Fate, or maybe luck, will decide who benefits from Barrington’s electric-powered lawn equipment rebate program.

On Monday night, the Barrington Town Council approved a lottery system selection process for the rebate program. Barrington residents will need to turn in their receipts — the battery-powered leaf blowers and string trimmers need to have been purchased on July 1 or after — and then hope that their ticket gets pulled in the random drawing. 

Those who are lucky will receive a rebate of up to $100 for their electric-powered purchase. The lottery will continue until all $25,000 is gone. 

Hundreds of residents have been waiting to find out the details of the rebate program, ever since George Voutes proposed the $25,000 earmark during the financial town meeting in late May. In a recent interview, Voutes explained that the rebate program is intended to get people talking about the need to eliminate gas-powered lawn equipment. 

“The objective is to get the state to notice,” Voutes said of the program. “There needs to be interest there.”

During Monday night’s meeting, Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey said that more than 200 people have contacted his office to inquire about the program. Hervey said the initial thought was to offer the $250 rebate to any resident who was willing to turn in their old gas-powered leaf blower or string trimmer. Hervey said that approach, which had been recommended by the Barrington Resilience and Energy Committee, could be difficult to manage, so he suggested a rebate of up to $100 to any resident who presented their receipt for the purchase of a battery-powered leaf blower or string trimmer. 

Hervey said the interested residents also needed to fill out an application. After the deadline passes, town officials will conduct a random drawing, much like the lottery for the kayak storage passes. 

Council member Rob Humm said he liked the idea, but suggested setting a later deadline date — he offered Oct. 31, instead of Hervey’s proposed date of Aug. 31. Humm said more people would be focused on leaf pick-up by the fall date. 

Hervey countered. The Town Manager said more than 200 people had already inquired about the program. He then suggested a compromise — a date in mid-September. 

Council President Carl Kustell asked Hervey what steps had been taken to verify the legitimacy of each applicant. 

Hervey said people will need to provide a valid receipt. 

Some people have suggested the program could be exploited by people who purchase an electric leaf-blower or string trimmer, present a receipt, collect the rebate and then return the equipment to the store. 

Council member Kate Berard said there are electric leaf blowers and string trimmers that cost less than $100. In that case, the resident would only collect the amount of money spent on the equipment. 

Berard said that the program could benefit more than 250 people, if some residents purchase trimmers and blowers that cost less than $100. 

Berard liked the idea of the town creating a public information campaign to inform residents of the problems associated with gas-powered lawn equipment. She also asked that town officials explore possible additional grant money that might be available to complement the program. 

Hervey agreed to that request. 

In the end, the Council voted 4-0 to approve the proposed administration of the program, including the use of a random drawing. Councilor Annelise Conway recused herself during the discussion and vote. 

Date dilemma

Michelle Turgeon stood before the Town Council and asked why the town was using July 1 as its rebate start date. Turgeon said the rebate program was approved on May 24, at the financial town meeting.

What about the people who got excited about the program after watching the FTM, she asked.

Hervey offered a response: He said July 1 was the start of the new fiscal year for the town. 

The Town Manager said he has had to tell a few people that receipts from before July 1 will not be accepted. 

Berard pressed the manager about the date. She said she understood the funds were not available until July 1, but the town was not going to pay out any rebates yet. She asked for more clarity on why Barrington would not accept a receipt from June.

Hervey said the town’s messaging has always been July 1 — he said it was stated on the town website and social media. 

Berard asked when the town started advertising the July 1 date. He said it was before July 1, soon after the FTM.

A short time later, Berard made the motion to approve the rebate program. 

Tax credit?

Late in the discussion about the rebate program, Barrington resident TR Rimoshytus offered a different option for the rebate program: What if the town gave residents a tax credit instead of cutting them a check for the rebate?

Hervey said the finance department was prepared to handle the distribution of checks. He also said that a tax credit would exclude residents who rent properties in Barrington.