Finding lifeguards to staff the town beach has become a challenge for Barrington officials each year. This year it was also a challenge keeping them on duty through the end of the summer. 

In fact, Barrington Beach has not had lifeguards on duty since Thursday, Aug. 12. That information was written on a large dry erase board that was left leaning against a lifeguard chair on Sunday afternoon. 

The message did little to scare off swimmers on Sunday — bright sunshine and temperatures in the 80s had many people splashing in the waves all day long at the town beach.

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha confirmed Monday morning that while the town beach parking lot remains open, and the bathhouse is also available, there are not lifeguards watching over swimmers. 

“It’s a manpower issue,” Mr. Cunha said.

The town manager said regulations require there be two lifeguards on duty in order for the town to officially open the beach. Mr. Cunha said an attendant at the beach was a certified lifeguard, but without a second guard there the town could not charge admission or limit the parking to Barrington residents only.

“Really, it’s more of a safety concern,” Mr. Cunha said. 

The town manager said it has gotten more difficult to hire lifeguards each year, and the town has increased the position’s salary in an effort to help the job attract more candidates. 

But this year may be the first time Barrington officials have been unable to keep the beach open through Labor Day weekend because of a lifeguard shortage.

Mr. Cunha said the main reason the lifeguards could not stay on through the end of the summer was because they had to go to college. 

Recently, Barrington Recreation Department Director Michele Geremia announced that Barrington Beach had not experienced a single closure due to water quality issues this summer. In years passed, the state has periodically closed the beach to swimming because of high bacteria counts. Ms. Geremia said that she was hoping the beach would remain open through the rest of the summer. Also, the town beach started allowing non-resident parking on weekdays about two weeks ago. Barrington Beach had been resident-only parking on the weekends.