Annual Financial Town Meeting                 Total Eligible:  14,326  

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.              Attendance:                    134 @ 7:01 PM

Barrington High School Auditorium                                                   255 @ 7:25 PM

                                                                                                               300 @ 8:03 PM

                                                                                                              334 @ 9:00 PM

                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                             

Present: 

·        Town Moderator:  Richard F. Staples, Jr.

·        Town Clerk:  Meredith J. DeSisto

·        Town Council:  President Braxton H. Cloutier, Vice President Kate Berard, Councilwoman Lianna Cassar, Councilwoman Jordan Jancosek and Councilman Kerry O’Neill

·        Town Manager:  Phil Hervey

·        Business and Finance Director:  Maryanne Crawford

·        Assistant to Finance Director:  Ross Latham

·        Appropriations Committee:  Chair Dr. Cynthia Rosengard, Vice Chair John Stafford, Tinsley Kampmier-Williamson Michael Raia and James Sanderson   

·        School Committee:   Chair TJ Peck, William Frasier Bell, Tim McNamara, Karen Rasnick and Eliabeth Singh (unable to attend)

·        School Superintendent:  Robert Wargo

·        School Director of Administration and Finance:  Doug Fiore

·        Assistant Town Solicitor(s):  Amy Goins

 

Moderator Richard Staples began by thanking all the poll workers out in the foyer for checking us in. They have confirmed that we have a quorum of 134 voters (quorum of at least 100 registered voters present) he called the meeting to order at 7:01pm and welcomed everyone to the 2025 Financial Town Meeting.

 

He was asked by the Fire Chief to point out the emergency exits; they are the doors that you came in through and located in each corner by the stage.

Moderator Staples asked everyone to please rise and join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Moderator Staples explained that he was elected by the voters to serve as the Town Moderator. By Rhode Island law, Mr. Staples stated that he has sole authority to regulate Barrington’s Annual Financial Town Meeting. 

 

As in years past, our FTM tonight is your opportunity, as voters, to debate and decide on the budget for the Town’s upcoming Fiscal Year beginning July 1st, as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations, and ask questions of your elected and appointed officials. The only subjects for discussion this evening, therefore, are the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Barrington Budget, and resolutions that require a Financial Town Meeting vote as outlined in the Warrant.

Our Financial Town Meeting is being conducted as an open meeting, in compliance with state law. Barrington voters can register to enter the meeting at any time and participate in discussion and voting.

Moderator Staples explained that all should have a copy of the 2025-26 proposed Barrington Budget as well as a sheet of numbers.  This sheet of numbers is proof that you are a registered Barrington voter, and you will need to have them with you whenever a vote is taken using a paper ballot.

 

As a result of changes to the Town Charter approved by voters last November, the budget approval process for next year, and beyond, will change to a Financial Town Referendum format. Some information on that new process has been distributed tonight for your information. Exactly how that will all happen is still in development, but he urged all to put May 27, 2026 on your calendar, since that will be the date of our first townwide referendum vote.

 

Moderator Staples introduced the Barrington Town Clerk, Meredith DeSisto, who keeps the official record of this meeting. He said that microphones are located in the center for your use in asking questions, making motions, and debating motions…but please tell us your name and address for the record before beginning your remarks. If you are making a motion that is long or complicated, we would appreciate having a written copy to ensure that the motion is recorded correctly.

 

Moderator Staples explained during voting, everyone in the auditorium must be seated except when a standing vote is called for. He said, “to save time, I will first ask for a voice vote.  If the results are not clear, I will then call for those in favor to stand, followed by those opposed.  If the vote is still not obvious, I will assign tellers to count each section of the room. Such standing votes take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.”

He said additionally, we are prepared to cast paper ballots this evening if that is requested by 20% of the voters present and voting. You were given numbers to be used for paper ballots when you checked in.  He mentioned that casting a paper ballot requires some patience and may take as much as an hour.

Moderator Staples explained that this is an open meeting that anyone can attend, but only registered Barrington voters can vote. There is a section (in front, to his left) reserved for non-resident department heads and members of the press.

Moderator Staples explained that fully functioning technology is a very important part of our Financial Town Meetings, and thanked Mike Davis, Ken Aubuchon, who manages the technology. A thank you to Jamie with Broadband and to George Finn, Nahim Mitnik and his student assistants, Scott Morpeth and David Burrows as well as the entire custodial staff who makes this evening possible, the Town Clerk’s office, Clerk Meredith DeSisto, and her staff, Deputy Clerk Stephanie Bernardo, Sr. Clerk Michele Cross, and Cindy Benway for all the preparation during the year and this evening and the Town Manager’s Executive Assistant Kelly Marcu.

Finally, he thanked the Board of Canvassers, Chair Claire Boyes, Paul Dulchinos (unable to attend), Sarah O’Brien, and Dan O’Mahony, for their diligence and flexibility in organizing and working on tonight’s meeting to make sure it is both safe and successful.

Many of Barrington’s elected and appointed officials are up here in front of you tonight, said Mr. Staples.

Moderator Staples introduced Town Council President Braxton Cloutier and he introduced the other council members, Vice President Kate Berard, Liana Cassar, Jordan Jancosek and Kerry O’Neill and the Town Manager Phil Hervey. 

Moderator Staples introduced Chair of the Barrington School Committee TJ Peck and he introduced the other school committee members, Frazier Bell, Timothy McNamara, Karen Rasnick and Elizabeth Singh (unable to attend) and the School Superintendent Robert Wargo.

In addition, said Mr. Staples, we have Town Finance Director Maryanne Crawford and her Assistant Finance Director Ross Latham, School Finance Director Doug Fiore and Assistant Town Solicitor Amy Goins here and available to answer your questions.

Everyone will be allowed 3 minutes to ask a question, make a motion or speak to a motion. Our timers will warn you when you have 30 seconds remaining, and this year Sarah O’Brien will be manning our timer stoplight which turns red when your 3 minutes are up. Moderator Staples said there is support tonight from both the Barrington Democrat Town Committee (Noah Lindsay, Heather Kilmartin, Nicole Jelinek and Susan McCalmont) and Republican Town Committee (Dr. Lisa Daft, Geoff Grove, Joe Merrill and Joan Warren) who will serve as timers and tellers for this evening as a bipartisan basis.

Moderator Staples said that first on the agenda is the reading of the call, (warrant/public notice), published and posted in advance of the meeting. Because the call is printed and before you on Page 2, he said that he would entertain a Motion to dispense with the reading of the call from the floor.  Seconded from the floor.

Motion passed (Voice Vote)

The budget you have in front of you is the budget as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations. Moderator Staples said that Dr. Cynthia Rosengard is Chair of the Committee on Appropriations, and  introduced the members of the committee, John Stafford, Tinsley Kampmier-Williamson, Michael Raia and James Sanderson.

Moderator Staples asked if there is a motion to dispense with the reading of the Committee on Appropriation’s message pages 3-5.

Motion  from the floor and a second from the floor.   Motion passed (Voice vote).

Dr. Rosengard thanked COA member Tinsley Kampmier-Williamson as her term is ending this evening. 

Dr. Rosengard said that this year’s process was a little bit different than most years, with a truncated process because we received the school committee budget a couple weeks later than the deadline (deadline in charter 1st Monday in March).  But in spite of that we had great discussions about both the school and municipal budgets, and in the end, voted unanimously to accept them as presented.

Moderator Staples thanked Dr. Rosengard and the members of the COA for their time and the important work of reviewing the budgets.  He thanked the members of the Budget Forecasting Committee that preceded the work of this year’s Committee on Appropriations for the work they did last fall.

 

 

Committee on Appropriations 2025 Financial Town Meeting Message

Your Committee on Appropriations (COA) welcomes you to the 2025 Town of Barrington Financial Town Meeting. We have been working diligently on your behalf over the past several months to receive and review the Municipal and School budgets you will be voting on tonight.

Unlike many Rhode Island communities, Barrington’s Town Charter offers you this final opportunity and responsibility to speak and then vote on how your town allocates and spends its revenue from property taxes and other sources for the coming fiscal year.

 

THE CHARTER

By Charter, the Committee on Appropriations (the “Committee”) – five members elected at the Financial Town Meeting on staggered two-year terms - is charged with holding “a public meeting on the Wednesday two weeks prior to the Annual Financial Town Meeting at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of hearing all registered voters of the Town interested in preparing a budget to be presented to the Annual Financial Town Meeting…” That public meeting, referred to as the Budget Hearing, was held on May 14, 2025.

 

THE PROCESS

The 2025 - 2026 Budget process began earlier this year with the Budget Forecast Committee meeting to update the Budget Forecast. This valuable document projects spending and revenues over several years based on both known amounts and assumptions. It is not intended to predict the actual budget, as priorities and circumstances change. It does provide a baseline to aid the Administrations and COA in crafting budgets. The Budget Forecast Committee is composed of two members each from the Town Council, School Committee and COA as well as our Town Moderator and is advised by the Municipal and School Administrators and Finance Directors. The final Forecast document was presented by the Budget Forecast Committee and discussed at a joint meeting of the Town Council, School Committee and COA on January 28, 2025.

 

For this fiscal year and in anticipation of the Budget Hearing, the Committee held four meetings to review the proposed budgets (in addition to the aforementioned Budget Forecast

presentation). Meetings were in person, available on Zoom, and recorded and posted to our webpage on the Barrington Town website. All meetings were publicized in advance and allowed for public comment. The final vote on the budgets was taken at the April 8, 2025 meeting. The committee voted unanimously to approve the recommended Municipal and School budgets.

 

THE BUDGETS

The process leading up to the Committee on Appropriations’ review of five draft budgets - Municipal Operating, Municipal Capital, School Operating, School Capital, and Debt Service - began early this year, when the Town Council, School Committee, and Municipal and School

leadership began working with their management teams to assemble their recommendations for the budgets being presented tonight. (The Municipal Capital Budget was developed and presented by the Planning Board based on input from the Administration) All budgets were

compared to last year’s approved numbers and multi-year expense history. The School Department applied a zero-based budgeting strategy again this year and continues to be guided by their Strategic Plan. Finally, the draft budgets were reviewed and approved by the Town Council for the three Municipal Budgets and by the School Committee for the School Operating and Capital Budgets, before being presented to the Committee on Appropriations.

Once received, the Committee conducted its own review of the five draft budgets. Municipal and School administrators were present at our meetings and remained involved throughout the process. They answered our questions and explained their methods of setting budget needs, priorities and initiatives with the community and taxpayers in mind. They also informed us of efficiencies and reductions in their budgets and were challenged to defend their spending plans.

 

Significant Committee findings from our review process are: (1) compensation costs (contracts, parity and benefits) within the two operating budgets continue to account for large portions of the budget and spending increases; (2) new initiatives and reallocation of how services are provided are included in the School and Municipal budgets; (3) Town and School pensions are in compliance with all required contributions in accordance with State schedules, and continue to be monitored; (4) maintaining excellent bond agency ratings requires balanced budgets and robust reserves; and (5) awards of grant dollars, and thousands of volunteer hours help mitigate costs and enhance the quality of life for Barrington residents. These offsets allowed the tax levy to remain below the State mandated 4% increase.

 

Reserve Accounts

The status of reserve accounts often comes up at the FTM. Current balances are listed below. For a variety of reasons, the COA does not recommend using reserves to offset current spending.

 

School:

Operating Reserve (2% of budget): Current Balance = $1,249,874*

Capital Reserve: Current balance = $6,706,807*

 

Municipal:

Reserve: Current balance = $27,363,475*

 

*Please note that these figures are from the audit from June 30, 2024

 

Total Town Budget

The Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 Town of Barrington budgets, as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations and published in the Barrington Times on May 7, 2025, total $97,970,917, an increase of 2.2% compared to Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025. This total is distributed across five major budget categories referenced below. The first two categories - Municipal Operating and Municipal Capital represent 25% of the total budget and have recommended changes of 3.3% increase and 10.4% decrease compared to Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025. The combined increase of the total Municipal Budget is 2.4%. The next two categories – School Operating and School Capital represent 69% of the total budget and have changes of 2.2% and 0% compared to Fiscal Year 2024 – 2025.  The combined increase of the total School Budget is 2.1%.  The last category Debt Service - represent the remaining 6% of the total budget and has an increase of 2.5% compared to the prior fiscal year.

 

1. Municipal Operating Budget

The Municipal Operating Budget as presented to the Committee was $22,644,816 a 3.3% increase compared to Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025. Notable budget changes were consolidation of departments, Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) for school construction project, refuse and recycling contract, and union agreements/contractual obligations.

 

2. Municipal Capital Budget

The Municipal Capital Budget recommended by the Planning Board was $1,515,556, a 10.4% decrease from fiscal year 2024 - 2025. Notable highlights were $445,000 for DPW equipment replacement $225,000 for fire apparatus replacement and $200,000 for a climate mitigation project. 

 

3. School Operating Budget

The School Operating Budget as presented to the Committee was $67,011,120, a 2.2% increase compared to Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025. Notable budget impacts were a revenue reduction due to State Aid, contractual obligation and pension obligation increases, and a need to staff efficiencies.

 

4. School Capital Budget

The School Capital budget request was $388,595, the same as fiscal year 2024 - 2025. Included in the request are K – 3 and BMS/BHS one-to-one devices, staff device, math/science Windows devices and server replacement.

 

5. Debt Service Budget

The Debt Service Budget request was for $6,410,830, an increase of 2.5% from the prior year.

 

The COA voted unanimously to accept the budgets as presented.

 

BUDGET SUMMARY

EXPENSES

FY2025

Certified
Budget

FY2026

Amount Increase

Percent Increase

Municipal Operating

$21,912,238

$22,644,816

$732,578

3.3%

Municipal Capital

$1,691,500

$1,515,556

($175,944)

(10.4%)

School Operating

$65,596,225

$67,011,120

$1,414,895

2.2%

School Capital

$388,595

$388,595

$0

0.00%

Debt Service

$6,255,837

$6,410,830

$154,993

2.5%

Total Expenses

$95,844,395

$97,970,917

$2,126,522

2.2%

 

PROJECTED REVENUES

SOURCE

Amount

Percent Change

Municipal Department Receipts

$1,212,578

 (0.61%)

Municipal Other

$3,075,948

6.15%

State Aid & Housing Aid

$8,235,931

(0.46%)

School Aid

$11,036,885

(4.2%)

Tangible and Property Tax

$74,259,575

3.02%

Total Revenues

$97,970,917

2.22%

ANTICIPATED IMPACT ON TAX LEVY

 

The recommended Total Town Budget voted on by the Committee on Appropriations on April 8, 2025, and the subsequent Town of Barrington Notice of Proposed Property Tax Rate Change that was approved by the state, along with a report to the taxpayers on the current and proposed budgets and published on May 7, 2025, is estimated to result in a proposed Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 tax levy increase of 3.02%.

 

The final tax levy and related property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026 will be determined by the result of votes taken at tonight’s Financial Town Meeting. Furthermore, each individual property owner’s actual property tax increase or decrease may be further impacted by

any changes in assessed value of the owner’s property during the past year, such as exemptions and revaluation.

 

Sincerely,

TOWN OF BARRINGTON COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  Cynthia Rosengard (Chair), John Stafford (Vice Chair), Tinsley Kampmier-Williamson, Michael Raia and James Sanderson

Motion by President Braxton Cloutier and seconded from Vice President Berard to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TOWN’S FUND BALANCE POLICY

 

 

Be it resolved that:

 

WHEREAS, the Town Council has adopted a Fund Balance Policy which states that in any year should the unassigned Fund Balance exceed 30% of regular general fund operating expenses, the excess above 30% may be transferred to Capital Reserve Accounts, as determined by the Town Council and subject to approval at the Financial Town Meeting or Financial Town Referendum, as applicable; and,

 

WHEREAS, based on the recently completed audit for Fiscal Year 2024, the unassigned Fund Balance has exceeded the 30% level by 4.09%, totaling $3,280,177.90; and,

 

WHEREAS, on May 5, 2025, the Town Council reviewed the Town’s capital needs and voted to request approval of the Town’s electors to fund specified Capital Reserve Funds;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the sum of $3,280,177.90 from the General Fund is hereby reappropriated for fiscal year 2026 to fund Capital Reserve Funds as follows:

·        Paving/Drainage Capital Reserve Fund: $1,100,000

·        Climate Mitigation and Resilience Capital Reserve Fund: $1,300,000

·        Sidewalks and Bicycle Facilities Capital Reserve Fund: $680,177.90

·        Bay Spring Community Center Capital Reserve Fund: $200,000

This Resolution shall take effect upon passage.

Motion passed (Voice vote).

 

Motion by President Braxton Cloutier and seconded from Vice President Berard to adopt the following resolution:

 

RESOLUTION OF THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF EMERGENCY NOTES

TO FUND EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000

 

Be it resolved that:

 

Section 1.  In the event of an emergency threatening the public safety, health or welfare and requiring the immediate expenditure of money by the Town, the Town Council, on the written recommendation of the Town Manager, by resolution, may appropriate funds in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 and for purposes in addition to those contained in the operating budget or in the capital budget.  Such a resolution shall include a brief statement of the facts that show the existence of such emergency.

Section 2.  To fund said appropriation, the Finance Director, with the approval of the Town Council, is authorized under Section 45-12-2 of the General Laws Rhode Island to issue emergency notes.

Section 3.  The manner of sale, denominations, maturities, principal amounts, interest rates, and other terms, conditions and details of any emergency notes issued pursuant to this authority may be fixed by proceedings of the Town Council authorizing the issue or by separate resolution of the Town Council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the emergency notes.  The notes shall be signed by the Finance Director and by the President of the Town Council.

Section 4. The Finance Director and the President of the Town Council are hereby authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to insure that the interest on the emergency notes will remain exempt from federal income taxation to the extent provided in Section 103 of the Code, and to refrain from taking any action which will cause interest on the emergency notes to lose the benefit of exclusion from gross income provided by Section 103(a) of the Code.  The Treasurer and the President of the Town Council are further authorized to take all lawful action necessary or desirable to designate the emergency notes as “qualified tax-exempt obligations” within the meaning of Section 265(b)(3) of the Code.

 

Motion passed (Voice vote).

Motion by President Braxton Cloutier and seconded from Vice President Berard to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000

Be it resolved that:

 

Section 1.  Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws Section 45‑12‑4 and Section 6-5-2 of the Town of Barrington Home Rule Charter the Finance Director and the President of the Town Council acting on behalf of the Town, are authorized to issue and refund, from time to time, not to exceed $5,000,000 interest bearing notes issued in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds of the annual tax assessed or to be assessed upon the taxable property within the said Town as of December 31, 2024 for the financial year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 for the purpose of providing funds for the payment of the current liabilities and expenses of said Town. 

 

Section 2.  The manner of sale, amount, denominations, maturities

conversion or registration privileges, dated dates, due dates, interest rates, medium of payment, and other terms, conditions and details of the Notes authorized hereunder may be fixed by proceedings of the Town Council authorizing the issue or by separate resolution of the Town Council or, to the extent provisions for these matters are not so made, they may be fixed by the officers authorized to sign the Notes.

Section 3.  The Director of Finance/Treasurer and the President of the Town Council are authorized to take all actions necessary to comply with federal securities laws including Rule 15c2-12 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Rule”) and to execute and deliver if required in connection with the Notes a Continuing Disclosure Agreement or a Material Events Disclosure Agreement in the form as shall be deemed advisable by the Director of Finance and the President of the Town Council in order to comply with the Rule. The Town hereby covenants and agrees that it will comply with and carry out all provisions of any such Continuing Disclosure Agreement or Material Events Disclosure Agreement, as either of them may be amended from time to time.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Resolution or the Notes, failure of the Town to comply with any such Continuing Disclosure Agreement or Material Events Disclosure Agreement shall not be considered an event of default; however, any noteholder may take such actions as may be necessary and appropriate, including seeking a mandate or specific performance by court order, to cause the Town to comply with its obligations under this Section and under any such agreement.

 

Motion passed (Voice vote).

 

Agenda items 8 to 11 are four pre-filed motions made by voters in accordance with provisions in the Town Charter. They are also listed on Page 8. We will address the first of these now, and the remaining three when we get to the point of discussing the Schools Budget under Agenda Item 12.

 

 

Thomas Rimoshytus, 1 Howard Street made the following motion:

 

Motion:  I, Thomas A. Rimoshytus of 1 Howard Street, Barrington, RI make a motion to cut the Capital Reserve Account Affordable Housing Assistance in its entirety that was created in 2021 and place the amount of $502,003 and change into the bottom line of the school budget.  Respectfully submitted on May 15, 2025 at 4:15pm.

 

A second from the floor.

 

Moderator Staples asked for Finance Director Maryanne Crawford to explain to us briefly what impact this motion would have on the current discussion about the budget.

 

Ms. Crawford explained that this motion that as presented, is taking money out of what is called a reserve fund balance that was reserved a couple of financial town meetings ago in a form like this. The motion is to have this go to the bottom-line budget of the school's budget. This does not have any tax impact, because we're taking money out of what's called fund balance, or what some folks may know, the vernacular surplus, and move it to the school bottom line. This will increase the bottom line of the school, and it will also be necessary in the future for what they build the budget on. It will be included in all future next year's “maintenance of efforts” for the school budget.

 

 

Mr. Rimoshytus gave a brief history of this money in which the Town Council in 2021 motioned to add these monies  to the reserve account marked for affordable housing.  He said that these monies were supposed to be used for people that qualify for a down payment assistance on a house in town.  At the same time, many people said to wait, because Rhode Island has many affordable housing programs coming out.  He questioned why we would get assistance from the town on a 30-year deed restriction for a $50,000 down payment since the inception of this fund, there has not been a single issuance of any funds and this past year the Housing Board of Trustees asked for a meeting with the Town Council to talk about the funds, as they would come up with a plan.  Well, he said, it has been a year and we still haven’t seen anything.  He said as you know, our taxes keep going up, the school keeps bringing their budgets right to the 4% max and now our school aid is being cut over $500,000 in state aid, a threat of cutting teachers, a $250 million school bond that we have started to pay on this year and expect to vote on an override of a 4% cap for next year, even before budgets are proposed, a threat to state aid being cut a million dollars next year.  He said that that our state aid was increased during COVID and the formula worked in our favor, keeping us high on the hog.  He said that some of our COA urged school officials to use the money for a one-time expense, as it isn’t always a guarantee. Here we are going backwards in the other direction, the administration blaming the reevaluation of the cost of our homes is causing the fund formula to not work in our favor, as it did in the brief period of time.  He said that many people and former COA members have been saying this for years, that we live above our means and now it is coming to fruition.

 

Mr. Rimoshytus said that we will be able to use the money from the reserve account to supplement the school budget so our taxes will not go up and our levy will be the same.  A majority of taxpayers know the school budget is a bottom-line budget, so they can spend the money in any way they see fit.  If this money gets approved and the school administration does not use it to keep the teachers that they are proposing to cut, there will be hell to pay next year.  He said that cuts should be from the top down.

 

School Finance Director Doug Fiore said that the “maintenance of effort” is a state law that requires the community to fund it no more, no less than the previous year.  That means that this would be a baseline if it is adjust to our appropriation for next year, and funding could not be cut from that amount for fiscal year 27 budget.

 

Moderator Staples opened public comment: 

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing said that this is an excellent idea as this will save the teachers positions instead of coming up with the funds and this money will not reach into the pockets of the taxpayers of this town.  She said that she supports this motion.

 

Kate Weymouth, 79 Alfred Drown Road said that every budget season was fraught during the 16 years that she served the town as the school can spend their bottom line however they see fit, This motion seeks to move money from a municipal affordable housing account established to help those who serve this town – DPW workers, firefighters, town hall workers Shaws employees etc.  The school committee might have garnered more sympathy from me had they not recklessly spent 1.5 million of their reserve fund on an artificial turf field at Victory field, ignoring the overwhelming vote against artificial turf by the voters this past November, I will be voting against this resolution and urge others to join me.

 

Julian Fitta, Indigo Road agreed with Mr. Rimoshytus on this motion.  He described a ceramics teacher who will lose her job  due to these proposed budget cuts.  He said that he is in favor of this motion and this motion will not raise taxes for the town’s taxpayer.

 

Kathleen Berard, 3 Cheshire Road and said that there is a motion with her name on it adding $500,000 to the school’s budget with the hope and the intention to reduce the staff efficiencies but this (motion) is moving money from one side to the other.  She said that she is excited for the potential of housing that we have coming down the line and a bill regarding ADU’s that was passed by the state which is going to increase housing as they are a sustainable solution for affordable housing.  She believes is would be a shame to take money out of an affordable housing spot, to put a band aid on or softening the operating budget.  She encouraged to listen to the motions that are coming up later, including the motion that would increase the school budget by $534,000 and vote no on this motion.

 

Joshua Lifton,3 Robins Drive and said that it is unfortunate that there was no use found for the funds over the last few years.  However, not dispensing them is not an indication that they're not needed for that purpose.  He encouraged all to do both for everyone to vote no on this measure.

 

Kelvin Msiurski, 221 Promenade Street said do not give up on affordable housing as we allocated the money for it.  The school undermined my vote as a town not to have turf and he said that he is disappointed but will vote no to this motion.

 

Robert Schwartz, 441 Sowams Road said that he believes that TR is correct with ample opportunities at the state level and the federal level, including the FHA program to provide assistance who need affordable down payment assistance.  He said that the tax picture that is coming up is going to be intense because of the school bond.  He urged all to vote in favor.

 

Nicoloa de Carvalho, 68 Bowden Avenue said that the affordable housing is something that could be used.  He commented that people come here for our schools and that is why they come here.

 

Noah Lindsey, 52 Washington Road commented that if we could have a clause that if the money is not used this year, then the opportunity for it to be used next year.

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing said that we have already done what was suggested. She said that there is a little bit of misrepresentation in which the ADU’s would be added to our existing homeowners’ properties in town and no down payment would be needed on ADU’s and down payment assistance implies only for new people trying to move to town and $50,000 towards a downpayment on a house that is $650,000 is not going to help them because Barrington is not affordable.

 

Erica Sevetson, 48 Chapel Road asked for a clarification with the motion – is this a one-time transfer?

 

School Finance Director Fiore answered yes this is a one-time transfer

 

Erica Sevetson, questioned, “would I be correct if it would create a structural deficit in future years, our taxes would have to go up accordingly?”

 

School Finance Director Fiore whenever you use one time revenue source, which this would be, it would create a structural deficit. If this passes this year, there is not an impact on the on the taxpayers, but in future years, that gets added to the budget.  It'll be part of the “maintenance of efforts” and added to the base of the budget. It does not impact the tax levy for this year or the tax rate for this year. However, it is a one-time revenue source, and that revenue source would have to be made up next year.

 

Julian Fitta, 8 Indigo Road agreed with an earlier speaker that Barrington is not an affordable place to live.  A $50,000 down payments. That's 10 down payments given out to assist in people with affordable housing. Those 10 payments are not reasonably worth cutting off all of the teachers that won't make it past this budget cut.

 

Clara Kugler, 48 Chapel Road said that she would like to question the assertion that was made a few speakers ago that people who do not currently live in Barrington do not have the potential to be valued members of the community if they're given access. I'm a 2021, graduate of Barrington High School, and just graduated magna cum laude from my college, which I can say I would not have been able to do if I did not have access to the programs that prepared me at Barrington. When my family first moved to Barrington in 2012, we were on the lower end of the economic continuum of people in this town. I can say that if the housing in 2012 were similar to what it was today. We would not have been able to move to Barrington, and I would not have had access to those programs. My family since then, we have contributed to the community. We've done volunteering. My mom served on the school committee. None of that would have been possible if housing was expensive as it is.  She would like to encourage people not to cut the down payment assistance.

 

Maura McCrann, 4 Woodford Road said that she feels like we're making this about one or the other, and she said she just doesn’t know that we need to. She very much supports affordable housing in town. She  believes that the town capital has hit $30 million and that we had so much in capital that they just had to spend down $3 million into other projects.  But there are three more motions and we'll add it in later, if we don't add it in now. But I'm just not quite sure why we couldn't use that money for this year. Yes, next year we will have a tax situation, but we also have over $30 million in reserve in the town so that if and when we actually are to a point of being ready to use money for affordable housing, there's a good chance we will be over that again.

 

Kathleen Berard, 3 Cheshire Road, wanted to clarify the statements about there are so many federal programs and so many state programs to get people into homes but federal housing assistance is evaporating. She wanted to be clear that there's not endless funds through the state and federal government to make people be housed. The other comment is, is that we have a lot of money and a lot of spaces that sit for a long time until those projects get formulated. She thinks it's important to understand that as a community, we stood strong about the idea of affordable housing and making it a community that was accessible for those people who do work here and for those people who want to live here. The reality is, is that we won't be able to put that money back into an affordable housing fund over the next several years. She said that there is going to be some movement in these funds.

 

Thomas Kee, 3 Briarfield Road questioned the number of layoffs.

 

School Superintendent Robert Wargo stated we distributed and made a recommendation to the school committee to approve layoffs. Layoffs impacted six educators in our school district but aren’t all of FTE some are part-time and that adds up to about the 14 to 15.  We took great care to cut at the furthest away from student learning as possible.  For every employee, there's a payroll cost, and some of that include benefits, which include medical and dental, that there's an 80/20, share that is incurred by the school district. Not every member takes full advantage of the benefits that are afforded to them. If you just take those positions the cost is $370,445.744.  There are other positions that if the money is allocated to the school department, we would restore other positions as well that exists as cuts, but not as layoffs.

 

Mr. Kee questioned and Mr. Wargo answered:  State aid was cut 4.2% which is about $490,000.

 

School Finance Director Fiore said when we compare our state aid estimated for next year with the actual number, that's where we get the half million-dollar number. I'm sorry, the number you're seeing in that first column isn't a final number, it's just an estimate. If you compare budget to budget, you're seeing that difference of 183 but when you look at the actual aid that we receive for 25 compare it to the estimated a for 26 that's our athletic hours.

 

Michael Witnitsky, 12 Melrose Avenue this town has very little affordable housing and does not approach the 10% as requested by the state.  He asked why would you take from the least of the people who need the money the most?

 

Liana Cassar stated that this not the venue that we should be talking without a recommendation by the Housing Board of Trustees to alter the use or designation of these funds; it is not the place for this decision.  We all want an investment in our schools, and we certainly don't want to be losing any educators.  But the reality is that the housing Board of Trustees oversees the affordable housing plan for the town, which is part of the comprehensive plan. We have a 10-year comprehensive plan that is up for renewal and review.  She recommended that we vote against any change to those funds that is not approved by the housing board of trustees or the planning board.

 

Alice Fisher 99 Highland Avenue said if we could return back to the discussion of laying off the teachers.  It was mentioned that these layoffs consist of those far away from students but it was mentioned that some of teaching assistant s and she argues they are close to the students.  They are important part of creating a fair and accessible learning environment for every student, as guaranteed by the Americans Disabilities Act. And I'd like to also introduce my sister to speak on her own experience with teaching assistants and how they've helped her.

 

Libby Fisher said, “I'm doing special ed and regular classes. This is my fifth-year parenting High School. I am going to get a diploma through traditional academy after I finish. I love that the TA’s have helped me get to the path I have right now.

 

Neilie Hartman, 18 Great Road this is my 5th or 6th FTM and every time I watched the room informed by very emotionally charged statements, and often with a little space in retrospection, those statements are really invalid.  She said that is why she is glad to see the end of the FTM.  I think there are a lot of false choices being presented.  She is a big fan of education but would love to have Barrington be affordable for a lot more people.  I commend the school committee for putting forth a budget that was not at the four plus percent year over year that we've seen it again. I commend the COA for approving that budget. But the notion that we have to choose between these two things is false. I simply ask If this program has been available for four years and no one has used it, there is something fundamentally wrong with the program. Meanwhile, we're going to look at these kids and say we're firing, letting go, retiring, not replacing teachers that we need today.

She said that we are hanging on in replacement of something we need that just seems silly. Ask yourself, in your own personal life, in your household, would you make that choice? I want to end with one question for superintendent Wargo, you use the past tense as you describe those reductions. My understanding is they have not been locked, loaded and approved. Can you just clarify that for the room?

 

Superintendent Wargo said layoffs, cuts are made as a recommendation from the superintendent to the school committee, and then the school committee's charge is to approve or not approve those recommendations.

 

SC Chair TJ Peck said the school committee did not approve the recommendations for the NEA or the best union member positions in the event that there are additional funds made available to the school committee. It is the school committee that will approve the superintendent's recommendations on where we go from there.

 

Michael Witnitsky, 12 Melrose questioned the cut cost and the discrepancy between $450,000 or $370,000?  He commented that all Barrington residents are tax paying residents but some of us do not have children, some of us do not have stable incomes for various reasons. And if you do the math, it is about $50 in tax per year with approximately 17,000 residents.

 

Megan Douglas , 25 Rumstick Road questioned that someone mentioned a “false choice”.  She said that Mr. Fiore mentioned a structural deficit, which means that we are simply kicking the can to next year.  We will then have to find $500,000 to cover next year. Is the state going to give us more money? No, we're probably going to get less again. Are we going to then increase our taxes above what we're already know are going to be higher taxes because we're going to be covering the building. We're not going to want to do that. While it seems like a nice thing to be able to tuck into this $500,000 that's sitting there, and nobody's used although she thinks that she has heard a lot of good things that are probably going to be done with it, the flip side is, all you're doing is waiting until next year to have to do this again. Granted, it won't be a financial town meeting, and you won't have to listen to all your neighbors talk for this long. But the flip side is we're still going to have to make that decision. She said, frankly, she 100% supports all of the teachers and all of the best, and I want to keep that here, but I don't think that this is the motion that gets that for us.

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing said people are being very defensive of the notion of affordable housing. She does not think anybody here is against affordable housing. This fund is not the difference between affordable housing and no affordable housing in this town. But reaching into each of our pockets and taking 50 more dollars out of it so that we can do the next motion instead of this motion is not going to in any way impact affordable housing in Barrington. We've had this money sitting there for years and now we have a need, and we're looking at laying off teachers, and instead of taking that money and using it where it can be immediately used dealing with next year's school budget.  We have a Committee On Appropriation so we can deal with these things long term. But right now, we're looking at losing teachers.

 

Jacob Brier 21 Western Avenue said when the capital reserve fund was established a few years ago, it was done specifically without restrictions, specifically to be used on recommendation of the Housing Board of Trustees and approved by the council, not limited to down payment assistance, as is being discussed tonight. Did that change at some point, or is it still available for multiple uses?

 

Town Manager Phil Hervey stated that you are correct.  It's not just for down payment assistance program. There's flexibility and how that money is just as you described spent.

 

Tom Krahn Briarfield Road stated that he was at a school committee meeting. There was a short table with the school operating budget, forecast as it looked like it was comparing the budget with projected expenses with a surplus of $550,000.

 

School Finance Director Fiore stated that document is our forecast with the current fiscal year to see how we're doing and at that time as we reviewed that, we were pretty optimistic they were going to finish under budget for fiscal year 25 and we are going to come in close to budget.

 

Carl Van Warmer, 11 Bay Avenue asked if the school budget has a capital reserve account of a million and a half?

 

School Finance Director Fiore said that the school department has a capital budget each year if we have a surplus and we meet our 2% operating reserve, the excess of that ends up in our capital reserve. He said that at the end of fiscal year 24 that it was 6.7 million. Since then, a significant portion of that has been appropriated for the victory field project. He said he would expect that balance would be about 1.7 million after that project is completed operating budgets would not be 

 

Carl Van Warmer asked is that considered a capital expenditure.

 

SC Chair TJ Peck it is against our policy and has not been done.

 

School Finance Director Fiore said that would create a structural deficit again, because you're using that one-time source of revenue, and in fiscal year 27 when we're working on that budget, but have to find another source, or else be faced with the same issues we have this year.  We have signed a contract and it is appropriated for the school turf and cannot be changed.

 

Pam Lauria, 56 Martin Avenue said that she is a former member of the Housing Board of Trustees when the $500,000 was appropriated, we didn't have any other programs besides the down payment assistance available to us. Because we didn't, we had, the state had not passed the ADU bill. She said she wanted to go back to what Mr. Brier said that that money, that that 500,000 was never restricted to a down payment assistance program. She said that was the only program available to the Housing Board of Trustees at that time. There is a lot of reasons why that money couldn't be used because of the rules of what makes a unit affordable, and that just did not exist in this Town. But now that some of the affordable housing laws have changed with the state. There will be opportunities like ADUs, which would give an opportunity for grandparents to live with their children, for children that would not have the opportunity to live by themselves, to have a unit on their home. We will have affordable units within this town that money could be used for that purpose. She said that she knows that it's frustrating that it hasn't, but that's the process that has happened with the state. This ball is rolling now, and she thinks it would be a shame to take this money away. She said when she sat on the Housing Board of Trustees, she was frustrated that we didn't use this money, but we didn't have the vehicles to use it. The current Board of Trustees will have those vehicles.

She also said that she is in 100% in support of the teachers. She does not want a structural deficit. She wants that money to be put into the budget now to be able to go forward, so they don't have to go through this next year.

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing said that she is really perplexed at how this affordable dwelling unit bill could use this money.  She said, “Because if I'm sitting in my $1.2 million house and I want to build an affordable accessory dwelling unit on my property and rent it to a low- income person, you're going to use these funds and give it to me so I can build it. I can't make the two come together, I just think four years that money's been sitting there, and it's going to save us with this 5 million, this million- dollar housing, school bond that we all have hanging over our heads, and you can't cut us this break of $500,000 so that you don't have to further reach into our pockets. Because, you know, one of the next two motions is going to pass, because nobody in Barrington wants to see anything bad happen to schools.”

 

Kathleen Berard, 3 Chester Drive, addressed the ADU bill and said that misinformation has been repeated many times about down payment assistance, it is not the truth. We did have the discussion with our solicitor at the last meeting which means under state law, and whether or not ADUs could be used for that purpose and count towards the 10% that answer is yes. She reiterated again that it would create a structural deficit on the school side, and we're going to be back in the same position.

 

Benjamin Reads 251 Sowams Road questioned the motions and the times that they were submitted.

I think we're ready to move the motion.

 

Discussion ensued that a typo occurred with which the motion was received.

 

 

Moderator Staples explained the motion, to cut the capital reserve account affordable housing assistance in its entirety that was created in 2021 and place the amount of $502,003 and change the bottom line of the school budget as submitted.

 

Moderator Staples called for a voice vote.

 

Motion failed (Voice vote).

 

Moderator Staples said that we are going to move now to the consideration of the upcoming fiscal year, 2025/26 budget, and we're going to begin with the municipal budget. The municipal budget is a line item. Budget motions may be made to increase or decrease any department budget, but other than pre-filed motions relating to the municipal budget, no motion can be made to increase or decrease any department budget by more than $50,000 or 20% whichever is less

 

We will begin our review of the recommended town budget on page 9, and we are going to go through these department by department.  We will start with the Town Council.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the agenda items, 2, 3 and 4 (pre-filed motions).

 

Moderator Staples stated they will be addressed in the school department budget, which follows the municipal budget.

 

Municipal Budget     

0010

Town Council 

$                                 51,400

0020

Town Manager

272,514

030

Town Clerk

316,911

0035

Probate/Municipal Court

13,980

0038

Board of Canvassers

21,050

0040

Finance Department and Tax Assessor

566,540

0045

Computer Operations

308,357

 

 

 

0080

Planning/Building/Resiliency Department

434,775

0095

Human Resources

134,886

0100

Recreation and Sr Services Department

411,456

0110

Library

1,474,673

 

 

 

 

0150

Fire Department

3,317,630

 

 

0180

Police Department

3,235,717

0185

Dispatch

510,510

190

Animal Control

7,000

0200

Harbor Control

64,684

 

 

 

0260

Department of Public Works

3,566,242

 

 

 

0265

Refuse Collection Contract

1426,000

 

 

 

Benefits                                       

 Social Security                                   950,393

Med/Dental Coverage                          2,301,039

 Pensions                                        1,914,234

 Compensated Absences                       75,000

 Unemployment Insurance                      7,500

                              5,248,166

 

 

                      

0310

Town Solicitor

  217,500

 

0320

Insurance

603,325

 

 

Agency Support

$7,000

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

0365

Town Hall Utilities

104,000

 

 

 

0366

Peck Center Utilities

105,000

0367

Public Safety Complex Utilities

162,000

 

 

 

0370

Miscellaneous

27,500

0340

Principal on Bonded Debt:

3,448,000

 

  

 

0350

Interest on Debt:

2,962,830

 

 

 

 

0360

Municipal Capital Items: 

  Police Department                          160,000

  Fire Department                          310,000           Public Works                                 445,000     

 

Other                                            600,556

                                             

                                          

 

 

 

                          

1,515,556

 

 

                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal Expenditures                                                            School Expenditures: *Motion by D.Lindenburg add $534,000 later in eve.                        

Capital Items –Town/School

Debt (lines 0340 and 0350)

22,644,816

67,011,120 + 534,000

  1,904,151

(6,410,830)

Total Government-Wide Operations                   

$ 98,504,917

Moderator Staples asked if there were any further questions or comments; there were not.

Motion passed. (voice vote)

 

Moderator Staples said that you have approved the municipal budget as recommended by the Committee on Appropriations (FY2025/26). (Please note Motion by D. Lindenburg on pages 15-19.)

         

Moderator Staples explained that the sewer utility is an enterprise fund.  The budget is fully funded by the sewer fees and that Revenues are established outside the authority of the town meeting.

 

850SE                Sewer Utility                                                                                 4,273,956

 

 

Moderator Staples said to our attendee’s earlier question, there were three pre-filed motions affecting the school budget that are listed as items nine through 11 on the agenda, on page one and on the warrant, on page two and again on page eight.

On your agenda, these motions are listed in the order they were filed at the town clerk's office, but we will take them in order of largest to smallest, beginning with the Agenda Item Number 10, if this motion passes, the other two motions are moot, but if number 10 does not pass, we will go to number nine, and if that doesn't pass, we will move finally, to motion number 11.

 

Moderator Staples stated that the first motion in which we will hear was made by Doreen Lindenburg.

 

 

Doreen Lindenburg 558 Maple Avenue made the following motion:

 

 

Motion:  I, Doreen Lindenburg, move to increase the Committee on Appropriations proposed operating budget by $534,000.  This amount represents the difference between the school operating budget approved by the School Committee for level services and the school operating budget proposed by the Committee on Appropriations, which would require substantial cuts to necessary programs and services currently provided. Submitted May 20, 2025 11:35am. 

 

 

A second came from the floor.

 

Moderator Staples asked if anyone from the COA or the School Committee would like to comment.

No one wished to comment.

 

Doreen Lindenburg emphasized the need for the Town to fund the difference to maintain planned/level services for the upcoming school year.  She explained that she has been a teacher for over 29 years.  She highlighted the fact that there have been two (2) art teachers’ loss their jobs due to budget cuts. She discussed the importance of the art program in which it engages all students and the potential impact of limiting these programs.  She commented that she understands that it will increase our taxes slightly.  But believes that the school improvement team states that the focus is on students, social, emotional and well- being as this should be addressed first as a community.

 

Finance Director Crawford confirms that the motion does not impact the 4% cap and explains the levy change would be approximately 10 cents per $1000.

 

Nahim Mitnik, 187 New Meadow Road stated that he is a teacher, parent, and co-president of NEA Barrington.  He discussed the challenges faced by the school department due to state funding reductions and proposed staffing and programming cuts.  He said specific cuts mentioned also include a teacher assistant in the wood shop, a library assistant, and a math position, affecting student safety and academic resources.  He continued to detail additional cuts in the high school, middle school, and elementary schools; including instructional coaches, physical education positions and reductions in pre-K and grade 2.  He said the impact of these cuts on student learning, safety and academic success is emphasized.  He urged all to vote in favor of the motion to add the $534,000 to the school departments operating budget to restore vital positions. 

 

Lisa Daft, 5 Robbins Drive expressed support for the school budget and teachers but opposes adding funds to the school budget, citing the bottom-line budget approach.  She said we do not get a say. She questioned the use of funds if the motion passes, suggesting that the School Committee might reinstate positions that were cut.

 

Thomas Bruekner, 4 Ellis Street questioned if the funds would be used to restore teaching positions if the motion passes.

 

Discussion ensued in which the response is that it would depend on the school committee’s decision.

 

Elizabeth Sturla, 12 Third Street, a library assistant, highlighted the importance of library assistants in providing academic resources and student engagement.

 

Allison Homer, 3 Grassy Plain Road, a senior and art club president, supports the motion to fund art teachers, emphasizing the impact of arts education on her personal and academic growth.

 

Emily Halloran, 12 Woodhaven Road spoke on behalf of other students in defense of art teacher Mrs. Friedman, highlighting her role in providing a safe and supportive environment for students.

 

Diane Baxter, Briarfield Road, stated that she supports the arts and library positions, mentioning the impact of cuts on her son’s experience and the investment in the new middle school.

 

Andrew Reich, 21 Half Mile Road, said that he opposes the motion and citing $1.1 million spent on an artificial turf field and the need for accountability from the school committee.

 

Julian Fitta, 8 Indigo Road, expressed support for teachers and the importance of maintaining student-facing positions.

 

Kate Weymouth, 79 Alfred Drown Road, discussed that the taxpayers have always supported our schools.  She commented that there are always surpluses from the school budgets because of the bottom-line budget  They accumulate over time and last June the School Committee made the decision to spend 4.5 million dollars of their reserve fund to build a new track and field with artificial.  She said that in November, Barrington voters voted overwhelmingly against artificial turf any where in Barrington but the school committee chose to ignore the voters decision.  She asked, “Why not use the nearly $2 million left in the reserve to fill the $500,000.?”

 

Discussion ensued regarding the budget process, questioning the school committee’s decision-making and policies with the use of capital reserves for operating expenses and earmarked for capital expenditures.

 

Kate Weymouth questioned why not use the reserve fund to finish the solar panels at the Barrington Middle School to be placed on the roof which must be operating costs and save the Town and taxpayers some money.

 

Geoff Grove, 16 Robbins Drive stated that he served nine (9) years on the Committee on Appropriations and described the budget process.  He further explained that the School Committee chose to raise the school budget by $1.4 million to $67 million and suggested that the school administration picks a favorite art teacher that gets cut and you all fall for it, stop being so gullible he said.

 

Noah Lindsay, 52 Washington Road, questioned that the school alluded that the money could go towards other options, and asked what are they?

 

Moderator Staples said there is no guarantee of any kind what the money would actually be used for.

 

Noah Lindsay requested what the ideas in which the money can be used.

 

School Committee Chair TJ Peck said during the course of the year there are open meetings with the School Committee in which they discussed the plan for the fiscal year but said, that he can’t speak of specifics for the School Committee regarding the options.

 

Maria Wah Fitta, 8 Indigo Road, stated that she is in strong support of the teachers with a change from STEM to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).

 

LanLan Zhou, 3 Massachusetts Ave, said that the students are very passionate about their teachers and how art is so important from elementary school upward.

 

Neile Hartman, 18 Great Road said here are the facts:  We cannot use capital funds for operating budgets such as salary; it creates a structural deficit.  We cannot take the money that is used for the fields, for salaries.  We cannot hold excessive reserves, which those that build up during COVID it not considered fiscally prudent.  Every single school committee member who was elected in the most recent cycle ran in favor of the project at Victory Field.  We as a town voted for them, and they said they would do this, and we voted for them.  The prior school committee voted five (5) out five (5), unanimously in support of Victory Field.  Lastly, countless public meetings have been held, countless students, teachers and athletes have come forth in support.  If you vote against Victory Field you are voting against student safety.

 

Emily Halloran, 12 Woodhaven Road, said that she is speaking on behalf of Sophie Halloran in defense of Miss. Friedman.  She said that the arts are vital to life.  She commented that the students have signed petitions against this with over 390 signatures.  

 

Andrew Reich, 21 Half Mile Road, questioned School Finance Director Doug Fiore with the following question:  “Am I correct in stating that the School Committee does have the discretion, if it chooses to do so, to take money from the capital reserve fund and use it for operating expenses if it wants to?”

 

School Finance Director Fiore said that there is a policy that earmarks those funds for capital purposes only.

 

Discussion ensued regarding if a policy has been instituted with the School Committee in which it has been in place for quite some time.  The discussion continued if the policy can be changed by the school committee? Can millions of dollars that was spent on the artificial turf field could have been used to cover all these expenses for school? 

 

Kate Berard, 3 Cheshire Road said that she doesn’t think you were duped once with the School Committee budget.  She thinks you all believe that teachers and funding the operational outcome of our schools is really important.  She said that she is in support of the teachers.  She said that she hopes that this motion passes and hers is withdrawn.  She stated that her son has 27 students in his class and questioned Superintendent Wargo, what do you mean when you said, “not needed positions”.  Is there a way to sort of place people in a needed position.

 

Superintendent Wargo said that “my role is to be fiscally responsible. When we look at class size and we determine what that number is, sometimes you don't need the additional teacher. I'm going to break it down to a math problem.  It comes down to class size.”

 

Kate Berard questioned in the scenario stated earlier, wouldn't that maybe reduce classroom size in one year, then afford you to place someone else so the fifth-grade teachers have some help and maybe could really assist a group that's struggling.  My understanding is that the first time we learned about the number of staff efficiencies was at a COA meeting that you attended after the budget was already voted in.  Could you just say that's when everyone learned of it. It wasn't a part of the process where the public would have been able to come in and say, Hey, save my art teacher.

 

Superintendent Wargo said, “I'll take this position right now that the accountability falls all on me.  I will attest to my failure in properly communicating the budget impact both the school committee and the general public. You are correct.”

 

John Stafford, 4 Strawberry Drive said that with the $250 million dollar bond we will have the biggest tax increase since he has been a resident in the last six years and have spent hours discussing the best way to handle this bond payment that is coming.  That's why the School Committee, in my discussions with them, we're trying to hold. That's why the superintendent held the budget, the school committee passed, and the guidance they gave him.  But we need these things as part of the schools – they are vital parts of our school system.

 

Sarah O’Brien, 88 Boyce Avenue said this is the budget the school department came up with, and the school department submitted, and the school committee approved of this is very different than the last bunch of years, where the school committee put together a budget and the school department put together a budget and the COA slashed it, right? The school department doesn't want this money. They don't want these teachers. This is where the problem is, and that's what's frustrating to me, because we have no guarantee that they're going to use this money for those teachers.

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing Ms. Friedman's job cannot be saved by anything we do here tonight. She and the others can be saved by the school committee simply by voting it so policy change or no, if there's a policy, policy change needed, then they should change it. But giving the school committee $500,000 more of our tax dollars will not force the school committee's hand to keep those positions. They have not made that promise.

 

Julian Fitta, 8 Indigo Road, questioned Superintendent Wargo’s equation if there is not enough students in a class then the class is not necessary.  However, he said, there are many students that want ceramics but there aren’t enough teachers and you pushed these classes to the side.  So where are you getting these numbers that deems the class not necessary?  Since there are many students that want these classes.

 

Superintendent Wargo commented if a teacher is cut the “bump” process begins in the Middle School it causes a ripple effect with other schools.  He said that he thinks, “I'll just refer to what the Chair of the School Committee said, if the money is appropriated to the school budget, it's a conversation between the school administration and the school committee.”

 

Dr. O’Brien, 88 Boyce Avenue One speaker said that the there's a 40 increase in ACL tears come to Grassfield compared to turf fields. It's actually the opposite the 2015 study from Stanford University, which is the gold standard on turf fields. It's independent. It's not. It's not a corporate study done by the turf field.  But it shows that 44% more injuries to the unhappy triad, which is the medial collateral ligament, the anterior ligament, and also amino meniscus.  This is not about turf itself, but if you keep the turf field in there, there's a 44% increase chance of increase of injuries to your children on that field compared to grass, and that's that study.

 

Fred Hartman,  18 Great Road, said that he knows the body tonight affirmed the importance of affordable housing. Every town in the state is facing issues with affordable housing, and how does a tax increase support affordable housing? Our School Committee has already affirmed that they want to keep these teachers and they like the budget. He said that he sees we let them do their job and work within that constraint and not bring on another tax increase that's going to make affordable housing that much more difficult.

 

Jennifer Gill, 6 Oak Manor Drive commented that she is 100% for the teachers and not turf.  But she would also like to say that there were numerous meetings about the victory field project before it was voted on by the prior school committee, which was a five zero vote.  She commends the School Committee, because she thinks they were incredibly transparent, and people may disagree with that, but she has gone to many school committees’ meetings in the past, where she did not see as much and feels confident in all of them that they're going to make the best decisions for our students, because that's what she has seen out of this current School Committee.

 

Tinsley Kampmier Williamson 19 Meadowbrook Drive said that the median house price in Barrington is $767,000 the median increase in taxes for this vote is $76 a year. It's under the 4% cap.  She gest the $250 million bond issue, but people voted for it.  We're literally talking about $76 a year and she didn't want to see another teacher lose their job over something like $76.

 

Ann Strong, 55 Teed Avenue, said $76 for some people in this town is a lot of money.  She said that she agrees with the residents who have come up here and said, “This is the budget that the school department asked for based on the mathematical formula and criteria that they are obligated by law to institute, and contractually, these are the teachers doing this to themselves in part as well and would urge everyone to vote against these motions.”

 

Alice Fisher, 99 Highland Avenue said not all will pay $76 it is reflected in your taxes.  But our teachers and education system is what gives this town our value.

 

Thomas Bruekner, 4 Ellis Street reiterated his question:  If this resolution is not passed, is it likely that teacher positions would not be restored if this motion does not pass.

 

Moderator Staples stated that we go onto the next motion that was pre-filed.

 

School Committee TJ Peck stated that he cannot say because he does not know.

 

Tinsley Kampmier Williamson, 19 Meadowbrook Drive said what she meant to say to Ms. Wolf’s statement was, we cannot fund the teacher’s jobs without the money.  There is a chance that it won’t be used towards that. This is the approval of the budget, or the disapproval of the budget, the money is not there, those jobs can’t be funded.

 

Janine Wolf, 5 Atlantic Crossing said that capital reserves is just a policy and policies can be changed.

 

Frank Iannarilli 59 Brook Street requested for Andrew Reich to come to the mic. 

 

Moderator Staples stated, “no.”

Mr. Iannarilli said that Andrew Reich in a letter in the Barrington Times requested that we come to this meeting and to vote no on the school committee budget.  He questioned if the motion passed what does it mean.

 

Moderator Staples explained the process of the budget process and discussed the process of amendments for the town budget and for the school budget with a bottom line. The four motions we've seen tonight were presented at this meeting tonight, since we went past the deadline for large amendment filings a week ago, the financial town meeting tonight is to approve the school and operating budgets as presented and amended, either by the motions that were made prior to the deadline a week ago or from the floor tonight. Motions made after the deadline of a week ago are limited, as I said at the outset, to $50,000 or 20% whichever is less, there is no vote for the bottom line of the school budget, nor is there a vote for the bottom line of the town budget, because the only thing that can impact the final approval and passage of those budgets are the corrections or adjustments that are made through the amendment process. But the budget itself stands because it was reviewed at the budget hearing by taxpayers and went through the period of time up to five business days before the FTM board amendments could be made. There is a vote coming up later tonight when those two bottom line budgets are combined, and there's a resolution passed for the total which then sets our tax levy and tax rate, but there is no bottom-line school budget up or down vote.

 

Discussion ensued regarding amending the presented motion.

 

Moderator Staples said that the problem with that is that you're changing a motion that was made prior to the deadline of a week ago today, which essentially changes the motion so it's no longer eligible for consideration because it's not the motion that was put forth before the deadline.

 

John Fitta, 153 New Meadow Road said that he thinks we've got probably a million and a half is what we're talking about here, and items to vote on, $500,000 of which we've already taken care of. And that's not small change. But the only thing he would ask, which might be helpful to all of us, it's been great conversation, is we get a take from the committee on appropriations and what they think of these recommendations for half a million and a half million, respectively, coming after this one. It might help this group. This is a tough one to just to vote on, from what we've heard, so I'd appreciate hearing from them. It was their budget we're voting on.

 

Moderator Staples said if the Committee On Appropriations members wish to speak to the motion as taxpayers, they can come down to the mic and speak to the motion as taxpayers, but at this point, the committee had a vote, and that vote stands as a committee. But individual members could speak to the motion and individually, if they wish, but they must have some kind of reaction on the basis of what is talked about in the budget that they submitted. If they do, it would be their personal opinion, not the committee.

 

Motion by Kate Weymouth requested a paper ballot.

 

Seconded by a member on the floor.

 

Voice Vote undetermined.

 

Motion failed.  Those standing did not meet the 20% requirement.  (Standing vote)

 

Moderator Staples stated that we will now vote on the motion presented by Doreen Lindenburg.

(Motion:  I, Doreen Lindenburg, move to increase the Committee on Appropriations proposed operating budget by $534,000.  This amount represents the difference between the school operating budget approved by the School Committee for level services and the school operating budget proposed by the Committee on Appropriations, which would require substantial cuts to necessary programs and services currently provided.)

 

Moderator Staples called for a voice vote.  Undetermined.

 

Moderator Staples called for a standing vote.

 

Motion passed:  163 approve.      96 oppose.

 

Moderator Staples stated that as a result of this motion passing, the other two (2) motions that were to be considered for lesser amounts are moot.

 

Mr. Staples said we can now turn to the BARRINGTON SCHOOL BUDGET page 18.  By RI law, voters can only make motions to increase or decrease the bottom line of the school budget.  The School Committee has sole authority to determine how that bottom line is allocated.  You may, however, ask questions about individual budget items and make non-binding recommendations.

By the Barrington Town Charter, no motion to increase or decrease the school budget by more than $50,000 can be made unless it was pre-filed 5 business days before this meeting. This year, there are no pre-filed motions affecting the school budget.

 

Mr. Staples asked if anyone wishes to make a motion to increase or decrease the school budget in an amount up to $50,000 or less.

 

 

Account Number                 Account                                                                     FY Ending June 30, 2025       

0300                                 Public Schools                                                             $67,545,120*

                                        *motion passed to add $534,000                                              

Motion passed. (voice vote)

Moderator Staples stated since there are no further questions or comments, you have adopted the school budget.

 

 

 

 

Motion from the floor and seconded by a voter on the floor to adopt the following resolution:

 

 

RESOLUTION

ADOPTING THE REPORT

OF THE COMMITTEE-ON-APPROPRIATIONS

 

RESOLVED:  that the report of the Committee-on-Appropriations, appointed to prepare a budget, be adopted and in accordance therewith, the sum of $98,504,917.00 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay out of the several appropriations mentioned, said sums within the amounts appropriated, as may be required upon receipt by her of proper vouchers approved by the Town Manager, or otherwise as provided by law.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:  that the report of the Committee-on-Appropriations with regard to the Sewer Enterprise Fund be adopted and in accordance therewith the sum of $4,723,956.00 be and the same hereby is appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and the Town Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to pay out of the Sewer Enterprise Fund said sums within the amount appropriated as may be required upon receipt by her of proper vouchers approved by the Town Manager or otherwise as provided by law.  The expenditure shall be supported by revenue generated by said fund.

Motion passed (voice vote).

 

 

 

Motion from the floor and seconded by a voter on the floor to adopt the following resolution:

 

 

RESOLUTION

ORDERING THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF A TAX AND DEALING

WITH KINDRED MATTERS

 

RESOLVED:  that the electors of the Town of Barrington, qualified to vote on any proposition to impose a tax, in Town Meeting assembled, on this 28th day of May, a.d. 2025, hereby order the levy and collection of a tax on the ratable real estate, the ratable tangible personal property, ratable tangible personal property of manufacturer's machinery and equipment (the rate of said ratable tangible personal property of manufacturer's consisting of manufacturer's machinery and equipment to be in accordance with limitations and provisions of statutory law of the State of Rhode Island) in the sum not less than $74,793,575.00                            nor more than $74,965,075.00 , said tax to be for ordinary expenses and charges, for the payment of interest and indebtedness in full or in part of said Town and for other purposes authorized by law.

 

The Tax Assessor shall apportion said tax on the inhabitants and taxable property of said Town according to law, and shall, upon completion of said resulting tax roll, date, certify and sign the same and deliver to and deposit the same in the Office of the Town Clerk.  The Town Clerk, upon receipt of said assessments, shall forthwith make a copy of same and deliver it to the Finance Director with a warrant under her hand directed to the Collector of Taxes of said Town commanding him to proceed to collect said tax on the person and estates liable therefor.  Said tax shall be due and payable on the 1st day of September, a.d. 2025, and all taxes remaining unpaid after September 30, 2025, shall carry until collected, a penalty at the rate of 18 per cent per annum from the due date of any quarterly installment, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the persons assessed to pay their taxes shall have an option to pay the same in equal quarterly installments; the first installment of twenty-five per centum on or before the 30th day of September 2025, and the remaining installments as follows:  twenty-five per centum on or before the 30th day of December 2025 twenty-five per centum on or before the 30th day of March 2026, and twenty-five per centum on or before the 30th day of June 2026.

 

If the first installment or any succeeding installments of taxes is not paid by the last date of the respective installment period or periods as they occur, then the whole tax or remaining unpaid balance of the tax as the case may be shall immediately become due and payable and shall carry until collected a penalty at the rate of 18 per cent per annum.

 

As of the 31st day of December 2025, at twelve o'clock midnight, the Assessor of Taxes shall determine the assessed valuation of ratable property in the Town for tax purposes and against such assessed valuations so determined shall apportion the tax levy to be made by the electors in Financial Town Referendum on May 27, 2026, on the inhabitants of the Town and ratable property therein to meet appropriations.

 

RESOLVED:  that the Finance Director is hereby authorized to hire such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for the operation of the Town Government, and

 

RESOLVED:  that the Finance Director and Collector of Taxes and such other Town Officers as the Town Council may designate shall secure their bonds from some good surety company and the Town assume the expenses.     

Motion passed (voice vote).

 

Motion from the floor and seconded by a voter on the floor to adopt the following resolution:

 

 

RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH TAX RATES

 

RESOLVED: that the real estate and personal property tax rate be set at not greater than $15.34         

per $1,000 valuation.

 

Motion passed (voice vote).

 

RESOLUTION

ELECTING A COMMITTEE

 

TO PREPARE A BUDGET AND SUBMIT A REPORT

(3 Positions for Re-election)

 

Moderator Staples said by Barrington Town Charter, we elect members to the Committee on Appropriations for two-year, staggered terms. This year, we will elect or re-elect three members of the Committee on Appropriations for terms ending in 2027.

We have received applications from the following candidates:

·       Dr. Cynthia Rosengard       374 Sowams Road

·       John Stafford                       4 Strawberry Drive

·       Lisa Daft                              5 Robbins Drive

Moderator Staples asked if there are any other nominations from the floor?

·       Jacob Brier                        21 Western Avenue

 

Each of the above candidates explained why they are willing to place their name on the ballot for the Committee on Appropriations and discussed why they would like to serve.

 

Moderator Staples stated that the nominations are now closed, and we will be using a paper ballot.

 

·       Dr. Cynthia Rosengard*                         151

·       John Stafford *                                      147

·       Lisa Daft*                                             104

·       Jacob Brier                                            77

*denotes winner

 

 

 

RESOLVED: that a Committee of Appropriations, consisting of five (5), is ordered to hold a public meeting on the second and third Wednesday in April 2026 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. (location to be determined) for the purpose of hearing all persons interested in preparing a budget to be voted on at an all-day Financial Town Referendum on the fourth Wednesday of May, and to submit a printed report of their recommendations for expenditures, and the amount of tax which will be necessary to levy to pay such expenses, and

 

RESOLVED:  that, Dr. Cynthia Rosengard, 374 Sowams Road, John Stafford, 4 Strawberry Drive and Dr. Lisa Daft, 5 Robbins Drive  Mr. James Sanderson and Michael Raia are hereby elected to two (2) year terms on the Committee of Appropriations ending May 2027 and will serve with Mr. James Sanderson and Michael Raia with terms ending May 2026, and

 

RESOLVED:  that, in case of a vacancy in the Committee on Appropriations, after the election of its five (5) members, such vacancy shall be filled immediately by the Town Council, and

 

RESOLVED:  further, that, the Town Clerk with the said Committee-on-Appropriations shall prepare and have printed an order of business for each Financial Town Meeting.

 

Moderator Staples said that this is the last Financial Town Meeting (2025).

The budget process will move to a Financial Town Referendum and will have all day voting on May 27, 2026 in Council Chamber and we encourage you to place it on your digital calendars.

 

 

Moderator Staples asked for a motion to dissolve the last Barrington Financial Town Meeting* at 10:44pm.

 

Motion passed (voice vote).

         

 

*THE TOWN OF BARRINGTON VOTED ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 TO ELIMINATE THE FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING AND A HOLD A FINANCIAL TOWN REFERENDUM IN 2026.

 

IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000
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