Wellesley may merge veterans services with 3 towns

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

Wellesley is considering consolidating its veterans services with three other towns into one regional district, town officials said at the Board of Selectmen's meeting Monday.

Wellesley, Needham, Weston, and Dover are considering merging their veterans services offices, with Wellesley becoming the administrative hub for the four towns. The veterans service director would have office hours in the other towns.

The veterans service agents in Wellesley and Needham are retiring, and the timing seems appropriate to form a regional district, said Christopher Ketchen, deputy director of the town.

“This is a plan that is in development and we are very much on our way to creating a consolidated department. It's something the Secretary of Veterans Affairs was very supportive of,” said Ketchen.

Approval for the consolidation would need to come from all Board of Selectmen from the participating towns.