LONGMEADOW – Approximately 2,049 voters, which equates to 17.91 percent, turned out at the Town of Longmeadow’s annual town election on June 11, electing veteran Mark Gold and Marc Strange to the Select Board, along with five members to the school committee: Gianna Allentuck, Kevin Shea, Armand Wray, Susan Bell and Jamie Hensch.

Gold was re-elected to the Select Board, receiving 1,118 votes, with Strange receiving 1,185 votes. The two beat out opponents William Low, who received 737 votes, and Jeffrey Mueller, who received 274 votes. Gold, a member of the Longmeadow Select Board since 2009, has 34 years of experience working for a private sector corporation, as well as 10 years of prior experience on the Longmeadow Capital Planning Committee. Strange, director of Planning and Development for the Town of Agawam, is also an attorney, which he told Reminder Publishing will assist in providing informed opinions on state and local regulations.

Prior to the elections, the sitting School Committee included Allentuck, Shea, Wray, Bell, and Hensch. At the election, the aforementioned five candidates went up against each other along with William Timothy Mitchell and Kevin Ryczek. In the end, the original five prevailed, with Allentuck at 1,169 votes, Shea with 1,217 votes, Wray with 1,238 votes, Bell with 1,306 votes and Hensch with 1,094 votes. Mitchell received 593 votes, and Ryczek, 492 votes. Allentuck, Shea, and Wray will serve one-year terms, and Bell and Hensch will serve three.

Question one on the ballot asked, “Shall the Town of Longmeadow be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one half so–called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issue in order to make improvements to the Wolf Swamp fields and parking area?” Residents approved this question, with 1,168 yes votes, and 791 no votes.

Question two on the ballot called on the Town to see if Longmeadow should consider “exercising its rights under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 61B for first right of refusal relative to Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s agreement to purchase an easement over four parcels of land currently zoned for recreational use. This pursuit of 61B rights will not guarantee the use of the land for open space.” The explanation for the article explains that this is a non-binding question related to Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s plan to procure an easement on four parcels of land from Longmeadow Country Club. Ultimately, residents approved this question, with 1,270 yes votes, and 693 no votes.