Barrington council awards field lighting contract, extends resiliency consultant and funds field feasibility study

The council approved three operational and capital actions at the meeting.

First, the council accepted the low design-build bid from E.W. Audette for replacement LED sports lighting at Veterans Memorial Field with a base contract of $279,000 and authorized a contingency of up to $96,000 to cover additional conduit and unknowns. Director Corby said four proposals were received and recommended the low bidder. "We're asking to go with the low bid... $279,000 and an additional contingency of $96,000," Corby told the council. The motion to award the contract passed 5-0.

Second, planning director Herb Murphy recommended extending the towns consulting resiliency planner contract for another year to maintain continuity across projects. Council approved funding of no more than $79,000 from the Climate Mitigation and Capital Reserve for fiscal year 2026 to cover the extension; councilors also discussed the longer-term option of budgeting a full-time resilience staff position during the next operating cycle. That motion passed 5-0.

Third, the council authorized up to $6,900 from the field/capital bond to fund Par Corp to prepare updated cost estimates and up to four alternative concepts for a potential field project (including parking and access scenarios). Town staff said Par Corp had performed earlier conceptual work and the fee would provide refined sketches and cost updates for neighborhood review. The motion passed 5-0.

Each of these approvals included direction to coordinate field work with league schedules and neighborhood input to reduce disruption; councilors asked staff to time construction around sports seasons where practical.