Lexington, veterans groups at odds over state law
If you ask Leo McGonagle, it takes a veteran to know a veteran.
Having served 21 years in the U.S. Army, the Gulf War veteran has a deep appreciation for his brothers in arms.
“The average veteran, you know, we’re quiet. We’re proud and we don’t like to brag,” McGonagle said. “I don’t think a veteran can go out and seek help, especially if it’s not someone like them who can relate to them.”
McGonagle moved to Lexington in 2008, comforted by living near his former home at Hanscom Air Force Base. But the recent revelation that Lexington is not in compliance with a state law mandating a full-time veterans’ service officer (VSO) has him questioning the town’s commitment to supporting its veterans.
“The VSOs are absolutely critical positions for veterans,” he said.
Complying with the law
Chapter 115 of Massachusetts General Laws, originally enacted in 1861, mandates towns with a population of 12,000 or more — Lexington’s population is 31,394, according to the 2010 Census — must employ one full-time veterans’ agent, independent of any other local town office. Lexington’s VSO, Joe Alfonse, works part-time within the Human Services Department.
According to Secretary Coleman Nee of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services, there are 10 municipalities in Massachusetts without a VSO and 20 more suspected of not fully complying with the law. Nee said Lexington has been non-compliant for at least the past 12 years.
In July, Nee sent a letter to every community requesting notification of their standing by Sept. 1 — as of Tuesday, 80 of the 351 have yet to respond, he added.
State Rep. Jay Kaufman, D-Lexington, and state Sen. Ken Donnelly, D-Arlington, replied on Lexington’s behalf, requesting what Kaufman referred to as “an extension.” Town Manager Carl Valente met with representatives of the Department of Veterans’ Services in September and said the parties reached an understanding.
At Lexington’s special Town Meeting Nov. 14, Christian Kulikoski, a VSO with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts, made an impassioned plea for a full-time agent in Lexington.
“We clearly see the town of Lexington is not taking this seriously and urge you to become compliant with state law now,” Kulikoski said.
Town Meeting ultimately approved an amended fiscal 2012 Human Services budget including an additional $30,000 for veterans’ services.
According to Valente, the money will be used to make the VSO full-time or to establish a districting agreement to share a veterans’ agent with surrounding towns.
Valente said he has met with several unspecified towns over the past month, and plans to update Nee next week.
Kulikoski said he feels a regional plan is not good enough, but Nee noted Ipswich, Georgetown and Rockport have successfully set up a district model.
“Everyone wants to make sure we’re meeting the needs of the veterans,” said Nee, adding he is “optimistic” a solution will be reached.
Staffing the position
Lexington’s former VSO Bob Martin resigned in February and the position was vacant until Aug. 17 when Alfonse assumed the role.
Martin, who had served since 2007, said he told administrators he couldn’t do the job properly as a part-time employee.
“I said I’m basically a volunteer … I started saying it’s more than I can handle on a volunteer basis, and then more veterans and families were qualifying and that started growing,” Martin said. “I was getting the impression they really needed someone in here. This should be full time.”
After meeting with Martin, Valente said he increased the hours, but that there are simply not enough clients to merit funding a full-time position.
Currently, there are about 1,200 veterans living in Lexington, and on average, 12 clients being served by the agent at any given time, according to the Human Services Department.
Alfonse noted his average caseload has increased from nine to 12 since he started, despite having little time for outreach. Alfonse also pointed out he serves not only veterans but also their spouses and dependents.
“There’s a goodly number of people looking for help or assistance and we’re working [with] them,” he said, “so the controversy [surrounding compliance with Chapter 115] has led to the outreach, but there are people out there who need to be found.”
The Lexington model
Valente said he believes the state law is antiquated and touted Lexington’s approach to veterans’ services, which includes partnering the VSO with a team of social workers in the Human Services Department. To abandon this, Valente said, would be “a disservice to all veterans.”
“Under [the law], the VSO has to be under an independent office. We’re prohibited from what could have been a very efficient case approach … We have to actually discontinue our program,” he said. “We feel we have an obligation to our veterans to serve them, and if we follow what the state wants, a 100-year-old statute [says] we can’t serve our veterans.”
Human Services Director Charlotte Rodgers added her department “does not distinguish” between a part-time and a full-time VSO, noting Alfonse’s cell phone is on from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for those who need assistance.
But Kulikoski said he has been unable to reach Lexington’s VSO during those times and added, “if the VSO has his cell phone on the entire time, then he should be compensated for a full-time job.”
Don Martin, commander of Lexington VFW Post 3007, said more education is needed as he feels uninformed about the VSO position and services available to veterans.
Earlier this year when Lexington was without a VSO, Martin recalled, a homeless veteran came to Post 3007 asking for help. Unsure of what else to do, Martin sent the elderly man to the Bedford VA Hospital and never heard from him again.
“I should have thought of the VSO as the first line of help,” he said. “I didn’t think of that.”
Taking a stand
Steve Wightman, a Vietnam War veteran who volunteers as a VSO for VFW Post 3007, said the organization plans to send a signed petition to the Town Offices calling for a full-time VSO.
“When there’s no advocacy, there’s apathy,” Wightman said. “It’s interesting because they expect citizens to obey the law but the town itself doesn’t want to.”
Michael Sweeney, president of the Veterans Services of America, said he is outraged by Lexington’s non-compliance.
“There are communities with fewer resources than Lexington that seem to be willing to step up and take care of their veterans and their family members,” said Sweeney, a full-time VSO in Lynn.
“I hear of veterans who have their first major medical expense and leave because they can’t afford it,” Wightman added. “This is a very wealthy [community]. This is the last town you would think to do this.”
Kulikoski called the town’s non-compliance with the law a “dishonor” to Lexington’s historical connection to veterans dating back to the Revolutionary War. If the town does not move to a full-time VSO, Kulikoski said he would campaign to have the Minute Man stripped from the town seal.
“If you’re going to be the birthplace of American freedom and democracy and you put the Minute Man in your logo,” he said, “how could you dishonor the Minute Men today and not help them in the community?”
Both Kaufman and Valente shrugged off Kulikoski’s rhetoric.
“I don’t think that even deserves a response,” Valente said.
Kaufman said he supports the town’s position and that he feels Lexington is being singled out unfairly, adding that perhaps the law should be rewritten.
“The attack is completely specious. The town is committed to working this out so that all the services are provided,” Kaufman said. “Whatever it takes to get through it, we will do it … because it’s the right thing to do, and not because of the outrageous charges from the sidelines.”
Sign of respect
As Wightman sat hunched over a tuna fish sandwich at Avenue Deli, the military pins adorning his cap attracted the attention of a young man, who walked over to the table and gave a salute.
“Thank you for all that you have done,” the man said, shaking Wightman’s hand.
Despite this spontaneous show of respect, veterans like Wightman and McGonagle are concerned that the town is not doing enough to honor the sacrifices they made.
“Veterans are very much underserved and underappreciated in the town of Lexington and it shouldn’t be that way,” Wightman said.
As more and more veterans return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the need for assistance will only grow, McGonagle said.
“I am representative of the new veterans,” he said. “There are thousands more like me coming.”
Samantha Allen can be reached at 781-674-7722 or saallen@wickedlocal.com.