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Council weighs changing water-aerobics fees, considers pay-at-end billing or subsidy
Summary
Council discussed raising the water-aerobics fee (proposal $8) but reviewed alternatives including billing participants at season end based on usage, keeping classes free as a public-health subsidy, or holding fee changes until instructor costs are known. The town attorney said activity fees have more flexibility than permit fees.
Somerset councilors debated whether to raise water-aerobics fees and considered alternative billing models before classes start.
Staff and council members outlined the current practice: the town collects session attendance, pays the instructor an upfront seasonal cost (about $4,100 last year), and then reconciles fees. Some councilors argued the town may be over- or undercharging because attendance varies with weather. Rohit proposed an end-of-season billing method that would divide instructor cost by total participant sessions and bill residents based on actual attendance.
Others favored maintaining an advance-collection model to avoid nonpayment; Linda described current record-keeping and said the town already tracks attendance and can produce last year’s participation spreadsheet. EJ reminded the council that the budget originally proposed fully subsidizing some activities and that making water aerobics free remains an option if council chooses to amend the budget.
Town Attorney Ron clarified that the legal principles governing permit fees do not strictly apply to activity fees and that activity fees can validly cover instructor pay, chlorine and utilities. The council asked staff to craft options for the main meeting — including a reduced flat fee, end-of-season billing pilot, or subsidy — and to include the instructor’s contract details so members can calculate exact per-user costs.
Next steps: staff will prepare written options and cost calculations for the main meeting; any change should be adopted before classes begin.
