The Barrington Town Council is moving forward with speed cameras. The Barrington School Committee is trying to catch up. 

To date, the town council’s discussions regarding the installation of speed cameras in local school zones has not included any official direction from the Barrington School Committee. 

That may change tonight — members of the committee are expected to discuss speed cameras at their meeting tonight, Thursday, June 12. 

On Thursday morning, three of the five school committee members confirmed that the Barrington Town Council has not asked for their thoughts about the initiative. 

Only one committee member, Tim McNamara, has confirmed that he has spoken with councilors about speed cameras. 

In an email to the Barrington Times, McNamara wrote that he had a couple independent conversations with town councilors regarding speed cameras. McNamara wrote that “since the conversation focused around placing them (speed cameras) around the schools, that our committee should have an opinion on it…” 

McNamara wrote that speed cameras were added to the May 22 school committee meeting agenda, but officials were unable to discuss the issue because they ran out of time. 

Members of the Barrington School Committee are expected to discuss speed cameras in school zones at their meeting tonight, Thursday, June 12. 

According to the meeting agenda posted online, “Discuss/Act: School Zone Speed Cameras” is listed under “School Committee Business.” 

The discussion will take place two days after the town council voted 5-0 to have the town issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) and proposals (RFP) for the services of a vendor for speed camera installations within school zones. That action surfaced at the special council meeting on June 10.

More than a dozen people spoke at the June 10 meeting — the majority opposed the installation of speed cameras in front of Barrington Schools, while some supported the measure, including two members of the Barrington Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. 

Barrington Town Council member Kate Berard has been vocal in her support for speed cameras. 

In a recent email to the Barrington Times, she wrote, in part, “I think we have an opportunity now, if the companies responses fall within reasonable/acceptable parameters, to try something that has proven to work elsewhere, to calm the traffic in the areas where our kids spend the most time so I look forward to continuing the conversation.”