For years, members of the Barrington United Veterans Council quietly handled duties that included organizing the town’s Memorial Day parade, maintaining the town’s honor roll, and recommending updates to veterans’ property tax exemptions.

That stopped in March when every members of the BUVC resigned in protest over the town’s decision to fly certain flags above the veterans memorial outside Barrington Town Hall.

At that time, the BUVC members wrote a letter to the town that stated, in part, “the Barrington Town Council … has chosen to virtue signal to controversial national political entities outside of our community rather than respect the wishes of those that have served and sacrificed from within the community.”

At its July 22 meeting, Town Council members took a step toward repairing the severed relationship with veterans. 

In a 4-0 vote, Council members approved the development of conceptual plans for a new flagpole installation in front of the Town Hall, which could lead to the relocation of the outreach flags. 

Council members also discussed the town’s options for filling the void left by the resignation of the BUVC. Councilors considered hiring someone to complete the veterans-related tasks or creating a new committee to handle the work.

Barrington Town Council President Carl Kustell said he was hopeful that positive momentum on the flagpole issue could inspire some people to step up and get involved. 

Councilor Braxton Cloutier asked Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey if anyone had volunteered yet. Hervey said the town was starting to get some “nibbles” of interest. 

Kustell said that if the town decides to create a committee, he hopes it will be representative of the community as a whole. He added that the same approach could be taken if the town was to hire someone to do the job. 

Cloutier referenced earlier comments by fellow Councilor Annelise Conway, who said there is a wealth of talent in our community. He said there must be at least 10 residents who could serve on a committee that would tend to veterans issues and duties. Cloutier also said it would be better to have neighbors serve on a commission — there is no need to add another employee. 

A short time later, Kustell made a motion to direct the town administration and the solicitor’s office to provide options for filling the BUVC void. 

Councilor Kate Berard also asked that town officials make an effort to conduct some outreach on this issue. Council member Rob Humm seconded Kustell’s motion, which passed 4-0. 

‘Wait and see’

Paul Dulchinos is a former member of the BUVC. For years, Dulchinos and other veterans pleaded with town officials to stop flying outreach flags on the pole located in the veterans memorial. 

“The flying of political banners under the American Flag over our veterans memorial for the last four years has been an open wound for all of us veterans and in the past we had continued to support the town out of good will with the expectation that our concerns would eventually be addressed,” Dulchinos wrote in an email to the Barrington Times. “Unfortunately, our good will ran out last March after repeated attempts to achieve a suitable compromise.”

Dulchinos acknowledged the recent Council vote to authorize the development of conceptual plans for a new flagpole installation. 

“Hopefully, the design will address all our previous concerns, but even then it will have to be approved by the Town Council for funding and its construction,” he wrote. “This still seems to be a way off from a final resolution.”

When asked if the BUVC would be interested in re-forming, should the town commit to moving its outreach flags to a new location, Dulchinos said: “That would be something we would have to discuss as a group and vote on…We remain hopeful that the process will work itself out and that a solution will be achieved that will bring our community back together, but for now, it remains as a wait and see situation.”