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Politics & Government

Colony Pool Fee Waived for Seniors

Residents 65 and over admitted free from Aug. 13 through Labor Day.

The Chatham Township Committee . Besides reducing the rate for the rest of the season, membership to the pool is now free for senior citizens from Aug. 13 through Labor Day.

During its regular meeting the evening of Jul. 28, the committee voted to offer a reduced rate of $150 for township residents who want to purchase a pass from Aug. 13 through Labor Day. After the executive session at the end of the meeting, committee members returned to open session and amended that decision to include free admission for senior citizens during the same time span.

“We decided it would be good to allow seniors to use the pool for free during the remainder of the season,” Mayor Nicole Hagner said. “We want to encourage more people to take advantage of the pool and the recreational opportunities it offers.”

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The idea of reducing the pool rate for the remainder of the season for those who have not yet purchased a pass was suggested by Deputy Mayor Bob Gallop, who is the township committee’s liaison to the pool committee. Gallop said the committee recommended the partial season pass option as a way of encouraging new residents to try the pool if they moved to the township after the pool season was underway.

Gallop added that although the idea behind the program is for newcomers to be able to take advantage of the pool, the committee realizes there may well be other township residents who will wait until Aug. 13 in order to get the reduced rate.

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A full-season pass for the pool and tennis is $500. A pass for just the pool is $425. The partial pass would cost $150 for a single person, a couple or a family. People over the age of 65 would be able to use the pool for free.

Township Administrator Tom Ciccarone said he would like to see the partial pass system to be handled with the same community pass system that is used now, although it will need to be tweaked to be able to accept partial season passes.

Hagner said the committee asked Recreation Director Brian McNany to determine whether the community pass system will be used to process seniors who will use the pool for free, but she said that’s what the township is hoping to do. She said seniors should also be able to register at the pool.

During the discussion, Committee Member Bill O'Connor said he thinks $150 is too high, but Hagner and Gallop said it's something they want to try for the remainder of this summer. If the township decides to continue to offer it, the committee can discuss any necessary changes later.

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