STATE REP. JOHN C. VELIS
WESTFIELD – State Rep. John C. Velis said the COVID-19 crisis at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke continues to affect families and staff and he is preparing to launch a legislative investigation.
“There’s a lot of pain and loss,” Velis said this week. “Sixty veterans have lost their lives recently and the overwhelming majority tested positive for the virus.”
The last report issued on April 20 included 62 deaths at the Home since late March, including 52 positive coronavirus-related deaths of residents, 89 positive COVID-19 tests for residents and 81 positive tests for staff at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke. On Monday, 11 veteran test results were pending.
As soon as the crisis became apparent in late March, Velis, who serves as the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, called for a legislative investigation into the situation.
“There are three previous investigations,” Velis said this week, “the governor’s, the attorney general’s and the United States’ attorney. It’s my strong opinion that the legislative investigation will be the most exhaustive.”
Velis said last year when there was a crisis at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the legislative investigation was the most in-depth of all investigations. He expects the same results with the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.
Velis said he plans to announce the launch of a legislative investigation soon, which he said will include a probe of the Home and its needs as well as the COVID-19 crisis.
“I want to know if the right steps were taken to mitigate this virus,” Velis said. “Were proper chains of command used and when people died, was it sent up the chain.”
Velis, who hosts office hours at the Home, said since Bennett Walsh became the superintendent three years ago, he has not asked for additional resources for the Home.
“Over the past three years there has not been a single financial or budget request from the administration on anything involving funding for the Holyoke Soldiers Home. Keep in mind, it is the Executive Branch that controls the operation of the home,” Velis said. “Furthermore, during the last three years any time members of the legislature asked the administration about resource and budget needs of the home invariably we were told there was none.”
Velis said he wants the legislative investigation to include the needs of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and look closely at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home as well to see if there are inequities in resources.
“Does the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home need more funding? Does it have adequate staffing? The former superintendent told us it had enough,” Velis said.
Now, Velis is not sure that is true and wants to make sure the Home can continue to serve veterans once this crisis is over. He said he wants to consider the future.
“Our woman veteran population is growing rapidly, and I want to see if we can meet their needs as well,” Velis said. “Do we have what they need at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, do we need to expand, these are things we need to explore.”
Velis said when leadership at the Home changed several years ago, “they said everything was good” but Velis said “a big part of getting to the bottom of this COVID crisis is whether there is enough funding, staffing and is the building adequate.”
Walsh was placed on paid administrative leave March 30 and Val Liptak, CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, took over operations of the Home.
