Town hires Veterans’ Services director and assessor
Date: 9/20/2013
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWEST SPRINGFIELD – The town officially welcomed two new employees this month; a director for Veterans’ Services and a principal assessor.
Michael Straite was hired to succeed Jim Berrelli Jr., who retired in August, as director/service officer for Veterans’ Services. He is a retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. and spent the past 11 months as the investigator for the department.
“I’m excited. I feel, as a retired veteran of the Army, that I speak the same language as the veterans we serve. We speak with common terms, on common issues. It’s putting a square peg in a square hole,” Straite said.
A firm believer that “life can always improve,” he seeks to better the services the office provides to veterans. He noted the local office is unique because it administers state benefits. He serves veterans from current and previous wars.
“It’s not as easy as a veteran walks in and we provide service,” Straite said. He explained there are a “multitude of reasons” the process can be hindered.
According to Straite, there are many older veterans from the Vietnam and Korean War eras that are just now coming in for benefits. He said he does his best to help each veteran, but it can be difficult when someone wants to file a 2013 claim for an injury that occurred in the 1960s and there is no supporting medical documentation.
He attributed the hesitation to file such claims to the climate of the nation during those wars; a time when veterans faced a lack of support and gratitude upon returning home. “Today’s veterans are much better set up for success,” Straite said, adding that the benefits and services offered for veterans are stressed and discussed frequently.
Straite said to assist veterans he will work closely with all veterans’ associations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. The need for more housing for veterans is one of the main issues Straite hopes to improve.
A few months after being hired as deputy assessor, Randy Austin is now the principal assessor/appraiser for West Springfield.
Austin, a former data collector for West Springfield, served as the interim assessor after Hans Doup left in May and was officially sworn in as assessor on Sept. 16. Doup had only been in the position for a year prior to his departure. Austin will focus on running HD Appraisals-Realty, his appraisal company.
Austin said the department seeks a deputy assessor in addition to its current staff, which includes him, two clerks and five data collectors that work both full and part time schedules.
“We have a pretty good crew right now,” he said. “We still have some catching up to do. We’re a little behind schedule.”
Austin cited the upcoming Department of Revenue inspection as his main focus, but added that the other work still has to be done. The evaluation takes place every three years to verify the assessments are creating accurate and fair tax rates for residents. Austin noted the backlog of housing inspections is now caught up.
Austin encouraged residents and businesses to contact him with questions and concerns. He has an “open door policy.” Contact him at 263-3050 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
