Somerset council reviews fee schedule; water-aerobics guest fee set for June vote

The Somerset Town Council spent the opening portion of its work session reviewing a redlined draft fee schedule prepared by staff that proposes changes to building permits, recreation charges and facility rentals.

Council members focused early discussion on a proposal to make water-aerobics free for residents while requiring guests to pay. Council Member (identified in discussion as Gary) said free resident access with low guest charges would encourage outside use and shift instructor costs to residents, noting “there were 40 guests last summer” and urging a larger guest contribution to cover instruction.

EJ, the town staff member presenting the recreation proposals, described a new sign-up system intended to give priority to residents: “starting this, post season, you can sign up in advance on member slash for water aerobics,” EJ said, adding that the instructor set class capacity at 22 and that the sign-up form asks whether a member will bring a guest.

Council members debated how guests should be charged and how to preserve resident priority. Proposals discussed included splitting charges between a guest admission fee and a supplemental instructor fee; members floated totals between $8 and $13. The President said the council would publicize the recommended fee schedule and vote on it at the June meeting, and members agreed to place the guest-fee amendment on that agenda.

Several council members supported a short trial of the new sign-up process and asked staff to explain the system to regular participants to reduce confusion at the pool, and asked that the town consider limiting each member to a small number of guests per session and prioritize residents when the sign-up list is full.

The council did not adopt a final fee at the work session; it agreed to return to the item at the June meeting after monitoring the sign-up system and receiving further input from staff and the public.