MARION — After weeks of discussion that culminated in a Tuesday, May 7 public hearing, the Marion Select Board voted to postpone a Town Meeting decision that could have had the town abandon the state’s Stretch Energy Code and Green Communities program.

The “Stretch Code” is a specialized and more strict building code that “emphasizes energy performance,” according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Following this code is a requirement of the state’s Green Communities act, a state program that gives grant money to municipalities to carry out projects that would help the conservation of energy.

At Tuesday’s meeting residents heard from Lisa Sullivan, a Green Communities Act regional coordinator.

According to Sullivan, 301 communities in Massachusetts are enforcing the Stretch Code. In 2023, Rochester became the first municipality in the state to join and then leave the Green Communities program.

Sullivan said that the base code changes every three years and the stretch code is supposed to be “stretched” beyond the base code.

According to Marion Energy Management Committee Chair Christian Ingerslev, the “Stretch Code” results in higher construction costs and could affect housing affordability.

“The [Town Meeting] article is confusing because it says it is about the stretch code, while its greatest effect will actually be [removing] Marion’s Green Community designation, making us ineligible to receive any more of their grants” said Energy Management Committee member Will Saltonstall.

According to Saltonstall, Marion has received $548,000 in grant funding since it became a Green Community in 2019.

Saltonstall added that becoming a Green Community has lowered Marion’s annual energy use by 24%.

On July 1, 2024, changes are coming to the stretch code. New homes will have to be more energy efficient and additions and renovations of over 1000 square feet or over 50% of the square footage of a home will also have to follow the Stretch Code, according to Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo.

At a Select Board meeting on April 2, Marion resident Todd Zelle said that he built a house within the past year, and was “appalled” by the cost of insulation he needed to meet current stretch code requirements.

“It is our job to let you know that [the updated stretch code] is not what we adopted in 2018,” said Select Board member Randy Parker. “That is part of the reason we are here tonight.”

After about an hour of discussion, Parker asked Town Administrator Geoff Gorman about the potential of pushing back the vote in order to allow the community to become more informed, drawing a round of applause from the residents in attendance.

Parker proposed that the town have a minimum of three public meetings “wrapped around” Sullivan and her team.

Marion’s annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 13 at 6:45 p.m. at Sippican School.