Millions of dollars on the way to Barrington

Ad hoc committee planning for American Rescue Plan money

By Josh Bickford
Posted 5/5/21

What would you do with $4.7 million?

Wait, there is a caveat. What would you do with $4.7 million if you had to spend it on the town?  

A newly-formed Barrington Ad Hoc American Rescue …

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Millions of dollars on the way to Barrington

Ad hoc committee planning for American Rescue Plan money

Posted

What would you do with $4.7 million?

Wait, there is a caveat. What would you do with $4.7 million if you had to spend it on the town? 

A newly-formed Barrington Ad Hoc American Rescue Committee has started considering what to do with approximately $4.7 million in federal money that is expected to arrive in Barrington in the near future. The money is part of the American Rescue Plan — a federal aid package designed to help cities and towns.

The Committee, which includes Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha, Town Councilors Annelise Conway and Mike Carroll, Town Moderator Richard Staples, Committee on Appropriations Chairman Stephen Primiano, Planning Board Chairman Jared Wallace, Geoff Grove, Town Finance Director Kathy Raposa, DPW Director Alan Corvi, and Town Planner Phil Hervey, met for the first time late last money and discussed the topic. Mr. Cunha said he would like the town to be as prepared as possible to move forward on plans when the federal aid is made available.

Mr. Cunha said there are some clear rules on how the money can be spent. For starters, it cannot be used for tax cuts or to pay pension contributions. 

“In broad terms, you can spend it on Covid-related revenue losses,” Mr. Cunha said, adding that it can also cover water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. 

Mr. Cunha said he expects there will be some additional guidance released on how the money can be spent. 

In the meantime, officials offered a few possible ideas on how to use the $4.7 million. He said Committee members agreed that the money should not be used in a way that would create a structural deficit to the budget, such as creating a new position that would need to be funded annually. 

Mr. Cunha said the capital improvement plan offered an outline for possible future expenditures — road paving, affordable housing, climate change mitigation projects, improvements and upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant that services Barrington residents and commercial businesses. 

“Can we use it for recreation?” Mr. Cunha asked. 

He mentioned Haines Park and the draft plan to reconfigure the athletic fields there; that work is expected to cost about $1.5 million. He also referenced the need for a new roof on Barrington High School, and the possible construction of a new sidewalk near the middle school that would improve the safety for those students walking to school. 

The town’s municipal government will receive $1.59 million, and $9.33 million will be given to Bristol County, with that amount divided up among Bristol, Warren and Barrington based on population. The comes to about $3.11 million for Barrington. 

“It’s going to be given to us over two years,” Mr. Cunha said. Half of the federal money will be distributed in 2021-22, and the other half in 2022-23. 

The school department is also expected to receive funding as part of the American Rescue Plan.

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