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Residents urge caution on $12 million pool referendum as committee studies Mill Pond and Churchill
Summary
Public speakers at the July 9 meeting urged the council to slow a proposed pool referendum and to study both Mill Pond and Churchill options, raise transparent funding plans and avoid rushing to ballot; the pool committee said it will study both pools and explore referendum timing options.
Multiple residents spoke during the public-comment period July 9 urging caution on a possible pool-referendum plan and requesting more transparency from the new town pool committee.
Eileen Franklin, a committee member, told the council the group's charge is to study both Mill Pond and Churchill and to examine pools and related amenities; she said parking is the Parking Authority’s responsibility and acknowledged disagreements about whether the concession stand or bathhouse should remain. "We have missed the dates for the referendum and to be on a single ballot," she said, noting the committee must decide whether to run a two-ballot option in the fall or a standalone referendum at a later date.
Other commenters told the council they felt the committee has emphasized a Garfield Street site and was moving toward a November referendum too quickly. One resident described a $12 million cost estimate circulating online and asked for a clear funding source before voters see a question. Speakers urged the town to consider lower-cost renovations (for example, replacing rather than relocating or building new facilities) and to provide more detailed parking and access analysis for people with limited mobility.
The council and staff said the committee’s charge includes both pools, and that designs and feasibility analyses—particularly around the water table and site engineering—remain under study. Staff and the architect will continue to provide information to the committee and the council; several councilors suggested additional public engagement before a referendum is scheduled.
Next steps: The pool committee will continue its work, provide reports to the council, and staff will coordinate required engineering and parking studies before the council commits to referendum timing.
