A sea of swim team members greeted the Town Council Wednesday night to await their decision on funding a replacement for the Cheshire Community Pool bubble.
In a 7 - to - 2 vote, with Tom Ruocco and James Sima voting against the approval, the council agreed to accept just over $284,000 in insurance reimbursements to replace the inflatable bubble that collapsed during a January snow storm.
"We made a decent and fair settlement (with the insurance company); we will be made whole," said Council Chairman Tim Slocum. "There is no expectation this will happen overnight. It will be the end of November for the completed structure," he added.
Discussions with Cheshire Academy reportedly will allow the Cheshire High School girl's swim team to practice at the private school's pool until the end of October.
Swim Team Captain Haley Payne said the team received support from a wide section of town residents. "Even those who don't swim still supported us. It's going to be great," she said.
Patti Flynn-Harris said her constituents were overwhelmingly in support of the new bubble. "What impressed me is so many seniors said they use the pool. We must find a balance," for residents, she said.
The council also voted unanimously to use nearly $127,800 from it's capital, non-recurring account to pay for a new energy efficient blower which inflates the bubble. The funding will also cover costs of peripheral items such as a tarp system, snow sensor and utility hook-ups.
Slocum reminded residents that even without the bubble, the pool would have cost about $145,000 a year with the cost expected to rise each year.
