Florham Park ponders pool fee increase

FLORHAM PARK - What better time to think about pool fees than the dead of winter?

While the Borough Council listed municipal pool fees on its meeting agenda for Jan. 22, there was no action due to the sensitivity of the issue: raising fees 18 percent for senior citizens and 9 percent for everyone else.

The council instead decided to table the introduction of the pool fee ordinance, by a 4-2 vote. Councilman Scott Carpenter abstained and Councilman William Zuckerman voted against the motion to table. Carrying the motion were Council President Charles Malone Jr., Councilmen Charles Germershausen and Thomas Michalowski, and Councilwoman Carmen Cefolo-Pane.

Although the municipal pool is in the midst of an expensive renovation, Malone indicated the scope of the proposed fee increases still gave him pause.

'Rushed'

"I moved to table the proposed ordinance, because -- as written -- it indicated an 18 percent increase for senior citizens and a 9 percent increase for all others," the council president said after the meeting.

"At that time, the proposed ordinance had been rushed to introduction without adequate time or opportunity for proper discussion, review, and analysis by myself and by borough staff," he added.

Mayor Mark Taylor suggested that the council would revisit the issue at a later date.

There is time. The Florham Park Municipal Pool, located off Vreeland Avenue, is scheduled to open for weekends as of the Memorial Day weekend in May, with regular hours beginning on Saturday, June 21.

The borough awarded a contract for a $1 million makeover of the pool last fall to CFM Construction of the Stirling section of Long Hill Township.

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Florham Park ponders pool fee increase