Ambulance revote petition drive under way

Lebanon Voice editor and Ambulance revote petition organizer Harrison Thorp watches volunteers put their names in a computer while Selectman Paul Philbrick, plaid shirt, speaks to one attendee and Selectmen Chair Ben Thompson talks to another, off camera.

LEBANON - A petition to force a revote of the Nov. 4 ambulance referendum is under way today after about 30 town residents filled the lobby of Town Offices Tuesday, even spilling out into a chilly foyer, to condemn selectmen for their ambiguous wording of the ballot question they claim led to mass voter confusion and the potential defunding of the lease agreement of Rescue 2.

Ironically, even as the Lebanon meeting was under way, Sanford's Town Council on Tuesday was presented with a letter from its Fire Chief that proposes a $2,000 flat fee charged to the town of Lebanon for any ambulance request in which Sanford is the primary responder if Lebanon Rescue is unable to dispatch an ambulance.

Selectmen had heard the rumor, but the news still blindsided them somewhat. Selectmen Chairman Ben Thompson said the board hadn't gotten the official letter yet, because at the time of Tuesday's meeting Sanford hadn't decided on whether to move forward with the proposal.

The devastating news added fuel to the fire as residents peppered selectmen with questions - predominately answered by Thompson - over the logic of giving up Rescue 2 under any circumstances, let alone with the latest potential surcharge news from Sanford.

The bulk of the criticism, however, centered on the legalese in the wording of the ambulance question.

"I don't think people voted the way they wanted to vote," said resident Jeff Everett. "My wife and I both had problems understanding it. This wasn't worded properly."

Nearly every resident in attendance agreed, many sheepishly admitting they or a family member had unwittingly voted against keeping Rescue 2, the town's newest and best ambulance.

The Lebanon Voice editor Harrison Thorp began the ambulance discussion with brief remarks about how selectmen had admitted to several negative points regarding potential defunding at the public hearing in October but not in the mailer sent just days before the vote. He also questioned why the "If you vote NO" and "If you vote Yes" explainer boxes that were on the mailer were not on the ballot question.

Selectmen have countered all along that with such a lopsided vote on Election Day - 1,360-730 voting in favor of getting rid of Rescue 2 - not that many people could have possibly voted against their own wishes.

That summation was vehemently and unanimously debunked by residents as speaker after speaker told tales - sometimes abashedly - about how they had been confused. Interestingly no one who attended the meeting - other than selectmen - stood in favor of the vote as it went, while Thompson, himself, admitted he'd voted to keep the ambulance, although he recommended it be gotten rid of as a selectman.

Everett took exception to that remark as well asking Thompson how he could recommend the question pass as a selectman and vote against it as an individual.

In fact, all selectmen and a unanimous budget committee vote recommended the article pass; budget panel member Christine Torno, however, has also said she voted "No" - that is to keep the ambulance - on Election Day.

Moreover, it was noted that selectmen early on knew the question was confusing, since Town Clerk Laura Bragg had told selectmen weeks before Election Day that folks receiving absentee ballots were calling Town Offices because they had no clue what the question said. That was why selectmen mailed out the mailer, which some at the meeting said they never received.

The petition drive, which will be spearheaded by Thorp, will require 217 signatures to allow it to be presented to selectmen, but Bragg suggested getting far more to be on the safe side.

The petition for a revote must pass legal muster and then be approved by selectmen for it to go forward. Thompson signaled a willingness to work with petitioners, but stopped short of saying he would authorize the town attorney to pass legal muster on the petition.

Thorp said he would be working on preparing the petition and would be trying to disburse it to about 20 residents who offered to help with getting the signatures, which must be from Lebanon residents who are registered voters.

For anyone who wants to receive a ballot to help collect signatures, the Save our Ambulance Facebook page and The Lebanon Voice will be letting folks know when they are finalized.

In the meantime, if you have any suggestions or advice, you may contact The Lebanon Voice at thelebanonvoice@aol.com or post to Save our Ambulance.