BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer
MILLTOWN – Officials are diving into a plan that would make the borough pool less crowded this year.
Last month, Janet Court resident Nicholas Ligotti approached the Borough Council with some concerns about the use of the pool by out-of-town children’s camps. Ligotti and Councilman Mike Skarzynski said the camps were using the pool so often that borough residents were contemplating not using the pool.
The council then voted to restrict the pool to borough residents and their guests, and any outside organization would be required to make a written request to use the pool.
At the May 8 council meeting, the governing body further discussed the issue, and heard again from Ligotti as well as borough Recreation Director Julie Petry.
Petry presented a plan to recoup some of the revenue that would be lost by the pool’s restricted use. According to Petry, the camps would have brought in about $12,000 this year.
Petry later went into detail with the Sentinel about the Recreation Department’s plan.
She said the department will send letters to local businesses inviting them to rent space at the pool to hold their company picnics. Petry also suggested hosting business expos at the pool, where businesses could rent a table and advertise for their company.
Petry said the pool fees have not been raised in three years, and she proposed a slight increase this year, though guest passes and senior admission fees would be exempt from that increase.
Some of the improvements the department would like to make at the pool include additional landscaping. This is where local landscaping companies could help, while getting some free advertising as well, she said.
“They could take a piece of area in the pool and design it how they want to, with their own landscaping, and then they could post their sign there,” Petry said. “So that will save us money in trying to beautify and trying to plant and landscape it ourselves.”
At the meeting, Petry and Councilman Eric Steeber, who is the council’s liaison to the Recreation Department, discussed the costs related to running the borough pool. Petry said the pool costs about $6,000 just to open, and about $2,000 to close at the end of the season.
Additionally, Petry said, more poolside lounge chairs and tables are needed for residents.
“They’re paying for the service; we need to accommodate them,” Petry said.
Petry said there are also maintenance costs, expenses associated with safety precautions by the pool as well as bathroom and pool-area improvements, to name a few.
Steeber said the Recreation Department is going to need financial assistance from the borough, since the department will be able to recover only a small portion of the revenue that the camps were expected to bring in.
“So when we come looking for some money, don’t look at us cross-eyed,” Steeber said. “We have to get this stuff done.”
Petry said she was surprised to hear of all the complaints about the camps, because her office has only received complaints from about three families.
But Councilman Joseph Cruz noted that families may not have been complaining to Petry because they were voicing their concerns directly to Skarzynski, who uses the pool. Skarzynski agreed, and said it became difficult for him to enjoy a relaxing day at the pool because of all the complaints he was receiving about it.
“I think that when we built the Milltown pool, we built it for Milltown
residents,” Skarzynski said, offering his viewpoint on the frustration many residents have expressed at often being outnumbered by nonresidents at the pool.
Ligotti said he did not resent any use of the pool by the young campers, but that the recurrent appearance of the camps became overwhelming.
“I did not have a problem with the camps, I had a problem with the frequency of the camps,” Ligotti said.
Petry said this week that the Recreation Department is looking ahead to the June 2 opening of the pool, and expecting renewed interest from residents since the council took action on the issue.
“With the camps not being there, maybe more people will come out and sign up for the pool this year,” Petry said. “I don’t know if it’s going to make a big difference [financially]; I hope so. We’re just trying to make it that much better. Hopefully it will be a better year.”
On June 24 and 25, use of the pool will be free for borough residents. Badge sales begin on June 5.
For more information on the pool or sponsorship opportunities, or information related to hosting events at the pool, contact Petry at (732) 828-2100, ext. 141.