Sorry, Chief, but this is what happens when the government is focused on recreation and unfettered develpment and ignores infrastucture, public safety, relationships with necessary utilities, and emergency planning.

Chief La Cross needs to bring his concerns to the Town Council and the Town Manager.

The town government did not do proper planning prior to the blizzard. The town government did not let people know the expectations and available services BEFOREHAND. Surely the nice people of Barrington would have complied.

Folks had no heat. Elderly had no heat. Little children had no heat. The only thing that WAS known was that the temperature was going to drop to about 9 degrees . That IS an emergency when folks don't know how/where to go to get warm, Chief. So some parents took the kiddies sledding to try to make the best of it. Sorry 'bout that.

Now, Chief, on to the tickets for the scoflaws who don't want to shovel town property for free. Or is that just a hollow threat from the Police Chief?

Barrington - an expenisve, poorly managed mess.

Riddle me this. How do the town plows have no issue getting their coffee from Dunkin Donuts, but they can't seem to do a good job plowing Wood Ave?

So true!

The Barrington DPW usually impresses me. Not this time. Meadowbrook drive is still a rut filled frozen glacier. We saw a town truck with his plow up drive through this morning but didn't bother to put the plow down and clear the street. They are probably disgruntled because MEGA got the garbage contract, even though everyone I know objected strongly to that. And by the way, we have an oversized, over priced police force so if people want to call, they can and they will chief.

First, I would like to say that I feel Barrington did a great job clearing the streets and keeping up with the storm.

I would like to make a suggestion. If the non emergency line was out due to power, and if this line is connected to the internet.....change the manner in which this line is serviced so that it will not go down unless the wire itself if down. Also I was not aware that Atria Bay was opened as an emergency shelter along with Primrose Hill School for Saturday night. I had a transistor radio and listen to WPRO the entire time, and these locations were never mentioned as shelters. Do not assume everyone has access to the internet through updated devices. Who was in charge of contacting WPRO with this important information ? When we are in an emergency situation the officials must look at the problem from the view of all residents. There should probably be a survey or suggestion ballot here on Patch asking how we rely on obtaining emergency information when power etc. is not available to us. Remember not all elderly have the latest devices, or family to rely on.

No doubt Ned. On Sunday I went for a drive and for the first time saw the Barrington Police Hummer. Really?

Which roads in Barrington are state roads?

While listening to WPRO during the storm someone called from Barrington and mentioned Nayatt Road as being a state road, and it was not plowed.

I have a suggestion. If our town trucks are in the area plowing ,and a state road in our town has not been plowed in a reasonable time, we should notify the state and then be able to plow that road and bill the state for the service. Call it a FINE to the state and maybe they will be more aware of the voice of the people.

We are fined for parking violations, speeding violations, and fines for not shoveling the sidewalk etc., fine the state for putting residents in harms way for emergency purposes.

I am thoroughly convinced that plowing in Barrington should be outsourced to a company that actually knows how to clear a road with a plow truck. Seriously.... I used to plow for a landscaping company many years ago, and if I left even a tiny spot on my route looking even half as bad as the major roads around town did (and some still do) I would have been FIRED!!!

It is unfortunate that all the roads are not down to bare pavement but it was a large WINTER storm. If people are not happy how our town government has handled the last storm. Just remember last November they were all voted back in to office. Elections mean things.

Please tell me how the roads not being plowed properly is the police department's fault! People are absolutely rediculous in these situations and don't do what they should. And to manifold witness...why does the town have to tell people what to expect? It's a blizzard...we could loose powere and have no heat.....there will be lots of snow.... Buy gas and supplies and prepare your loved ones BEFORE hand not after. It's not hard! I know for a act the police had to tell people to move off Washington several times over and over, are people that stupid. The police did what they needed to do without the help of the residents. Smarten up people and stop blaming everyone else for your shortcomings.

**responsibility *for our* community.

If people didn't drive around saturday morning with nowhere to go maybe the roads wouldn't be so bad. I live on county road and it was monday morning traffic. Where are you going? Same cars back and forth. Packing down the snow till its hard as rock on the road. Next time stay home and shovel your sidewalk!

The comments in this feed are a disgrace! I am sorry, but we residents should be thankful for our plow drivers and for their hard work and time they dedicated to this town over the weekend. (If they were at Dunkin Donuts, it was probably after working for 12 +hours) While everyone was snuggled in with their family and friends, these men and women were away from their families and working for hours and hours to get your streets cleared.
Maybe if the town manager had not approved for the lay offs of 8 DPW we would have more staff to shovel your sidewalks and keep your streets clearer.

What really is a disgrace is. Posts by people that will not not show there real name. If bloggers would not say thier posts to people face to face they should not say at all. But that would be just my own opinion. First Amendment gives Real Americans the ability to voice opinions. Good or Bad.

Manifold makes me laugh. We live in New England. An area that is no stranger to Nor' Easters, Hurricanes and severe weather. Why is the governments fault that "people don't know where to go or how to get warm" Really?? Cavemen had no internet, Laptops, smart phones, or Doppler radar and they could find warmth. The storm was talked up for a whole week so sack up and prepare for what might be. Major snow, wind and power outages expected. Take some responsibility for yourself and stop relying on “The government to wipe you azz for you”. I love how Manifold and clan love to play keyboard council, Manager, Police Chief etc. Get a life or a seat on your “Government” that you so often seem to find fault with if you think you have all the answers and can do a better job.

Overall, I think the storm handling was fantastic. My only gripe is Wood Avenue (and surrounding area). Throughout all the storms, that has to be one of the worst (high traffic) plowed roads in Barrington...even though plow traffic is heavy for Dunkin Donuts.

Is this road just a pain and can't be plowed like the rest? Is it the residents' need for the D (even during a blizzard) packing down that road and making it harder? I am proud to say that I didn't drive at all on Saturday, and spent the day shoveling my driveway.

James
As you can see I do put my full name. I have never hidden behind a false name. Since that would make me weak. Choices are made in elections and going down the same path of big government economic destruction has consequences. Remember NO new Republican got elected and some good ones that were previously elected got beaten. To complain about how Government continues to fail expectations of the citizens and still vote them back in is ludicrous. That's why I will have to constantly remind the uninformed voter who and what they voted for. Life sucks and Elections Mean Things.

National Grid (British for-profit) laughs at RI.
Take care of you if the government makes ‘em (see BP oil spill).

$1,000,000/mile or power out when the wind blows? The only choices?
Gov believes it. On tv, Natl Grid guy tries not to laugh as Gov repeats “Big Winter Storm, Big Storm”.

Chief’s “beefs”?
Some folks wouldn’t have called 911 if Barrington communicated info via radio.
When would the shelters open? Where are they? What to bring?
Temp heading toward 9 degrees. No power. No heat. No info from Barrington.
And in many places, no plows.
Atria deal? Way late.
Call 211? Talk to a machine. ‘Phone calls returned? Days later.
Parking on Washington Road a problem?
Plowing in Barrington & statewide is totally random? No planning? No communication? Pay plows, don’t ask questions? Rough idea of routes could have been given by radio.

Chief wants abutting property owners to shovel town property for free?
No. No slave labor.

Great Depression? Government paid folks a few bucks & some self respect in a bad economy? No more. Unions won’t have it. But unions don’t work for free.
Budget tight? Unions overpaid. Union won’t allow cheap sidewalk shoveling labor.

Slavery?! Not the answer.

Government wants big tax money AND low expectations. Don’t rely on government. Buy a generator. It’s New England.

Taxpayers defend RI government?
Funny?
Laughable.

Message rec’d, Fred.
Coward voted for you.
But once.
;-)