when I was a fireman I would say F’ that I am not going into a burning house to save that person.

  and like chris said what would happen if there where three fires in one day like last year and no-one showed, (half if not all of lebanon would have burnt to the ground)

• 180 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:12 pm

  first of all, are you ther former epping firefighter fired for driving around illegally pulling over cars, lmao!!!

  Three fires in 1 day? They had 2 house fires all year long. The day that they had the trailer fire they had a BRUSH fire earlier and milton helped i believe. Then they had another brush fire that milton and rochester put out. So, people will come.

  You should check with the fire chief how much they pay for gear. The rescue gear is almost as expensive, I am sorry to tell you and they have 3 times the amount of gear to maintain!

  Time to go to bed, its past 6pm lmao!!

• 181 chris gilpatrick // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:12 pm

  this is a bad year and next year doesn’t look much better but most department heads continue to think it should be status quo (not referencing the fire or rescue )and continue to think there is no need for cuts.look at other towns around us who are cutting deeply into budgets and still need to raise taxes.too many residents sit on their hands,refuse to attend public hearings and add input,refuse to even vote then scream when their taxes rise.how long did residents stay mad after their taxes jumped35%???only ’til they paid the bill then all was forgiven.most are all in the same boat,some row others sit and watch.please attend the budget meetings starting next week and see where the money does go.

• 182 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:14 pm

  And i think Sanford got to the trailer fire first, because they get there quicker instead of waiting for the volunteers. So, the fire will be out and sometimes faster!

• 183 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:16 pm

  and i do live near the station and again, they are out on multiple medical calls and needed that second ambulance. Its a shame the selectmen ignored us! Thats like 4 medical calls already today

• 184 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 7:18 pm

  I in no way will blame the budget committee because I understand the request of depts. and needs of the town.

  as for mutual aid I know mutual aid contracts tend to be if I have a 1 alarm fire on x street well the “insert dept” will automatically respond with and engine and a ladder, and then this “insert dept” will respond with a tanker for water etc.

  pretty standard to have automatic mutual aide on structure fires.

• 185 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 8:29 pm

  Gee DUH-HUH, talk about biased? You wouldn’t go and save someone out of a burning house just because they are voicing their opinion? As I said you must drink from the same well as some of our towns officials. No one can have an opinion except you.

• 186 Can we all get along? // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:39 pm

  Can’t we all just get along? Some of you are acting like children!

  Everyone in this economy is having a hard time except the oil executives and that guy in the White House, even our volunteers are feeling the wrath of this failing economy. No one wants to see our tax rate go up unnecessarily.

  Our volunteers do a wonderful job. They get up at all ours of the night in rain, sleet, snow, and even respond to to help their neighbors when it is ninety five degrees out. All for a very small stipend and little to no thanks.

  Both the fire and rescue chief seem to be doing a good job with their budgets. Yes, fire equipment and medical supplies are expensive and maintenance cost can be outrageous. Both departments are lucky to have dedicated and skilled volunteers to repair some of the equipment to help keep cost done.

  The FD appears to be letting the town know that a new fire truck will be needed in the near future. Will it get by another year? Probably according to them, but what if it breaks down again or even one of their other trucks becomes disabled? Will the volunteers or town be at greater risk not having that one truck? Absolutely!

  The rescue is in a similar situation, they could use a 2nd ambulance and it would be a decent money maker. They have the funds and it would not increase our taxes . Maybe the town would consider sharing the “rescue monies” with the FD toward the purchase of a new truck?

• 187 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:44 pm

  The whole thing is the rescue needs their money to keep self funded and to buy the new ambulance. They should not share the money – most towns set the money aside jusy for ambulance replacement because they realize the ambulance brings in the moneys. That is a very bad idea and will make the rescue look bad when they have to ask for money, even though they brought in enough.

  Doesnt the fire department have 4 pumpers when most towns have 3? SO if they did go down 1, there would be no harm!!

• 188 N0 Way // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:46 pm

  I agree and the wording of their referendum question states the money gets carried over to their account to be used for the next year. Its designated for the rescue, as it should be.

  The fact is, they said they dont need the truck, we have more trucks then the other compariable towns, and they can wait.

  Plus, didn’t they just sink a ton of money into the truck so its got a lot of brand new equipment like the brand new pump?

• 189 Thats Funny!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:47 pm

  Thats great, another department trying to rape one department of its revenue!!

  NO WAY!!

• 190 Confused Resident // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:52 pm

  Heres a better choice, sell 2 fire trucks, take the money and buy 1 good used truck so we have the same amount of trucks as neighboring towns.

  I agree, the money the rescue brings in should be used to keep the department self funded and pay for the new ambulance as they proposed.

  Cant we just get along is the same person as whartever, , confused, etc – now that they saw they had no support, they come back with a new approach – very cute. Isn’t it past your bed time!!

  Try a grant like other towns. Most towns newest trucks are older then our newest truck. I also saw that article where Newfield and Acton both bought used trucks that were 1984 or OLDER, so they are over 5 years OLDER then the newly rehab’d truck we have!!

• 191 Confused Resident // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:55 pm

  Also, I disagree that the volunteers get little to no thanks. Samantha and Jason seem to make that a priority and I know that my business has donated certificates to the volunteers to show our appreciation. They do an incredible job thanking the volunteers in the paper, on their website and also on their new facebook site. I think Leban0n Rescue has one of the best websites and also facebook sites on the web. They truly show they care about their volunteers!!

• 192 Confused Resident TWO // Jan 22, 2010 at 9:57 pm

  I am confused. The rescue has 1 ambulance, has about 3 times the calls then the fd and now a firefighter makes a suggestion to take the ambulance money for the new ambulance and buy a new fire truck? Makes no sense!!

  This truly has changed my support for the FD

• 193 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:04 pm

  That is funny. The ambulances have always been the busiest emergency vehicles in town, as they are in every town across america. Lets take the money for the new ambulance and buy a fire truck. When they were giving out info, they said the back up ambulance would respond about 15 -20 times a month – Thats almost as many total fire calls as they had last year and thats the back-up ambulance. So lets not get an ambulance for a truck that runs fine, “doesnt need to be replaced” and was needed at 2 actual structure fires last year. Yes, it may respond to fire alarms when people burn popcorn, but couldnt the other 3 pumpers, 1 forestry and 2 squad trucks help open the windows to vent the burnt popcorn smell?

• 194 Can we all get along? // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:07 pm

  I can assure all of you that before today I have never posted on this site.

  And far be it from me to make a suggestion that could help. I now know why there are the same dozen people always posting to this site.

  And Confused resident two, because someone makes a suggestion that does not conform to your ideals you change your support. Very nice!

• 195 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:08 pm

  i agree after reading all the stuff from someone obviously on the fire dept, i have changed some of my feelings as well.

• 196 Confused Resident TWO // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:11 pm

  I think if you read the above postings, its obvious. I had always heard about our fire department and if this is an example of some of their members, I AGREE now!! So sad.

• 197 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:15 pm

  1st there may be four pumpers but in reality two of them are tankers, they do not have the required equipment to be considered a pumper besides a class A pump. these would be engine 5 and six which hold 2200, and 3000 gallons of water respectivly. it would be a big mistake to loose those since we have few hydrants and most of our mutual aide is for water shuttles.

  our towns ISO which is your fire index rating is as bad as it can get because of our old outdated equipment., which inturn makes your homeowners insurance more expensive. so selling two trucks is not a viable solutionm we need the tankers for water and we keep an engine on each side of town for “fast attack” operations. remember at one point this town had eight fire engines, and the fire dept. chose to get rid of them to lower the budget. lebanon is 50 square miles and only four firetrucks to cover that is horrible. there are seven hydrants on or around river road but you can not tap more than one in a row because they are hooked to the same water main.

• 198 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:22 pm

  Wow, your up late!

  1st: i think engine 5 is 2500 gallons, so look up facts before you speak. Most towns have just tankers but Lebanon spent extra money to make them pumper tankers. I don’t care if other towns rely on our tankers, I simply care about my taxes.

  Our ISO rating is the same as every small town around us. The age of the equipment DOES NOT COUNT towards it, its the amount of water, location, etc. So again, please study before you try to scare the residents. Scare tactics do not work, especially when you openly lie!

  Several towns are the same size and have less equipment. again, trying to scare us. Back when they had more trucks then firefighters, they did get rid of two trucks that hadn’t gone on calls for years. Mis-Management at its finest!!

  Every time you post, you just prove to more people why we shouldnt trust the need for a new truck – lies, mis-information and more! Classic

• 199 Can we all get along? // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:25 pm

  I am not a member of the fire department or rescue. I support them in every thing that they do and wish more people would. I was merely conveying my thoughts on ways to help ease the tax burden.

  It is obvious that a member of the FD has made comments that may have taking some credibility away from them and it is sad.

• 200 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:25 pm

  also, lebanon has over 75o0 gallons of water on wheels, when most towns have 30o0-3500.

  So our ISO rating is better in those areas.

  In order to have a good ISO rating, you have to have a good response time, not 4 tones for 1 truck for smoke in the building. In order to get a good rating, the town would spend millions to have full time firefighters. My insurance company told me even though we have an average ISO rating, it only accounts for a few dollars on the insurance premium. So a few dollars vs over a million = easy choice!!

  The people will speak in June!!

• 201 Confused Resident TWO // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:29 pm

  Sorry Cant we all get along, I thought with how often whartever/concerned/:) changes and the idea you had, you was the same person.

  We can agree to disagree, I think thats a bad idea to take from one to help another. Its like saying to McDonalds, Wendys needs a new fryolator, and we now you need new equipment and you work your butts off for the money, but just forget the new needed equipment and give away your revenue to Wendys

• 202 Confused Resident TWO // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:33 pm

  I think needs to learn about what hes talking about before he talks. The ISO doesnt care about age, just what you have and your response times, etc. If we are bad, all the other towns must be really bad. Acton just bought a 2nd pumper thats a 1985. ALL of our 4 pumpers are newer then that!!!

  The funny thing is, the more he speaks, the more we people see how the fd is using scare tactics to try to get a new truck. They have also lost credibility with me

• 203 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:34 pm

  engine five did once hold 2500 gallons you are correct but when they put a new poly tank in it years back it lost 300 gallons the same with enige one it once held 1000 gallons now it holds 750.

  poly tanks are thicker but do not rust, trade off I guess.

  Your ISO rating is affected by the fire dept., how many hydrants you have and where, like if you have a pond in your front yard your in good shape. and smaller towns that have a fulltimer or two on have slightly better ISO rating just because there is a guarenteed crew durning the day time.. NOW I am not saying the town needs to hire people because they don’t, we have a good group of volunteers.

  oh and FYI we may of had two structure fires in town last year but we have had two in the last month.

  and if you think what I said has damaged the FD credibility i’m sorry but it shouldn’t, because things are always changing and I am suprised MR. Strive for Change would not what truck hold what gallons the average resident is clueless and though he was wrong he was close, pehaps he was a member long ago before Skip became the chief???

• 204 Confused Resident TWO // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:39 pm

  I think Strive for Change is actually a Ms.

  ISO does not care what age the trucks are, you may want to go to firefighting school to confirm that!!

  And I don’t consider a 10×12 shed fire a structure fire. and the other fire was a 1 room fire that they used 1/2 a tank of water off 1 truck and this truck they want to replace sat at the end of the road with all the other trucks they called in to try to make a point. So, 500 gallons or less and they had the fire out.

  So, a shed fire and a 1 room fire. Most towns can handle these by themselves or with a couple trucks. We call in over a dozen trucks – LMAO!!

  More scare tactics!!

• 205 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:41 pm

  I know one of the owners who was surpised so many trucks came for a small shed fire. One of the chiefs was in the press saying they werent concerned about any exposures but when residents saw the building and laughed, they then said they were worried about a barn 20 feet away. Classic!!

• 206 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:45 pm

  well first you must understand you respond with what dispatch tells you and that was dispatched as a confirmed structure fire and second the mutual aid pact says that if there is a fire on that side of town south berwick will respond with an engine and a ladder and Rochester will respond with an engine.

  engine one set at the end of the drive way incase there was another call we had an engine in service to respond with. plus there where some personal vehicle belonging to memebers of another town department and not the fire dept. blocking the road and parked on the wrong side of the road making it hard to manuver the trucks.

  a lot of people don’t understand what most calls such as furnace fires are toned as structure fires and are dispatched as such.

• 207 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm

  oh and you are right the age of the truck does not affect the ISO but the amount of them that you have does, aswell as the type.

• 208 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:57 pm

  Unfortunately you have more mis-information. I have seen a bunch of pictures of the vehicles parked on the wrong side of the road, and they were ALL Lebanon FD personnel vehicles. I am sure you can see the pictures if youd like, the license plates clearly show who it was!!

  You also say South Berwick, which is also wrong, its Berwick (South Berwick is where someone works, lol!!)

  The funny thing is you try to scare us by saying our insurance rates are higher because of the age of our equipment and because there are people out there that are smart, you were proven to be lying again, to scare us. We have double the water as most towns, so that should improve our ISO rating. They dont care at all the age of our equipment.

  They could never justify a full time FD, if you lo0k at the chiefs reports, they average about 2 fire calls a week, except when the wind blows and a few trees come down.

  And also, like Milton would start a 1st alarm but if they got to a shed fire, cancel everyone. But Lebanon goes to a second alarm for a shed fire?? And then they wonder why people laugh?

• 209 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 10:59 pm

  Being a volunteer on another towns FD, I see all this and see area towns laugh at Lebanon and they wonder why. A room and contents fire and we have like 14 trucks. A shed fire and we have like 14 trucks.

  All this drama to try to get a new truck!

• 210 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:05 pm

  I think the more : ) speaks, the more I realize that I shouldnt support the FD either. All these lies he keeps putting up there to scare us.

  I am glad someone has the true info, and wonder why you dont volunteer in Lebanon and go to another town, but now I think I know.

  And I agree, I don’t care if other towns call us because we have double the water they do, I care that my taxes dont increase. If sanford wants another truck, let them buy it.

  The shed fire thing is funny, I saw the FD say it took 45 firefighters. The sheds not even big enough to hold 1/2 that, so did the others enjoy Sharons excellent ice cream why the mutual aid companies worked?

• 211 :) // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:07 pm

  You are miss informed there funnyman, I was on scene and guess what no Fire Personnel took there own cars to that fire everyone who was there showed up in an engine, or one of the squads. (I live down the road litteraly) . what pipe are you smoking a second alarm, normally two surrounding department respond on a first alarm, I think that you should go and meet with some of your firefightes before you talk anymore.

  I did not say the insurance rates where higher because of the age of the equipment I said it was higher because of the types of equipment or the lack there of rather. (like most towns around us even milton have a ladder truck)

• 212 Kristina // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:11 pm

  Actually : ) you DID say it!!

  “our towns ISO which is your fire index rating is as bad as it can get because of our old outdated equipment., which inturn makes your homeowners insurance more expensive.”

• 213 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:15 pm

  I’m sorry I’m late in responding, my husband was checking to make sure I am female. Also, I was having a hard time breathing from laughing so hard.

  I am very very afraid, I am wondering who I should call to check my work I had done on my fireplace? I truly am thinking about calling Berwick LMAO.

  Oh DUH-HUH, how many personalities do you hve? I’m just funning with you.

• 214 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:16 pm

  If you want to see them, I know someone who has the pictures, All the fire trucks were lined up on the right side, a FF from Indian Lake Shores was blocking the entire south bound lane (the picture of that is very clear), the deputy fire chief is on the side of the road, and 3 other firefighters. Would you like to see the pictures and plate numbers??? Also if you noticed the ambulance parked in a driveway and the ems truck past the scene, Then they all moved to a driveway. And the deputy rescue chief parked on the right side of the road about a mile back.

  You cant deny pictures, and there are several of them!!

• 215 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm

  Where I am a volunteer firefighter, they teach us all to park on the same side of the road. Makes for easier scene access, LMAO!!!

• 216 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:19 pm

  LMAO Strive, I like you, you say it how it is!!

• 217 striveforchange // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:22 pm

  Thats why people get pissed off at me laugh. I get to close to the truth and they can’t handle it. Always tell it like it is!!!!!

• 218 laugh out loud!! // Jan 22, 2010 at 11:24 pm

  Thats why : ) doesnt like it when people correct all the lies and misinformation he says. Did you see he just posted that he didn’t say something and if you scroll up, its clear as day!!

  Too sad that this is a representative from our FD. Its opening up a lot of peoples eyes every time he posts, no matter what name he picks tonight

• 219 :) // Jan 23, 2010 at 9:48 am

  By the way you park on the same side of the road as the scene so the right side of the road was correct.

  and god help me I messed up on describing the ISO shoot me now, calm yourself everyone makes mistakes there is a lot of stuff to remember.

  I am not trying to scare anyone but remember you can say other towns only have three pumpers but most of them have a quint which is a ladder truck with a pump and tha avg cost of those is 500K -1 Million Dollars, however it would not fit into the stations (not enough clearance)

• 220 laugh out loud!! // Jan 23, 2010 at 10:10 am

  Yes, the right side of the road was correct, the only POV on the right side of the road was the Deputy Rescue Chief, again, pictures are worth a million dollars and I am sure you could get a copy, I know someone who took lots!! All the FF’s were parked on the left, so once again, you have wrong info.

  As far as the ISO, i think you forgot it keeps a log of all your entries because you came back and said you “NEVER SAID THAT” until it was pointed out you clearly stated it above!!! Typical, lie until caught!!

  And now a NEW lie. I cannot think of more then 2 communities in Maine that have Quints. Maybe you could enlighten us! You put ” but most of them have a quint which is a ladder truck with a pump and tha avg cost of those is 500K -1 Million Dollars” – ACTON NO, ALFRED NO, SHAPLEIGH NO, NORTH BERWICK NO, and those are just some of the towns around us. Some communitiers may have LADDER trucks, but I am only aware of 2 in the state that have quints ( 2 out of over 500 fire departments does not seem like MOST to me, but just another scare tactic.) And the towns that have these trucks, have a need for them. Lebanon has no tall buildings. And from what I heard, one of the chiefs said at the meeting Lebanon would never need a ladder truck, if they ever need one, they can call sanford or rochester.

  I am glad you finally woke up, mommy must have finished breakfast. Everytime you post something like your other statements, I think you convince more people why they should not vote for a new fire truck, so keep posting, you are guaranting me that my taxes wont go up, thanks!!!

• 221 :) // Jan 23, 2010 at 10:42 am

  1st only a hand full of residents out of 5000 look at this website so I am not worried. second you must remember milton, rochester, sanford, farmington, are all towns around us, and yes farmington is on the mutual aide list but is not connected to lebanon. so yeah, you can not choose to compare us with those who only donot haver them. plus look at other towns in maine, Kennebunk, Biddeford, etc.

  I wish I never moved here from epping atleast there the FD is respected.

• 222 striveforchange // Jan 23, 2010 at 10:51 am

  Look or DUH-HUH, my opinion is that I think it is darn GREEDY of the fire department to want a new fire truck after they just got their way to have the other one fixed. There are too many other issues that need to be addressed in this Town before another fire truck can be even thought of. You are making yourself look bad and not only that you are making your volunteers look bad.. You tell us to not bash or belittle your volunteers but your posts really come across the wrong way.
  Although, you should continue to post because I am enjoying you LOL…………….

• 223 laugh out loud!! // Jan 23, 2010 at 11:22 am

  I think you flunked firefighter school, but being a non-firefighter 1 will do that to you!!

  No area towns have quints, like you said. They have ladder trucks which the chief even said we did not need, so Nice Try!

  I dont think that anyone disrespects the fd, they disrespect you coming on here and lieing to us to scare us to get a new truck. Fortunately, along the way, there will be plenty of people along the way to correct the lies and scare tactics!! We may not be a volunteer in Lebanon FD because we do not like the mis-management, but we do volunteer for other communities.

  I also doubt you ever was on Epping, I am sure Jeff does not let people on that lie and spread false statements! I will ask him though, its easy to take the names on the fd website and see if any match any of his old firefighters.

  And more people then you think watch this website, look at the many posts and even more watch but do not post. And everytime you post, more people lose faith in the fire dept! Thanks for helping defeat the fire truck without us even having to campaign against it!!

• 224 laugh out loud!! // Jan 23, 2010 at 11:25 am

  So once again, : ) is spreading false statements, NONE of the towns he listed has a quint!!

• 225 laugh out loud!! // Jan 23, 2010 at 11:52 am

  Any why again are comparing Lebanon to Rochester, Sanford, Biddeford, etc all large cities with hgih rises?? I am sure the peak of the shed someone could have stood on their tippy toes to squirt it out : )

• 226 striveforchange // Jan 23, 2010 at 12:00 pm

  LOL Laugh, you shouldn’t be so hard on poor DUH-HUH he is probably STILL trying to figure out the left side or the right side. I think he got stumped on that one. LMAO

• 227 :) // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:10 pm

  blah, blah, blah, the FD did not “get there way” they had to have the truck fixed do to the fact they cannot be with out it.

  and you can’t pick and choose who to compare yourself with, either everyone or no-one.

• 228 taxpayer // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:28 pm

  I think that it is wrong to compare us to Sanford, Biddeford and Rochester, they have about 200 million more in taxable property.

  When you get old enough to pay taxes on your own, you will understand!!

  Thats a joke, saying because Rochester and Sanford have ladder trucks, we need it, even though the fire chief said we didn’t need it!!

  From reading the comments from above, it also seems like we DONT need a fire truck, according to the Chairman of the FD, “We Do NOT really need this truck????”

  Stop wasting my taxes!

• 229 :) // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

  First there is no Chairman to the FD there is a chief and so on . They need all four trucks they have said this time and time again if you do not do the job then you cannot be expected to understand.

• 230 taxpayer // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:51 pm

  I guess whoever he is, is the chairman of some new truck committee and an officer of the FD??

  Maybe your parents could drive you down and ask them?

  He apparantly stated they did NOT need to replace it this year.

  Again, when you get old enough to pay taxes, we will listen!

  Maybe, you should call your friends at the fd and confirm what you say before you say things – you are making yourself and the FD look ridiculous!!

• 231 chris gilpatrick // Jan 23, 2010 at 6:18 pm

  why all the figer pointing,bitching and complaining on this issus.if i was from another town reading these posts i’d say what the hell kinda town do they run there.let the fire present their case and have the residents vote on it.same for the ambulance issue.where were all the people who are posting the other night to have most of these questions answered?lets work on cutting the waste in this town so when the truck is voted for we’ll have the money available to buy it.supporting both these departments should be what this town should be doing because we can not get a bigger bang for our dollar.how does these two departments get along at s scene when this is how they act posting??just curious.

• 232 taxpayer // Jan 23, 2010 at 6:23 pm

  Chris, I am not a member of either, and I don’t think the other people posting are as I read them. I do think that people are turned off because the postings that included false information and scare tactics. We are just concerned citizens and when this kid keeps posting false statements to scare us, I think we deserve better!!

  This is not the year to raise taxes, either for a fire truck or an ambulance

• 233 taxpayer // Jan 23, 2010 at 6:28 pm

  i agree chris, we are lucky to have volunteers. I just think whatever department needs to give us facts and back them up. Reading the above comments, it looks like he was caught in a lie and then said he forgot?

  Our departments must be open and honest, right?

• 234 chris gilpatrick // Jan 23, 2010 at 6:47 pm

  ALL the departments should be open and honest.the chairman of the truck committee stated that the departmen could get by with this truck however,we need to look toward the future to replace this truck.this decision should be upto the voters.not our selectmen.lets vote on these articles and get on with the decisions voted on.the fire department could hold a presentation for the town but who would show up?one or two people?!how busy were our selectmen that two couldn’t make it to the meeting that the budget committee attended?does this show their interest on a new truck when they couldn’t be bothered?maybe these two will listen to their “constituents” and the truck won’t be on the ballot.(stranger things have happened with these two)just my thoughts.

• 235 striveforchange // Jan 23, 2010 at 7:58 pm

  I have a question? You said Chairman of the Truck Committee. Who is Chairman of the Truck Committee, Skip Wood? Is this committee something that was thought of internally? Should the town’s people been allowed to vote on who is on the Committee? A committee is a good idea but seems logical to me that it should be someone that doesn’t have an agenda. Do they have enough people in the fire department to form a COMMITTEE? Boy thats a scarey thought. I know someone who has his own corporation, which he is the president and his wife is the vice president. No other parties involved lol…….boy this town sure has some problems. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life, and the two biggest problems are the (Do Nothing Duo)…….

• 236 chris gilpatrick // Jan 23, 2010 at 8:15 pm

  chairman is dan roy who is a fire department member.i believe the department puts together a committee when they are looking to put a request before the residents for a truck.this is how they research the truck they are requesting and how its been done in the past.

• 237 Jason Cole // Jan 26, 2010 at 6:49 pm

  Chris and all,

  I just had a chance to log on and was very surprised to see all the discussion, not only on this one, but several other posts.

  The two departments work very well at the scenes together. I am not sure who the firefighter is, but they seem passionate about their fire truck.

  This should not be a “us vs. them” thing – hopefully we can find a way to get the things the town truly needs.

  Also, I saw a post I wanted to correct above from someone. The ambulance is paid for by revenue it brings in, and does not effect the tax rate – wanted to clarify that!

  Each department puts together a review committee that spends a lot of time getting info and looking at trucks. We sent several people to the Chiefs conference to look at ambulances in June. We have been researching and trying to get this ambulance for a few years, so we have really good info built up. We also have been having various companies bring ambulances over for us to look at.

  In the end, its the taxpayers that get to chose what they can afford that year. The selectmen and budget committee offered support to put it on the ballot and will carefully review the truck and then make their recommendations. Either way, residents are smart and can make their own decision!

• 238 Lebanon Resident // Mar 26, 2010 at 4:58 pm

  SPREAD THE WORD:

  WE CANNOT AFFORD A 4TH PUMPER WHEN MOST TOWN HAVE LESS. WE ALSO HAVE A FORESTRY, 2 SQUAD TRUCKS AND A BOAT AND PAY FOR THE FIRE CHIEFS PERSONAL VEHICLE.

  NO NEW FIRE TRUCK!!!

• 239 Curious One // Apr 23, 2010 at 4:31 pm

  I was reading the article about calls for service in the newspaper and it says lebanon fire department has 7 calls for assist to police. When you read their log, they have 1. They have some logs for issuing permits at the station and mopping the floor, does the fire department now count the issuing permits as a “call”???

  Seems like they are trying to blow smoke up ours to think we need a new truck? Maybe its so when they sit at the station and write burn permits, they can see the shiny new $400,000 truck just sitting there?

• 240 Average Joe // May 13, 2010 at 6:32 pm

  I am still confused why people who are supposed to be looking out for the best interest of the taxpayers would recommend a new $400,000 fire truck that is barely used and they even said they didnt need this year because its got all brand new equipmetn on the old one, and not recommend an ambulance used almost daily, costs nothing to the taxpayers and brings in money?

  Whose pocket is the budget committee in>?

• 241 Chris // May 15, 2010 at 1:02 pm

  so every one is cutting and the budget committee recommended buying a new $400,000 fire truck? dont we already have more fire trucks then all the other towns??

• 242 Kim // May 27, 2010 at 4:38 pm

  thats floors me that the budget committee recommended a fire truck when they say we dont need one and they are laying off at the town hall?

  i guess the budget committee does have special interests. I thought some of the selectmen issues were bad, doesn’t even come close to the actions of this budget committee.

• 243 chris gilpatrick // May 27, 2010 at 9:19 pm

  did you follow all the budget committee meetings ?perhaps,you missed the road budget where the road commissioner didn’t want a salary but the selectmen MADE him take it so he could have health insurance.where’s the town complaining on this?or how about the dump department head/selectman who’s allowing our town to pay thousands of dollars in bills for lebanon n.h..maybe we don’t need a budget committe and let our selectmen and department heads spend whatever they want and we can give them all blank checks on july 1st.

• 244 jr // Jun 13, 2010 at 4:43 pm

  I was just wondering why everyone posting on here is attacking the FD. I know the voting is over but all this babble about shutting down the LFD is ridiculous. I saw a few posts about what the LFD is doing with their corporation monies. I understand where the FD is coming from when they decided not to disclose the numbers. then someone from the rescue said that the LFD were hiding numbers and lacked the transparency that the rescue department had and stated they had the numbers on their website. Where? I looked through their website and found no information as to what was in their corporation fund only their budget from the town. I think this whole thing with rescue and Fire has gone on long enough. I’d like a reason why there is a rift? So as for all of the people posting on how the Rescue shows where their corporation money goes or the balance on their corporate account is online, I would like to see it, we’ll call it “transparency.” the same reason all of you threw the FD under the bus and shouted about nixing their budget. So let’s compare apples to apples next time we call up the lynch mob shall we? I think both our FD and rescue do a fine job, but whats good for the goose….. maybe the FD needs a website, weekly interview with the media or cute pamphlets to hand out as to why they need to update their fleet? Or maybe we should all start treating these two organizations the same as an extension of our town and praise BOTH sides. Id like to thank all of those who serve on these two teams and thank them for all they do.

• 245 Me // Jun 13, 2010 at 5:07 pm

  There does seem to be a lot of hatred between the two departments. Is there a reason I do not know about or should that reason stay a secret?I’m not saying it a secret to imply anything and if it is going to start a fight then keep it a secret. Out a everyone these people should be able to work together better than anyone. A lot of people and lives depend on their ability to do just that.

• 246 jr // Jun 13, 2010 at 5:17 pm

  That’s what Im trying to get at, maybe someone from one of these departments can shed some light on the whole situation because as of now I have no idea where the tension is coming from?

• 247 pat // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:25 pm

  I have friends and relatives on both departments. The funny thing is they work together great and these issues seem to be people outside of the dept. I went to the community day and saw them work together, glen posted on here they worked together great at a call – it seems that the only ones who say they dont are the outsiders – are you trying to cause rifts?

  I noticed that jason wasnt the only selectmen that voted against the fire truck and it looks like he gave his reasons. It looks like Mr Gilpatrick voted against it too. Is he anti- fire department because he simply voted against a truck he felt they didnt need?

  I agree, I have watched this site go from a good site to a bunch of women nagging about how bad things are. Guess what, they just had an election and people kept almost everything the same. So maybe the 4-5 of you should get together and have a sob festival about how sad your lives are.

• 248 striveforchange // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:30 pm

  I have to agree with you jr. I know I was not so nice towards the fire department, but my ONLY concern was I thought it very greedy to ask for a $400,000 fire truck when they just got $20,000, back in November, to have another one fixed, I believe? Not to mention the fact that they don’t have enough members to drive the vehicles that they have already. I didn’t want my taxes going up because of this.

  I don’t think we will EVER find out what the real contention is between the fire and rescue. I am sad that it was brought out here on this website, and it should not have been.

• 249 pat // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:34 pm

  strive, i think if you talk to them, they work together fine – my family members and friends work on the depts and they do get along – it seems to be people like jr who tries to cause crap

• 250 pat // Jun 13, 2010 at 6:36 pm

  I also agree with you strive that it was greedy to ask at this time when they said it could wait. some one got laid off because the budget was bad, but lets ask for a fire truck THEY said we dont need. I am not anti-fire dept, but i am anti-needless spending. Maybe that is why the selectmen, glen stadig and chris gilpatrick and others voted against it

• 251 striveforchange // Jun 13, 2010 at 7:21 pm

  Thanks Pat that was my point I was trying to get across.

  There’s been alot of talk about the flyer that went out at the last minute. I also got it and read it. Whether it be legal or not legal what I have to say is, when you present an image of yourself you had better be able to uphold to that image. In other words, walk the walk just not talk the talk. Some of the things that I am aware of just made chuckle. Arrogance comes to mind!!!!!

  This past year I have written many many articles, NOT just to complain but I truly wanted the citizens to become aware of situations that were happening here in town. I think we did just that. Now comes the time to pick a problem and work on it. There is so much crap in the world can’t we all just get along?

• 252 jr // Jun 13, 2010 at 8:59 pm

  I liked the idea of a capital improvement fund to purchase a new fire truck in the coming years or as someone else said look for grants. As far as greed if you dont ask people wont know you need something. yes the fire truck didnt pass this year but now people are aware that yes a fire apparatus are becoming outdated and need to be replaced so i see no fault in the LFD asking at this time. If people had voted for the fire truck then a message would have been sent, we need a new fire truck. You are right this year the people said we didnt need it but the topic is still out there and the town understands the need for next years ballot.

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