Absences of malice: Cole rapped for not being there

Selectman Jason Cole

LEBANON - Selectman Jason Cole’s chronic absenteeism, failure to complete assigned tasks and lack of communication have not only caused a huge rift between him and the other selectmen, but also threaten the town’s efficiency of government and put an unfair burden on board colleagues, they say.
The full extent of the disharmony and dysfunction between Cole and his fellow board members – Select Chair Karen Gerrish and Selectman Ben Thompson – came to light this week as The Lebanon Voice neared the end of a special report on Cole’s absenteeism rate at selectmen’s meetings since July.
The Lebanon Voice searched hard-copy selectmen’s meeting minutes which revealed that Cole had missed 16 of 23 meetings since July 25, for a 61 percent absentee rate.
Gerrish has often said there is nothing the board can do to force Cole to come to meetings.
Cole, meanwhile, claims he has made every meeting except for when he was working at his full-time job in the Rochester Police dispatch office or had a “prior engagement.”
More maddening, selectmen say, is seeing Facebook posts by Cole referring to leisure time activities while Gerrish and Thompson work alone at Town Offices after he called in saying he couldn’t make it.
Asked to comment on his absences, he wrote back to The Lebanon Voice, “I have made every meeting that I was not working for or had a prior engagement that I could not change. I have sent the other selectmen emails every day that I have received emails and kept in contact with the office about anything of concern.
“There have been selectmen meetings cancelled that I could make. I receive emails daily on any concerns and what's going on in town and respond to those emails and I’m up to date on things going on in town. I have been in contact with department heads who have had concerns about things within their departments.
“And have had several citizen inquiries and concerns that I have addressed as soon as they were brought to me. I disagree with missing is the amount of meetings that are stated (sic). If I'm unable to make a meeting I am made aware of what happened during the meeting through the minutes as well as email contacts.
“Due to changes in work schedule I haven't been able to make the Monday and Tuesday meetings which I made them aware of and because I am a director I am helping at work while still ensuring any resident who brings a concern to me is answered promptly and efficiently. Selectmen don't always make every meeting and just like if meetings were scheduled during the work schedule of the other selectmen they would miss it as well. Or just like if a selectman is on vacation or away to training they may miss a meeting but they’re well aware of what's going on and I've kept myself well aware of what's going on.”
Seeking comments from the other selectmen regarding Cole’s explanation, The Lebanon Voice emailed them with Cole’s response, which drew a fierce reply, along with a more detailed accounting of Cole’s attendance record, including meetings at which he either left early or arrived late.
It was compiled by Gerrish, who normally writes the minutes:
The key is A for absent, T for tardy, LE for left early and P for present.
Aug 1 P, Aug 5 A, Aug 6 P, Aug 8 A, Aug 12 A (texted and answered 5 hours later), Aug 13 A, Aug 15 A, Aug 19 T, Aug 20 P, Aug 26 A, Aug 27 P, Aug 29 T, Sep 3 P, Sep 9 A, Sep 10 A (texted with no reply), Sep 12 A, Sep 16 P, Sep 17 LE (due to rescue call), Sep 23 A, Sep 24 A, Sep 26 A (texted no answer), Sep 30 A (working), Oct 7 A (working), Oct 8 A (working ), Oct 10 A, Oct 15 P.
That means he was there for the whole meeting just 27 percent of the time.
Selectmen have changed the normal Tuesday afternoon meeting to Thursday to accommodate Cole, but say he still routinely misses on that day also. Thompson confirmed on Friday that Cole had missed the previous night’s meeting.
But even more infuriating, selectmen say, is the cavalier attitude Cole has shown in completing tasks for which he was responsible. Gerrish’s and Thompson’s reply to Cole’s explanation for absences reads, “Accountability in this position is crucial and expected from the people. The voters elect us for a reason and we have duties to perform.
“Unfortunately there is nothing that Selectman Thompson or myself can do to force attendance on another publicly elected official. Additionally there have been tasks assigned to Selectman Cole during the meetings he has attended, such as writing the Champion Street demolition bid, which Selectman Thompson ended up doing; and preparing the constables laptop, which he did not do.
“Any issues with department heads needs to be made from the entire board, not a single selectman. If Selectman Cole is stating that he is handling such issues, Selectman Thompson and I are not aware of these issues. Nor are we aware of any citizen inquiries or complaints. Historically when one Board member receives a complaint, that Board member has the courtesy to discuss it with the other two selectmen.
“Quite frankly we are disappointed in Selectmen Cole's attendance. There are times that he says he is working and then you read on Facebook and he is elsewhere. There are times when we have really needed him at the table for decision making. It's disheartening.”