HADLEY — An unusually high number of voters at the annual Town Meeting on Thursday to vote down a tiny house bylaw, as well as the Hooker School site for a new library.
Voters also overwhelmingly approved a budget with a $140,719 shortfall, which Select Board members promised they would address in the coming months.
“We’re asking for additional time to work on a five-year plan,” Select Board chairwoman Molly Keegan told voters, cautioning against any knee-jerk reactions. “Arbitrary cuts would be shortsighted and potentially harmful.”
Residents said during the meeting that tiny houses would not fit in with the agricultural and rural nature of the town.
“These are going to end up as student-stuffers,” said Planning Board member Joseph Zgrodnik.
Another Planning Board member, however, spoke in favor.
“I consider this a logical extension of the accessory apartments bylaw,” said William Dwyer, adding that the Planning Board has heard from residents hoping to turn backyard sheds and garages into residential space. “This is a need that has been expressed — I personally think this is a good idea and I will support it.”
Others brought up at how home ownership presents more difficulties in the years since the housing market crashed.
The bylaw was proposed by Sarah Hastings, a Mount Holyoke College alumna who has been living since last year in a tiny house on East Street. She will now be forced to move.
“It’s a tough thing for someone to be young these days and face home ownership,” said Hastings’ landlord, Ron Adams. “What she’s doing is not only green, she’s speaking for her people — people her age.”
“It’s the way of the future,” said Simon Brighenti, an attorney from West Springfield providing support for Hastings during Town Meeting. “I think there was a lot of support, but people just weren’t ready for it.”
The article failed 215-102, with 14 abstentions.
Dan Regish of the Municipal Building Committee said it’s time to stop putting money into the Hooker School building, citing lead, asbestos and deterioration among the reasons.
“The building committee has been over this time and time again,” said Regish. “We could build a new structure for much less than it would take to fix this — there comes a time when you just have to call it quits with certain structures not compatible with modern living.”
Select Board member Donald Pipczynski said that while he’s not against the library, he’s against putting it on the Hooker School property.
“They do have another bite at this apple,” said Pipczynski, referring to the trustees’ last opportunity to get Town Meeting approval in the fall before missing the grant deadline.
Planning Board member John Mieckowski said he wants a lot of things and a new library isn’t one of them.
“I want a boat and a new fishing pole but that ain’t gonna happen,” he said, adding that he can’t see spending town money on a library “I’ve never been to in my life and don’t plan to.”
The article failed 206-139 with 13 abstentions.
Jo-Ann Konieczny, chairwoman of the Goodwin Memorial Library Board of Trustees, said she wished moderator Brian West had allowed for more discussion before calling the vote.
“I feel a little unclear as to what the directive is,” said Konieczny following the vote, adding that she felt it was unfair the tiny house discussion was allowed to continue far longer than the library debate. “By calling it so quickly there was no opportunity to get a read on the town.”
Konieczny said given the lack of clarity on what the town wants, she’s unsure of next steps and so trustees will meet and discuss.
“It’s a little unfortunate — I’m disappointed,” said Caryn Perly, a library trustee. “But we’ll go back to the drawing board and hopefully find a site the town is happy with.”
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.