Lebanon Fire Chief Perry Gerome is working under an ultimatum issued by the city manager after calling on-duty fire crews and equipment to his home to help celebrate his wife’s 50th birthday by pretending the house was on fire.
The chief also had crews deliver a chain saw to help him clear fallen limbs after a storm earlier this year.
In March 2014, Gerome replaced Chief Michael Hannigan, who retired after 30 years with the Lebanon Fire Department.
This spring, Gerome was suspended without pay for five days, ordered to reimburse the city $1,025 and provide his department ethics training as punishment, according to city records.
The issues were first revealed in a Facebook post, taken down after a request by a city official, but investigated internally. “Your willful disregard of the ethical standards of public employment and your demonstrated lack of leadership has caused me to seriously question whether you are able to effectively service in the position of fire chief. Further lapse in leadership and judgment on your part will result in termination of your employment,” City Manager Pat Clements said in an April 25 disciplinary letter obtained this week by the newspaper.