Barrington Town Council makes changes to proposed budget

Council adds about $545,500 to municipal budget

By Josh Bickford
Posted 3/30/21

Members of the Barrington Town Council voted against motions to add $25,000 for the development of a new town website, and an additional $18,000 for increased consulting fees during a special budget …

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Barrington Town Council makes changes to proposed budget

Council adds about $545,500 to municipal budget

Posted

Members of the Barrington Town Council voted against motions to add $25,000 for the development of a new town website, and an additional $18,000 for increased consulting fees during a special budget meeting held March 22.

The council did approve $5,000 to start a new municipal composting program, $25,000 for a new well at the town hall, $500,000 for an affordable housing fund, and $15,500 for tree planting and maintenance.

Early into the meeting, council member Jacob Brier said he would like to see the town contract out its website. He said the town’s website needs to be improved, and it would be best to hire a company that specializes in that type of work. He said $15,000 to $25,000 would provide a noticeable upgrade to the site.

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said Town Planner Phil Hervey and other employees in that department are currently looking to handle the website overhaul in-house.

Council member Carl Kustell said he agreed that the town needed a new website, and questioned when it was necessary to ask the town’s planner to handle the website improvements. Councilor Rom Humm said he had confidence that Mr. Hervey and his team could do a good job, and save the taxpayers $25,000 in the process.

Council President Michael Carroll said he would defer to Mr. Cunha, who would best know if there were already enough tasks for Mr. Hervey.

“I’d like to give it a try,” Mr. Cunha said, adding that he believes Mr. Hervey and his team were on the right track.

Mr. Brier’s motion to add the $25,000 to contract out a new website failed, 2-3.

Consultant increase?

Mr. Brier also made a motion to increase the line item for a marketing and communications consultant, from $12,000 annually to $30,000.

Mr. Cunha said the consulting firm has proven invaluable throughout the pandemic, but he did not appear to think that the town needed to spend more money on that service. Mr. Kustell asked what type of benefits the additional funding would yield. And Mr. Cunha later asked a question. “My question is what are we doing wrong?”

Mr. Cunha praised the work of Deb Page Trim, who helps post information to the town’s social media accounts.

“I think she’s doing a phenomenal job. I’m not sure what we’re missing now,” he said.

Mr. Brier said he was not implying that Ms. Page Trim is doing an inadequate job. He added that there are professionals who are well-versed in that area, and that there is a real science to posting information and sending messages.

Mr. Brier’s motion failed 1-4.

Composting program

The council voted 5-0 in favor of adding $5,000 to establish a composting program in town.

Mr. Brier presented the idea and said it would serve as an opportunity to test the program. There was also talk that there was a potential to connect the composting program with the Barrington Farm School. Costs associated with the program were for the composting bins, which range from $80 to $100, said one council member.

Mr. Kustell said there was interest in the idea from the Conservation Commission, and interest from the community. Mr. Carroll appeared to support the idea as well, adding that one of the benefits from the program may be cost avoidance, as the town faces ever-increasing tipping fees at the state landfill.

A short time later, the council approved the motion to add money for the pilot program.

Audio visual upgrades to council chamber

Mr. Brier suggested a $12,500 increase to the budget to pay for audio visual equipment for the council chamber that would improve the presentation for people who attend council meetings in person and online.

Barrington Town Clerk Meredith DeSisto said she had been researching that exact topic and had learned that the video equipment would cost about $8,650. There would be an additional cost for new television screens. She also said there was money in a separate account that could be used for the upgrades.

Minimum wage increase

Mr. Brier proposed a municipal minimum wage of $15 for town employees, and while many of the councilors liked the idea, there was a reluctance to make the change without first seeing how much it would cost the town.

Mr. Carroll said he supported the initiative but wondered how the town could best implement the increase — what should the town do about workers who are already making $15 or more per hour? Should all the summer help earn $15 an hour as well?

Mr. Brier said the $15 per hour wage would be for anyone who’s employed by the town.

Mr. Humm was not comfortable voting on the increase until he had all the necessary information. Mr. Carroll agreed, adding that he likes the idea but believes the council ought to spend more time on the issue.

After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Brier’s motion failed 2-3, although it seemed most council members were intent on further studying the issue.

Following the meeting, Mr. Brier offered a statement regarding the council’s budget.

“A budget should reflect the priorities and values of a town. Different people hold different views of what those priorities are, and how we should invest in them. Our Charter calls for two budgets to be submitted to the Committee on Appropriations; a Manager's Budget and a Council Budget. Doing enables the COA to review different approaches to serving the town. At the end of the meeting, we didn’t present a different approach to serving the town.

“I think the Council put together a fine budget to present to the COA. It includes important things, such as the affordable housing fund that we voted into the budget at our prior meeting. It provides funds to hire two of the four additional workers our under-staffed DPW needs. I think we could have done more to respond to the priorities that the community has expressed.”

Other increases

• $500,000 for an affordable housing fund

• $25,000 for a well at the town hall property

• $15,500 for tree planting and maintenance

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