Town ambulance subscription program disbanded

Jason Cole

LEBANON - Selectmen voted on Tuesday to ban the practice of selling subscriptions for reduced rate town ambulance services and are warning residents that if subscriptions are solicited not to participate in the program since the town won’t honor them.

In an email sent to The Lebanon Voice Selectmen Chair Karen Gerrish wrote, “The Board of Selectmen advise all residents who may receive a subscription application, please do not subscribe or send a check anywhere.”

Selectmen were advised against using subscriptions as a fund-raiser by a Medicare General Counsel and the state’s Attorney General’s office.

“They said selling subscriptions is the equivalent of insurance, and the town shouldn’t be doing that,” Selectman Ben Thompson said today.

The Lebanon Rescue Corporation in the past used subscriptions as a fund-raiser, first promising free ambulance service in exchange for a donation, then later amending the benefit to paying the deductible of any insurance bill connected with ambulance transport.

Thompson said an invoice recently came to Town Offices that indicated former Rescue Chief Jason Cole, who until recently was president of Lebanon Rescue Squad, Inc., had produced the annual mailer and was preparing to send the invitation for fund-raising subscriptions out to about 2,700 households.

Thompson said he wasn’t aware whether the pamphlets had been mailed or not.

Cole resigned his position as president of the corporation on Monday, with Teena Meserve assuming control after a vote by corporation officers, Thompson said.

Selectmen spoke at length with Meserve on Tuesday.

Lebanon Rescue Squad, Inc. treasurer Ron German also resigned his position.

Thompson said he understood the town may have paid for the pamphlet’s mailing in the past, but it wouldn’t anymore.