American Rescue Plan Act money continues to support expenditures in Barrington. 

At the Town Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 5, the Council voted unanimously to approve the use of ARPA money to purchase more than $4,000 in new office furniture. 

According to a memo from Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey to members of the council, the town’s Human Resources Director MariAnn Oliveira requested a new ergonomic workstation for her workspace in the town hall.

“All the furniture in the HR office has been donated to the town, but the desk does not provide the necessary support and comfort for long hours of work,” Hervey wrote in the memo. 

He added that an ergonomic desk would greatly benefit Oliveira’s work environment by providing adjustable height options, comfortable armrests, and proper support for her back, neck, and wrists.

Hervey wrote that Oliveira identified a workstation that cost approximately $2,000. 

During Monday’s meeting, Hervey told the Council members that $35,000 of ARPA money had earlier been used to renovate the lower level of the town hall. He said that work was completed and there was a remaining balance of a little more than $4,000. Hervey said the plan was to use the surplus to purchase furnishings and fixtures for the office space.

Council member Rob Humm made a motion to approve the expenditure, and Annelise Conway seconded it. The motion passed 4-0. Kate Berard was absent from Monday’s meeting.  

ARPA-funded projects

Barrington received nearly $4.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding — the federal government gave money to communities to help in recovering from the pandemic. 

Other expenditures of ARPA funds in Barrington include more than $1 million for repairs in the wastewater treatment facility; $1 million for a recreation project at Haines Park; $100,000 to fix erosion at Latham Park; $200,000 to repair a sea wall at Police Cove; $75,000 for the South Lake Drive bike path; $19,000 in way finding signs in town; $75,000 to electrify the fleet of town vehicles; $30,000 for a fence along the sea wall at Police Cove Park; and other projects.