Township Pool Considers Revenue Challenges, Resurfacing Plans

Good news and bad news was presented Monday night at the monthly Pleasant Valley Pool Commission meeting, with revenues up in the short term, but a possible shortfall coming next season.

Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Gander said gate revenues in June are up approximately $10,000 over the previous year, likely due to the unusually hot and dry weather. "The good weather has definitely helped us," Gander said. "We've had beautiful weekends."

Gander said she expects the pool to exceed the budgeted total of $65,000 in gate receipts by the end of the season if the weather holds. And, a status report last month prepared by the commission predicted a $20,000 surplus if gate revenues stayed at the budgeted amount and the entire pool budget was spent. "(The surplus) is probably going to be larger because I anticipate gate revenues to be well over $65,000," Gander said. "It's good news."

Short Waiting List

The bad news, financially speaking, is with high membership turnover the past two years, the pool's membership waiting list is low at only 30 people, although that number is up from just six in the prior month.

The pool sells memberships to families each year, and expects an average of about 100 membership spots to turn over each year. Those on the waiting list (achieved by submitting an application to the pool with a $25 application fee) are given the first opportunity to assume open memberships the following season. The waiting list in Bernards has reached three to four years long in the past, according to Gander.

"I'm guessing we'll get up for 50 or 60 (on the waiting list), but I'm not optimistic we're going to get up to 100," said Pool Commission Chairman Bruce Ficken. "We need to think about revenue alternatives."

In the worst-case scenario, the pool could face about a $60,000 – 70,000 shortfall next season if the waiting list does not grow and memberships are not renewed. The pool has been successful in attracting new members in recent years, however, bringing in higher than average numbers in 2009 (around 250) and this year (176). New members pay a one-time initiation fee, which helps offset the lost renewal fee revenue.

"We really won't know (the full financial situation) until March when people choose to renew or not renew," Gander said.

The members discussed possibilities such as raising pool fees in the future and exploring the option of opening the pool up for nonresidential use, an option most of the commission's members were against.

Pool Resurfacing

The Township Committee will vote tonight to award a contract to Integrated Aquatics Engineering for a regularly planned pool-resurfacing project. The pool has not been resurfaced in 10 years and is due for the work.

The commission estimates that the cost will be between $90,000 to $100,000, lower than originally predicted amounts as high as $140,000.

"We have well over $140,000 in our surplus and capital funds to account for resurfacing, but if it comes in less that would be good too," Gander said.

"We're not in any dire straights," Ficken said. The chairman estimated that with a ballpark figure of $280,000 in surplus funds and an operating $20,000 of surplus for this year, the pool could have $200,000 in surplus even after the major resurfacing project.

Meeting Notes

The Pool Commission talked about increasing enforcement of the no alcohol, no glass, no tents policy, with some members commenting about misuse of the alcohol policy.

An outdoor Ping Pong table has been installed and is operational after a slight delay due to problems in delivery.

Preparations were also made for a middle school dance scheduled for July 12.