No Vote To Remove Braintree Councilor From Veterans Committee

BRAINTREE, MA — District 1 Town Councilor Julia Flaherty will remain the chair of Braintree's elder affairs and veterans services committee after an attempt to replace her over a Facebook comment failed due to a procedural issue Tuesday night.

District 4 Councilor Stephen O'Brien made the proposal to remove Flaherty over a Facebook comment he said belittled veterans. But Town Council President Shannon ruled that O'Brien's motion was "out of order" because he made it under a proposed council rule that is still under review. O'Brien asked if he could withdraw the motion "without prejudice," meaning he can bring it back before the council at a later date.

O'Brien's first attempt to remove Flaherty from the committee came earlier this month, stemming 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."

Cobb-Lemire said she and her family have been threatened following the post.

Flaherty apologized again at Tuesday night's council meeting.

"I am sorry for the comment I made on the Facebook post," she said.

Flaherty also said she is committed to her role as chair and serving the town's veterans and seniors.

"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," Flaherty said in an interview with Patch earlier this month. "My intention is to advocate for all veterans in this town."

Flaherty said she also spoke with Mayor Charles Kokoros about the possibility of converting a former town office building at 90 Pond St. to senior housing, with veterans being the number one priority to fill the housing. They also discussed starting a veterans' donation fund to pay for veterans' social events.