Norton, Foxborough Unanimously Approve Four-Town Veterans District

Following a this week that featured Veterans protesting a proposed four-town Veterans Services District, other potential towns are already moving forward with the district's creation.

selectmen preceded the Norton vote Tuesday, also voicing a unanimous approval, and discussed the proposal several weeks ago, with that board also in support. Easton has yet to vote on the issue.

"This is a good program - a lot of people worked hard to get it to this point," Norton selectman Mary Steele said Thursday. "With four towns committed to this, it has to bring more to the veterans."

Under the regionalization plan, the four towns would share two agents, and each community would have a 20-hour assistant and an office to provide administrative help. The two agents proposed for the shared job are Mansfield agent John Hogan, and Foxborough agent Michael Johns.

Norton town Manager Michael Yunits, who has been dedicating hours to drafting the proposal, told the board the four towns together would serve about 120 veterans, 42 in Norton, 43 in Easton, 17 in Mansfield and 18 in Foxborough.

Under state regulations, towns sharing agents must be contiguous - only when Mansfield expressed interest in joining with Easton and Norton could Foxborough become part of the district, as it shares a border with Mansfield.

Norton had been sharing services with Easton and its agent Stephen Nolan, but Nolan left unexpectedly. Selectmen said Thursday the formation of the regional district would provide some insurance to veterans in all four communities that an agent would always be on hand. Since his departure, Mansfield and Foxborough agents have been assisting.

Foxborough agent Michael Johns attended the Norton board meeting, and said preparations for formation of the district have been hectic.

"We are overwhelmed with work," he said. "We have just been holding back a tidal wave getting ready to put the district in place. We have been going through every claim."

Johns said claims have to be investigated and verified so that benefits get to the people who need them. The town pays out benefits, but is later reimbursed for 75 percent of that cost by the government.

Norton Board member Robert Kimball said the town will have new young veterans coming home as time progresses. "This is a win/win for the veterans and the town," he said. "We have young people trying to get work, and there's nothing out there. The town could subsidize some of their costs until they get back on their feet. If they couldn't find an agent in Norton, they could drive to one of the other towns - they are all close."