EAST LONGMEADOW — The East Longmeadow town election is happening on June 2 and the Town Council sees a three way race for one open seat.
Councilor Jonathan Torcia is up for reelection for a second term, but sees challengers in former Councilor Matthew Boucher and Carolyn Ferros.
Reminder Publishing: What are the most important things the Town Council should tackle in the next year?
Torcia: One of the most important things the Town Council will be considering is a proposed mixed-use town center district which is currently being reviewed by the Planning Board. This will tap into a key area of the community in the center of town to allow for mixed-use development, offering new business locations and market-rate housing spaces. We also will be further exploring municipal fiber which can be an opportunity to offer stronger internet access to the community.
Boucher: Over the next year, the town needs to finally pull the mixed-use center district across the finish line. This has been discussed since my previous term on the council from 2022 to 2024, and it’s time we finally get it done – both to further develop an enjoyable space around the center of town and to increase property tax revenues, reducing the tax burden on homeowners.
Ferros: The most important thing the Town Council should tackle in the next year would be to find common sense ways to increase revenue to slow the economic downturn that East Longmeadow and so many other communities are facing. We are at risk of needing to continue to eliminate teachers and staff from our schools and we need to find ways to combat that.
RP: Is there anything that you could add to the discussion and planning of the town center mixed-use district?
Torcia: The Town Council recently voted to send the proposed mixed use district by-law to the Planning Board and it’s important to have a thoughtful conversation that ensures we are getting a bylaw that has strong consensus. Any district should be developed so that we are cognizant of traffic and safety issues, other communities have begun developing similar districts. I’m excited about the new projects already beginning such as an expanded Frigo’s Marketplace on Shaker Road.
Boucher: The discussion and planning for the mixed-use district around the center of town needs to be locally controlled and aware of the impacts it will have on the residents already living there. I support the Town Council’s rejection of state-directed development through 40R. The upcoming development at 95 Shaker Road – including a 5,000 sq. ft. Frigo’s, a bank on the second floor and four to six condos on the third floor – should be our model for what “mixed-use” and “increased density” look like around the center of town. I also love the Pafumi’s development off Main Street in Wilbraham, which includes a restaurant, liquor store and several housing units, all wrapped up in a classic New England aesthetic. East Longmeadow needs to redevelop its center to improve quality of life and increase revenue while retaining the town’s small-town feel. Additionally, all industrial zones around the center should be rezoned – nobody wants their new condo overlooking a dump. I think the “market-rate” mixed-use proposal currently making its way through the Town Council and Planning Board is a good start.
Ferros: I am passionate about the Center Town District, which is why I sat on the Steering Committee. I helped with the mapping of the proposed Center Town District and feel that the work we did on the Steering Committee was important to encourage community involvement. I’m excited that the discussion is continuing and hope to be a part of seeing it come to fruition. I have a background in real estate so I have seen what is possible in surrounding communities and how we could implement those same ideas here in East Longmeadow. A mixed-use district would encourage small businesses to open up here instead of neighboring towns.
RP: Is there anything in the town that you think could use the most improvement?
Torcia: We must continue to push as a Town Council on updating our critical infrastructure, the council is currently planning as part of our annual budget to target a few key roads for repair. Knowing we had a challenging winter this past year, I would advocate for continued road funds. We also have some important questions and oversight we must look closer at regarding water and updating the antiquated infrastructure that has impacted the quality of our water. The town should also continue to look for grant opportunities that exist at the state and federal levels.
Boucher: The biggest issue needing immediate improvement is East Longmeadow’s relationship with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Right now, our residents are effectively treated like bystanders. We are expected to pay the bills for a regional system while having absolutely no say in how it is governed. We are seeing constant rate increases – such as the proposed 7.5% hike for 2027 to cover management failures like the delays and PCB contamination at the West Parish Water Treatment Plant – yet we are left in the dark regarding operations and long-term financial risk. We deserve clean water, competent management and protection from preventable financial harm. The town needs to stop accepting these costs as inevitable and start using every tool available to protect our ratepayers. This starts with actively backing state legislation, like the bill filed by state Rep. Aaron Saunders (H. 2330) and amendments 38 and 42 of Senate Bill 3050 proposed by state Sen. Jacob Oliveira, now reprinted as S. 3064, to restructure the commission and ensure we finally have a seat at the table. East Longmeadow contributes significantly to this system, and it is past time we had meaningful representation so we can hold the commission accountable to our residents rather than just the interests of Springfield.
Ferros: I believe communication and transparency could be improved. We have a large population and the majority of them don’t know what’s happening until it’s already happened and someone posts it on one of the dozens of social media forums. There is a level of responsibility on the individual, however, finding the information is no easy task. When I listen to people throughout the community I hear their concerns that they don’t feel they are being heard and they don’t feel included in what’s going on in town.
RP: What is your long-term vision for the town over the next few years?
Torcia: I want to continue to ensure our community keeps its small town character, while advocating for responsible growth in our vacant or dilapidated properties. We must also continue to collaborate with our town departments on making our budgets more efficient while speaking as a unified voice to advocate for more unrestricted local state aid which has been lacking in recent years.
Boucher: My long-term vision is built on resident engagement and practical, community-centered development. First, we need to end the practice of ambiguous town surveys and commit to full transparency. I feel like every six months the town publishes some type of survey asking residents what type of “mixed-use” development or “density” they prefer, and then there’s no follow-up. I can only assume the answers from the public do not align with the desires of the Planning Department, so a similar form is advertised six months later. When the town asks for feedback, we should publish the raw data and response numbers so we know exactly what our neighbors want, rather than relying on skewed sample sizes to justify pre-determined outcomes. Governance should be transparent, representative and honest. Physically, I see the future of our town’s vibrancy centered on Shaker Road. While preserving the character of our residential corridors like North Main, Pleasant and Elm Streets, we should focus infrastructure investment on making Shaker Road a truly walkable, connected district. This means prioritizing improved sidewalks and proactive partnerships with building owners to attract profitable, local-serving businesses that keep our economy in town. Finally, we must restore our community assets to the standard our volunteers built. Heritage Park was created through the hard work and dedication of our residents, and we cannot let it continue to slip into disrepair. We need to foster a town that is a place where families have enjoyable, safe places to spend time.
Ferros: I want to expand our commercial tax base by encouraging small businesses to come to East Longmeadow while maintaining our small town feel. A broader commercial base will help to alleviate the tax burden on the single property homeowner. My long-term vision would be a robust walkable community with all the things we need right here in our own town to encourage people to stay local.
Q: Why do you think East Longmeadow residents should vote for you?
Torcia: I think residents should consider reelecting me because I have demonstrated in my involvement on the council, Planning Board and other areas I can work with all types of individuals to accomplish a shared set of goals. I’m proud to be supported by all my fellow Town Council colleagues and I have maintained a strong working relationship with each of them. Every vote and action that I have had the honor of being a part of in the last three years I have always had the interests of the entire community in mind. I want to continue to bring a professional and experienced perspective to the Town Council. I humbly ask the residents of East Longmeadow for their vote and continued support on June 2.
Boucher: I am a former Councilor, having served on East Longmeadow’s Town Council from 2022 to 2024. In 2022, I ran on supporting the new high school project and education funding, and I was pleased to see voters overwhelmingly support the new high school in 2023. During my time on the council, I was part of implementing two level-service budgets, hiring our town manager, Tom Christensen, and supporting the high school project where I could. I decided not to run for re-election in 2024 as I felt my job was done with the passing of the high school project, and the realities of my job at the time made it difficult to commit the necessary time to the council. Additionally, I was unsure if I would be in the town long-term or purchasing a home here. I made a career transition to education in 2024 with a Tech Ed teacher role at Birchland Park Middle School right here in town. My position was terminated in the 2025–2026 school year budget cuts, and I now teach at Agawam High School. I love my job. In March 2026, I purchased a home in town, officially setting down roots. Buying a home in town solidified my decision to run for Town Council because I feel we need a collaborative, moderate voice that will help usher in the town’s next phase of development while shepherding the town through a difficult couple of years financially – with less money from the state than ever and increasing inflation. Please check out my campaign page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/matt4el and I would very much appreciate one of your two votes on June 2. Thank you!
Ferros: I have a proven record of working for the community and seeing what’s possible to continue to grow while holding on to what makes East Longmeadow a great community to live in. I ran the Vote Yes ELHS campaign for the new high school, scheduled to open this fall. I want to continue to work for all of the residents, from the students to the seniors.
