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Town snubs hero’s widow: Voters nix lifetime pension
By Jessica Heslam and Jennifer Rosinski
Thursday, November 4, 2004
Baffled family and friends of a volunteer firefighter killed in the line of duty vowed not to give up after Lancaster residents refused to pay a lifetime pension for his widow and three children.
``Our son lost his life serving a community and a large number of people in our community voted not to give benefits to his wife and children,'' Martin McNamara said of his namesake son. ``I'm disappointed.''
The younger Martin ``Marty'' McNamara, 31, died Nov. 29 in the basement of an apartment building blaze in Lancaster. His widow, Claire, gave birth to their third daughter five days after his death.
Supporters cried out and the fallen jake's stunned and speechless widow fled the community center where the votes were tallied Tuesday night after learning the town had rejected the ``McNamara Family Override.''
But the elder McNamara said the family still holds out hope that up to 35 provisional ballots left to be counted will overturn the defeat. The measure lost by a mere 18 votes, with 1,597 in favor and 1,615 opposed. Once those ballots are counted, McNamara said supporters will consider a recount.
``It's not right. We won't give up. We'll keep on fighting until we get this family what they deserve,'' said family friend Jim Buck.
The override's failure has some call firefighters thinking about stepping down, said the elder McNamara, whose daughters are married to call firefighters.
``I certainly wouldn't like to see my daughters in the position my daughter-in-law is in,'' he said. ``My daughters are doing a lot of reflection. My daughters are both saying, `You're done,' to their husbands and they are saying, `Yeah, maybe.' ''
Lancaster Selectman David Dunn was stunned by the voters' decision to abandon thefamily.
``I'm saddened. I just don't get it. I drove home with tears running down my cheeks, wondering how we could provide for this lady and three children,'' Dunn said.
McNamara, who lived in Clinton, was a volunteer with the Lancaster department who dreamed of becoming a full-time firefighter. Volunteer or call firefighters aren't eligible for death benefits or pensions.
The one-time, $650,000 override would have given McNamara and her young daughters an average of $30,000 a year and included health insurance.
It would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home a one-time payment of $300, town officials said. The McNamaras have received about $400,000 in government benefits, including about $265,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, $100,000 from the state Retirement Fund and a $30,000 insurance payment from Lancaster.
Lancaster has about 30 volunteer firefighters, more than half of them live out-of-town because the town can't recruit enough residents.
``How can you turn your back on the family of a fallen firefighter? It seems like complete disrespect for the risks that these young men take,'' said Buck.
By Jessica Heslam and Jennifer Rosinski
Thursday, November 4, 2004
Baffled family and friends of a volunteer firefighter killed in the line of duty vowed not to give up after Lancaster residents refused to pay a lifetime pension for his widow and three children.
``Our son lost his life serving a community and a large number of people in our community voted not to give benefits to his wife and children,'' Martin McNamara said of his namesake son. ``I'm disappointed.''
The younger Martin ``Marty'' McNamara, 31, died Nov. 29 in the basement of an apartment building blaze in Lancaster. His widow, Claire, gave birth to their third daughter five days after his death.
Supporters cried out and the fallen jake's stunned and speechless widow fled the community center where the votes were tallied Tuesday night after learning the town had rejected the ``McNamara Family Override.''
But the elder McNamara said the family still holds out hope that up to 35 provisional ballots left to be counted will overturn the defeat. The measure lost by a mere 18 votes, with 1,597 in favor and 1,615 opposed. Once those ballots are counted, McNamara said supporters will consider a recount.
``It's not right. We won't give up. We'll keep on fighting until we get this family what they deserve,'' said family friend Jim Buck.
The override's failure has some call firefighters thinking about stepping down, said the elder McNamara, whose daughters are married to call firefighters.
``I certainly wouldn't like to see my daughters in the position my daughter-in-law is in,'' he said. ``My daughters are doing a lot of reflection. My daughters are both saying, `You're done,' to their husbands and they are saying, `Yeah, maybe.' ''
Lancaster Selectman David Dunn was stunned by the voters' decision to abandon thefamily.
``I'm saddened. I just don't get it. I drove home with tears running down my cheeks, wondering how we could provide for this lady and three children,'' Dunn said.
McNamara, who lived in Clinton, was a volunteer with the Lancaster department who dreamed of becoming a full-time firefighter. Volunteer or call firefighters aren't eligible for death benefits or pensions.
The one-time, $650,000 override would have given McNamara and her young daughters an average of $30,000 a year and included health insurance.
It would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home a one-time payment of $300, town officials said. The McNamaras have received about $400,000 in government benefits, including about $265,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, $100,000 from the state Retirement Fund and a $30,000 insurance payment from Lancaster.
Lancaster has about 30 volunteer firefighters, more than half of them live out-of-town because the town can't recruit enough residents.
``How can you turn your back on the family of a fallen firefighter? It seems like complete disrespect for the risks that these young men take,'' said Buck.
