Barrington public meetings in 2024
17 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Spec. Town Council Mtg.
The Barrington Town Council will discuss and act on bids for the Haines Park Field Improvement Project. They will also review updates to the ARPA budget allocations and revise the engineering scope and fees for South Lake Drive. A discussion on Town Council Curriculum 101, covering practices and procedural rules, will be held.
- Bid discussion for Haines Park Field Improvement Project
- Update of ARPA budget allocations
- Revision to engineering scope and fees for South Lake Drive
- Discussion of Town Council Curriculum 101: practices and rules of procedures
Town Council Organizational Mtg.
The Barrington Town Council and School Committee will be sworn into office. After the swearing‑in, the Town Council will conduct its organizational meeting. The agenda also provides information on accessibility accommodations for participants.
- Swearing‑in of Town Council members
- Swearing‑in of School Committee members
- Town Council organizational meeting
- Information on accessibility accommodations
Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council will consider selling a parcel of land to develop age-restricted and affordable housing, ratify collective bargaining agreements with the fire fighters and police unions, and decommission the Charter Review Committee.
- Sell 1.75-acre parcel at 25 Watson Avenue for $1 to develop 12 age-restricted and 5 affordable housing units
- Ratify collective bargaining agreements with Barrington Fire Fighters Local 1774 and Police Officers Local 351
- Decommission the Charter Review Committee
- Approve Victualling License for Madrid European Bakery & Patisserie LLC at 230 County Road
- Review ARPA budget allocations and request additional funds for a Martin Luther King Jr. civil rights celebration
Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council will approve minutes from the October 7 Spencer Trust meeting and discuss and act on the "Super Senior" Financial Assistance Program, the Housing Board's Down Payment Assistance proposal, and budget requests for the Home Repair, Emergent, and Crisis Funds. The council will also address public hearings on STOP‑intersection ordinances (Fireside, Old Chimney, Copper Kettle) and review bids for public‑works equipment and projects. Additional items include routine consent‑agenda approvals, licensing renewals, and updates on ARPA budget allocations.
- "Super Senior" Financial Assistance Program
- Housing Board Down Payment Assistance Program proposal and 10% affordable housing data
- Budget requests for Home Repair Fund, Emergent Fund, and Crisis Fund
- Ordinance 2024‑3 and 2024‑6 STOP intersections (Fireside, Old Chimney, Copper Kettle) public hearings
- Public Works bids: trailer‑mounted brush chipper, two 16,500 GVW dump trucks with plows, one 19,500 GVW crew‑cab dump truck with plow
Amey Tucker Spencer Fund
The Barrington Town Council, acting as trustees of the Amey Tucker Spencer Trust, approved the minutes from the October 7, 2024 meeting. They then approved the establishment of a “Super Senior” resident grant program, allocating $121,000 and setting eligibility criteria such as a minimum age of 80, a 10‑year home‑ownership requirement, and income limits based on HUD’s low‑income thresholds. The board also discussed the Housing Board’s down‑payment assistance program and the town’s 10% affordable‑housing mandate, but no motion was adopted.
- Approval of October 7, 2024 meeting minutes (vote 5‑0‑0‑0).
- Approval of Super Senior Resident Grant program with a $121,000 budget; grant amount proposed at approximately $1,100 per household, minimum age 80, 10‑year residency, income limits up to 150% of HUD Area Median Income, and asset limit of $25,000.
- Discussion of the Housing Board’s down‑payment assistance program and the 30‑year deed‑restriction requirement for meeting the town’s 10% affordable‑housing goal (no motion taken).
Jt. Council and School Cte. Mtg.
The joint meeting of the Barrington Town Council and School Committee will discuss a Memorandum of Understanding to install synthetic turf fields at Barrington Middle School. The agenda also includes discussion of advisory committee charges, a consent agenda, and several contracts with various entities. Public comment will be taken before adjournment.
- Discuss/Act: Memorandum of Understanding for synthetic turf fields at Barrington Middle School
- Discuss/Act: Advisory Committees’ Charges
- Consent Agenda
- Contract with NESRA Engineering and BPS
- Contract with Perkins School for the Blind and BPS
Spec. Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council will convene a special meeting to discuss and act on the Climate Action/Ready and Resilient Barrington presentation. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the Salem Auditorium at the Barrington Public Library.
- Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
- Land Acknowledgement
- Discussion and action on Climate Action/Ready and Resilient Barrington
- Adjournment
Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council will meet in executive session to discuss personnel and litigation before convening as Trustees of the Amey Tucker Spencer Fund. The public session includes votes on municipal bids, board appointments, and a public hearing regarding Barrington Beach parking stickers.
- Public hearing on Ordinance 2024-7 regarding Barrington Beach parking stickers and day passes
- Bids for Foote Street Path Engineering and Maple Avenue/Lincoln Avenue sidewalk reconstruction
- Spencer Trust discussions on senior tax exemptions, downpayment assistance, and home repair loans
- Proposed establishment of the Town of Barrington Veterans Advisory Committee
- Purchase of two Mobile APX 8500 Vehicle Radios for the Fire Department
Amey Tucker Spencer Fund
The Barrington Town Council met to approve the September 9, 2024 Amey Tucker Spencer Trust Fund minutes and to discuss a proposed "super senior" tax relief program funded by the Spencer Trust. Council members examined income limits, eligibility criteria, and the amount of trust funds to allocate, while noting legal concerns about using the trust without income restrictions. The meeting also included an executive‑session on personnel, litigation over Sowams Road, and collective‑bargaining matters, and continued a public hearing on Ordinance 2024‑3 and 2024‑6.
- Approved minutes of the Amey Tucker Spencer Trust Fund meeting from September 9, 2024 (5‑0‑0‑0 vote).
- Discussed and considered a senior tax exemption program for "super seniors" using the Spencer Trust (approx. $6 million), including income thresholds, allocation per applicant, and eligibility requirements.
- Executive session covered personnel (District Court Prosecutor), litigation on Sowams Road boundary dispute, and collective bargaining with United Steelworkers Local 14845, Police Officers Local 351, Dispatch Local 555, and Fire Fighters Local 1774.
- Motion passed to appoint Jason Knight as Town Solicitor and direct a contract with the town (5‑0‑0‑0 vote).
- Continued public hearing on Ordinance 2024‑3 and 2024‑6 (Fireside Drive, Copper Kettle Lane) postponed to January due to missing engineering report.
Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council and Amey Tucker Spencer Fund trustees will meet to discuss municipal ordinances, budget amendments, and board appointments. The session includes a public hearing for a liquor license and discussions on the town's Climate Action Plan and Senior Tax Relief Program.
- Public hearing for Class BV Limited License for PC Barrington, LLC at 188 County Road
- Discussion and action on ARPA Budget Amendment
- Public hearing on Ordinance 2024-5 regarding alcoholic beverage license classes and fees
- Approval of victualling license for Sip and Bite Nutrition Club at 20B West Street
- Discussion on Spencer Trust Administrators pay increase
Amey Tucker Spencer Fund
The Barrington Town Council, acting as trustees of the Amey Tucker Spencer Trust Fund, approved the minutes from the May 6, 2024 meeting and voted to extend the Spencer Trust Administrator contract at an hourly rate of $50 through June 30, 2025. The council also discussed possible changes to the Home Repair Assistance program, including raising the forgivable loan limit from $20,000 to $30,000, and reviewed the payment process for contractors and the policy for refurbished appliances. Public comments were heard before the meeting was adjourned.
- Approved contract extension and $50/hour rate for Spencer Trust Administrator Karen Griffith through June 30, 2025.
- Approved minutes from the May 6, 2024 Amey Tucker Spencer Trust Fund meeting.
- Discussed increasing Home Repair Assistance forgivable loans from $20,000 to $30,000.
- Discussed payment process for contractors/vendors (no vendor recommendations made).
- Discussed policy for refurbished appliances under the 10‑year forgivable loan program.
Spec. Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council is holding a special meeting to discuss and act on a single business license. The body will decide whether to approve a victualling license for a specific restaurant location.
- Victualling License for Chipotle Mexican Grill at 223 County Road
NO QUORUM - Aug. 13, 2024 - Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council is holding a special meeting to discuss and act on a single business license. The meeting is scheduled for August 13, 2024, at Barrington Town Hall.
- Approval of Victualling License for Chipotle Mexican Grill at 223 County Road
NO QUORUM - Aug. 13, 2024 - Jt. Town Council Mtg. with DEI Cte.
The Town Council and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee are meeting to discuss collaborative opportunities and project updates. A primary point of discussion is the potential for a part-time or full-time employee to lead DEI work, as suggested in a 2021 consultancy report.
- Discussion on hiring a part-time or full-time employee for DEI work
- Proposal for a lottery system for limited-capacity town recreational and educational events
- Request for accessible portable toilets at athletic fields
- Report on a second flagpole at Town Hall
- Planning for the 2024-2025 Film Series and MLK Day 2025
Jt. Council and School Cte. Mtg.
The Barrington School Committee, meeting jointly with the Town Council, will discuss and act on a field proposal for Barrington Middle School. The committee will also consider the Assistant Superintendent contract and a notice of reappointment for non‑union, non‑certified employees. Additional items include a school construction update and several district contracts. Public comment will be taken before adjournment.
- Barrington Middle School – Town Council Field Proposal (discuss/act)
- Assistant Superintendent Contract (discuss/act)
- Notice of Reappointment for non‑union/non‑certified Employees (discuss/act)
- School Construction Update (discuss/act)
- Contract: Daikin Applied America and BMS RTU 8
Town Council Mtg.
The Barrington Town Council will meet on July 31, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The agenda includes a discussion and possible action on a School Committee correspondence dated July 21, 2024 concerning the town’s athletic fields. No other substantive items are listed.
- Discuss and act on School Committee correspondence (July 21, 2024) regarding athletic fields
Town Council Mtg.
The Town Council will review a ten-year update of the Comprehensive Plan, including climate action and complete streets studies. The body will also act on several ordinances regarding liquor license fees, traffic stops, and non-union employee pay scales.
- Public hearing on Ordinance 2024-3 (STOP intersections at Fireside and Old Chimney) and Ordinance 2024-4 (non-union employee pay scales)
- Ordinance 2024-5 regarding alcoholic beverage license classes and fees
- Construction bid for Lincoln Avenue and Maple Avenue Sidewalk Improvement Project
- Engineering bid for repairs to Police Cove Park Seawall
- Discussion of a pilot curbside composting program