The Barrington Town Council approved a $10,000 budget for the newly-formed Charter Review Commission. 

Joy Hearn, the chair of the Commission, attended the Council meeting in early October and asked for $10,000. She said the money would be used for outreach — Hearn said the Commission wants to solicit input from the community. The money, she said, could be used for a town wide mailing, banners and advertising. The Commission may also conduct a survey of residents. 

The Charter Review Commission is tasked with reviewing the town’s charter — it defines the government structure under which the town operates — and recommending any changes it deems necessary. Residents would then need to vote through the proposed changes.

Hearn told the Council that the Commission did not have a specific expenditure but wanted the money in advance so members would not have to go back before the Council for approval once an idea surfaced. 

There had been some discussion that the Commission might also need funding to pay outside legal counsel, but that was dispelled. Barrington Town Council President Carl Kustell said he spoke with the town solicitor’s office and they would be made available to the Commission should it have any questions or need for legal advice. 

Council member Rob Humm said he supported the expenditure, adding that the town’s Board of Elections spent about $5,000 on an earlier mailer. Humm said that the more input from the community, the better the outcome. 

Councilor Kate Berard made a motion to approve the expenditure of up to $10,000 from the Town Council Contingency Fund. Humm seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

FTM review

According to a summary of the Commission’s first meeting, one of the key focus points for the Charter Review Commission will be exploring alternatives to the Financial Town Meeting format. 

The Commission is seeking information from other towns in Rhode Island that may have recently moved away from the FTM format, and asking whether or not that transition was successful. 

The members of the Charter Review Commission are Ken Block, Jeff Brenner, Lisa Daft, Joy Hearn, Allan Klepper, Sarah O'Brien, Daniel O'Mahony, Stephen Primiano, Thomas Rimoshytus, Cynthia Rosengard and Magnus Thorsson.