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Tenafly council directs administrator to design pool membership program, sets review dates
Summary
Council directed the borough administrator to design a municipal pool membership program and return a proposed plan Dec. 17; the resolution includes a safety 'kill switch' to refund members if sign‑ups are insufficient, and community volunteers offered to support outreach and programming.
The Tenafly mayor and council voted Dec. 3 to direct the borough administrator to develop a membership program for the municipal pool and present a proposal at the Dec. 17 meeting.
David said the resolution (listed in the agenda materials as R24‑534) would give him until Dec. 15 to assemble a membership program and rates for residents and nonresidents; staff said the program would be posted on the borough website and promoted through school newsletters and the recreation department. The plan sets a milestone to gauge membership (the council discussed Feb. 15 and March 15 as possible snapshot dates) and includes a built‑in safeguard: if sign‑up volume is deemed insufficient, the council can cancel the program and refund any payments.
Council members debated whether deposits should be modest or substantial; the mayor suggested a deposit of one‑third to one‑half rather than a small (10%) amount. David said staff will provide a written program for council review on Dec. 17 and, if approved or modified then, the program could launch by Dec. 20 with weekly status updates until membership goals are met.
Members of the public spoke in favor during public comment. Janet Kim thanked the council for retaining the pool and volunteered neighborhood outreach and programming ideas — including swim lessons tied to summer camp, toddler sessions and family events — and said she and others will help promote early bird registration at the Dec. 14 holiday fair. Beatrice and Alba Martinez Palaez (joining remotely) also thanked the council for supporting the pool.
Council noted staff had survey data (about 700 responses) and a petition (roughly 400 signatures) as context for demand. The resolution to authorize development of the program was placed on the Dec. 17 agenda for council review and potential approval.
