HATFIELD — Luke Longstreeth, a lifelong resident who runs a Hadley landscaping and property management business and offered to bring the perspective of a younger generation to town politics, narrowly earned a seat on the Select Board over incumbent Diana Szynal, who was completing a second six-year stint on the board, according to unofficial town election results Tuesday night.

Longstreeth, of Pantry Road, defeated Szynal, of Straits Road, the board’s chairwoman, 403-385, in the only contested election on the ballot.

“I’m very thankful to be elected and thankful for all residents who supported me,” Longstreeth said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “I hope to be a new voice for the town and enact positive change.”

While already tapped into town affairs and the pulse of the community, one of his first objectives will be to meet with all town employees to get their opinions and insights into the workings of the town government “for what needs to be improved, but also what is working well.”

Longstreeth said he is always listening to residents to understand their needs, and paid close attention to the frustrations with the length and hassles of the sewer and water extension on Routes 5 & 10. Being a member of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, he also wants to make sure the vision outlined in its report is completed.

Szynal, president and CEO of the Springfield Regional Chamber, said a lot has been done by the Select Board in the past six years, five of which she served as chairwoman.

“I’m so proud of the work I’ve done for the town of Hatfield,” Szynal said. “I will certainly miss it, as the work felt very important to me.”

That includes navigating through the COVID pandemic, responsibly using COVID money and dealing with the challenges of the Routes 5 & 10 project, with no extra cost to the town despite the delays, and which will enhance development to support the tax base. She also cites the hiring of Andrew Levine as town administrator last year.

“Thank you to the residents of Hatfield who supported me and do great things,” Szynal said, adding her recognition to employees and volunteers for making Hatfield a “great little town.”

Szynal is still serving on the Hatfield Housing Authority “All of the work I do, whether for Hatfield or the chamber, is community service based,” Szynal said.

Longstreeth is co-owner of Four Seasons Property Management, oversees Mountainside Maple Farm, Hatfield’s first sugaring operation and is a fire captain and member of the Conservation Commission. He said Levine has signed him up to participate in a networking session with other newly elected officials across the state.

Longstreeth also offered appreciation for Szynal and hopes she will be able to offer him some guidance, with his first Select Board meeting on May 27. “Thank you to Diana Szynal for all the years on the board and all the accomplishments over that time,” Longstreeth said.

Override questions

The ballot also featured two Proposition 2½ override questions. While a $480,200 general override for around-the-clock fire and ambulance coverage failed 526 to 259, with that spending also defeated at annual Town Meeting last week, voters, by a 410-371 vote, approved a $3.37 million debt-exclusion to cover the costs of roof repairs and boilers at Hatfield Elementary School and paving at that school and Smith Academy.

The repairs, which are consider critical and were recommended by the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, will add about $165 more per year to the average residential tax bill for the first 15 years of the borrowing. About half of the $1.67 million is for the replacing the roof at the elementary school, which if failed would cause extended closures of the building and costs associated with mold remediation.

While the town had tried to get on the state school building committee’s accelerated repair program, that didn’t happen.

Before election results were known, both Select Board candidates were on the sidewalk in front of Smith Academy Park throughout the day, staying the required distance from Memorial Town Hall, the town’s only polling location, holding signs and greeting voters from 7 a.m. to almost 8 p.m., when the chill in the spring air prompted them to head inside to wait for the results to be announced by Town Clerk Alaina E. Wilcox.

The 798 voters represented 29% of the 2,750 voters. Wilcox said turnout was good for a town election, with a relatively constant flow of voters throughout the day.

Other results

Incumbents who won reelection in uncontested races included Adam C.T. Sullivan of Main Street for a three-year position on the School Committee; Stephanie E. Slysz of Straits Road for a three-year position on the Planning Board; Stanley J. Pitchko of Prospect Street for a three-year term on the Board of Assessors; Robert Flaherty Jr. of Primrose Path for a three-year term on the Cemetery Commission; and Kathleen A. Sheehan of Chestnut Street for a three-year term as library trustee.

Newcomers include Kerry E. Flaherty of Primrose Path for a five-year position on the Hatfield Housing Authority; Susan M. Slysz of Main Street for a three-year term on the Hatfield Housing Authority; William J. Shea of Main Street for a three-year term on the Board of Health; and Wilcox, of Nolan Circle, for a one-year term as elector under the Oliver Smith Will.

No one pulled papers for a five-year term on the Hatfield Redevelopment Authority.

Scott Merrzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.