Appropriations Committee approves veterans’ affairs funding

Date: 11/15/2011

Nov. 14, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — On the eve of Veterans’ Day, the Appropriations Committee put an end to a drawn out process of securing funds for a full-time veterans’ affairs officer.

The committee voted unanimously at its Nov. 10 meeting to approve an emergency fund transfer for up to $36,000, which was requested by the Board of Selectmen at its Oct. 17 meeting.

“The ultimate goal here is to provide the best service possible to our veterans,” Board of Selectmen Chair James Driscoll told the Appropriations Committee. “There is a huge lack of services being provided right now.”

The funding was originally not recommended by the Appropriations Committee and ultimately voted down at the Sept. 26 Special Town Meeting due to concerns that the Board of Selectmen did not adequately pursue regionalization of the position with surrounding towns.

The Selectmen told the Appropriations Committee at its Nov. 10 meeting that it still planned on pursuing regionalization.

“We always said we are in favor of regionalization. We have never said otherwise,” Selectman Paul Federici said. “Whether it’s with Longmeadow or with another town has yet to be decided.”

Longmeadow recently hired Jason Dieni, a former marine and employee at the veterans’ affairs office in Springfield, as its full-time agent.

Regardless of whether it is a regional position or a town position, Selectman Jack Villamaino said nothing could be done until funding is obtained.

“We’re kind of at a standstill because we don’t have the funding,” Villamaino said. “[Town Administrator] Nick Breault took part in [Longmeadow’s] hiring process. If regionalization happens with them, they have a veteran’s affairs officer in place and the funding would go toward that position.”

Driscoll added that in addition to Longmeadow, the town is also going to pursue regionalization with towns such as Hampden.

With the funding, the Board of Selectmen may now begin the process of hiring a replacement for George Herrick, who retired after serving the town’s veterans in a part-time capacity.

By state law, East Longmeadow is required to hire a full-time veterans affairs officer in light of Herick’s retirement. Since the town was not in a position to hire someone without approved funding, Herrick volunteered to continue on a part time basis because he “didn’t want the veterans he’s served to fall through the cracks,” according to Federici.

“We have been able to triage the most senior veterans, but we have families that are in need of services that are not receiving those services,” Driscoll said.

If the Appropriations Committee decided against the funding and the position continued to be vacant, the town would have stood to lose more than $36,000 in state reimbursement in veterans affairs expenses for fiscal year 2011. Massachusetts reimburses approximately 75 percent of the costs accrued by a town in a fiscal year.