Rob Humm is requesting the town take a closer look at locating portable restrooms at the athletic fields around Barrington.

The town council member spoke about the issue during the council meeting on Monday night, June 6. Humm said a youth sports league coach in town had approached him recently, asking him if the town could bring in some portable restrooms at the fields.

Humm said the coach was uncomfortable asking 8- and 9-year-old girls to into the woods to go to the bathroom during practices and games.

Humm said the current situation — where there are no restrooms at certain fields or those with facilities are locked up — is “unacceptable.”

Humm said he had worked out the rough math regarding the potential cost for the town to pay for port-a-johns to be located at the fields in town. He estimated the town would need to pay about $7,200 annually for the portable restroom rentals.

The idea entertained a brief discussion during the June 6 meeting. Other members of the council were receptive to renting port-a-johns for Barrington fields, although some councilors had questions about possibly sharing the cost with youth sports leagues and whether the town could be assuming additional costs if someone was to vandalize or damage the port-a-johns.

Council member Carl Kustell said he appreciated Humm bringing up the subject, adding that he has been in a similar position while serving as a youth sports league coach in Barrington.

Annelise Conway liked the idea, but asked whether the leagues could absorb some of the rental costs. 

Humm appeared to support the town assuming the full cost; there were questions about whether a sports league should have to pay for a portable restroom used by people not associated with the league. For example, the middle school athletic facilities are used by a wide variety of people: Barrington Youth Soccer, East Bay Lacrosse, Barrington Little League, and residents and non-residents playing basketball, tennis, and pickle-ball. 

Despite the explanation from Humm, Conway continued to press for the youth sports leagues to contribute money for the port-a-johns. 

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said the issue was a good one for the Park and Recreation Commission to consider. 

Council member Jacob Brier said he wanted to hear from officials at the Barrington Department of Public Works on the idea, and asked who would cover additional costs if the port-a-johns were damaged or vandalized. Brier added that he wants the town to add the portable restrooms at the fields, but just wants to clarify the possibility of secondary charges. 

Humm later made a motion to have the DPW, Park and Recreation Commission, and the Barrington School Department review the idea and return with their recommendations for the July 25 town council meeting. 

The motion carried 5-0.