EAST LONGMEADOW — It is election season in East Longmeadow. Three of the seven seats on the Town Council are on the ballot this year. Kathleen Hill, Anna Jones and Ralph Page are the incumbents seeking reelection, while Carolyn Ferros is hoping to win her first three-year term. Reminder Publishing reached out to each of the candidates ahead of the election on June 3.
Hill has been a longtime member of the council. “I have had the privilege of serving as a member of the council since its inception in 2016.”
While on the council, she was elected council president by her colleagues, and has served on the Financial Oversight Committee, on the Town Manager Evaluation Committee, as chair of the Licensing Committee and is currently the council’s representative on the ELPS School Building Committee. Of the Town Council, Hill said she is “proud to be a member of a body who prides itself on professionalism, civil decorum and united in its responsibility to legislate an annual budget and deliver the highest level of resources to its residents.”
During his two terms on the council, Page has also been the Town Council president. He said he pulls from his experience in other roles when making decisions. “I served on the Planning Board for five years, with the final year as chairman. This experience provided me with a solid foundation in municipal planning, which has been invaluable in my role on the Town Council. Throughout my tenure, I have been committed to transparent governance, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring that our community’s growth aligns with the needs and values of our residents.”
Jones is the most recent member of the council up for reelection, but has still taken a leadership role on the body. “I was elected to the Town Council in June of 2022 and took office that July. Last year, I was nominated by my fellow councilors as vice president of the council.”
As the candidate hoping to win one of the seats, Ferros said, “I’m running for East Longmeadow Town Council because I believe in the strength of community, the power of listening and the importance of taking meaningful action. I want to be a voice for the community — someone who listens, asks the right questions and works hard to represent the people of East Longmeadow with transparency, integrity and heart.”
Ferros has been active in town for a few years. She led an ad hoc committee that worked to convince voters to approve the debt override for the new high school and natatorium that will house the pool, which she said, “demanded strategic planning, effective communication and the ability to mobilize community support around a shared vision.” She said it demonstrated her “capacity to understand community needs, articulate a compelling case for change and work collaboratively.” Until earlier this year, she was also the chair of the Town Center District Steering Committee, which was charged by the council to create a mixed-use district in the area around the rotary.
“My candidacy for East Longmeadow Town Council is supported by my professional background of over two decades in the real estate industry and over 10 years as a small business owner,” Ferros said. Her “thriving” small business has provided her with “a deep understanding of property values, land use and the economic drivers that impact our local community.” She added, “I understand the challenges and opportunities facing our local businesses, which are a vital part of East Longmeadow’s economic health.”
Voting records are a vital part of any incumbent’s campaign. When Hill spoke about her accomplishments, she said, “As a member of the Financial Oversight Committee, I have helped to hone the budget process into one that regards first, the town’s reserves and capacity to spend, and second, marshaling those resources to fund needs over wants.” She has also supported the “a vibrant town-owned ambulance service” and membership in WESTCOMM, the regional emergency dispatch center.
Hill said she “take[s] pleasure” in the council’s role of creating long-term plans for the town, its assets and buildings, and recently, voted for the creation of a Capital Stabilization Fund, to pay for building upgrades. “It goes without saying as a retired teacher and middle school principal in East Longmeadow, that I am honored to serve on the school district’s School Building Committee. She expressed pride in this committee’s work on the “world class new high school,” which she called “the new gem in the crown of this town.”
To Jones, preserving East Longmeadow’s “unique character” has been “one of my highest priorities.” She said she was “privilege[d]” to support several body-worn cameras for police officers and the enactment of the state HERO Act, “which expanded property tax exemptions for our veterans,” as well as exemptions for seniors. Referencing the requirements under Massachusetts’ 40R housing, which was considered for the town center district, Jones said she had a hand in “successfully defending our community against state-mandated affordable housing requirements that would have compromised local control stands as another of my achievements.”
Page listed “public safety, fiscal responsibility, transparency and high-speed internet” as some of his proudest achievements. He, too, hailed the council’s support of police body-worn cameras and “proper resources for [the] fire and ambulance service.” He also mentioned the creation of a “succession planning for smooth leadership transitions.”
Page said, “We’ve also maintained a balanced budget while upgrading aging infrastructure and vehicle fleets” and improved “the future offering of fiber optic internet to our residents through our recently created Municipal Light Plant. Most recently, I was proud to support the HERO Act and senior exemption clauses, both passed with unanimous approval, to ensure we’re giving back to our veterans and providing much-needed relief to seniors in our community.”
Looking forward to the important issues facing East Longmeadow, the three incumbents share some priorities but also have differing perspectives.
Hill, Page and Jones each spoke about the need to manage the town’s “aging buildings and facilities,” as Hill put it.
Jones said, “We have several municipal and school buildings that are outdated and in need of repair. These repairs, in conjunction with the relentless weather-related road improvements that are needed, impact our entire community. Fortunately, the new high school is on budget and on time to welcome students and we have significant paving projects scheduled for FY26 and FY27 that will have a noticeable impact on our streets.”
Page said a focus on the buildings and infrastructure now will “ensure they meet the needs of our growing community.”
Jones said, “I believe that East Longmeadow is headed in the right direction.” She praised the collaboration between the council and the town manager. “However, with that, there are still many areas of improvement.” She noted that the forecast for next year’s budget looks as “extremely lean” as the one for this year, on which the council will soon vote. “Since economic growth has stalled, we need to devise a plan to make East Longmeadow an attractive place to house a business while maintaining our small-town feel,” Jones said.
For Hill, “The most important issue, by far, is maintaining the town’s financial health.” She said, “The town must remain conservative and prudent in its spending practices,” which she said have resulted in the town’s “favorable A++ long term bond rating.” These practices will prevent a Proposition 2½ override vote to raise taxes beyond what is generally allowed. “That avenue is a highly undesirable and ineffective way to manage expenses,” she said.
Hill said that the new Capital Stabilization Fund will help fund building projects in the future. A plan is needed to move all the town offices to their new home at 382 N. Main St. over the coming years. “Our Police Department building has outlived its useful life and outgrown the room to support current policing practices and requirements. A repurposed town hall could serve as an interim location while a permanent plan is designed. These examples underscore the imperative to maintain stable, safe, and up-to-date facilities.” Hill also cited affordable housing options, collaboration with the state regarding roadway improvements and “stay[ing] the course” on building a municipal fiber internet option as other issues facing the town.
From Page’s perspective, he said, “Rising costs in the school system, particularly in special education, require careful fiscal planning to maintain quality education without overburdening taxpayers.” He also noted, “We have a unique opportunity to create a vibrant and beautiful town center that enhances community life. It’s essential that the town retains control over how this area is developed, ensuring the scale, design, and density align with our long-term vision and reflect the values of East Longmeadow residents.”
Ferros is focused on increasing “transparent communication and growth,” and said, “There is a clear need for more open and consistent dialogue between town officials, residents, and local businesses. Many residents feel that decisions are made without sufficient input or understanding of community perspectives.” She recommended the “proactive dissemination of information through various channels, including a better web experience, email and text messaging and social media.”
Like Jones, Ferros said East Longmeadow is “experiencing development pressures” and needs “careful planning to preserve the town’s character and quality of life.” She said different housing types need to be balanced, with sufficient infrastructure to support any expansion of the population. “While economic development is important for the town’s vitality, it needs to be aligned with the community’s vision and values,” Ferros said, emphasizing the need for appropriate zoning.
