Parks staff told the Town of Lakeville Parks Commission on June 26 that Clear Pond’s 2025 swim-season operations are running a projected deficit and that several maintenance items require near-term attention.

Staff presented a revenue and expense summary for Clear Pond and related parks. Revenue items discussed included season passes, concessions (concession revenue to date $5,369 with four operating days remaining), swim lessons (revenue $1,500 to date), group outings, and gate fees (gate revenue to date $7,800, below a $6,000 target for next year). For the 2026 fiscal-year revenue budget staff proposed $26,650 for Clear Pond operations. Salary obligations are the primary driver of the deficit: current salary appropriations for Clear Pond were described as $42,500 for the 2026 budget, with other expenses of $6,150 yielding a program total of $48,650 and a projected shortfall of roughly $22,000. If all current staff (nine employees) worked full-time for the remaining season weeks, staff said salaries could rise to about $58,700, producing a larger projected loss.

Staff also reported an equipment loss when a freezer failed during a multi-hour power outage; the freezer held surplus concession inventory (ice cream) that was lost and will need replacement. The freezer replacement cost was described as approximately $600; staff noted there is sufficient remaining food-services budget to cover the replacement.

On maintenance, staff said the Loon Pond Lodge bathroom piping will be replaced the week after the meeting and that Clear Pond’s pump/water service remains offline (no water to the bathrooms); in the interim two ADA porta-potties and a handwashing station are onsite. Commissioners were updated that sprinkler repairs at Commissioners Field were completed after one contractor declined the job and another (local landscaper) repaired the system; the town is awaiting the invoice. Staff reported that repair-and-maintenance spending is over budget by about $9,000 but that other fund lines (groundskeeping, supplies, facility improvements) have balances available.

Staff told commissioners that lifeguard staffing has increased from zero to eight or nine and that one additional hire remains to be completed. Commissioners discussed the town’s ability to carry operating losses and the options to reallocate savings if needed; staff indicated the select board/town administrative processes are available for additional transfers if the commission identifies a capital need later in the year.

Ending: Staff will provide updated figures and any plumbing-timing confirmations at the next meeting; commissioners asked staff to monitor seasonal payroll scenarios and return with options if the projected deficit remains.