Town Manager Phil Hervey called a Barrington resident on Thursday, May 18, and recommended he withdraw his motion from the upcoming financial town meeting.

Thomas “TR” Rimoshytus filed the motion nearly a month ago, on April 24. It called for the creation of a new line item in the capital reserve account dedicated to the reconstruction/maintenance of natural grass recreation fields in Barrington. Rimoshytus’s motion specified that the line item be funded with $1.5 million. 

Rimoshytus is a member of the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission and has been advocating for improvements to the town’s athletic fields for years. He said he is tired of watching people push the fields issue “down the road” and was hoping this new fund would kick-start some positive changes. 

But on Thursday, May 18, the town manager called Rimoshytus and recommended he withdraw the motion. 

In an interview with the Barrington Times on Friday morning, Hervey said the motion, if approved by voters at the May 24 FTM, would have pushed the total tax levy over the 4 percent cap. 

When asked whether the town could have reduced other parts of the budget to accommodate for the motion, Hervey said officials had spent months preparing the budget. 

“As I understand it, it would have had a major impact on the budget,” Hervey said. 

The Town Manager did not know exactly how much the $1.5 million motion would have exceeded the 4 percent cap by. 

Rimoshytus said he was frustrated with the situation.

“I’m pissed about everything,” he said.

“The town seems to put their budget right up to the 4 percent, so people like me can’t put any motions in,” Rimoshytus added.  

Hervey said his concern was about the timing of the request, not the request itself. 

Hervey also said he offered Rimoshytus an alternative plan to the $1.5 million motion. He said there would be an opportunity in next year’s budget process to request $1.5 million “or some other amount” for fields. Hervey said Rimoshytus could initiate this request with the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission, and that group could recommend it as part of the town’s capital improvement program. The Planning Board would need to approve it at that point. The Town Manager or Town Council could include it in the budget as part of a bond, Hervey said. 

In a message to the Barrington Times, Hervey added “We will have a more concrete idea for what we need to do to improve fields in town by the next budget season. The town is about to engage a consultant to evaluate Barrington’s athletic fields and come up with recommendations — including funding. We’ll have that report later this year.”

On Thursday, May 18, Rimoshytus withdrew his motion, leaving just one resolution filed by a resident. Morgan Hellmold, of 4 Strawberry Drive, has filed a motion to increase the proposed school operating budget by an additional $242,049, for a total increase of nearly $3 million. 

Rimoshytus said he plans to speak at the May 24 FTM.