Council Dives into Pool Budget

From the tone of the budget workshop Monday night at Town Hall, it seemed Town Council Budget Committee Chairman David Schrumm is strongly considering whether the Cheshire Community Pool should become a summer only facility.

 With the all-weather pool bubble collapsed and waiting to be removed from the surface of the Olympic-size pool, town leaders are struggling with a decision on whether a new bubble should be installed in the fall.

 “If the bubble doesn’t go back up and it’s run summer only – two months of swimming- then (the pool) is covered up. Isn’t it logical to assume a revenue loss from the drop in use? But less expenses too?” Schrumm asked.

 The estimated annual cost for a seasonal pool, according to Parks and Recreation Director Robert Ceccolini, would be about $354,000. The projected annual revenue would be about $187,000. Under this scenario, the pool would cost $167,000 a year, or $13,916 a month, even though it would be open for a short, summer season. (See documents below).

 The summer only costs are not in the proposed budget being considered by the council for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Instead, Town Manager Michael Milone prepared a budget he called “status quo” with the assumption the pool would continue to operate as a year-round facility.

 Milone’s budget contains a subsidy of $359,000 for year-round operations at the pool. That breaks down to $29,916 per month cost. According to these figures, the difference between operating a summer only pool and a year-round facility is $16,000 a month.

 Milone told the committee the town is expected to lose a little over $200,000 this year in revenue from the bubble collapse due to the cancellation of swim classes, other programming and swim passes. He had estimated revenue for the current fiscal year of $355,497.

 The town has submitted costs to its insurance company for replacement of the bubble, Milone said, as well as the amount of lost revenue. He said a discussion on the insurance claim must be done in executive session because the town may need to take legal action against the insurance company, Great American Insurance Group Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio.

 “We’re meeting with our insurance consultant this week. What’s the strategy? We know there’s a gap,” Milone said, between the town’s figures and what the insurance company is willing to pay.

 “We thought we’d receive $91,000 from the insurance company, but the number is higher now for what the town needs,” Milone said.

Aquatics Director Sheila Adams said rigging experts are expected to begin removing the huge fabric bubble next week.

 Budget committee workshops continue tonight and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tues., April 5. The council is expected to approve a budget on Tues., April 12.