Group That Supports Pool Wants Line-By-Line Analysis of Repairs Needed

A representative from the Friends of the Park Pool Chatham Borough encouraged the Borough Council at a meeting Monday to provide a line-by-line analysis of improvements that need to be made to the borough's deteriorating pool.

Sandy Roos, who has voiced her support for keeping the pool open to the Borough Council and the Memorial Park and Pool Committee, said an outside contractor contacted by the Friends estimated pool repairs to the kiddie pool would cost about $100,000.

She said she wants the Borough Council to provide a similar estimate that could help the borough's Pool Committee, which is tasked with providing recommendations to the council regarding repairs to the pool and the surrounding park.

At the committee's meeting last week, members said they wished they knew what money was available for the pool. There are some funds that are set aside to renovate Shepard Kollock Park, and committee members wondered whether they could potentially use those funds. They also wanted to know if they could use some Open Space funds—there are roughly $800,000 in those funds, but they are not earmarked to use for pool or park repairs.

But Council President James Collander said that the committee wasn't necessarily tasked with appropriating money for the pool. And he said it would be difficult for a contractor to come up with such a number.

"We don't know how big the project is going to be," Collander said.

Borough Engineer Vince DeNave also said that contractors don't necessarily like to spend money on those sorts of detailed plans. But he said he is talking to pool contractors to obtain pricing.

But Roos also asked the Borough Council—and potentially Administrative Secretary Janice Piccolo—to look out for grants that could potentially fund improvements. She also asked the council to fill two recently-vacant slots on the pool committee.

The council had set a July 12 deadline for determining what it might do with the pool—it will be open this year, but its fate is unclear beyond that—but Roos urged council members to take their time in making a decision. By the end of the summer, she said, membership numbers will be more clear, and the council may be able to make a more informed decision.

She also asked the council consider providing scholarships to people who maybe can't afford the pool membership.