Sullivan Not in Favor of Full-Time Veterans’ Agent Requirement

Town Administrator Michael Sullivan is critical of the demand by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services to employ a full-time Veterans’ Agent because the town barely meets the requirement.

According to the state’s requirement for full-time Veterans’ Agents, any city or town having a population over 12,000 must join a veterans’ service district or appoint a full-time veterans’ agent or director of veterans’ services. Medfield’s population, according to the 2010 Census, was 12,024.

“For the state to come in and tell us that we have to have a full-time Veterans’ Agent with office hours consistently of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. because of 24 people [is ridiculous],” Sullivan said.

Medfield currently employs a part-time Veterans’ Agent, Ron Griffin and the current budget for the position is $7,289, according to Sullivan.

The state's requirement to employ a full-time agent will cost Medfield more money in a difficult economy and put further strain on a town budget that required an override vote of approval this past May.

“It’s this type of thing that’s killing cities and towns,” Sullivan said. “Mandating and mandating and pushing up costs. We’re trying to provide basic services and people are asking why are our taxes going up … because the state tells us we need to have a full-time Veterans’ Agent.”

Here’s a look at the 108 CMR 12.00: Districts and Duties of Veterans' Service Officerslaw that requires cities and towns with populations over 12,000 to employ a full-time Veterans’ Agent:

12.03: Requirements of St. 1972, c. 471 for Full-time Veterans’ Agents

Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, any city or town having a population over 12,000 and having a part-time veterans’ agent or part-time director or veterans’ services shall, at the end of term of such agent or director, whether by resignation, retirement or otherwise, either join a veterans’ service district in manner provided by M.G.L. c. 115 § 10, or appoint a full-time veterans’ agent or director of veterans’ services. These provisions shall not apply to any city or town so long as the incumbent of the office of part-time veterans’ agent or part-time director of veterans’ services holds such office by reappointment.

Sullivan said he believed Medfield currently provides veterans with a “high level” of service through its part-time Veterans’ Agent and says bringing in a full-time agent would be a waste of resources and time.

“A full-time person sitting [in an office] reading a comic book [is not what the town wants] because that’s what they’re going to do,” he said.

Medfield Selectmen chair Osler “Pete” Peterson asked Sullivan what the town’s options were.

“What do you propose we do then?” Peterson asked. “It seems pretty clear that we have to do it.”

Sullivan suggested “civil disobedience,” jokingly, before addressing the issue the town faces. 

“We say we can’t afford it and the government says we don’t care if you can’t afford it, just do it,” Sullivan said. “That’s what’s happening with government today and that’s what I think we need to fight and call our representatives and ask them to explain to our taxpayers why this makes sense. … I’m not sure you’re going to get anywhere on this.”

Selectman Mark Fisher suggested the town explains its situation and see how the state responds.

“I think we should just tell them what we have,” Fisher said. “What our hours are and what we’ve got and give it to them and that’s what it is.”

Sullivan remained skeptical of the state’s requirement.

“This is your state government hard at work,” he said.