A Barrington resident filed a complaint with local police against a member of the Barrington Town Council last week.

On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the resident told police she had sent an online letter to all five members of the council, but one particular member replied and disagreed with the resident’s opinion.

The resident told police she emailed back to the councilor and said she did not want to argue and asked that the council member stop emailing her.

The resident said she then received another reply, which further upset her. The council member said the last reply was an automated response and he would not email her again.

The exchange fueling the complaint was discussed publicly during the online Feb. 1 Barrington Town Council meeting, when Barrington resident Deb Nyser spoke during the public hearing on the council's flag policy. Ms. Nyser said she had signed a petition letter regarding the flag policy and received an email from council member Jacob Brier shortly thereafter. 

Ms. Nyser said she did not expect a reply from any of the council members and did not want to get into an exchange with Mr. Brier.

Ms. Nyser said she felt bullied by Mr. Brier during the exchange.

“I deserve better,” she said during the council meeting.

Mr. Brier then asked to speak, stating that he was very sorry that Ms. Nyser felt bullied.

“I didn’t know you didn’t want a reply,” he said.

Ms. Nyser tried to respond to Mr. Brier, but Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha muted Ms. Nyser; the council had voted earlier to limit people to three minutes of speaking time.