Good news for ice hockey enthusiasts: Repairs are coming to the Legion Way ice rink.

At its meeting late last month, the Barrington Town Council voted 5-0 to have the outdoor rink resurfaced and the lines re-striped. The town awarded the bid to J.G. Coffey Co., LLC, with a contingency of 40 percent, for a total cost of $36,772.40. 

The outdoor ice rink — located on Legion Way, just west of Brickyard Pond — is a popular ice skating spot during the winter months. When the weather is cold enough, the rink is flooded and freezes over, providing a nice location for ice hockey and skating. 

Members of the Barrington Park and Recreation Commission identified the Legion Way ice rink as a priority for repairs, and about a year ago, the Barrington Town Council appropriated $60,000 from the town’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act federal funding for the work. 

After advertising the project, the town received two bid responses, including one from J.G. Coffey Co., LLC for $26,266. The work will include filling depressions in the asphalt at Legion Way, resurfacing the entire rink and painting hockey rink markings. 

Officials included a contingency for 40 percent for the project, pushing the total to nearly $38,000. J.G. Coffey Co., LLC was the low-bidder for the work, officials said. 

At the Council meeting in late July, Barrington Town Council President Carl Kustell made a motion to award the bid to J.G. Coffey Co., and Councilor Annelise Conway seconded the motion. 

Radio equipment

The Barrington Fire Department will be upgrading its radio equipment.

Members of the Town Council voted 5-0 to spend $98,038.69 for new communication equipment. Barrington Fire Chief Gerald Bessette recommended the equipment upgrade, as it will accommodate the Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network, which is also known as RISCON. 

The upgrade will also benefit the Barrington Police Department. The current VHF radio equipment will become the back-up system for local first responders. 

The Council awarded the bid to Motorola Solutions Inc., of Schaumburg, Ill. for $98,038.69.

Kustell made the motion to approve the bid and Rob Humm seconded it. 

The Barrington Town Council also approved a bid to purchase and install new dispatch center equipment — a new console that will reportedly improve the efficiency of the department. The new console is also needed to complete the installation for the new RISCON network, officials said. 

The Council awarded the bid to Motorola Solutions for $87,750. Humm made the motion, and Kustell seconded it. 

Police car equipment

The Town Council approved a bid to purchase and install equipment in a new Barrington Police cruiser. 

The bid, awarded to Island Tech Services of New England, was for $13,834. It will cover the cost to purchase and install patrol vehicle equipment for a newly purchased 2023 Police Ford Interceptor Hybrid SUV. 

At the July meeting, Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia told Council members that he believes the future of the fleet of Barrington Police vehicles will be electric, but the department purchased a hybrid as the manufacturers are not yet offering fully electric police SUVs. 

Chief Correia also recommended awarding the bid to Island Tech Services, in part because the company is located in Warren, and will require less driving time for officers to drop off the cruiser for the work and pick it up later.

Council member Kate Berard made the motion to approve the bid. The Council voted 5-0.