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Cranford mayor outlines pool openings, community recreation plans and municipal budget highlights
Summary
Mayor Terry Curran said both town pools are planned to open this summer, described membership outreach and community events, and summarized municipal capital and operating budgets, including borrowing, grant funding and a projected municipal tax increase of roughly $20 per month on an average household.
Mayor Terry Curran used the April 24 broadcast to provide updates on the township’s pools, recreation programming and the recently adopted municipal budget.
On pools and recreation, Curran said the township intends to open both Orange Avenue and Centennial pools this summer, with Centennial scheduled for shortened hours initially. Officials reported membership sales were ahead of the pace at the same point last year; the town is pursuing partnerships—such as a proposed bulk membership arrangement with the 750 Walnut apartment complex—and planned promotions including a food‑truck event at Centennial to boost sign‑ups.
Curran said swim lessons were expected at both pools (the mayor asked staff to confirm details) and that Centennial’s snack bar will be open. The municipal community center and the YMCA partnership are operating year‑round; the township is promoting summer programming including pickleball and youth sports. The Shade Tree Commission and Environmental Commission programs will continue plantings and Arbor Day events over the spring and fall.
On the municipal budget, Curran summarized capital and operating items. He said the capital program this year totals about $5.7 million, with roughly $3.5 million coming from state or federal grants; the town plans to borrow for capital projects but reported a reduction in net borrowing this year and that the township would pay down nearly $1 million of existing debt. Curran said operating costs are essentially flat (a 0.15% increase) but that some outside costs (health insurance, sewer authority and pension) rose. From municipal sources the town projects an average property‑tax increase of about $20 per month (roughly $240 a year) for a typical Cranford residence; Curran noted the township used about $3 million from surplus to moderate the levy increase.
Curran also said the township is moving toward full‑day kindergarten once classroom build‑outs are completed; he said the school construction work is expected to finish in coming months and that full‑day kindergarten will not require an additional fee to families once it is in place.
Ending: Curran encouraged residents to sign up for Nixle for road‑closure and emergency notices, to attend public sessions on the downtown streetscape project and to buy commemorative 250th‑anniversary items and attend Memorial Day observances. He also invited residents to contact recreation and Shade Tree staff for tree or pool inquiries.
