Barrington municipal employees received a Christmas present about three weeks early: the promise of an increased minimum wage.

Earlier this month, members of the Barrington Town Council voted 4-1 to increase the minimum wage for all municipal employees to $15 per hour. Many of the town’s employees already earn more than $15 per hour, but this vote created a new base wage for all Barrington employees, including part-time library aides and seasonal help, such as summer camp counselors.

Council member Rob Humm was the lone opposing vote. He said he did not support a $15 minimum wage for the seasonal staff. Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha felt similarly, and during the Dec. 6 council meeting, asked councilors to consider excluding library aides from the $15 minimum wage. Mr. Cunha said that the library aide position is typically filled by 13- and 14-year-olds who are already earning, on average, more than $10 per hour.

The effort to increase the minimum wage for town employees — referred to as the “Fight for 15” — had plenty of support from other members of the town council. Carl Kustell said there were some municipalities that had already approved a $15 minimum wage. He called it a livable wage and said it would have a positive impact on local families.

Mr. Kustell said the creation of a $15 minimum wage in town would not result in a significant financial impact on taxpayers. He said the initiative would result in a $37,000 increase in the municipal budget this year. For the sake of comparison, he said, the plans to bring bocce and pickle ball courts to town would cost about two-thirds of that amount.

Councilor Jacob Brier, another supporter of the minimum wage increase, said the change would actually cost less than $37,000. Information provided by the town shows the minimum wage increase would result in a $28,255 increase in the municipal budget this year — $24,539 more for hourly employees and $3,716 more for supervisor pay increases.

Mr. Brier said the minimum wage increase would be good for workers, good for employees — good “across the board.” He did not want to carve out any exclusions for seasonal staff or other town employees. 

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll supported the increased minimum wage and said the change would send a message.

Barrington resident Paul Dulchinos questioned the move. He said it appeared the minimum wage increase for municipal employees was “a solution in search of a problem.” He said the increase would have a ripple effect and leave private business owners in Barrington competing with the town for employees. 

Maybe the town needs a higher wage to be competitive in certain jobs, Mr. Dulchinos said, but not all positions need the higher wage, he added.

Council members pushed back against Mr. Dulchinos’s opposition, and later, Mr. Kustell made a motion to increase the town’s minimum wage. Again Mr. Humm voiced concerns about including the town’s seasonal help and library aides to $15 per hour. 

Mr. Carroll said the move would be symbolic, “but I think it’s an important symbol.” He said it is going to be increasingly difficult for the town to find employees who are willing to work for less than $15 an hour.

The council then voted 4-1 in favor of the motion.

The increased minimum wage will be made effective in the next fiscal year, 2022-23, and not the current.