Samantha Cole resigns as Rescue Dept. chief

Rescue Chief Samantha Cole

LEBANON - Two hours after her husband announced his resignation on the Lebanon Rescue Corporation Facebook Page, Samantha Cole posted her own resignation as the Lebanon Rescue chief.

Cole pledged to “work with the new chief to make sure everything transitions well” while a new chief is put in place. Her resignation becomes effective at midnight on Dec. 31, the same time as her husband's.

In a long-winded, oftentimes gratuitous missive much like her husband’s earlier in the night, Cole said job and family constraints had reached the tipping point and she felt she had to step down.

“I have three children who are growing up too quickly and I feel like I am not spending enough time with them as they grow,” she stated.

Both Coles had come under increased scrutiny of late after it was discovered that the Rescue Department owed the town more than $200,000 when it was supposed to be self-funded and operate with no public funds.

Additionally, Selectman and Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole had been under pressure for his failure to attend all but a handful of selectmen's meetings in the past several months.

The Coles were unavailable for comment last night as were Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish and Selectman Ben Thompson.