Politics & Government

Support for Pool Renovations Seems Strong, But Funding May Not Be Available

Councilman: 'We have to find $300,000.'

At a public forum Monday night at Borough Hall that focused on Memorial Park pool renovations, it didn't seem as if many people were against making major changes to the existing structure.

Most in attendance, in fact, agreed with a plan presented by the Memorial Park and Pool Committee at the forum. If that plan were enacted, the park surrounding the pool would be enlarged. So would the deck surrounding the actual pool. The kiddie pool would be moved over and elevated to become level with the current pool, and in general, the whole area would undergo an upgrade.

"It creates an area that the people of Chatham Borough can be proud of and use on a regular basis," committee chairman Gerard Malanga said.

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No one raised any concerns about the pool-related aspect of the plan during the forum. Some concerns were raised about 25 additional parking spaces proposed to be placed in the park by two residents who live on North Hillside Avenue, but for the most part, the proposed pool renovations didn't generate much controversy.

Committee members also said the pool needs to establish a Board of Trustees to make pool-related decisions.

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At the end of the forum, the crowd of about 40 clapped loudly.

"Their plan, I think, is great," said Sandy Roos, who has been advocating for keeping the pool open at Borough Council meetings for the past two months. "I think it's a plan that suits the whole town."

But when the matter was discussed at a Borough Council meeting that followed the forum, council members said they doubted there was enough money available to fund the plan.

The project, as proposed, would cost about $785,000. The committee recommended using $480,000 from a Memorial Park bond—intended to be used to improve the area—to help pay for the majority of the costs.

It also recommended using about $208,000 from a bond intended to be used to renovate Shepard Kollock park, and using about $97,000 from the borough's open space fund. That would add up to the $785,000.

But borough officials said there was not enough money in the Shepard Kollock fund to pay for improvements to both Shepard Kollock Park and Memorial Park, since costs for the Shepard Kollock improvements have been escalating.

"There's no gravy train sitting at Shepard Kollock," said Councilman James Lonergan, who was also the liaison between the Borough Council and the committee.

In addition, council members said, the open space fund is being depleted because the borough is paying more in debt service—$185,000 per year—on bonds issued to fund various open space projects than the $100,000 it is collecting from the tax. That started happening after the open space fund tax was cut from one cent to a half-cent two years ago.

So those funds are likely not available, and that means only $480,000 is likely on hand for the $785,000 project.

"We have to find $300,000," said Councilman Bruce Harris.

The borough is also paying $67,000 in interest on a bond for Woodland Park, which has never been used because of environmental concerns at the site.

Committee members had proposed a Plan B that would cost $480,000 and would eliminate some elements of the more expensive plan. A walking path around the park and new parking spaces previously proposed would be deferred, according to that plan, and the kiddie pool would remain in its current location. The two pools would not be on the same elevation, so retaining wall costs would be eliminated.

But committee members said they did not feel that plan was a viable one, since it did not include the types of major improvements borough residents had requested on a survey given to them earlier this year.

Committee member Jim LeMon had said in order for a pool deficit—it operated at about a $26,000 deficit last year—to go away, the pool needs to have about 300 members by 2012.

As of last month, the pool had fewer than 150 members.

"We'd never get 300 members with that plan," LeMon said.

Malanga also chimed in. "That's like Cinderella's stepsisters trying to jam their foot into the glass slipper," he said of Plan B.

Residents said they felt there might be other ways to fund the project. Roos pointed out the borough had approved spending $100,000 to put lights at Shunpike Field without really debating the matter.

Spending that kind of money on the pool, she said, "can be a no-brainer."

Malanga also said that in his time on the committee, he has learned there are various, creative ways of funding town projects.

"With a few 'whereas(es)' and 'therefores,' there can be ways of finding the funding without costing the taxpayer money," he said.

Council members said they would attempt to find some clarity with potential funding options between now and the next Borough Council meeting Aug. 9.

They also said they could potentially put the renovations up for a referendum vote. The borough would need to file to do so by Aug. 24.

Former councilman Joseph Mikulewicz, who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting, said he felt such a referendum—if it were also packaged with the Shunpike Field lights—would pass.

No matter what, committee members said, they wanted the Borough Council to find a way to keep the pool open. It is in need of major repair, and the borough will likely not be able to find the funds to build an entirely new structure.

"If we ditch the pool today," LeMon said, "the pool is gone forever."

Correction: The article has been changed to reflect the fact that the borough is collecting $100,000 from the open space tax and is paying the $185,000 in debt service on bonds.


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