Consultant Providing More Details on Barrington Fire Department, Fire District Split

A consultant is expected to explain the results of a study the village conducted into the upcoming split between its fire department and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.

Bill Balling, of WRB, LLC Consulting, is listed on the agenda for Barrington’s Board of Trustees meeting scheduled at 8 p.m., Monday, July 15.

Barrington has its own fire department and has an agreement with the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) to provide personnel and administrative assistance. The district pays a portion of salaries but does not have its own firefighters.

The district’s board wanted to hire additional firefighters, but the village rejected the idea, arguing Barrington would be saddled with pension costs.

So, BCFPD decided not to renew the agreement, which expires at the end of the year. The district is now in the process of establishing its own department.

Barrington village officials have not provided much information about how much the split will cost taxpayers, how response times will be affected or how the department will be structured, opponents to the split have said.

The meeting will be held at Barrington Village Hall, 200 S. Hough St.