Six days before people head to the polls to vote in a Democratic Primary for Barrington Town Council, the four candidates offered their thoughts on all sorts of issues.

At a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island and moderated by Scott Pickering of the East Bay Media Group, the four Democrats — Jordan Jancosek, Kerry O’Neill, Anthony Arico and Liana Cassar — answered questions about synthetic turf fields, climate change, the $250 million school construction project, and even the town’s identity. 

Following are summaries of the responses from the candidates:

Question 1 — In your opinion, does Barrington have an identity? If so, what it is? And how would knowing or recognizing that identity influence your actions as a Town Councilor?

• Jordan — Jancosek told the crowd of about 50 residents inside the Barrington Library auditorium that when she and her husband began looking for a town that would be a good place to start their family, Barrington was their first choice. Jancosek said Barrington is a place for families, for young families. But, she added, Barrington can do more to foster intergenerational living. She called for reimagining public spaces that will be accessible to all, including seniors and very young children.

• Kerry — O’Neill said he has been walking all over town to meet residents and introduce himself, and he has come to understand that Barrington is more diverse than most people realize. O’Neill said he wants the town to embrace that diversity. He also wants to see better access to resources (East Bay Bike Path, local streets and sidewalks, the shoreline) for people of all abilities.

• Tony — Arico said Barrington has the best schools in the state, and also has great neighborhoods, great beaches, and great parks. Arico said he agreed with O’Neill that the town can do more to make streets and sidewalks better, and more accessible. He finished by saying that Barrington is the best town in the state. 

• Liana — Cassar said Barrington is a community of vibrant neighborhoods, filled with people who value the local schools and the town’s natural resources. Cassar added that there are residents who feel that they are vulnerable, and she listed some of the vulnerabilities.

Question 2 — In the last six months, we have seen major initiatives to significantly alter (and some would say improve) recreational facilities in Barrington. Specifically, there are approved plans for a new artificial turf and track complex at Barrington High School, and a new artificial turf field space at Barrington Middle School. What are your feelings on these projects? Are you in favor or not? As Councilor, would you support or try to redirect either of them?

• Kerry — O’Neill said he voted in favor of the recreational bond and the $4.5 million dedicated to the improvement of local recreational fields and facilities. He mentioned the need for a drainage project at Sherwood Field and improvements at Lower Chianese Field. O’Neill said he supports creating a dedicated staff of DPW workers to maintain the town’s athletic fields. He said he will honor whatever voters support this fall when they cast their ballots on synthetic turf. 

• Tony — Arico said we have a great town, but Barrington needs better fields. He spoke about the recent School Committee meeting where dozens of BHS student-athletes, their parents and the BHS coaches turned out to support the plan for the new Victory Field athletic complex. Arico said he has confidence in the School Committee, which voted unanimously in favor of the Victory Field improvements, and we (residents, Town Councilors) should support the School Committee. Arico said he was very impressed by the strong turnout of BHS students at that meeting. He also said Councilors need to “be there” at the meetings, and that they need to be engaged in the issues. 

• Liana — Cassar said the condition of local athletic fields is something that’s been talked about for a long time. She said Council members will need to follow what the voters say in November. Cassar said she has concerns about the safety of synthetic turf athletic fields, but added that it is all about meeting the needs of the community. 

• Jordan — Jancosek said she was was a former athlete and believes that having safe fields is very important, not just for local student-athletes but for those other teams that come to town. She said she will honor whatever voters decide regarding synthetic turf. 

• Tony — Arico responded to O’Neill’s comment about field improvements needed at other venues — specifically at lower Chianese Field. Arico said there are concerns about doing work there because the fields are built atop a landfill and the neighbors in that area have pushed back against some proposed upgrades. He said the Park and Recreation Commission, of which he is a member, has walked each of the fields in town. He said the fields are bad for our kids. He said we have got to have safe fields. 

Question 3 — If elected to the Town Council, how would you prioritize climate change and resilience in relation to other issues in town. 

• Tony — Arico said climate change is an issue that goes beyond Barrington. He said the federal government and state leaders are working on it. Arico said he’s seen first-hand the effects of climate change — he said climate change is real and it’s bad. Arico said he wants to see the town continue to work with the state and federal governments to address climate change, adding that Barrington needs to be ready to protect its businesses and residents. Arico also said he will work with local Senators and Representatives on these issues, if elected. He said the East Bay towns should work together to address these issues. 

• Liana — Cassar, a former State Representative, said state leaders are working on these issues and she listed some of the impacts of climate change. She mentioned the need to ensure access to healthcare and other services following climate events. She also spoke about the impacts on the town’s infrastructure. Cassar said the town should work collaboratively to address these issues. She said the town has a great plan in place, but added that it needs more input from the community and others, and that the governing bodies (Town Council and School Committee) need to act on that input. 

• Jordan — Jancosek said Barrington has a good climate plan, but needs to have more action. She mentioned the stormwater runoff that occurs during storms and how Barrington must do more to alleviate the runoff, which carries pollutants into the water. Jancosek said she wants to explore more ways to address climate impacts — she spoke about how Barrington’s streets are made of asphalt, which is an impervious surface, and how the town cuts down a lot of trees, and that trees would help combat the effects of climate change. 

• Kerry — O’Neill said this issue is important to him and he supports the town’s plan. He said he would like to incentivize actions residents can take to address climate change and other environmental issues. He wants to offer financial rewards to residents who remove their lawns in place for more environmentally-friendly yards. O’Neill said he wants to offer money to residents who remove invasive plants from their yards, and he would like to see incentives for residents who install rain barrels and rain gardens and take other steps. 

• Jordan — Jancosek said the town needs to be ready to respond to the impacts of climate change. She would like to see the town incentivize businesses preparing for those impacts. 

Question 4 — Barrington is at the very beginning of what is expected to be a $250 million investment in public school construction and renovation. As Councilor, you would not have direct oversight of those school projects, but you would be managing the town’s annual budgets and overall fiscal health. Are you worried about how challenging that will be in the next decade, and do you have ideas about how the town can confront these obvious fiscal challenges?

• Liana — Cassar said the investment in Barrington schools is long overdue. She said people are excited to see the school buildings improved; Cassar said Barrington residents have to invest in our future. She said communication will be key while facing the fiscal challenges, and that people will need to know how their tax dollars are being spent. 

• Jordan — Jancosek said she is excited to see the school construction, and hopes when her daughter is old enough to go to school she will not have to go to class in the modular units at Primrose Hill School. Jancosek said the town must try to find ways to take some of the financial pressure off residents. She said she doesn’t have an answer yet, but added that the town should focus on alleviating the burden as much as it can from residents. 

• Kerry — O’Neill said $250 million is a lot of money, and that he’s glad the town is investing in the schools. He said the five members of the Town Council will not have all the answers, but he will work collaboratively with others in the face of the challenges. O’Neill said he will look to residents, other town boards, and experts to be part of the solutions. 

• Tony — Arico said he’s long been a supporter of the local schools. He said school construction has got to get done, and he said Barrington has the best school district in the state and the town must support it. 

• Jordan — Jancosek said disagreements are difficult but are part of the process on how people can find solutions. She said she is looking forward to having discussions with residents and other boards in town, including the School Committee, even when they disagree.