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Veterans agent under fire
Posted on March 14, 2007 by kraus2686
Filed Under Clinton, Noah's posts, Town Hall |
Is Clinton Veterans Agent Gerald Coppenrath doing his job? His former assistant says no and so do several area vets, but is this just a case of a couple of disgruntled people tarnishing Coppenrath’s image?
The Times & Courier dug into the story this week after hearing scuttlebut for months about the veterans agent. These stories are tough to do because the truth can sometimes be a matter of perception. Did Coppenrath just rub a few of the wrong people the wrong way or are Clinton veterans really not being served? Some of the folks we talked to are pretty adement about Coppenrath — one went far enough to call him “useless.” That’s a pretty strong word to use. The question is, is there any truth to it?
It’s not the first time the veterans office has been under fire. Remember Russell Fitch? The town gave him the boot just a few years ago after numerous complaints. Coppenrath replaced him with hopes that a new era would be ushered in for veterans services in Clinton. Looks like controversy has returned to the office anyway.
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Being a veteran myself, and relying upon veterans services at this particular time, I thank my lucky stars that I am in Lancaster. My local veterans services experience has been nothing short of excellent. Michele Marino has shown a level of knowledge and understanding that is rarely found within in the V.A healthcare system. If only the rest of the people in the system would take such pride in a job well done, all of our veterans would recieve better treatment.
When my father in-law, who is a Vietnam Vet, went in for surgery this past October he had me contact the Veterans Rep here in Lancaster. After contacting the Town Hall here in Lancaster I was given Michele Marino’s phone number. Ms. Marino returned my call promptly and I explained his situation and as well as the assistance he was in need of. By the time he was released from the hospital she had already set the ball in motion for him. All he needed to do was to sign all the required paperwork. She even offered to meet with him outside of the office if needed due to his inability to climb stairs since his surgery. I found she presented her self in a professional manner and was very caring to the situation that had been presented to my father in-law. Here it is now mid March and she is still working with him getting him the help and services he is in need of.
If the article is correct in quoting Mr. Coppenrath in stating, “Marino never should have considered herself as an employee of the town of Clinton as she was working as part of a work/study program that ended once she withdrew from school.” Then why does he also state, “If someone is bringing complaints about me to Michelle she should bring it to my attention first. That’s what a truly loyal employee would have done, but she doesn’t see herself as an employee of Clinton, she sees herself as an employee of the Veteran Affairs Office.” Which is it Mr. Coppenrath? Was she on work study or was she an employee of the town? You can’t have it both ways!
The article on the matter states Mr. Pasquale of the Clinton BOS states, “Obviously, there is a problem with the person in that office and maybe we have to restructure that office. She is going to have to move because of her disruptiveness.” If this is true and that was the base the Clinton BOS used for removing her from the Clinton Offices why can the same not be said by the offices in Lancaster as well as Berlin where she assists Vets as well? Maybe they should look at Mr. Coppenrath?
It truly appears that is bureaucracy at its finest. Shame on the Clinton BOS for making their decision based upon only hearing one side of the case. The town of Clinton has truly lost a valuable asset to there Veterans who deserve our undying gratitude for all the sacrifices they made to protect our way of life!
All though I am not a resident of the Town of Clinton, I am a Vet. I am a resident of Lancaster and have personally received assistance from Michele Marino. I have found her to be very professional. She will contact me about every other week or so to make sure I am doing well and to see if I am in need of anything as well as if I leave her a message she will call back in a timely manner.
I have personally witnessed an incident involving Mr. Coppenrath. Last November I had gone to the Clinton town hall to meet with Ms. Marino where and personally saw Mr. Coppenrath become belligerent towards her about getting her stuff out of his office and she was not to use his office. She I met in the hallway of the town hall as well as the front steps. On our way out of the town hall Mr Coppenrath was on his way in, when the incident as stated above happened. After he had walked away she apologized for the incident, which was not her fault. To degrade and belittle someone in front of others in unnecessary and childish.
After returning home with the matter still fresh on my mind I wrote a letter to the Clinton Board of Selectman explaining to them about the incident as well as my feeling on how Mr. Coppenrath was unprofessional. I brought copies of my letters down to the Clinton Board of Selectman’s office where I personally hand delivered the letter to Mr. Pasquale and spoke to him about the incident. Obviously my complaint fell upon the deaf ears of the Clinton Selectman.
I agree with Mr. Owens and thank him for voicing his opinion as a non-veteran. He is right in stating the Clinton Board of Selectman need to take a better look at the issue. All I have to say is Mr. Pasquale you say you have no control over the office. Well maybe its time to step up as a Board of Elected officials and take charge! By just casting off someone who is a asset to us Veterans is just sweeping the issue under the carpet and not resolving it.
I have sat and mulled over how I could defend myself against Mr. Coppenrath’s allegations as eloquently as possible. I have come to the conclusion that the only way to tell my side is by being strait forward and to the point. I will state the quotes from the article that MOST bothered me and answer them. Hopefully my answers will help determine whether I am a whistle blower or a disgruntled employee
“This is all coming about because of a disgruntled lady because she was asked to leave this office.”
“This” has been coming about for a long time, and not by me. “This” came about because Veteran’s, their dependants, and other Veteran’s Agents continued to come to me with complaints about Mr. Coppenrath. I could no longer listen and not do anything with the complaints being brought to me.
As far as leaving the office, Mr. Coppenrath makes it look like the only reason that I left was because I was forced to. The truth is I was ready to leave the Clinton Veteran’s Office last summer. I did not follow through because I was asked by more than one member of the Board of Selectmen not to.
“If someone is bringing complaints about me to Michelle she should bring it to my attention first.”
I DID! It was not only until Mr. Coppenrath proved to me that he was unwilling, or unable, to change his ways that I went to the officials of the Town of Clinton and informed them what was going on in the veterans office. Believe me when I tell you that I did not want to go to the town officials. I was very much afraid that I would be painted in the light in which Mr. Coppenrath has now painted me in.
“That’s what a truly loyal employee would have done, but she doesn’t see herself as an employee of Clinton”
I was never an employee of Mr. Coppenrath, or the Town of Clinton (and never claimed to be). I was and still am an employee of the Towns of Berlin, Bolton, and Lancaster. My loyalty belongs to them and to the veterans.
I take great umbrage with someone with three years part-time experience finding fault with me, who has 40 years of public service experience.”
1st- Mr. Coppenrath knows nothing of my past services, whether public or otherwise. 2nd- In my opinion, when you hold a public service position it does not matter whether you have one month of part time public service experience or 100 years of full time experience if you do not properly service those you are hired to serve (would my same opinions be of greater value if it were over a longer period of time? How long does it take to establish an opinion?)
On Nov. 1, Coppenrath met with selectmen in an executive session to address some concerns brought to the board that he was not keeping regular office hours and veterans were having difficulty reaching him.
I don’t understand why there was so much conversation about me if the executive session was held to address the office hours. I never did anything to affect Mr. Coppenrath’s attendance record. If anything I helped him because he would call me when he was going to be out of the office so I could cover for him.
Marino’s side of the story appeared to be absent during the executive session on Nov. 1 and selectmen agreed that the best course of action would be to remove her from the office since she was not helping any veterans from Clinton.
I cannot place the blame of my removal from the Clinton Veteran’s Office solely on the BOS. They made their decision based on Mr. Coppenrath’s side of the story and his request. They were informed by Mr. Coppenrath that I had not helped any Clinton Veterans and I was of no benefit to the office. I can say that I might have made the same decision if in their shoes. BUT I can wholeheartedly say that was a false statement by Mr. Coppenrath, and I believe that any Clinton resident that came into that office while I was there would agree.
In Mr. Coppenraths defense; I have been told by two people that since all of this has happened (November) and he has been under the microscope, he has been trying harder. Hopefully he will continue to improve and the veterans will be serviced properly.
In closing, I would like to thank all those that have supported me during this trying time. I love my job and I will continue to provide veterans and their dependants with the professionalism and respect that they deserve for as long as I am able.