Resident questions VA mentors, sovereignty and two reserved units in planned veterans housing

During the meeting’s open public-comment period, Henry Windsor, a 50‑year resident of Westfield, spoke about a planned 24-unit project at Crossway Place intended to house 22 homeless veterans. Windsor expressed concern that two units are reserved for "VA mentors," said he "avoids the VA like the plague," and argued that federal entities and their employees have sovereign-immunity protections that limit state or local legal remedies.

Windsor said he supports housing veterans but objected to the presence or control of VA mentors in a local project and suggested that state social workers or chaplains subject to New Jersey law could be used instead. His remarks were framed as personal opinion and public comment; no council action or staff response adopting policy changes on the project was recorded in the meeting minutes.

What was said (selected quotes): "I don't want VA in my home, in my town," Windsor said. He also stated he has "discussed the reasons with my congressmen, senators, etcetera." The mayor thanked Windsor for his service and the council closed the public-comment portion.

Context and limitations: Windsor asserted a legal interpretation (sovereign immunity under a 1950 doctrine he named) concerning federal actors; the meeting record contains his claim but does not include legal analysis, a staff response or a record of modification to the Crossway Place project. Council did not take any formal action on the subject during the meeting.

Source: On-the-record public comment by Henry Windsor at the Westfield Town Council meeting.