Politics & Government
Crossroads Four Town Veteran's District Voted in Mansfield
Mansfield Fourth town to approve the four-town veteran's district.
Mansfield became the to officially approve the filing of an application to the state veterans services department for the creation of a combined veteran's services district, at their regular meeting on Wednesday.
The group, now dubbed the "Crossroads Veteran's Services District," was first mentioned by Town Manager Bill Ross in September, and the board unanimously endorsed the concept. Ross had been contacted by Foxboro, whose new part time veterans agent Michael Johns was assisting Norton along with Mansfield agent John Hogan, in the absence of a full time agent of its own. Norton had been sharing an agent, Stephen Nolan, with Easton, but Nolan left suddenly.
Since the concept was first discussed, , followed by Norton. Monday, over choruses of objections by Easton veterans, Easton followed suit. With the Mansfield vote, the quartet is complete.
The idea, Ross had explained, was to create a grouping where a senior agent, in this case Hogan, could mentor a newer agent, Johns. In the wings would be a third part-time veterans services officer who would be in training. Each town would have its own clerical staffer in charge of intake and paperwork.
Ross said Wednesday under the plan as it stands right now, Mansfield will be the headquarters for the agents, as there is office space adjacent to Hogan's office. An agent will be in each member town once a week, and administration of benefits will be handled separately in each community. The four towns have about 120 veterans on services combined.
Ross told the board in the coming years, the possibility exists for some cost savings, but for now, the goal is to provide better services not just for Mansfield's veterans, but for area veterans who may not have been receiving the benefits they need under the current system.
"We have to make sure the needs of all the veterans in our communities will be taken care of," Ross said.
Three Mansfield veterans spoke in opposition to the creation of the district, saying Mansfield's agent has all he can do to service people in this community.
Micaila Britto, now employed at the Boston Veteran's Administration hospital, said the numbers of returning veterans will increase, and said the kinds of care they will need demands the town retain its full-time agent for its own purposes.
"Think about it before jumping into this merger," Britto said. "This could impact Mansfield more than the other towns."
Commander James Morrissey of the Mansfield VFW said that organization opposes the creation of the district. "We need a full time veteran's services officer for our town - the population demands out own agent."
Jack Strand noted Hogan has done an excellent job for the town's veterans, and added, "You're trying to fix something that isn't broken."
But selectmen pointed out under the state regulations governing such a district, withdrawal by any member is allowed with no penalty should any difficulty ensue.
"If there is any problem, let us know," said Olivier Kozlowski.
Ross said he had spoken with Johns recently, who reported a high-ranking veteran in Foxboro had told him residents have an obligation to veterans beyond their town borders. "There are veterans who are not being served, and they deserve to be," he said.
The board voted unanimously to approve the filing of the application. Board member George Dentino was absent.