Stretch Energy denied by small quorum of voters

Date: 5/17/2011

May 16, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — Voters decided that the Stretch Energy Code would stretch residents' and contractors' dollars too thin and elected not to adopt the voluntary building code.

With slightly more than 100 registered voters present, barely enough for a quorum, Article 21 was voted down by a majority vote after a lengthy debate between those in favor of the code and those opposed to the proposal, which would attach certain requirements to new residential construction to improve the energy efficiency.

Those who spoke in opposition of the article cited added costs of somewhere between $3,000 and $10,000 that builders would have to incur and pass on to their customers as the major reason to vote, "No."

"I am fearful that homeowners will hesitate because of the cost of renovating their homes and they will step back and let them deteriorate," Selectman Robert Barkett said.

Selectman Paul Santaniello also spoke against the article, stating that the proposal was never discussed in a public forum and "needs to be further vetted to the community" so the town is more informed.

Resident Andrea Chasen spoke in favor of the measure, pointing out that the code is necessary to become a green community and benefit from state monies associated with that program.

"We have three articles on this warrant that are asking us to use our money to improve community property," she said. "Those could potentially be eligible for green funds."

Chasen drew a parallel between Longmeadow, which proposed in Article 9 to use town money to repair the heating system at the Center School, and Winchester, which received a $151,000 grant to repair its middle school's heating and cooling system.

Resident Lawrence Starr objected to the idea of government pushing regulations upon the townspeople that may or may not be beneficial while driving up costs.

"If this is as good as they say it is and if people can afford, they will do it," he said. "They have to be able to make a choice for themselves. We don't need the government telling us how to build."

To that point, Selectman Mark Gold replied, "The government already tells us how to build our houses. Now we're just asking to use different rules."

Longmeadow joined Agawam and East Longmeadow on the list of Pioneer Valley communities that recently rejected the code. Southwick recently opted not to pursue the measure at all.

Monson, Palmer, Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and Easthampton are among the Valley's communities to have adopted the code.

Voters also voted down Article 22, which would have allowed the town to vote whether or not to repeal the Community Preservation Act (CPA) at the June 7 town election.

"I really don't understand why this is on the warrant," Community Preservation Committee Chairperson William Hoff said. "The CPA has offered great benefit at minimal cost to the town. Almost $2 million has gone to community preservation projects and $550,000 of that has come from the state."

Hoff went on to list a number of projects that have been supported by CPA funding and stated, "All these things otherwise would have been through capital spending and some would have never been done."

The proposed balanced budget of $54.2 million was also approved.