Municipal Court Convenes for Initial Session

Barrington’s first-ever Municipal Court convened Thursday morning, Aug. 22, in the Council Chamber in Town Hall without a lot of ceremony or fanfare.

The Municipal Court should have brought some comfort, however, to the three defendents who saw their underage possession of alcohol cases disposed of within minutes of the 8:30 am start time by Judge Francis “Frank” Connor. 

The defendents, Julian Lucas, 19, Michael Mogila, 19, and Emily Vatter, 19, all were sentenced to pay $150 fines and attend alcohol counseling offered by the BAY Team, whose director, Kathy Sullivan, sat in the Council Chamber.

They were saved from having to drive to Providence in rush-hour traffic, find a parking space near the District Court building, and then sit with scores of other defendents waiting to have their charges disposed of by a judge.

Indeed, said Town Councilor Cynthia Coyne, who shepherded her idea for a Municipal Court about 18 months ago to its launch, “the benefits – primarily the convenience -- for residents speaks for itself.” 

No need to drive to Providence. No need to find parking Providence. No need to spend hours in a courtroom. 

“And far less intimidation by the surroundings in the Council Chamber,” said Coyne, a law-enforcement consultant and former RI State Police officer. 

The first session of the Municipal Court seemed to go off without a hitch. 

“It was a very collaborative effort,” Coyne said of the first court session that came together under the direction of the judge; the bailiff, Joseph Pine; the court clerk, Anne Agresti, records clerk for the Police Department; and Police Chief John LaCross.

Barrington Sgt. Timothy Harrington brought the three cases to the court. The sergeant, of course, did not have to make the trip to Providence as well. He was back on duty in Barrington soon after the court recessed.