SWAMPSCOTT — The Select Board informally guaranteed members of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 1240 that it had no plans to sell the building on Pine Street that it leases from the town.
The pledge, made by chair Peter Spellios, appeared to allay fears on the part of members that the town was ready to sell the property and force them out.
A large portion of Wednesday night’s meeting at the high school was given over to public comment, which allows people in the town to comment on subjects not on the official agenda.
Member Donald Hause, responding to comments on social media about the status of the lease, invited those concerned to speak before the official meeting.
Because the issue was not on the agenda, the board could not take a formal vote. However, the four members present (Laura Spathanas was absent) were unanimous that not only did they want to keep the VFW at its current location, but wanted to partner with the group in efforts to make the post a center for a variety of social service and outreach activities geared toward helping veterans readjust to civilian life and to cope with their experiences in combat.
“The biggest investment to veterans we make in this town is that we provide, rent-free, space for them. We could be doing so much more,” said Spellios. “Speaking for myself, I am very willing to help find a larger solution. I’d like to see us partner with the group to find some real positive things that we can provide.
“It just can’t be centered around the bar,” Spellios said.
A large contingent of VFW members and supporters packed the second-floor room at Swampscott High School, alarmed, said commander Malcolm Maloon, about some of the things they’d been hearing about the town’s plans for the building.
“The VFW is not just the VFW,” Maloon said. “It’s the Disabled American Veterans. It’s the American Legion. It’s the Marine Corps League.
“We serve about 350-400 people,” Maloon said. “This is a place where veterans can go to talk about things that they did that they might not be particularly proud of. They can share some trying times.”
Maloon was concerned, he said, that with the lease up in two months, the VFW had not been given any indication from the town what direction it wanted to take with the property.
He was also upset that the VFW was the only private club in town where those using it had to give their names to the police.
That came about, Spellios said, because two years ago there was a traffic fatality in Peabody where the suspect was found to be intoxicated, at least some of his activities were traced to the club, and that he was a non-member.
As a result, the club had its liquor license suspended, and to get it back, it agreed to a memorandum of understanding that it would provide police with the names.
Other members expressed similar concerns.
“I have a military family,” said Scott Thibodeau. “If you look at the military families, and add them all up, you might find that is vast support in the town for the VFW. It isn’t just a few people.
“We need to have the VFW in town,” he said.
At one point during the discussion, developer Charlie Patsios, who put in a bid to purchase the property for a housing unit, suggested that the VFW could purchase the old police station, which is currently unused.
However, Roger Carroll, a former Swampscott resident who is still active with the VFW, simply said, “we have a home.”
Addressing questions by Carroll concerning Patsios’ bid, Spellios said “it was unsolicited, and the town took no action on it.”
At the end of the session, Spellios said it was his opinion that the board should continue to have conversations with the VFW that would “steer us into a new lease. We have no intention of doing anything with the property. But we need the (the VFW’s) help to find better ways for us to do more.”
