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With $ on line, Rescue naysayers may change tune

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LEBANON - The Save Our Ambulance movement should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished.

Together they were able to collect more than 250 signatures on a petition demanding a revote on the Dec. 4 ambulance question, which many in town agreed was confusing to voters and with its ambiguous wording caused many citizens to misvote.

Selectmen last week agreed to schedule a revote, which could come as early as Jan. 14.

The town's budget committee is expected to discuss the new ballot question tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Town Offices on Upper Guinea Road.

After the board makes its recommendations, the next step is to have a public hearing, which will likely come in early January.

Only about 50 residents showed up at October's public hearing on the Nov. 4 ballot question. At that meeting, no individuals spoke substantively in support of ridding the Rescue Department of Rescue 2.

However, on Election Day, the vote in the town was overwhelmingly in favor of giving up Rescue 2, the town's newest and best ambulance.

Soon after the election, The Lebanon Voice was inundated with Facebook messages, emails and phone calls from voters who said the question was confusing, that they had mistakenly voted to get rid of Rescue 2 and wanted to keep it, spurring the successful revote petition.

The problem now is that with a Special Revote in mid-January, with winter's wrath at its height, what kind of crowds can we expect at the polls. About 2,000 went to the polls on Nov. 4, but with temperatures possibly below zero - maybe a raging nor'easter or two, and just one issue on the ballot, I can tell you it sends chills down my back.

I am confident that had the explainer box petitioners demanded, and got, for the January ballot been on the November ballot, Rescue 2 would already have been saved.

I am also confident there is a certain block of Lebanon residents who want Lebanon Rescue dissolved.

I've heard the narratives. One goes like this: "That rescue squad has been a pain in the ass forever." That's all there is to it.

So they visit the sins of the fathers unto the sons.

Only their vindictive attitude backfired this time. When the Nov. 4 vote went down, most of those folks didn't know surrounding towns were in the throes of implementing a $2,000 sole responder surcharge.

Who knows what those folks wanting to get rid of Rescue 2 were thinking. Maybe they thought Sanford and other surrounding towns were going to take over Lebanon rescue coverage for free, like the State Police do for crime. Maybe they are people who think if you can get something for free, go for it.

Maybe they never thought being cheap would bite them in the ass.

Well, it did. And if those people are smart, they'll realize they're getting a free second bite at the apple. This time, I hope they think twice before they look for the cheap and easy way out.

There are always repercussions for your actions. There aren't usually chances to undo a dumb thing, however. Don't waste the second chance Save Our Ambulance gave you.

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