Stretch Energy Code, televised meetings up to voters May 10

Date: 4/18/2011

April 18, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — Adoption of the Stretch Energy Code will be one of the 26 warrant articles voted upon at the Annual Town Meeting on May 10.

While Stretch Energy has been a topic that has been met with stern opposition — East Longmeadow and Agawam recently voted not to adopt the code — Selectman Mark Gold said Longmeadow's situation is different than other communities.

"I know that in other communities the opposition came from some in the building trade, specifically contractors. The argument was that new construction costs in towns with Stretch Energy increases their expenses 1 to 2 percent and when you're talking about building a $350,000 house, that's real dollars. It's a reasonable objection," Gold said. "[Longmeadow] is about 99.9 percent built out. We're not going to see a lot of new construction, with the exception of a couple of houses here or there."

He added that some in the building industry might raise objections that government should not dictate the manner in which a company sets its standards, but used the auto industry to draw a comparison.

"There was a time when seatbelts weren't considered standard equipment on a car. Now it's required by law," Gold said. "At some point government needs to give industry an incentive and make it a level playing field."

Gold said in the next couple of years, every municipality in the state will be required to abide by the new building codes and it behooves the town to adopt the changes before it becomes a requirement.

"[Adopting Stretch Energy] puts us at the forefront of where building codes are going," he said. "We want to be leaders, not followers."

Along with the benefit of being on the cutting edge is the additional perk of being that much closer to becoming a "green community." If it became a green community, Longmeadow would be eligible for green energy grants.

"I'm not arguing for doing this for the grant. It's a nice benefit, but it's not the driving force," Gold said. "It's the right thing to do. I think in some circumstances government can dictate some measure of social policy. We're already acting as an example of that. The new high school that's being built will meet the requirements of the Stretch Energy Code."

Selectman Paul Santaniello is also vocal about his position on a specific warrant article, which would require the meeting of town boards and committees to be broadcast on Longmeadow Community Access Television.

Santaniello said at a Feb. 23 meeting that he has talked to officials from other towns that have televised meetings, including East Longmeadow Selectman Jack Villamaino, who said it has had led to better transparency and a greater understanding by residents of how the town's government works.

The town will also be asked to approve the proposed fiscal year 2012 municipal budget of $54.2 million, which has been approved by the Select Board and recommended by the Finance Committee.

Article 9 of the warrant calls for the approval of several capital improvement projects.

Funding for endeavors within the Capital Stabilization Fund include the repair and replacement of the steps at Glenbrook Middle School, floor replacement and asbestos abatement at Williams School, pavement repair at both schools, repairs to the Reynolds pool at Bliss Park, as well as some of the funding for the update to Center School heating controls. Funds being used for these projects, which total $203,529, are available to the town because several past capital projects finished under budget.

The additional $45,855 needed to update the Center School heating system is proposed to come from left over money that was borrowed to complete capital projects in 2008.

Lastly, the article proposes to transfer $650,000 in tax income for next year to fund the resurfacing of the Blinn Tennis Courts and upgrade a town fire truck — a combined cost of $115,000 — and replenish the Capital Stabilization Fund with $535,000.

A bylaw amendment is also on the warrant, which, if passed, would allow the town to prohibit parking on narrow streets in the case of severe snow or ice if it is decided there is not a passable lane through which emergency vehicles can safely pass. The town will have the right to tow vehicles should motorists not comply.

The town will also be asked to authorize the borrowing of $534,000 for the purposes of repairing the drainage systems off Ely Way and Englewood Road, whose failures have resulted in erosion and damage of private property. In addition to repairing the drains, the funds would allow for the build up of those areas, as the continued erosion could cause residential damages.

Complete warrant booklets are being delivered to residents by Reminder Publications on April 25 and are also available at Town Hall.