After the 2014 deaths of Jim Newman, Charles Vanderstaay, and Frank Carmichael --three key members of the Veterans Council -- the town board fell into a bit of disarray.

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Selectmen took the first steps to help the Council get back on its feet.

The Board of Selectmen, along with Attorney Richard Bowen, wrote up a new set of guidelines for the group, to be reviewed by the current group members.

The new guidelines call for a nine-member board appointed by Selectmen, consisting of one member from the American Legion Post; one member from the Onset VFW; one member being the veterans service officer; three members being honorably discharged veterans; three at-large members who don't have to be veterans and two non-voting associate members made up of one JROTC student and one student from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Selectmen Alan Slavin said the purpose of group is to advise Selectmen and the Town Administrator on events with patriotic significance, such as Veteran's Day, Flag Day, the services' birthdays and Memorial Day.

Veterans Council members Julio Roderick, Arthur Lee and Paul Geigle were on hand at the meeting to accept the new guidelines and give input to Selectmen.

"We're anxious to get it going," said Roderick.

"We're behind you 100 percent," said Selectman Judith Whiteside.