Mayor Says Pool Fees' Release Was a Mistake

Last week, a number of Maplewood residents received emails stating new fees for the 2012 season at the .

However, the fees have not yet been approved by the Township Committee.

"It was an error by the Recreation Department," said Mayor Vic DeLuca at the Township Committee meeting on Feb. 7.

Membership rates at the pool are proposed to increase approximately 30% over  2011 and were introduced at the Township Committee last night. The ordinance stating the new fees was passed upon introduction by a vote of 5-0; the new fees will have a hearing and go to a final vote at the Feb. 21 Township Committee meeting. No members of the public appeared at the meeting last night to speak about the fee increases.

At the Jan. 3 Township Committee meeting, this year in order to pay for debt service on the more than $1 million in bonds issued to pay for which will debut this season.

The improvements include two new waterslides, a new pool deck with better drainage, new dive platforms and diving boards, and handicapped accessible ramps into the pool.

DeLuca also noted theat the fees had been made more uniform than in previous years — with all early bird fees now $40 less than the full fee and last month fees at 50% of the full season fee.

"There has been concern about the caregivers fee," said DeLuca. "That is not a change from last year." He noted that the Family & Caregiver fee is still cheaper than a combined Family and Individual fee. Deputy Mayor Kathy Leventhal noted that the Pool Committee was looking into questions about teenaged babysitters at the pool and that there would be more discussion on this question "in future."

DeLuca said that more publicity about the improvements to the pool was forthcoming.

The proposed fees for 2012 are:

Guest passes will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. An adult book of 5 passes will be $40; a children's book of 5 passes would be $25.

The 2011 rates were as follows:

Couple