Benefits, IT to be top items at Oct. 26 Special Town Meeting

Date: 10/4/2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW At its Sept. 27 meeting, the Select Board set the warrant for the Special Town Meeting, scheduled for Oct. 26.

Among the articles on the warrant are two that would have a direct impact on town employees.

The first, according to Select Board vice-chair Rob Aseltine, is an initiative for better town-wide information technology (IT) funding.

"We feel that there are needs that have not been addressed when it comes to IT and communication services," Aseltine said. "This would provide better services both for our schools and for the town agencies."

Also on the agenda is the proposed creation of a benefit stabilization fund for the town.

This year, there were no increases in the cost of benefits, leaving a balance of $475,000 worth of funds the town, expecting an increase, had allocated for benefits. Should the proposal be passed, those monies would be placed in a fund that would help defray the cost of unforeseen increases in the coming years.

"We want to put money into a fund to smooth out increases in the cost of employee benefits," Aseltine said. "There have been years in which the increase was far more than anticipated. From 2001 to 2003, nationally, there were double-digit increases."

Items submitted for consideration to be put on the warrant, but were rejected by the board included energy initiatives, including changes to by-laws and the implementation of the Stretch Energy Code.

Stretch Energy has been hotly debated in Western Massachusetts. Recently, Agawam and East Longmeadow residents rejected the code, which would implement stricter construction requirements on new buildings or additions both residential and commercial with the intent of making 'greener,' more energy-efficient buildings.

Those in favor of the code have asserted that it, along with adjoining by-laws, would make towns eligible for state grants that can be used for a multitude of ways. Opponents have stated that the new building requirements are too costly for developers and contractors, as well as corporations, who will take their business or build their facilities elsewhere.

Springfield, Holyoke and Palmer are Hampden County towns that have adopted the code.

"We're open to that, but the problem is when you do changes like this, there's a vetting process, which includes doing more research and giving residents a chance to voice their opinions on it," Aseltine said. "With the Stretch Energy Code, we haven't done enough work that I, personally, feel like I could get up at a town meeting in support of it."

Aseltine added that the fact that fall town meetings are normally "sparsely attended" added to the decision to hold such energy issues off the warrant.

"Because the fall meetings historically are not well attended, we're always concerned about putting items on the agenda that should be presented to a large percentage of the town's residents," Aseltine said.