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Hopewell council directs staff to work with Nova South swim team to expand pool access and explore MOU changes
Summary
After residents and Nova South coaches described morning-hour shortages and lane conflicts, the council unanimously directed the city manager and staff to work with the swim team on a revised contract and to present a plan within 60 days for extended pool hours and weekend service.
Residents and representatives of Nova South Swimming told Hopewell City Council the city’s Hubbell Community Center pool hours and lane allocations limit citizen access and strain a long-standing partnership with a year-round competitive swim team.
“Like, we're all on the same team,” said Lauren Waterworth, head coach of Nova South Swimming, urging cooperation between the team and the community center. Waterworth said the team provides lifeguards and other operational support to keep the facility open during some morning and evening hours and argued the partnership benefits both swimmers and residents.
Mr. Royster, who identified himself as principal at Carter G. Woodson Middle School and a long-time coach and parent, told council that the swim team needs consistent access to multiple lanes to serve novice and competitive groups. "We are asking...to keep the current MOU as is," he told the council, warning that a stricter lane/time limit would force the team to look elsewhere and reduce programming available to local children.
City staff and the community center’s recreation staff described constraints that include staffing shortages and state/local lifeguarding requirements. The parks and recreation staff said the center currently employs two full-time lifeguards and is interviewing for a specialist position; the department has asked for clarity about the cost implication of opening earlier. Staff said a risk-management requirement means a city-certified lifeguard must be present for operations the team requests.
Why it matters: The fitness and youth-development programming the swim team provides is the only USA Swimming program within a 40-minute drive, the presenters said; losing the team would reduce regional access to competitive swimming and larger aquatic programming. Residents also said they want earlier public access for adult lap swimmers and working parents.
Council actions: Council voted unanimously on two motions addressing the matter. First, council voted to "charge the city manager and staff to work with the swim team to bring back a contract that is mutually beneficial for both the city and for the swim team" (motion passed 7–0). Second, council voted to "charge the city manager and staff to present a plan within 60 days on how to extend pool hours and provide weekend hours" (motion passed 7–0). The motions created a formal staff assignment but did not change hours or the existing MOU immediately.
Details discussed: Coaches and staff described typical lane use: novice groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays, multi-lane practices in late afternoons and early evenings, and some morning practices that currently require staff to be on site before 5 a.m. Council members discussed possible compromises such as a 4-lanes-for-team / 2-lanes-for-public split on certain nights and asked staff to provide fixed-cost numbers and usage counts (citizen versus team swimmers) to inform a revised agreement.
Next steps: City staff agreed to produce a detailed plan and usage numbers and to return to council with options, cost estimates and a proposed revised contract or MOA for council consideration. Council asked that staff track the number of citizens using the pool during team hours to help quantify the public impact.
No final schedule change or MOA amendment was approved at the meeting; both will require follow-up action after staff brings back a plan.
