When Barrington voters head to the polls on November 5, 2024, they will face several local ballot questions that could shape the future of the town’s government and facilities.

Question 1 asks voters whether the town should replace the traditional Financial Town Meeting (FTM) with an all-day Financial Town Referendum (FTR). Currently, the town’s annual budget is approved during a meeting where a quorum of voters gather to make decisions. If passed, this amendment would shift that process to a referendum, allowing voters to weigh in on the budget throughout the day. Changes to the budget would still need to be proposed by a qualifying petition, the Town Council, or the School Committee. The move to a referendum, according to proponents, aims to increase participation in the town’s budgeting decisions, while still maintaining much of the FTM process.

Question 2 focuses on updates to the Barrington Home Rule Charter to reflect the current structure of the town’s government. Over time, the responsibilities of certain departments and officials have evolved, but these changes have not always been formally recognized in the town’s charter. This amendment would correct that by updating the roles of various departments and commissions, including the Department of Planning, Building, and Resiliency, as well as the Human Resources and Finance Departments. Additionally, it would eliminate an outdated requirement for the Town Clerk to post a bond, as the position is already covered under the town’s insurance.

Question 3 addresses the Barrington Fire Department’s standing in the town’s charter. Currently, language in the charter implies that the Town Council could eliminate the fire department altogether. This question seeks to remove that language, ensuring the department’s place in Barrington’s government structure.

Voters will also have their say on two questions concerning the use of funds for synthetic turf athletic fields. Question 4 asks whether funds approved at the Financial Town Meeting in May 2024 should be used to install synthetic turf fields at Barrington Middle School. This follows a resolution passed by electors earlier this year that authorized bonds to finance various athletic field projects in the town. 

Finally, Question 5 offers an alternative, asking if those same funds could be used to install synthetic turf fields on municipally controlled land elsewhere in town, should Barrington Middle School not be the chosen site.