Fire-EMS chief could have avoided his retirement gaffe

So much erroneous information has been posted on The Lebanon Voice Facebook page the past few days that we had to delete it.

This column will try to separate fact from some of the fiction being tossed about out there.

Fact: A firefighter retiring from New Hampshire State Retirement must file paperwork between 30 and 90 days prior to his or her retirement date.

Fiction: (posted but deleted from TLV Facebook page) The firefighter must file paperwork, then wait 30-90 days for his retirement to kick in.

Fact: Lebanon's full-time fire and rescue chief, knowing that his budget could very well be passed - whether on May 10 or June 25 - could have filed the paperwork as early as April 1 to retire on July 1, when he would assume full-time status. Furthermore, according to Marty Konlon, a spokesman for the state retirement board, the fire chief could have rescinded his request to start retirement on July 1 and the board would have honored that request.

"Firefighters do that all the time," Konlon said on Tuesday. "They might get a different position or be promoted and decide to stay."

Fiction: Retiring as a full-time firefighter "is a process."

Fact: You fill out and send in some forms, such as certifying that you wish to retire and what bank account you want your funds to be deposited into.

Fiction: "It's my decision when I retire," which is what Lebanon's fire chief said.

Fact: The chief made a pledge when he met with selectmen regarding his revised budget that if he got his full-time salary he'd be available 24/7. If he continues to work as a full-time firefighter in Rochester after July 1, he's certainly can't work for Lebanon 24/7 unless he can be in two places at once.

Fact: The chief should have filed his retirement papers three months ago and simply rescinded them if he didn't get his full-time budget. That would have been the prudent thing to do.