New Town Hall
New Town Hall Open House (October 27, 2022)
Update July 19, 2022: The Town Hall move is now scheduled for August 22-26. Due to supply chain delays, the Town Offices will spend one more month at 333 Calef Highway. By extending the lease at the current Town Hall by a month, it gives all involved breathing room for a thorough project completion and move. This additional month will help ensure a seamless transition into the new building at 4 Signature Drive. The general contractor and all subcontractors continue to meet and exceed expectations; in the current economy it is suppliers and manufacturers causing delays. We are fortunate to be able to remain in the current building for the time being. This is an active construction project and further delays are possible (although unlikely). Any delay or postponement in the scheduled move will be advertised widely.
Town Offices Closed (August 22-26)
The offices at 333 Calef Highway are expected to be closed from August 22-26 with delays in service and responses for the duration.
Please plan ahead and avoid the Town Offices at 333 Calef Highway. We will still be here, but our ability to assist you will be limited! We look forward to assisting you at our new location at 4 Signature Drive, about 1/4 mile north of our current location on 125 starting on Monday, August 29, 2022.
For tax payments, visit the Online Tax Kiosk
For vital records and car registrations, visit our Online Town Clerk
New Town Hall Address: 4 Signature Drive
*Please note: It will take GPS navigation some time to update (reference the map below for directions)*
Barrington's current Town Offices are located at 333 Calef Highway in rented space. This location has served as Barrington's Town Hall since 2011. In March 2019, voters supported an initiative to construct a new Town Hall. In March of 2022, the Town received notice that the project will received a $1,500,000 grant (Community Project Funding). The information contained below chronicles the project from original proposal to current. Please check back regularly for up to date information.
August 22-26, 2022 - Town Hall Move (Anticipated)
The Town Hall move is currently scheduled for the week of August 22, 2022. Please plan ahead and expect service interruptions or delays during the move. Many services are available online, including vehicle registration renewals and property tax payments. A special ‘thank you’ to the Highway Department for making the move! Starting August 29, 2022 residents should expect to visit the Town Hall at its new location: 4 Signature Drive. An open house will be scheduled for late summer/early fall, stay tuned. Please check back for more updates regarding specific service interruptions and timelines as August approaches.
May 24, 2022 (Foster's Daily Democrat)
"Barrington's new Town Hall is being built. Here's how town got $1.5M from feds for project"
April - July 2022
Construction continues and the Town Hall remains on schedule to be substantially complete by mid-late July.
March 28, 2022 (Select Board Meeting)
At their March 28, 2022 Meeting, the Select Board held a public hearing to consider the acceptance of the $1,500,000 in direct federal funding.
Acceptance of the unanticipated funds are governed by RSA 31:95-b. As required, this public hearing was noticed on March 21, 2022.
Make a motion to accept and expend the Community Project Funds for the new Town Hall and Primary Emergency Operations Center in the amount of $1,500,000.
March 14, 2022 (Congressman Pappas)
On March 14, 2022, President Biden signed the $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2022 Federal Budget into law. Included in the federal budget is $1.5 million in direct federal funding to Barrington for the new Town Hall and Primary Emergency Operations Center. This funding is known as Community Project Funding.
The process for securing these funds started in March of 2021 with a call for projects from Congressman Chris Pappas’ office. After reviewing over 300 projects, Congressman Pappas selected ten projects to be presented to the federal appropriations committees for inclusion in the federal budget. After multiple continuing resolutions, the omnibus appropriations package was signed into law with $1,500,000 towards the Town Hall project which is currently under construction.
In March of 2019, voters appropriated $1.9 million ($1,025,000 from fund balance and $875,000 in a bond authorization). We expect that the $1.5 million will eliminate the need to issue any bonds to pay for this project. As a result, the only ongoing costs we expect will be from regular maintenance.
Winter 2021-2022
The construction team made swift progress through winter conditions in order to keep the Town Hall construction on schedule.
November 2021
Careno Construction took the site and began construction of the new Town Hall.
August 26, 2021 through Early October
The Barrington Highway Department used available equipment and employees to remove stumps, process loam, and prepare the lot for further development by the site contractor.
August 9, 2021 to August 20, 2021
The logging company (LE Taylor and Sons) cleared the new Town Hall lot.
July 20, 2021 (Planning Board Meeting)
The Planning Board considered an application for amendment to the conditionally approved 62-lot subdivision. The purpose of the amendment is to allow the Town Hall lot to be transferred to the Town prior to the developer securing all State permits. The Planning Board supported this amendment.
July 12, 2021 (Select Board Meeting)
Administrator MacIver provided the Select Board and community an update regarding the Town Hall project and direct federal funding.
The subdivision which creates the lot for the new Town Hall continues to experience delays in receiving the State permits required to proceed. We have identified an approach which would allow the Town Hall construction to begin independent of the subdivision. Specifically, the developer and the Town are asking the Planning Board to waive the conditions on the Town Hall lot which would allow immediate conveyance. This request will go before the July 20, 2021, meeting of the Planning Board. If approved, construction on the new Town Hall could begin before the end of August.
Letter to Planning Board – Town Hall Lot Amendment 20210702
Additionally, the Town Hall project was selected by a Community Advisory Board (organized by Congressman Pappas’ Office) to be submitted for direct federal funding of up to $1,500,000. Details are available at https://pappas.house.gov/cpf. If received, these funds would compliment the $1.9 million which voters appropriated in 2019.
May 3, 2021 (Congressman Pappas)
Congressman Pappas' Office solicited project requests for potential direct federal funding in early 2021. Barrington submitted multiple projects including a funding request for the new Town Hall. The Community Adivosry Board reviewed and interviewed hundreds of applications and Congressman Pappas selected ten projects to be submitted to the House Appropriations Committee. The Town Hall project was one of the ten selected. Congressman Pappas will be advocating for up to $1,500,000 in direct federal funding for this project. Additional information is available at pappas.house.gov/cpf.
February 16, 2021 (Planning Board Meeting)
The Planning Board granted a one-year extension to the conditional approval provided for the new Town Hall site-review.
Town Administrator, Conner MacIver addresses concerns about the project delays: Video
December 7, 2020 (Select Board Meeting)
Progress is continuing on the new Town Hall project. Although the project has experienced delays, I believe we are back on track. The delays have primarily been due to State approvals on the original subdivision. Construction activities cannot commence on the Town Hall lot until the larger subdivision is fully approved. Please review the timeline below regarding past and upcoming milestones.
- Recognizing the project delays and construction cost inflation from 2019 (when the project was approved) to 2021 (when the project is expected to be constructed), the contractor has suggested that the Select Board evaluate additional appropriations in order to avoid impacts to the building’s design, floor plan, square footage or finishes.
- See attached, Careno Construction Spring Construction Letter 11-13-20
November 3, 2020 (Planning Board Meeting)
The new subdivision design received conditional approval from the Planning Board.
September 11, 2020
The new Town Hall design received approval for the Alteration of Terrain permit from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
July 2020
The subdivision creating the Town Hall was redesigned in order to meet the requirements of the NH Department of Transportation for permitting.
April 21, 2020 (Planning Board Meeting)
The new Town Hall project received conditional approval from the Planning Board.
October 7, 2019 (Select Board Meeting)
The Select Board supported the Town Hall Building Committee’s recommendation to select Careno Construction as the design-build contractor for the new Town Hall project.
After a review of the four respondents to the Request for Qualifications for the new Town Hall, the Building Committee has suggested Careno Construction. 13 evaluation criteria were reviewed, with the conversation centered around which organization could bring the Town the most value for the budget. Each organization brought multiple members of their design/build teams to discuss the value they would bring to the project. The Committee believed all four could provide value and complete the project, but Careno was ultimately selected. Motion to select Careno Construction and authorize Administrator MacIver and the Town Hall Building Committee to develop a contract by Selectperson Ayer, seconded by Selectperson Hardekopf. Ayer – Aye, Hatch – Aye, Hardekopf – Aye, Knapp – Aye. The motion passed.
August 27, 2019
The Request for Qualifications was advertised.
Responses were received from:
May 29, 2019
The Town Hall Building Committee was formed by the Select Board and began meeting to develop a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the New Town Hall project.
The Select Board developed a specific charge for the Town Hall Building Committee: https://www.barrington.nh.gov/town-hall-building-committee/files/committee-charge. The Building Committee's focus was on the RFQ development and recommending a design-build contractor. The Select Board did not intend for the Building Committee to be involved in the construction phase of the project. The Select Board, through the Town Administrator and Building Inspector would monitor the project and make necessary decisions.
March 12, 2019
New Town Hall project received voter support.
February 11, 2019 (Foster's Daily Democrat)
"Editorial: It's time for Barrington to own its own home"
February 5, 2019 (Foster's Daily Democrat)
"Barrington Town Hall, library projects head to vote"
February 2, 2019 (Deliberative Session)
Barington Town Hall Proposal Video
January 31, 2019 (Foster's Daily Democrat)
"If you don't care about taxes and town services, skip deliberative session"
January 29, 2019 (Foster's Daily Democrat)
"Barrington voters to weigh in on new library, town hall"
2018-2019 Town Hall Proposal Documents
Town Hall 2019 - Power Point Presentation
Town Hall 2019 - You're Invited
Town Hall 2019 - Frequently Asked Questions
Town Hall 2019 - Detailed Financial Explanation and Schedule
Town Hall 2019 - By the Numbers
Town Hall 2019 - Funding and Bond Repayment Graphs