LONGMEADOW – The second evening of the 2017 Longmeadow Town Meeting may have been attended by fewer citizens, but the topics were often supported or criticized with the same vigor as those on the first night.

The article to allocate $250,000 to develop plans for a new Adult Center was passed. The warrant noted, “The effort to plan for a new Adult Center, which has been ongoing for more than three years, was significantly advanced by the Adult Center Building Committee (ACBC) in 2016 through a detailed site selection process. After receiving feedback from Town Meeting, the Select Board chose Greenwood Park as the preferred site for the Adult Center. This appropriation will continue the planning and design effort.”

The Finance Committee did not recommend the expenditure.

One proponent noted of the town’s 15,000-plus population, 4,667 people are 60 years of age or older, or 30 percent of population. There are an additional 2,577 people who are between the ages of 50-59.

One proponent declared the town was “about to experience a tsunami, a silver tsunami” as the population ages.

Another topic that created discussion was the creation of a Stormwater Enterprise Fund. It was described in the warrant as a means to “offset costs associated with a stormwater management program designed to promote the health and safety of the public, to protect property from flooding and the damage caused by stormwater runoff, and to protect and manage water quality by controlling the level of pollutants in stormwater runoff and the flow of water as conveyed by man-made and natural stormwater management systems and facilities.”

The fund was a reaction to the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems. The warrant noted, “The proposed fee would be $2.25 per month per house. A fee based on impervious area would also be assessed on nonresidential properties.”

Select Board Chair Marie Angelides explained the town is facing an unfunded liability of $200,000. The bylaw that creates the fund put the costs on all properties in the town, not just residences. For homes the fee would be $27 a year. Buildings with parking lots would have fees determined on the basis of how much impervious area they have with the top rate being $297 a month.

Town Manager Stephen Crane admitted in future years the fees could change, but if the bylaw passed additional policies would be implemented.

Resident Curt Freedman opposed the bylaw and said he would like to maintain the status quo. “I see no reason for this further government regulation,” he asserted and added, “I don’t want Big Brother out there with tape measurements looking at my drive way.”

Crane said that every residential property will pay the same and there will be no measurement.

The motion passed.

Voters also passed the article that “would allow the town to designate a place on its property or motor vehicle excise tax bills or mail with such bills a separate form whereby taxpayers may voluntarily check off, donate and pledge an amount of money, which shall increase the amount already due, for the purposes of providing support for veterans and their dependents in need of immediate assistance, or take any other action relative thereto.”

The warrant also noted, “This fund, under the direction of the Veteran Services Department, will enable the Town to act expeditiously when responding to immediate needs of veterans and their dependents. Expenditures from the fund can be made without further appropriation and will be only utilized to provide emergency food, transportation, heat and oil expenses.”

The article that would have banned honeybees and other domesticated farm animals from all but the town’s agricultural zone was handily defeated.  Resident James Mack sponsored the article in a response to his neighbors having three beehives at his house. He said he was “not being able to enjoy the outside of our home without being harassed by bees” and he called the hives “eyesore and a hazard.”

Bruce Colton, chair of the Planning Board, read a statement urging the defeat of the article. “Our current Zoning By-Laws allows cats and dogs in the residential zone. The keeping of domestic fowl and other domestic animals is allowed through a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Colton called the proposed ban to be “both overbroad and unnecessary.”

A proposal to require a valid photo ID in order to vote in town elections was also defeated.