Glen Rock Will Not Open Municipal Pool This Summer

GLEN ROCK, NJ — Pools are allowed to reopen as of June 22, but Glen Rock announced through a message on the Borough website that the Municipal Pool would remain closed for the 2020 season.

“As elected officials it is our duty to protect the safety of our Residents and pool staff, as well as minimize the financial impact to the Borough, and we believe this was the responsible decision,” read the message.

Included in that message is a document laying out the concerns pertaining to staff, facilities and finances.

According to the document, taking into account a shortened season, the projected revenue for the 2020 summer was $150,000, but since guidelines were released citing the need for reduced capacity and increased safety measure, that figure dropped by an anticipation $25,000.

In addition to the depressed financial outlook, the Borough received guidance from the Office of Emergency Management, Pool Manager and Director of Parks and Recreation advising not to open the pool.

Concerns for the staff seemed to play a large role as well, as the document grapples with the risk it would be putting on employees.

An increase in duties may lead to burnout, according to the document. Later, it is shown that some had proposed hiring teenagers to fill some new roles.

“We must ask ourselves can we in good conscience ask our staff to put themselves at risk?”