To the editor:

I would like to encourage Barrington voters to VOTE NO on the proposed $250 million bond issue on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Borrowing that amount of money in the current long term interest rate environment is about as smart as buying a vacant monastery without an appraisal or adaptive reuse feasibility study. What could the $3.2 million invested in 25 Watson Avenue have saved the Town or generated in income over the past two years?

Editorials in the Times as well as letters to the editor all agree the schools are not in good shape? How did they get this way? Who is minding the store? Why have necessary repairs and upgrades not been made over the course of time? Our elected officials and their professional staff have created this mess and the plans for correcting the errors seem to me to be tissue paper thin. (And what steps will be taken to ensure we are not in the same boat in another 25 or 30 years?) We need to our hold elected official more responsible for their actions. The School Committee voted 5-0 in favor of “Option 5.” Option 5 included a list of directives the first of which was to “Provide a list of cost-saving options for all schools and particularly the high school.” It seems to me that should be one of the first orders of business for any school committee and its hired professionals and not stated in a list of directives endorsing a multi-million-dollar bond drive. This kind of statement make me question the basic competency of this group to be entrusted with $250 million.

It has been about a quarter of a century since the last major renovation at the high school. Given the wear and tear on the property and the traditional inability of municipalities to maintain structures, it is probably wise to make the needed repairs and renovations to the high school. Come up with a definitive plan and costs and then bring a proposal to the Town for a vote.

As far as plans for the elementary schools (it was not long ago there was talk of demolishing both Nayatt and Sowams) I feel we need more concrete information and less pie in the sky before agreeing to plunge the Town into significant long-term debt.

As for the 55 percent payment by the state, remember there is no such thing as a “free lunch.” There will be restrictions on what can be spent and there will be inspection and disbursement fees associated with the funds. A deal that is too good to be true, usually is.

What about the post cards being sent by BuildRI promoting a yes vote on the bond issue. The mission statement for BuildRI is “is to promote local economic development initiatives in the construction industry in order to create business opportunities for local businesses and work opportunities for local skilled craftsmen and women in a competitive environment that is level and fair for all to compete and participate in.” They have the unmitigated chutzpah to refer to “our schools,” “our community’ and “our kids.” Their only skin in the game appears to be greed!

I have a question for the supporters of the bond issue. Can you name a Barrington student who was denied admission to a college or university of choice due to the physical condition of the Barrington public schools? 

Respectfully submitted,

Robert A. Ryan

Barrington