Barrington council allocates $106,375 in ARPA funds to Bayside YMCA for outdoor pool repairs

The Barrington Town Council voted Nov. 25 to allocate $106,375 of unassigned American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Bayside YMCA to support essential repairs at its 59-year-old outdoor pool.

Town Manager Hervey said the town has roughly $111,000 in unassigned ARPA funds and that two questions remained: the unknown final bid for the Haines Park project (budgeted at $1,000,000) and whether to support the YMCA’s pool repairs in advance of the December ARPA allocation deadline. "There's an approximate balance of about a hundred and $11,000 that's unassigned," Hervey said.

Mr. Queenan, representing the YMCA, outlined funding scenarios: about $106,375 would cover critical safety repairs (paint removal, crack and caulk repairs) to keep the pool open; $200,000+ would allow full resurfacing and recoating; and $250,000+ would fund additional items such as lane lines and potential heating systems to extend the season. He said the Y would pair any ARPA allocation with fundraising to cover remaining costs. "If there was a number of a hundred and $6,000 available, then we would go into action and work to fund raise to be able to close the gap... and then continue to work towards... raising up enough funding to get it to where it needs to be," Mr. Queenan said.

Public comment included objections to diverting town bond or ARPA funds from established park projects and support calling the pool repair a town asset; Jeff Barton, Bayside YMCA board chair, urged a larger allocation ("I'm here to ask for 250 to 300,000 to do it properly"). Councilors debated the timing and size of a grant versus the pending Haines Park bids. Councillor Conway moved to allocate $106,375 to the YMCA; the motion passed unanimously.