Members of the Barrington Town Council voiced some concerns over a request made the town’s DEI Committee at the Jan. 8 meeting. 

The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee was proposing that the town issue “timely and public” no-tolerance condemnations of any “hate incidents” in Barrington. 

DEI Chairman Larry Berren offered a brief explanation of the request, and cited a recent missed opportunity. He referenced a front page article in the Barrington Times detailing vandalism at Sherwood Park that featured prominently a photograph of a swastika spray-painted on the rear wall of the concession stand. 

Berren said the Council was silent on the matter, adding that the DEI Committee wanted the town to draft a statement that makes it clear incidents like that are not acceptable. 

Council member Rob Humm said he agreed with the idea in principle, but identified a number of potential problems with it. He said the town could draw criticism if it condemned one incident but not another, and may also face a situation where further context is added to a situation and the town could need to retract a statement. 

Council member Kate Berard agreed with Humm. She asked how a hate incident is defined, and who specifically would issue the statement. Berard said she would prefer to see the town take actionable steps toward addressing hate incidents. 

Council member Braxton Cloutier, who serves as liaison to the DEI Committee, agreed with Humm and Berard and said the proposal is intended to serve as a conversation-starter. He said it does not need to be something that is decided on right now, but does need to be top of mind. 

Council President Carl Kustell said the language of the proposal was problematic. He said the town needs to be careful before commenting on an ongoing police investigation into a hate crime. Kustell also wondered if the town would be opening itself up to a defamation case should it wrongfully comment on an incident. He said Council members are able to comment individually, and added that he did not want to see this request put upon the town administrators.

Berren asked the Council to acknowledge the incident at the ball field, and that it “blew that one.” He said something needs to be done. 

Alex Pastor, a member of the DEI Committee, said she is a DEI practitioner for a company. She said the town would need to be flexible in these types of situations, and that being responsive to each situation is important. She said her company issued a response following the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, but has not issued any statement about that situation since. 

Barrington resident Janine Wolf pushed back on the situation at the ball field. She said she never saw it as a sign of hate, but rather as a prank, possibly by some kid who biked into town. Wolf said the DEI proposal was “a trap,” and “a quagmire.”

Cloutier then asked if there was a space for something in the town’s newsletter.

The town’s solicitor, Amy Goins, cautioned that the Council could only speak through statements made during an open meeting. 

Cloutier said he planned to bring the topic back to the DEI Committee for future consideration.