Neile in the News
I have attended countless Town Council, School Committee, Planning Board, and FTM meetings to advocate for Barrington residents on a wide range of issues. My track record speaks for itself.
Here are some Barrington Times articles in which I have been quoted.
How We Govern Matters
Letter: Troubling trends commonplace in local governance
September 8, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
In response to a letter submitted by former Town Councilwoman Kate Weymouth…
“Last week's letter by former Town Council member (2004-20) Kate Weymouth reflects two troubling trends that have become increasingly commonplace in Barrington governance. Both should concern voters.
The first is the tendency to dismiss the judgment of ordinary residents. Ms. Weymouth characterizes the 1,700 voters who stood in line to participate in the FTR as “uninformed residents who think they know better.” That sentiment seems to be shared by the current Town Council who has unanimously supported four proposed FTR reforms that each reduce direct voter influence - one increases the signature requirement from zero to 300 for budget amendments under $50K and another limits voters to only one amendment. (I plan to vote No.)
Whether one agrees with the FTR results or not, 1,700 residents taking the time to participate in local government should be celebrated, not disparaged.
The second troubling trend is the tendency to characterize dissent as disrespect or harassment. I experienced this personally when I was publicly scolded by the Town Council for comments I made during a meeting. Their behavior was subsequently criticized by this newspaper's Editorial Board.
Ms. Weymouth similarly characterizes the hundreds of residents who spoke against ShineHarmony's proposal for the former Zion property as people who “harassed the Barrington Planning Board and Town Council.”
I strongly reject that characterization. For seven months, hundreds of residents have attended meetings, submitted testimony and made their voices heard. I am proud of the ongoing work of B.R.A.D. and the many other residents who participated.
Most troubling is her suggestion that these residents, “frustrated by the process,” later voted to cut the municipal budget in retaliation. Does she think so little of the voters of this town to accuse them of abusing their right to vote?
Democracy requires us to respect voters even when we disagree with them. Good government requires leaders who welcome dissent rather than dismiss the people providing it.
Addressing these troubling trends is just one of the reasons I am running as an Independent for Barrington Town Council.”
Fiscal Stewardship
Barrington Town Council calls for changes to new FTR process
August 9, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire article here.
Regarding the current Town Council approved proposal to increase the number of signatures required for taxpayers to submit budget amendments under $50,000…
“Hartman said the town should aim to make it easier for people to get involved in the process — not harder. She asked for town officials to give residents the benefit of the doubt, that people have good intentions when they propose an amendment to the budget.
Hartman suggested the town follow the recommendations of the Board of Canvassers, which called for a scaled approach to required signatures: more needed for larger amendments, less for smaller.”
Regarding the current Town Council approved proposal to limit taxpayers to a single proposed budget amendment per year…
“Hartman shared concerns about Question 3. She said it discourages engagement by the public. She said she opposed that approach.
Hartman also said that a multi-layered proposed amendment could present a challenge to voters — they may agree with one part of an amendment, but not another.
“That seems like an absolute disaster in the making,” Hartman said.”
Fiscal Stewardship
Changes could be coming to new FTR process in Barrington
July 16, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire article here.
Regarding the previously approved Town Council requirement of nearly 3,000 signature for taxpayers to submit budget amendments over $50,000…
“Neile Hartman, who is running for town council, offered suggestions for the FTR changes (she opted for 200 signatures for amendments over $50,000 and 50 signatures for amendments $50,000 and less). She also suggested the town council and school committee could vote only on their own budgets; currently they can pitch changes to any budgets.”
Fiscal Stewardship
Taxpayers’ message to Barrington officials: ‘We can’t have it all’
April 17, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire article here.
Regarding year over year increases to Barrington property taxes…
“Barrington resident Neile Hartman questioned town officials — she pointed to the town council members and school committee members — who requested significant operating budget increases, despite knowing that taxpayers would face a large debt service bill for the $250 million school construction bond.
Hartman also said that the Barrington School Committee’s decision to request a new dean of students at Barrington High School in light of the other costs facing taxpayers was “tone deaf.”
Shortly after the April 15 budget hearing concluded, Hartman sent a email to members of the Barrington School Committee, Town Council, and Committee on Appropriations. She called on the council and school committee to file amendments for the financial town referendum proposing lesser budget increases for the upcoming year.
“These (school) construction expenses have been well known for years and represent an investment that is necessary,” she wrote. “I am not calling the smart decision to invest in school infrastructure into question. However, my expectation was that given this significant spending increase, the rest of the budget would reflect a shared commitment to ‘belt tightening’ and that both bodies, SC and TC, would collaborate to ensure that our town could reasonably absorb the known debt service expenses.
“Instead, it feels that neither council was willing to embrace necessary hard cuts in other area of their respective budgets. As an example, I find the suggestion to hire a Dean of Students at BHS, an expensive administration position, very concerning. Likewise, the notion shared tonight that there were basically no cuts available on the municipal side just cannot be true. There are no easy cuts but there are cuts. Should we be investing in Bay Spring Community Center, upgrading playgrounds, adding free shuttle service to the beach from in-site parking? Considered in a silo, each has merit but what was required was a mindset of ‘not this year.’”
Hartman shared the same concern as D’Arrigo and Bacon — the compounding tax increases in Barrington will force some residents to move out of town.
“I believe you as our town leadership need to embrace a realistic attitude, one well known to the individual households who voted you into place, that we can't have it all,” Hartman wrote.
“I am heartbroken to know how the proposed property tax increase … will impact families already living on tight budgets, especially our seniors. Actions like this sadly will drive away people who love Barrington.”
Fiscal Stewardship
Barrington taxpayers blast new budget approval process
April 16, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire article here.
Regarding year over year increases to Barrington property taxes…
“Barrington resident Neile Hartman said the transition to the FTR goes against better engagement by the public. She said she was really hoping that the FTR would have increased engagement.
“It feels like it’s doing the opposite,” Hartman said.
Hartman said someone should accept responsibility, or blame, for the situation — she pointed to members of the Barrington Town Council who voted to approve the resolution that later went to before Barrington voters. That yielded a response from the council members who attended Wednesday’s budget hearing: Kate Berard, Braxton Cloutier and Jordan Jancosek.
In a terse exchange with the councilors, Hartman said the town council members had full knowledge of the onerous signature threshold when they approved the resolution. She said they thought it was a good idea, and then she asked which councilors voted for it.
Berard and Cloutier raised their hands and said they had. (Jancosek was not yet a member of the council.) Cloutier said they were being fully transparent. Barrington Committee on Appropriations Chair Cynthia Rosengard said there had been a flyer sent to Barrington households before residents were asked to vote on whether to transition to the FTR. (Later in the meeting, former council member Jacob Brier said he had voted against the move because of the signature requirement.)
Hartman refused to back down. She looked at town officials and said they thought this was a good idea, while the entire town was shocked about the FTR process. She also said Barrington residents deserved an explanation.”
Housing Planning
Letter: Please support this fight for Barrington’s future
February 11, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding private developer’s proposal to build 344 housing units at the former Zion Bible College property…
“I want to be clear: the issue before us affects every Barrington resident. The proposed 344-unit development represents a scale and density that are fundamentally incompatible with our town.
This project would significantly increase traffic along Route 114, forcing more vehicles into already dangerous turnarounds. It would further strain our limited municipal services—most notably our schools—placing direct upward pressure on property taxes. And for a community that prides itself on environmental stewardship, this proposal stands in stark opposition to the values Barrington collectively holds dear.
I am asking—urgently—for residents to lend their support. We need immediate financial backing to hire an attorney. Without legal representation, this project will move forward. Simply put, we are being outgunned.
If you were among the more than 400 residents who left last Tuesday’s Planning Board meeting outraged by what you heard, now is the moment to act.”
Housing Planning
Letter: Demanding planner’s statement are publicly retracted
February 3, 2026
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding misinformation provided by town official informing critical Planning Board decision…
“In the Jan. 15 TRC meeting minutes, there are TWO patently false statements made by Herb Durfee regarding the school construction plan. I have recently spoken to those who know RIDE law inside and out and everyone has confirmed my prior understanding that it is truly IMPOSSIBLE for the upcoming $250M school construction plan to have accounted for projected student enrollment increases or vehicular traffic from the proposed Zion project.
It is not acceptable to have false testimony made by a town official in public record.”
Housing Planning
‘B.R.A.D.’ questions proposed 344-unit housing development in Barrington
November 12, 2025
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding the formation of Barrington Residents for Appropriate Development
“Aimed at raising awareness and finding an “appropriate” solution, the group has formed B.R.A.D. — Barrington Residents for Appropriate Development. More than 300 residents joined the group’s Facebook presence in less than a week.
“Those gathered today are just a small sampling of concerned residents hailing from all areas of our town and representing all stages of life, but sharing common concerns about the impact of this proposed ‘city’ on our town,” Neile Hartman said while reading a prepared statement.
She said the group’s goal is three-fold: First is to educate.
“There is little awareness town-wide that this plan is officially under review and little knowledge of the dramatic negative impact its approval would have on every resident and taxpayer,” she said.
B.R.A.D. is also looking to organize the resident base who will be impacted by the development. The group aims at representing the “collective desires” of Barrington residents and moving towards a sustainable and mutually beneficial development that is appropriate for the community.
The group’s third goal is to act on the situation facing Barrington.
“We are prepared to take all actions necessary to protect Barrington’s future,” Hartman said.
B.R.A.D. is also working to get ahead of expected criticisms.
“We are not anti-development,” Hartman said. “We are for appropriate, smart development especially that which successfully addresses long known needs in our community, such as affordable senior housing, affordable housing for adults with disabilities, field space, conservation, expanding our commercial tax base.”
The group is not anti-affordable housing, said Hartman.
“There is no question that there is a housing crisis in Rhode Island. We welcome everyone to Barrington. It is a special place and we want to share our town with as many as we can while also preserving what makes it special for decades to come,” she said.
Those gathered at the library point to the facts and figures shared in the proposed plan — the project includes 25 percent of its housing as affordable. But B.R.A.D. members said that when contrasted with the vast number of market rate units planned for Belton Court Village, the affordable housing does very little to move Barrington closer to the goal of offering 10 percent of its housing stock as affordable housing. In fact, the project would result in less than 1 percent shift in the town’s affordable housing.
Burden on Barrington
Residents discussed a variety of topics related to the proposed development at Thursday night’s meeting. They spoke about the Barrington Planning Board’s role in the development, other housing approaches for the property, and the impacts the current plan would have on Barrington.
B.R.A.D. members pointed to the increased traffic the development would place on local roads and the strain it would force on Barrington Public Schools. The group estimated that the 344-unit development would bring hundreds of new students to local schools — the low-end estimate was 341, while the high-end estimate was 848.
Residents at the meeting said that is simply too many students than local schools can handle… even after the buildings are renovated as part of the $250 million school construction project.
In addition, residents pointed to increase strain on the Barrington Fire Department, Police Department, and Public Works. They also shared concerns about water run-off into neighboring residences — that is an issue they already face and expect would become much worse.
B.R.A.D. members also questioned why the proposal neglects open space and accommodations for older residents.
Residents said the proposal fails to comply with the Barrington Comprehensive Plan and the Barrington Safe Streets Plan.”
Infrastructure
Letter: Number of poop bags littering field is shocking
April 3, 2025
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding dog poop bags littering our parks…
“St. Andrew's Field with its walking trails is a tranquil treasure right in the middle of our town full of nesting birds, wildlife, and rare plant species for all to enjoy. Its rolling hills offer an easily accessible escape from every day stresses for which I am very grateful and my dog, Yeti, absolutely loves.
Of late, the amount of dog poop and, even more offensive, used dog poop bags littering the field is shocking. Today I picked up THIRTEEN bags of discarded dog poop, many tossed well off the walking path. These are not accidents. I ask those who are guilty of this gross display of disrespect - how selfish are you?
Let's collectively commit to the most basic courtesy that we ask of the youngest children - leave it at least as good as you found it. Please.”
Infrastructure
Apple watches and EVs seep into Barrington's synthetic turf debate
February 10, 2025
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding the decision to put turf at BHS Victory Field…
“Neile Hartman said she considers herself an environmentalist and a proud Democrat. She said she tries to minimize her impact on the planet. Then Hartman spoke about iPhones and EV cars and lithium batteries and their impacts on the environment. She asked councilors if they were using plastic pens that evening, and whether everyone should return to using quill and ink.
Hartman said people make tough decisions every day that impact the environment. She also pointed out that natural grass fields require fertilizer and water and must be cut by gas-powered mowers. All of that is bad, she said.”
Infrastructure
Barrington decides, Sowams School or Hampden Meadows?
December 5, 2023
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding decision to repurpose one of our public school buildings…
“Neile Hartman said her comments were less about personal preference and geared more toward how to make an informed decision about the two sites. She spoke about identifying specific criteria and establishing order of importance. Hartman acknowledged that many of the comparable factors offered little separation between the two properties.”
Infrastructure
Letter: Efficiency is not an indication of ‘lack of investment’
May 31, 2023
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding the importance of understanding data used to make decisions…
“Numbers can be manipulated to tell an inaccurate story. I have seen this often done in public discourse here in Barrington. And it happened again at last night’s FTM.
Let me first be clear that I am in support of investment in our schools.
Let me be even more clear, I am in support of smart investment in our schools. Investment is smart when it yields the desired results, and, ideally, does so efficiently.
Anyone who manages a business knows there is no blank check. Your success is measured by the ROI of your spending decisions. The goal is “maximum bang for the buck”. Efficiency is a sign of a system that works well.
Here in Barrington, for the most part, our school system works very well, and it does so with great efficiency as measured by our low spend per student. This efficiency is not an indication of a “lack of investment” in our schools, a misleading statement made last night (and at the 2022 FTM).
Let me suggest that we instead measure our educational success based on student outcomes such as test scores, engagement levels, preparedness for both career and college. By these desired outcomes, we are tops in the state.
According to data from a March 2021 BT article, Barrington ranked 32/34 towns statewide in per pupil expenditure. The highest per pupil spend was in towns with small relative student populations like New Shoreham, Little Compton, Jamestown and Narragansett. Are these towns delivering better student outcomes than Barrington? Definitely not but according to statements made last night, those towns are “winning” and Barrington needs to catch up by spending more per student. So, the state’s best performing district needs to emulate the inefficiency of lower performing districts. Huh?
I advise those in positions of influence in our town to abandon reference to the per student spend ranking as a metric of success and instead focus on student outcomes. Being efficient with our per student spend is to be celebrated. Thanks to our very dense student population we use our resources relatively efficiently. Our low per pupil spend would only be a red flag if it was associated with a failing school district. That is not the case here in Barrington.
So, yes, let’s invest in our teachers, much needed building infrastructure, special education, honors course work. Let our goal be the delivery of outstanding outcomes across the entire student population and not high spend per student. That leads to continued success. That preserves the future of Barrington.”
Infrastructure
Letter: This is a unifying call for action, for our schools
April 12, 2022
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here. Note: this LTE was co-authored by Neile Hartman and Julie Owens and co-signed by nearly 400 residents.
Regarding the importance of preserving honors coursework at BHS…
“There are many reasons that brought our families to Barrington and keep us here. But at the top of everyone’s list is an excellent school system that promises to “empower all students to excel.” Barrington Public Schools’ strategic plan states that it will achieve this goal by “making student-centered decisions” and “creating purposeful, inclusive, and responsive dialogue.”
Over the past several years, the district administration and majority of the School Committee have failed on both fronts. It is time for a change. Our community is reeling from this year’s failed shift from Honors-level English classes to an independent Honors Designation project, resulting in honors participation dropping from over 50% of students to under 30%.
This was a major policy change with no clearly-stated goal or implementation plan, during a pandemic that left students and teachers stretched thin. The adverse impact this would have on college merit scholarship eligibility was not discovered until AFTER the change was implemented; this lack of due diligence by our leaders has left many high school students caught in the middle of this debacle.
This is just the latest example of a clear pattern of self-inflicted wounds due to the administration and School Committee taking actions without regard for stakeholder input, and lack of accountability for failures.
Barrington schools are our town’s greatest asset. We, engaged parents, students, BHS graduates, and taxpayers, have spent hours trying to convey our perspectives and lived experiences. We have written countless emails and spoken at endless school committee meetings. The lack of any response, of accountability, of listening to understand, of any semblance of community partnership, is stunning.
To be clear, we applaud our teachers and are thankful for all they are doing - day in and day out - for our kids. Our entire learning community deserves better than these failures of our leadership.
The signers of this letter are diverse; we are Democrats, Republicans and Independents; some voted for the current school committee members, and some did not. But we will ALL vote for change in November, because these issues are more important than party.
This is a unifying call for action. Our kids and our school system are counting on us.”
Infrastructure
Barrington High School bringing back some honors options
March 31, 2022
Subscribers can access the entire Letter to the Editor here.
Regarding the need for our elected officials to listen to the taxpayers…
“I leave here actually fairly shocked in that the community was so clearly aligned in what they asked for and provided such salient arguments as to why it was logical to go to vote to go back to what was, meaning full honors coursework, and for them (school officials) to totally disregard the community’s voice and to not go to a vote and then in fact to embrace a failed system of this past year of honors distinction, it is a profound disappointment.”