Meehan refuses to give Rochester retirement date

Fire Chief Dan Meehan explaining to selectmen last month that he would retire from Rochester when he begins his full-time duties in Lebanon on July 1. (Lebanon Voice file photo)

LEBANON - A spokesman for the New Hampshire Retirement System earlier this month refuted the Lebanon Fire and Rescue chief's assertion at a meeting last month that retiring from his job as a Rochester firefighter "is a process" and could take some time.

Marty Karlon, public information officer for the NHRS, said for Meehan to activate his retirement pension, which will be half his average pay for the past three years, just takes filling out a few forms and can be done anytime.

Meehan told selectmen and budget committee members on May 26 that if his full-time salary was passed in the fiscal year budget that begins July 1, he would retire from Rochester where he is a full-time firefighter, but it might take some time.

At the same meeting Meehan reminded selectmen of President Obama's increased salary guideline of $47,476 that would preclude workers' overtime pay. The threshold had been $23,660.

He said that with his pay of $47,476 the town would not have to pay him overtime.

"I'd be your chief 24/7," he said at the meeting.

Meehan on Saturday wouldn't comment on when he would officially retire from the Rochester Fire Department to begin working full time in Lebanon.