Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha is proposing a significant increase in manpower for the department of public works over the next three years.

Included in this year's proposed municipal budget is money to add two new workers at the DPW; the manager's plan calls for a total of six new employees over the next three years.

Mr. Cunha also included $4,000 in the proposed budget to pay for a manpower study to determine the appropriate staffing levels at the public works department.

The town manager said the department of public works has been stretched to keep up with increasing tasks in town. As an example, he referenced tree-trimming, work on storm-water drains, and maintenance of the new Barrington Middle School athletic fields (once they come online) and heavily-landscaped grounds.

The manager added $145,804 — salaries and benefits — in the proposed budget for the two additional public works employees. The total proposed increase in the municipal budget for the department of public works is $163,053.

If approved by voters, that would push the current DPW budget of $2,342,958 to $2,506,011, which is a 6.96 percent increase.

The total proposed municipal operating budget shows an increase of 4.95 percent, pushing the current total of $17,103,876 to a request of $17,949,827.

Other items in the DPW budget

• The budget also calls for a $15,000 increase for winter maintenance; the town is replacing sand for the roads with "Magic Minus Zero," which is a more effective and environmentally safe road treatment.

• Officials have increased the tree planting budget from $3,000 to $8,500 to support "the establishment of a Town tree nursery" and increased planting. "The tree nursery will allow the purchase of smaller less expensive trees for future replanting," stated the manager's budget summary.

• The manager included $4,870 for holiday pay "due to July 4 falling on a Saturday."

• There is also a proposed reduction of $12,800 in street lighting costs.