Carroll County veterans groups work to resolve alleged discrimination over board membership

The nonprofit Carroll County Veterans Independence Project in Westminster is accusing the Carroll County government’s Veterans Advisory Council of discrimination, because of a statement in its governing bylaws.

The Veterans Advisory Council, formed by the Board of Carroll County Commissioners in 2014, states in its bylaws that “council members may not serve as a board member of the Veterans Independence Project.”

“It’s discrimination against the Veterans Independence Project,” Executive Director Jason Sidock said. “There shouldn’t be discrimination against any organization that helps veterans.”

Sidock said his group has been asking the county to eliminate this statement from the bylaws for almost a year.

“It should come as little surprise that this language is discriminatory in its nature, and offensive that the Carroll County government would take such a blatant course of action against a veterans nonprofit organization,” David Ellin, attorney for the Veterans Independence Project, stated in an email to District 5 Commissioner Ed Rothstein.

The issue could finally be rectified next month.

Rothstein said in an interview Thursday, that the Veterans Advisory Council has agreed that the statement should be removed from its bylaws. The council met Tuesday and the issue was discussed.

But Rothstein said the issue will need to go before the Board of County Commissioners at a meeting in January for final approval.

“We are aware of this language and agree that it needs to be updated,” Rothstein stated in the email to Ellin.

He goes on to state that the addition of the language in the bylaws was on the recommendation of the Veterans Advisory Council and legal authorities. It was added to the bylaws when the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project was planning a formal separation from the Veterans Advisory Council to begin its pursuit of their own nonprofit, when a homeless shelter for veterans was under consideration.

“This language was not ill intended, but rather recommended from all parties as the best way to streamline the separation of the initially combined group,” Rothstein stated. “Bottom line is that we are very willing to work together with everyone in support of our veteran community.”

Rothstein is a veteran who served as garrison commander at Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County. In a military career spanning 31 years, he has served numerous deployments and at multiple duty stations.

Ellin was pleased to hear the news that commissioners will be taking up the issue.

“I have all the faith in the world with this new crop of commissioners, that they will do the right thing,” he said.

The mission of the Veterans Independence Project, which held its grand opening on June 14, 2021, is to advocate and assist veterans and their families in the county and surrounding areas, its website —https://carrollcountyvip.org — states. The group’s headquarters is at 95 Carroll St., Suite 104, in Westminster.

The independence project, which has four paid employees and about 50 volunteers, formed in September 2017, but it wasn’t until late 2020 when it found a location.

Its veteran services include the following.

The council operates in conjunction with the Carroll County Department of Citizen’s Services. Its mission is to evaluate, develop and promote new and existing programs and services for veterans and their families within Carroll County.

The council helps veterans and their families rapidly transition to civilian life in Carroll County and establish contact with active duty service members who intend to reside in the county and help them avoid transition problems such as unemployment and homelessness, as well as physical and mental health.

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