The one constant throughout this pandemic is that no one agrees on anything. Scientists, governors and private citizens have demonstrated every reaction and position possible, and it’s difficult to predict who will feel what on issues of safety, risk or public policy. Friends and neighbors can have all the same information, the same views on life, and be diametrically opposed in their opinions about COVID-19 crisis management.

No one in the public sector should be too harshly judged for their actions during this unprecedented era. Generally speaking, they are in unchartered waters, making decisions based on developing and shifting information, in the greatest interests of public safety.

Having said that, it is still worth reflecting on some of the differences between public policy in Bristol and one of its neighbors. Overall, Barrington has focused its attention on the things people CAN’T do, laying out one of the more aggressive and restrictive platforms in the region. Bristol, on the other hand, has let Gov. Gina Raimondo establish the restrictions and focused more of its attention on how to help people and businesses through the crisis.

Consider the policies implemented via Executive Order in the two towns over the past three months.

Barrington …

• Issued numerous mandatory quarantine orders;
• Repeatedly told residents to work from home;
• Warned residents: “Please do not see how far the rules can be stretched, and do not look for loopholes or workarounds to evade the purposes of this order.”

Meanwhile, Town Administrator Steven Contente’s executive orders and actions …

• Implemented no restrictions that were not already included in the governor’s orders.
• Created a COVID-19 Business Task Force; a COVID-19 Task Force for social services; a Volunteer For Bristol registry; a COVID-19 hotline; and a Daily Dinner program for seniors or homebound residents.
• Offered a 90-day grace period for property taxes.
• Offered a deferral of dock or mooring fees for commercial fishermen.
• Waived renewal fees for businesses licenses.
• Temporarily suspended the plastic bag ordinance to help lower business costs and reduce handling of reusable bags.
• Deferred rent payments for tenants in town-owned business incubator spaces.
• Launched a grant program for the smallest of businesses, offering grants of up to $5,000 for businesses that did not receive federal stimulus funding.

One of the most visible signs of Bristol’s “what can we do to help?” culture is the rapid and creative expansion of outdoor dining options throughout town. Town leaders responded quickly to the state’s restaurant guidelines, vigorously encouraged business owners to submit plans, and within days were approving double-digit proposals downtown and beyond.

The result is a relatively vibrant local restaurant scene, with tables full and people eating in streets, sidewalks and parking lots.

Bristol also used the closure of its Town Hall to make long-overdue renovations, and reopened it to the public on May 11 with new safety measures — the first Town Hall in the state to reopen to the public.

Regardless of where Bristol residents fall on the COVID-19 risk-tolerance meter, they have to acknowledge the ambitious and robust response from their town leaders. From day one of this crisis, Bristol leaders have asked, “what can we do?” and “how can we help?” For a community facing more uncertainty than has been seen in nearly a century, they’ve been asking all the right questions.