The Barrington Town Council is expected to discuss the new monument signs that were installed in the center of town recently. 

Included on the agenda for the Monday, May 1 Council meeting is an item titled “Town’s Installation of Wayfinding Signs.” 

The agenda item also includes a comment from Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey. He explains that the signs — the two “landmark” signs located downtown and another eight “directional” signs that are yet to be installed — were intended to serve as “branding for Barrington that is both functional and assists people in finding areas of interest in town.”

Hervey also offers some background on when the signs were developed (part of a Village Center Connectivity Study completed in 2014) and paid for (they were the basis for a $1.6 million streetscape bond). 

Hervey added: “I think it’s clear that most people feel the two landmark Barrington Town Center signs are not a good fit for the town, based on calls we’ve received, social media commentary, etc."

Comments posted on a recent article about the signs shared some residents’ feelings about the new “landmarks”:

“Stupid”

“What a waste of taxpayer money. Who authorized and approved these signs? Fire them!”

“Ugly and not necessary”

“They are hideous”

“Take them down”

“Horrible! Not representative of Barrington at all.”

“No way”