Brouhaha erupts over Veterans' Council

Date: 5/18/2010

May 19, 2010.

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



AGAWAM -- There's a big brouhaha taking place between Mayor Richard Cohen and certain members of the Veterans' Council.

Two members of the council, Frank Mazzei and Chris Sanchez, were not reappointed for failure to deliver letters of interest to the mayor by the end of their terms on April 1. Cohen therefore recommended to the Town Council that Todd Crevier, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Rielly Longtin, a veteran of the Coast Guard, to fill the vacancies of the nine-seat council.

According to Aldo Mancini, chair of the council, that's just not how it's done.

"In the past the Vets' Council would send their selections to the mayor and the mayor would send it to the City Council if in agreement [with us]," he recalled.

"We knew nothing about seats being open," Mancini added. He said it wasn't right "not reappoint two people who have put in over 20 years of service" on the council.

Sanchez echoed Mancini's sentiments, adding that it was not unusual to be reappointed 30 to 60 days after a term had expired.

"In the 12 years that I've served, it was very common to forget to submit letters of reappointment and you'd get a call from one of the mayor's secretaries reminding you to send in a letter for reappointment," he said.

Sanchez added that he intended to submit a letter of interest but received a letter from the mayor thanking him for his service eight days before his term was to expire.

"I've followed the process to a 'T'," Cohen said. "In my nine years as mayor, I never have met with any board or committee to discuss appointments. I appointed those [veterans] based on our charter and bylaws. The boards don't have a say."

He added that "in an effort to serve all" he filed an ordinance with the Town Council amending town law to increase the size of the council by two, possibly making room for Mazzei and Sanchez.

"We shouldn't discriminate against any honorably discharged vet who wants to serve our community," Cohen said, adding he'd even consider filing an ordinance to make the council "all inclusive."

City Councilor George Bitzas wrote a memo to the council supporting Cohen's ordinance last week.

"I am happy to see this increase as these are unpaid, volunteer positions and it does not cost the town a penny," he said. "If the council's wishes to increase this number to include even more members, we can always amend the ordinance."

The council will vote on the proposed ordinance at its June 1 meeting.