A local official is questioning whether the town should be spending about half of its annual Spencer Trust budget on administrative costs.

Jacob Brier, a member of the town council, said during a recent Spencer Trust meeting that about half of the trust’s $92,000 proposed budget for 2021 was earmarked for administrative fees. The trust was established years ago after a longtime resident left money to the town to help the “poor and unfortunate” of Barrington.

According to a town memo, $23,000 of the trust’s annual budget this year was intended to cover “management fees” and another $20,400 is for the Spencer Trust administrator.

Some of the Spencer Trust money also goes to the East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP), which has programs designed to assist people in need.

Mr. Brier asked if the town should consider using less of the Spencer Trust money on administrative costs and giving more of it to EBCAP, which could then distribute it to those needing assistance.

Barrington Town Planner Phil Hervey said the trust’s administrator, Debra Page-Trim, provides a very important service. He said it is crucial that there is a local point person administering the fund, as she is able to make sure those in need are helped. Mr. Hervey said Ms. Page-Trim also organizes much of the town’s annual Day of Caring — the event partners residents in need with dozens of volunteers; the volunteers complete home improvement projects and clean-up work.

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said that in the past the town did not have a Spencer Trust administrator. Officials conducted a review to see how to make the trust more effective and discovered that most other similar programs had administrators and paid management fees. Mr. Carroll said Barrington could hire an outside firm to manage the trust, but that would likely cost more money than the town is currently paying to run the program with an in-house administrator. He also said that Ms. Page-Trim does a stellar job identifying and helping those in need, and she also has helped Barrington secure grant money.

“Deb’s done a fantastic job,” Mr. Carroll said.

Home repair program

According to a town memo, money from the Spencer Trust was used to complete a number of home repair projects last year for residents who qualified for the funding.

Thousands went for plumbing repairs, roof repairs, replacement of broken appliances, floor repairs and the construction of a wheelchair lift. Residents must qualify for the funding assistance.

Mr. Brier said he was concerned that the Spencer Trust home repair money goes mainly to people who own homes in town. He said more of the home repair money — this year more than $26,000 of the trust’s annual budget is earmarked for home repairs — should instead be shifted to the East Bay Community Action Program, which is more accessible to people who do not own homes.

Mr. Brier said that would create a more equitable use of funds.

Mr. Carroll said the town has a program that is designed to help people who are renting in Barrington.

Council member and newly-elected Spencer Trust President Annelise Conway was interested in studying the issue, but asked that the trust’s budget first be approved with the consideration that it later could be possibly amended.

There was then a motion to approve the proposed $92,000 trust budget and have the trustees meet again soon to discuss various policies including the home repair program. Mr. Carroll seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

Less money to EBCAP

The Spencer Trust’s new budget continues a trend of decreasing funds earmarked for the East Bay Community Action Program.

In 2018, Barrington officials sent $40,000 to EBCAP, which offers programs and services to people in need across the region. (Only Barrington residents are eligible to receive Spencer Trust money.)

In 2019, EBCAP funding from the Spencer Trust dropped to $35,000. And in 2020, only $20,000 in Spencer Trust funds went to EBCAP. It was specifically noted that $5,000 of the $20,000 be dedicated for the EBCAP “Crisis fund.”

The recently-approved Spencer Trust budget has $15,000 going to EBCAP and officials recommended all of it be used for the Crisis fund.

Council member Rob Humm asked about the decreasing funds for EBCAP during the recent Spencer Trust meeting. Mr. Hervey told him that much of the money annually given to EBCAP was not being spent, and that EBCAP officials ended up giving a large portion of the funds to the East Bay Mental Health Center. Mr. Hervey said it was hard to know if that money, once it went to the East Bay Center, was used for Barrington residents. So officials started directing EBCAP to use a portion of the money for the Crisis fund, although much of that money is going unused.

Entire portfolio for the Spencer Trust Fund is $5.8 million; a portion of the fund’s proceeds cover the annual budget.

Spencer Trust officers

Members of the town council serve as Spencer Trust officers, and at the beginning of their meeting earlier this month the group voted on trust leadership positions. Council member Jacob Brier nominated fellow councilor Annelise Conway to serve as president of the Spencer Trust. That motion passed unanimously. Councilor Mike Carroll then nominated councilor Carl Kustell to be vice president. That motion also passed unanimously.

Home repairs

A half-dozen home repairs paid for by Spencer Trust funds were completed in 2020:

• Door replacement, plumbing repairs (Maple Avenue/Brickyard Pond area) — $3,275

• Roof replacement (County Road) — $5,000

• Replace broken washer and dryer; electrical work (Bay Spring are) — $2,278

• Wheelchair lift project (Bay Spring area) — $6,385 ($5,000 from state grant)

• Floor repairs and replacement of stove, plumbing repairs (Middle Highway) — $2,035

• Replace roof and damaged siding (Washington Road) — $7,875