Dellefratte Family Memorial Put Back in Hands of Recreation Commission

The proposed Dellefratte family memorial is back in the hands of the Barrington Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Town Council approved guidelines for all memorials that were drafted by the recreation commission and then signed off on the family memorial with the board’s approval – a rather atypical decision.

The Dellefratte family has given more than 175 of service to Barrington, particularly in the public works department. It proposes to erect a memorial at the site of a home once owned by a longtime DPW employee, Billy Dellefratte, on the corner of Prince’s Hill Avenue and Foote Street at Chianese Park. That land was sold to the town for the park.

Here are the guidelines for memorials approved by the Town Council:

The Town of Barrington and the Park and Recreation Department recognize the need for individuals in the community to memorialize an individual who has made a difference in the lives of family members or their community. Such memorials are divided into two categories: living memorials are ones that have a living aspect to them such as trees, flowers, etc. The other is a lasting memorial such as a bench or fountain. 

The Town of Barrington encourages the installment of living memorials. Individuals that have a desire to establish a memorial should follow these guidelines that provide a process of establishing such memorials.

All memorials

1. All applicants for a memorial must begin the process by appearing before the Town Council to have their proposal approved. A scaled drawing will be required for anything more elaborate than a bench or a tree.

2. If approved by the Town Council, then the plan proposal will be reviewed by the Park and Recreation  commission with a member of the public works department present, to advise

for consistency and feasibility with the site, and to determine if the proposed memorial requires an annuity for long term maintenance.

3. The memorial concept will then be sent back to the Town Council with the judgment of the Park and  Recreation Commission and DPW.

4. All costs associated with the memorial will be borne by the donor.

5. The nominee can be either alive or deceased; a criminal background check (the cost to be borne by the donor) will be performed.

6. All memorials should have served with distinction as a prominent citizen and be recognized for his/her  contribution to the Town, County, State or Country.

7. All nominees must have lived in the Town of Barrington for at least 10 years.

8. The Town reserves the right to move or remove a memorial if necessary.

Living memorial criteria

Living memorials do have some challenges in that the living memorial can be affected by various co nditions such as  weather, disease, and nature’s elements. It should be recognized that the Town would make all efforts to provide for  the longevity of such a memorial within its ability to provide services that are available within the Town’s public works department.

1. All costs associated with a living memorial will be borne by the donor and will be based on prevailing prices  for such living items such as trees, shrubs, and gardens.

2. If living memorials are to be marked, the plaque shall be no larger than 8” x 5” and be affixed to granite or granite like stone that shall be buried at least 10” into the ground and its placement reviewed by the Town DPW prior to installation.

Lasting memorial criteria

1. Benches shall be of the two types approved by the Park and Recreation commission, unless a

case can be made by the donor, for an exception.

2. Applicant must establish an annuity when the memorial is a design piece such as a fountain that requires long term maintenance.