Rogers Hopes to Create Local Veterans Affairs Bureau
• Would Become Part of His Department on Chestnut Street
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Nutley's support for the military starts at a young age evidenced at last week's Memorial Day Parade with this contingent of the soldiers' fan club members at the Yantacaw Elementary School.
Jun 3, 2012 – Public Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers Tuesday night will ask his colleagues on the Board of Commissioners to create a "Military and Veteran's Affairs Bureau" as part of the Nutley Public Affairs Dept. The new bureau would focus on the needs of Nutley veterans on active duty as well as military reservists, all part of an initiative that Rogers says will involve "no additional costs to taxpayers."
He already has discussed his proposal with individual commissioners and expects his proposal to be adopted as "a Nutley Board of Commissioner's Initiative" at Tuesday's 7 p.m. session at Town Hall.
Once he gets the official okay to move ahead, "we are going to work on the nuts and bolts of this project over the summer and launch it on Veterans' Day in November."
The overall plans involve the participation of Nutley's professional, business, government religious and civic organizations.
"Over the years my colleagues have made great contributions to our veterans and now we are going to come together as a 'Band of Brothers' and pull our resources together for Nutley's military community," Rogers said today.
The newest member of the Board of Commissioners says that his colleagues at Town Hall have "bent over backwards to help me. And they can expect me to do the same for them."
Rogers also told NJHometown that over the summer months, he plans to personally return to every neighborhood I walked during my campaign and visit all l,990 veterans and their family members on behalf of the entire Board of Commissioners. I plan to deliver each of them a letter that I will ask my colleagues to sign thanking them for their service to our nation."
Commissioner Rogers, a retired Navy Commander, has a son who is a Marine combat veteran.
Rogers Plans Working 11-Hour Days
Weekdays at Chestnut St. Office
A week ago when NJHometown stopped by to eavesdrop on Commissioner Steve Roger's new Saturday morning invitation welcoming residents to stop by his office anytime between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, we witnessed the new Public Affairs Director's eagerness in responding to questions and suggestions offered by those took advantage of his invitation.
Rogers also surprised many by announcing that he plans to be working full-time at the Public Affairs Building on Chestnut Street.
"I expect to arrive daily no later than 9 a.m. and plan on usually leaving no later than 8 p.m."
On Sunday's, he says he'll take the day off.
Rogers says he has retired from his all his previous activities with the town. Except for his occasional appearances with CNN in New York, he plans to work 11-hour days during the week and four hour sessions on Saturday.
