Councilor Wants Colleague Off Committee After Facebook Post

BRAINTREE, MA — A Braintree town councilor has called for the removal of his colleague from her committee chair over a Facebook comment he said belittled veterans.

At last week's town council meeting, District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien attempted to introduce a motion to remove District 1 Councilor Julia Flaherty from her role as chair and member of the council's elder affairs and veterans committee. The motion stemmed from a comment Flaherty made on a Facebook post by school committee member Kelly Cobb-Lemire that several residents say disparages an elderly veteran.

Those residents have launched a recall effort to remove Cobb-Lemire from her four-year-term on the committee. Cobb-Lemire volunteers for a local food pantry and makes deliveries to Braintree residents. Her Facebook post and Flaherty's comment last month stemmed from Cobb-Lemire's volunteer work. Both Cobb-Lemire and Flaherty have apologized for their posts.

"Yesterday, I made a food pantry delivery to a gentleman I don't normally deliver to," Cobb-Lemire posted on her private Facebook page. "He had a 'Veterans for Trump' sign in his window, and then he came out with an NRA shirt on. So wishing I believed in getting rewards in some afterlife."

Beneath Cobb-Lemire's post, Flaherty wrote, "Irony Achievement Unlocked."

"I have apologized on Facebook where it happened and to quite a few veterans," Flaherty said. "For my part, I think that the work of the committee is something the whole committee owes to veterans, only now I think I owe it a little bit more. My intention is to advocate for all veterans in this town."

But O'Brien said he didn't think the apology was enough.

"As the child of a war veteran and a legislative leader in the community, I bring forth the following measure for the council's consideration," O'Brien said when introducing the resolution to remove Flaherty from the committee.

But council rules prohibit a resolution from being introduced and acted on at the same meeting unless the council gives unanimous consent. District 5 Councilor Meredith Boericke objected, but O'Brien told the Patriot Ledger he intends to bring up the resolution again at next week's meeting. Patch has reached out to O'Brien and will update when we hear back.

In a letter to Town Council President Shannon Hume, three veterans and former town officials supported removing Flaherty from the committee. The letter was signed by former District 6 Town Councilor Dan Clifford, former Police Chief Paul Frazier and former Veterans' Agent Peter Schiavone.

"This narrative demeaned one of our senior veterans in need,” the letter read. "In our opinion, the insensitive and cruel disregard toward this veteran is politically charged and discriminatory against him for his political beliefs,"

Flaherty said she's since reached out to Frazier and Schiavone to personally apologize and discuss ways the committee can better serve residents in Braintree.

But Flaherty wasn't without her supporters.

Town Council President Shannon Hume said she "100 percent" supports Flaherty and feels she's being held to a double standard for making a mistake.

"I put Councilor Flaherty in that role knowing she could do a good job," Hume said." Things that were said by her, she has taken responsibility. She has apologized. I don't think she's been given the same opportunity as other people are being given in this community. We all make mistakes."

The issue is likely to be brought up again at the next council meeting on Oct. 20.