TOWN OF BARRINGTON

MINUTES

TOWN COUNCIL:  A WORKSHOP ON RECREATION FACILITIES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023 AT 7:00 P.M.

Barrington Public Library

Peck Center

 

Present:                            President Carl Kustell, Vice President Robert Humm, Councilwoman Kate Berard (arrived at 7:05pm), Councilwoman Annelise Conway and Councilman Braxton Cloutier

Present:                            Town Manager Phil Hervey, Facilitator Jennifer West and Town Clerk Meredith J. DeSisto

Additional Administration:  School Superintendent Michael Messore, Athletic Director George Finn, and Recreation Director Michele Geremia

Special Guest:                   Facilitator Jennifer West

 

Invited guests:                  Parks & Recreation Commission, YMCA, Barrington Youth Soccer Association, Barrington Little League, Barrington Youth Basketball, East Bay Lacrosse, Pop Warner Cheerleading, Football and Flag Football

 

President Kustell called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM and introduced Council members Vice President Rob Humm, Councilwoman Kate Berard, Councilwoman Annelise Conway and Councilman Braxton Cloutier.

 

President Kustell announced to those in attendance that there will be no motions at this workshop.  He said that the discussion will center around locations and facility use and those that will be using the recreation center.   

 

President Kustell invited Vice President Humm to give a brief explanation regarding this evening’s meeting.

 

Vice President Humm explained that this is a three-part issue:

1.    Need for an athletic field house in Barrington.

2.    Whether to install a synthetic turf field in Barrington.

3.    Overall maintenance of Barrington’s fields.

 

But, said Vice President Humm, this evening we will concentrate on an athletic field house/recreation center.  He continued his presentation by speaking of the problems:

• Barrington needs more fields and an indoor recreation space.
• Barrington lacks fields and athletic facilities.
• Barrington fields need to be better maintained and conditioned.
• Barrington has not sufficiently invested in recreational activities in town.

 

Vice President Humm discussed the findings in the RIPEDC report of December 2022, “How Cities and Towns Spend Their Money” Report:  RI municipalities underinvest in parks, recreation, and natural resources.  He stated that Barrington is lacking in its investment in town recreation – ranked 24^th out of 39 and that RI’s local government spending ranked fourth lowest nationally in FY2020.

 

Vice President Humm discussed the pros and cons of building an athletic recreation center, the potential sports accommodations, conceptual features and potential locations:

·       Former Zion property – existing gymnasium and adjacent field to build out.

·       Chianese Park – lots of parking

·       The former “Place” corner of Middle Highway and College Lane

·       Land between Primrose Hill School and East Bay Health Center

·       25 Watson Property

Discussion ensued regarding the estimated costs, initially the thought was between $3-6 million but President Kustell said that it is more in the area of $8-15 million.

 

Vice President Humm was excited to learn that over 800 people participated in the athletic field survey.  He said that we will truly extract valuable information of the needs and the wants for this project.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the size of a recreational field house, that it would be best to keep it simple with the thought of additions, the need for parking and the potential traffic flow at the location and that we would like to keep it town owned. 

 

President Kustell introduced Jennifer West, this evening’s facilitator.  He said that Ms. West has been the Coastal Training Program Coordinator with the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve since 2005.  She develops and delivers training events and technical assistance programs for municipal officials and other decision-maker audiences.  Ms. West has expertise in program design, management, and evaluation, communicating science to diverse audiences; meeting facilitation and planning and implementing collaborative methods for engaging stakeholders in successfully addressing environmental issues.

 

Jennifer West described that at this meeting she will be using an interactive flow flip chart, and that there will be 5 stations in which each group will have the opportunity to place their ideas under each question.  Listed below are the questions and the answers that were given:

• How would you use an indoor recreation facility?
• Answers such as:
• Lacrosse, soccer, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, (all and every sport)
• Chess, checkers, foosball, locker rooms, offices, emergency shelter, meeting rooms summer concerts, dance floor, summer camps, field resting time, inclement weather backup etc.
• What specific features of an indoor recreation facility are important to you?
• Answers such as:
• All sports with multipurpose purpose rooms, big screens, equipment rooms, storage, leed and solar power, generator, spectator space, lighting, HVAC, café, parking availability, diversity, safety access/card? Memberships. etc.
• What concerns do you have about this project?
• Answers such as:
• Who owns it, controls it, sustainability, ongoing revenue, maintenance costs, taxes, time, money, inclusivity, naysayers (what to do about those that oppose), staffing, hiring, accessibility, long term plans and field development etc.
• Who else (groups/individuals) should weigh in on this topic?
• Answers such as:
• Youth sports, schools, YMCA, taxpayers, parents, neighbors, students, seniors, fundraisers, other rec departments, builders, contractors, businesses, coaches, etc.
• What existing programs are already meeting your needs.  Could they be partners in this effort?  If so, How?
• Answers such as:
• Bayside Soccer, Liverpool Soccer, Privately owned indoor pickleball courts (Fairhaven and Somerset), Tiverton Longplex, St. Andrews (BBall and soccer), Centre Court (tennis) Catholic Schools, Moses Brown, YMCA, Swansea Y, etc.

After all the groups had an opportunity to write their comments on each board, Ms. West engaged the audience in a discussion.

 

Seth Fisher said that everyone (all sports and activities) should get a space.

 

Mike Seward said that we must have specific software/scheduling because there will be a lot to manage.

 

Tony Arico said that the Town will need to have full control.

 

Discussion ensued that we would need to compromise since there are so many different programs and activities.  The discussion continued with concerns:

 

Seth Fisher questioned who will own and who will control.  He said that there will be a need for continued revenue.  He said that we will need to project the costs and the revenue.

 

TR Rimoshytus said that we will need to hire directors and staffing.

 

Bruce Thurston stated that we will need to build a budget for long-term operations and yearly maintenance.

 

Chris Lowe stated that having a facility in our town is important.  Presently, we are creating a carbon footprint since we are having to drive to facilities in other areas.  He said, with a facility here in town, our quality of life increases and is positive.

 

Facilitator West asked, “Who else should weigh in?”

 

Joshua Glass said senior citizens are important and maybe we are overlooking them.  But they would be able to use the facility during the day while the youth are in school.

 

Pam Fuller commented that she does not want our taxes raised too high but is embarrassed that the Town does not have a recreation center.  If we have one, it will be a plus!

 

Josh Bickford (not as a reporter with the Barrington Times but as a coach with flag football) apologized for arriving late but was at practice and commented on how important the facility is to this town.

 

Facilitator West asked for additional comments regarding existing programs, are they meeting your needs, and could they be partners in this effort?

 

Discussion ensued in which having a facility would be an asset and presently the funds are going to facilities outside of the town and draining the town with spending dollars that could remain in town.

 

Seth Fisher said that we may need a third party to fund and operate the rec center, but he hopes that it would be a private/public relationship.

 

President Kustell stated that currently the Town Council agendas have a standing agenda item regarding fields and facilities so that this conversation continues.

 

Vice President Humm said that there were positive and negative comments but  this was very helpful and positive.  He commented that we will be having a feasibility consultant on board soon and will take this information to the next step.

 

ADJOURN

 

Motion by Vice President Humm motioned seconded by Councilwoman Berard to adjourn the meeting at 8:31pm.

 

 

________________________

Meredith J. DeSisto, CMC

Barrington Town Clerk