Official: Vet affairs staffing 'down to the bone'

OXFORD – A New York State Division of Veteran’s Affairs representative, addressing the Chenango County Board of Supervisors last month, said the state’s staffing levels are “down to the bone.”
Hours at the Veteran’s Affairs Office in Oxford were recently scaled back from three to one day a week. The change prompted a protest from county lawmakers that ultimately led to the state representative’s appearance before the board.
“Staffing is the best that we can do,” said Deputy Director Ed Simmons.
The representative said the county’s population of veterans is declining every year, and the approximately 4,620 of them can easily travel to veteran’s offices in either Sidney or Binghamton for services.
“We will continue to be on call one day a week and answer any specific requests from you, but we don’t see a big need in Chenango County,” he said.
In comparison, approximately 34,400 vets live in Onondaga County and 55,000 in Monroe. Chenango County’s vet population was 4,889 in 2008 and 4,768 in 2009.
The office in Oxford connects veterans with the educational benefits, transportation services and medical services for which they are eligible. NYS Veteran’s Affairs officers are also on call to visit elderly and housebound vets.
Commenting on the presentation last month, City of Norwich Ward 1,2,3 Supervisor James J. McNeil said, “I feel the best is unsatisfactory.”
Ward 4,5,6 Supervisor Linda E. Natoli asked Simmons whether he knew anything about plans for tearing down or reusing the former Oxford Veterans’ Home. When the deputy director said he didn’t, she commented, “It’s strange that the Department of Veteran’s Affairs aren’t involved or talking to each other about saving the vets’ home.”

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