New South Hadley Select Board takes shape after voters reject overrides

SOUTH HADLEY — Priscilla Marion and Kevin Hennessey will serve as South Hadley’s newest Select Board members after winning the town’s annual election on Tuesday.

On the same ballot, voters overwhelmingly rejected plans for the South Hadley Electric Lighting Department’s $36.5 million headquarters in a nonbinding question, leaving the Municipal Light Board to consider whether to delay the project.

In the four-way Select Board race, Marion was the top vote-getter with 28%, followed by Hennessey at 26%, David King at 24% and incumbent Nicole Casolari at 22%.

The winning Select Board candidates both publicly opposed the $9 million and $11 million Proposition 2½ overrides that were also on the ballot Tuesday. Those measures were easily defeated.

Marion ran in hopes of bringing business back to town, while Hennessey’s main focus involves analyzing the municipal budget for extraneous administrative spending.

“I’m excited to get to work for the people of South Hadley, and I hope we can all come together and endure through this crisis,” Hennessey said.

Marion added she is ready to roll up her sleeves and collaborate with other town leaders on a budget plan “that addresses the needs of our schools and town, as well as the concerns of our residents.”

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Select Board,” she said. “Together, I am confident we can build a plan that moves our town forward.”

The newcomers will replace Casolari and nine-year member Andrea Miles on the board. Their first meeting will take place on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. for a quad board discussion. Select Board, School Committee, Appropriations Committee and Capital Planning Committee will gather at the Senior Center to plan out next steps in wake of the failed override vote.

SHELD headquarters

As for the other big question on the ballot, around 65% of voters said “no” to the nonbinding question regarding SHELD’s headquarters.

The results will not decide the future of the project, but Municipal Light Board Chair John Hine said it will be a factor up for discussion. The board will discuss the results at the next meeting.

“It’s a project that’s been going on for six to seven years,” Hine said. “We’ve invested $2 million up to this point in the process and getting to a point where we are presenting plans to the Planning Board and Conservation Commission. It’s not inconsequential to stop it.”

According to the conceptual floor plan on the SHELD website, the one-story building on Old Lyman Road would include approximately 10,000 square feet of office space for both the electric and broadband internet utility, called Fiberspring, a well as an 9,640-square-foot warehouse and 11,500-square-foot garage for trucks and equipment.

Ratepayers would see the biggest impact on their bills in the first 10 years of the 30-year loan. Based on an average electricity use of 700 kWh, the board estimates an increase of $13.89 in monthly bills. The total bill for 750 kWh with this increase would come to $147.21 a month, which is still below the average rate in the commonwealth at $153.16.

Regardless of the question results, Hine said the Municipal Light Board will continue working on the approval process with the Planning Board and Conservation Commission and on purchasing the land from Big Y. It has taken SHELD 14 years to find a suitable location, with the property on Old Lyman Road one of the few parcels that check all the boxes.

“You don’t want to let that opportunity go by,” Hine said.

The land purchase will not impact ratepayers, Hine said. Only when the board approves financing for construction would bills begin to increase. This would signal “the point of no return,” he said.

Delaying the project could increase costs down the road. Hine said that SHELD will need to bring on more staff to manage Longmeadow’s broadband build out if the town approves the project in May. The electric utility has already outgrown its space in South Hadley Falls and additional leased space on New Ludlow Road.

“People say it’s not a good time, but if we wait we’re going to pay more,” Hine said.