Barrington officials made a series of changes to the ARPA budget during the Town Council meeting earlier this month. 

The American Rescue Plan Act money was given to Barrington during the pandemic and must be spent or obligated by the end of the year, or the community must pay it back to the federal government. 

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey requested that the Council approve some changes to the budget to ensure that it is used within the required amount of time. 

At the top of the list was $35,000 that had been earmarked for ADA accessibility improvements at playgrounds in town. Hervey requested the Council reduce that line item from $35,000 to 0. Barrington Town Council members shared some concerns about that change. Braxton Cloutier said he wanted to see movement on the ADA playground improvements soon.

In a followup interview with the Barrington Times, Hervey said the town is committed to making playground improvements and will likely budget for it through the capital improvements program. He said the town still needs to complete an assessment of the playgrounds before ordering the work. 

Hervey also requested that officials reassign $100,000 that had been earmarked to fix erosion issues at Latham Park and Allin’s Cove. In a memo to the Council, Hervey wrote that the project had been delayed because of paperwork issues with the state related to grant money. Hervey also indicated that the erosion control improvements could be funded through capital improvement program.

Officials had dedicated $30,000 in ARPA money to construct a new fence at Police Cove Park, but Hervey asked to move that money out of that account. He said seawall repairs must be made before officials could install a new fence. He recommended that town use the capital improvement program to fund the new fence in the future. 

During the Council meeting on Sept. 9, Hervey told officials that all the projects were important, but the town had run out of time to use ARPA funds on some of them them. 

Hervey identified two projects that would benefit from those reassigned funds: a new shed to store Day of Caring tools, and a series of security improvements at Barrington Town Hall. Hervey said the shed would cost $2,500 and the safety/security enhancements were estimated at $25,000. 

After the Council approved the changes, there was an undesignated balance of approximately $200,000 in ARPA funds. 

Council member Annelise Conway made a motion to amend the ARPA budget. Carl Kustell seconded the motion, which passed, 5-0. 

One of the largest ARPA expenditures in Barrington will be an improvement project Haines Park. The project, which will include the reconfiguration of playing fields at the western end of the park, is expected to cost $1 million. Hervey said he expects to award a bid for the Haines Park project in November. 

Town Hall security

After explaining the need for a new shed to store tools for Day of Caring, Hervey offered the reasons for spending $25,000 on safety and security enhancements at the Town Hall.

During the Sept. 9 meeting, Hervey said the money would pay for a new key fob system at the building, adding that there have been security issues at the Town Hall. Hervey mentioned a theft, and added that important files are kept at the Town Hall. 

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia confirmed two recent incidents involving safety and security at the Town Hall. Chief Correia said one of the incidents involved an unidentified man entering the Town Hall and making his way into the basement where he stole a personal electronic device. 

According to a memo from Hervey to the Council, the key fob system is expected to cost $17,000. There would be additional costs associated with replacing at least one door at the town hall and upgrading the glass barrier at the town clerk’s window.