The Barrington Town Council will consider sending a second question to voters at the November election regarding the synthetic turf field proposal for the middle school. 

While the first question is set —  “Shall the town be authorized to utilize the funds appropriated by the elector at the Financial Town Meeting on May 22, 2024, to install synthetic turf athletic field(s) at Barrington Middle School?” — the Council will also consider a second question. The possible second question was included in the Council meeting agenda memo: If voters reject the middle school turf proposal, should the town use the $4.5 million approved at the May 22 FTM to install a synthetic turf field elsewhere in Barrington?

Council member Kate Berard suggested the question; the Council will discuss the topic during its meeting on Monday night, July 22. (The Town Council meeting is in the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.)

In a message to the Barrington Times on Friday, July 19, Barrington Town Council President Carl Kustell wrote that the first question to voters is specific to the Barrington Middle School proposal. He said the question will have no bearing on the recent decision by the Barrington School Committee to make sweeping improvements to the Victory Field athletic complex at the high school. 

 “We never intended it to apply to Victory Field, and I do not see it as a barrier to Victory Field,” wrote Kustell. “It’s written for BMS, exclusively.”

The Council President added, however: “The TC (Town Council) could broaden the question if it chooses to do so.”

The current plan by the Town Council regarding the middle school property calls for the installation of synthetic turf fields. The project, which was first proposed by Council member Rob Humm, includes the construction of two fields. Members of the Barrington School Committee signed off on the project with a caveat to iron out an agreement on scheduled use of the fields and some other issues. 

At their meeting on Thursday, July 18, members of the School Committee briefly spoke about the middle school project. TJ Peck said the School Committee would be putting together a response to an earlier statement from the Town Council which detailed field use scheduling and other items. Peck said the School Committee response will be in the spirit of recognizing that everyone is on the same page and wants to get this done. 

Committee member Frazier Bell said he was in favor of it, adding that he believes any facilities located on school grounds need to prioritize student-use first. 

School Committee Chairman Patrick McCrann said he was excited to move forward with it. He said the Town Council and School Committee need to have a “robust discussion” about the middle school project.