Gerrish left out of probe decision

A copy of the Frizzell decision

LEBANON - Selectwoman Karen Gerrish, contrary to what she expected, had no voice in the outcome and judgment portion of the Lebanon Rescue Department probe conducted by Selectmen Chairman Bob Frizzell and town attorney Alan Shepard, she said in a recent email to The Lebanon Voice.

Gerrish withdrew herself from the investigation into allegations of mismanagement, misallocation of Rescue funds and patient safety issues brought forward in grievances by five former Rescue volunteers, but said she expected to be part of the judgment portion and executive session with the Rescue chief and assistant Rescue chief, Samantha and Jason Cole, respectively.

On March 27, the day after the probe first came to light in a story by The Lebanon Voice, Gerrish was asked by the online newspaper if, even though she had recused herself from the investigatory portion of the probe, she expected to be part of the rendering of a judgment.

A short time later, she responded by email, “I can't imagine that I wouldn't have a voice in the outcome/judgment. If not, what would be the point?”

Gerrish agreed to let Frizzell conduct the probe by himself after Shepard suggested she not participate because of acrimony that developed between her and Cole during their campaign for selectman two years ago in which Cole ultimately lost his seat, which he won back last year.

Gerrish, however, fully expected to be part of the adjudication process that followed the investigation.

In her email late this week, in response to aThe Lebanon Voice query as to her final role in the probe, she wrote, ”Apparently since there isn’t a town manager here in Lebanon, one selectman is designated to conduct the investigation and that was Chairman Frizzell. He concluded that there were no grounds for discipline. I was informed of the conclusion, but did not participate in the investigation whatsoever.”

Neither Frizzell nor Shepard could be reached for comment on this story.

Frizzell announced his decision during a regular selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday. The official transcript of the finding was released on Thursday.