As part of the town’s efforts to increase revenue, the legislative body anointed the Old Firehouse Museum, Fred M. Smith Memorial Green and adjacent lot as the town’s first historical district by near unanimous approval.

“Establishing a local historic district will highlight this importance of the Falls in South Hadley’s history and ensure the integrity of these historical resources for future generations,” said Melissa Taylor, chair of the Historic District Study Committee.

The historic district has been years in the making, with efforts dating back to 2013. Initially, the district included some private properties along North Main Street, but residents pushed back against increased regulations on their homes.

“Our work has been considerably easier, because it is a district with no residents,” Taylor said.

Eventually, the Historic District Study Committee decided to focus on protecting a key piece of property in the falls, the 1889 Fire House that has served as a fire station, town hall, meeting space and museum since its construction.

“I live right down the street from this,” Town Meeting member Adam Reid said. “This is a great resource that we have in our neighborhood. I think it’s a highlight of the area.”

Another longtime effort — nearly 12 years according to Brezinsky — to create an affordable housing trust finally reached its conclusion on Wednesday. The trust is a seven-member committee that can acquire property, lease land and gather funds for the purpose of building affordable housing in town.

“I think we need all options to really increase the affordable housing in town,” Town Meeting member Naomi Darling said. “We’re 312 units short of what the town needs to meet the state requirement for 10%. That’s a lot, and so really, we need all options on the table.”

Town Meeting joined several neighboring communities in the Pioneer Valley by approving a “Welcoming Community Ordinance,” which declares town officials cannot give differential treatment or deny services based on the immigration status of any resident or visitor in South Hadley.

It also prohibits town officials, including the police, from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a signed judicial warrant.

Human Rights Commission member Gena Lomelin said the ordinance codifies every person’s right to due process into the town’s bylaws.

“Due process is a constitutional right. It does not just apply to citizens. If you read the Constitution, it says all persons,” Town Meeting member Richard Constant said. “I think they (South Hadley police) should not be put in position when they’re collaborating to take away people’s constitutional rights.”

Gundersen explained that one of first policies she wrote when she became chief discussed procedures for interacting with undocumented persons. The policy, she said, affirms that police officers are not immigration officers because it goes against the department’s mission of safety in South Hadley.

“What keeps the South Hadley community safe is people feel comfortable coming to us if they’re victims or suspects or witnesses to crime and disorder,” she said. “If they feel that we will ask them immigration status, they would not be forthcoming with us, and perhaps they would be subject to further discrimination.”

Gundersen admitted that the language of the ordinance “prohibiting” officers from communicating with federal law enforcement agencies does concern her.

Another Town Meeting member, Philip Sanford, added that Mount Holyoke College’s sizable international student population shows that South Hadley has always been welcoming. He adds that this ordinance may persuade the federal government to withhold grant funding and government resources.

“I think that’s what makes this document really important, that we say that we are not willing to hand over our neighbors for money,” Select Board Chair Andrea Miles said.

In the spirit of improving safety in town, Town Meeting also voted to lower speed limits in thickly settled residential and commercial areas without posted speed signs. The number of crashes in South Hadley have increased even as crashes decrease statewide, Human Resource Director Chuck Romboletti said, so this bylaw will hopefully get cars to slow down.

To alleviate further staff cuts in the school department, $1.2 million in free cash was earmarked to bring special education transportation in house rather than contracting the service out. With special education costs rising between 5% to 10% each year, this has the potential to save $600,000 annually, or about 15 to 20 teaching positions, McLaughlin said.