Aquatic Center Membership Fees Double

The Marlboro voted last week to increase membership fees at the Marlboro Aquatic Center, one of two swim clubs in town.

Business Administrator Jon Capp said membership fees will increase from around $45 to $91, in an effort to lessen the township's financial roll in the club and make the center self-sustainable through membership fees.

"Whether the program still runs on that fee is the question," Capp said.

Mayor Jon Hornik said if the club does not become sustainable, the township will have to consider other options, including closing it. Hornik said as a whole, Marlboro needs to make all programs not used by 100 percent of its residents self-sustainable, because the township cannot continue paying for things that are not used.

Hornik said he is also looking into offering membership to Middletown, as Marlboro currently has with Manalapan. Due to financial restrictions, , because it is not being fully supported by membership fees. The mayor is looking into inviting Middletown residents to pay an out-of-town fee in Marlboro, but did not say what stage those talks were in.

"They will have to pay an appropriate fee," Hornik said.

Councilman Scott Metzger suggested promoting daily rates for the club, as well as implementing an out-of-towner fee open to surrounding towns. Capp said he will take Metzger's suggestions to the Marlboro Swim Board.

"We have to be careful not to make it a daily rate thing, because that will hurt the economics of the swim club, which we have tried to build up over the last few years," Hornik said.

Councilwoman Carol Mazzola suggested the township close the club, which she said is hardly used when compared to the Marlboro Swim Club, until the township can get back on its feet.

"[People] have been saying its like their own private country club, because there are only 2-3 people there at a time," Mazzola said.

The Marlboro Aquatic Center is open on weekends only, and features waters slides and one large pool at different with different depths for children with all swimming abilities. According to the township website, Marlboro Recreation uses the Aquatic Center for its summer day camp.

Recreation fees will not be changing, simply the membership fees for the weekend use of the Aquatic Center.