On the same day schoolchildren in Barrington went to class without masks (for the first time in more than a year), the Barrington Town Council decided it was still too early to meet in-person.

The decision to hold the March 7 council meeting entirely via zoom raised questions from two residents. Ellen Schaffer and Tom Rimoshytus both asked the council, during the public comment period, why the meeting was being held online and not in-person.

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll was the only councilor to respond.

“I think we’re still close enough to it … this funny stage I hope we come out of the other side of… but if we are close enough that we need masks, I find it more difficult to articulate and be heard and hear some folks, so I think zoom is better than meeting with masks. That’s just my personal preference,” said Mr. Carroll, who had requested the meeting be held by zoom. 

“I don’t know if that answers your question, but that’s the best answer I can give.”

There is no mandate requiring masks at public meetings. 

In fact, Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey, who was at the March 7 meeting, issued an executive order last month that ended the mask mandate in municipal buildings in Barrington on Feb. 26.

The governor lifted the statewide mask mandate for public gatherings more than a week before the March 7 Barrington Town Council meeting.

And Barrington School Department officials went “masks optional” in all local schools on March 7, having publicized their updated Covid-19 protocols about five days earlier. 

On Thursday, March 3, the Barrington School Committee held an in-person meeting with an option for remote attendance also.