Members of the Barrington Town Council voted unanimously to extend the contract with resilience planning consultant Karlo Berger.

Barrington hired Berger in Aug. 2023 to assist the Planning, Building and Resilience Department with certain tasks, such as management of FEMA programs. 

At the June 3 meeting, members of the Council voted 5-0 to extend the contract with Berger for another year. 

The town set aside $60,000 to pay Berger last year and approved $69,000 for FY2025. Barrington paid Berger $45 per hour in 2023. According to a memo to the Town Council, the town will pay Berger $51.75 per hour as part of the new agreement. 

The funds will come from the Climate Mitigation Climate Reserve account. 

Barrington Town Planner Teresa Crean requested the contract extension for Berger during the June 3 Council meeting. She said Berger has been involved in a number on ongoing projects, has helped the town secure grants, and played a role in updating the town’s hazard mitigation plan and comprehensive plan. 

Barrington Town Council Vice President Rob Humm made the motion to approve the contract extension, and Annelise Conway seconded the motion. 

The Council also approved up to $10,300 per year for the next two years for energy management consultant services. 

According to a memo from Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey to the Council, the town already had a contract with Kathy Stanley of Energy Advocates, LLC, to assist with energy projects, apply for grants, and assist with “procurement including gas and electricity supply contracts.”

The memo stated that Stanley took the lead writing a successful grant application for a project to weatherize the Barrington Public Safety Building and upgrade energy controls at the library. 

“The State also approved $39,489.69 in grant funds to help offset the cost of an energy services manager over a two-year period,” stated the memo. 

“The grant allows the Town to expand the scope of work provided by Ms. Stanley, whom the Town has been paying $12,000 per year, or about 96 hours at $125 per hour. With the additional funds, combined with the Town’s local match, the Town will be provided with 240 hours of her time per year, over the next two years ($2,500 per month). Ms. Stanley has been working with the Town for more than two years; she originally worked for the Town under a contract with OER before the Town picked up the cost at $12,000 per year. Over the two-year grant period, the Town’s local match totals $10,255.16 per year, or $20,510.32 total.”

Funds for the energy management consultant services come from the town’s Energy Conservation Capital Reserve account.