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Residents urge council to make swim team more affordable for local families
Summary
Parents and volunteers asked the council to explore pool-access options that would lower the combined cost of pool membership and team fees; volunteers said current combined costs can reach about $850 for one swimmer and $1,050 for two, and proposed pilot approaches such as an amenity-based fee or modest subsidies.
At the start of public comment, Brian Brogan, a Woodcliff Lake resident and one of the volunteers who runs the Woodcliff Lake swim team, told the council the program builds confidence and water safety but can be financially out of reach for some families.
"I'm here tonight to ask the council to help make the swim team participation more accessible to all Woodcliff Lake families," Brogan said, describing how combined pool membership and team dues can reach about $850 for a single swimmer and roughly $1,050 for two. He suggested options used by neighboring towns, including a team-only rate or treating the swim team as an amenity for pool members, and handed printed comparisons to council members.
Council members and staff said they had recently reviewed league rules and financial figures. Staff cautioned that league rules require full access to the pool for team members and warned that a tiered pricing approach could jeopardize championship eligibility. Still, council members discussed alternatives such as targeted discounts, subsidizing coaching costs, or creating an adult-plus-child membership to reduce the out-of-pocket cost for families.
Park and recreation representatives said coach costs have been budgeted at roughly $6,500 for the year and that the pool is an asset that also supports other town revenue. Council members asked volunteers and Park & Rec to meet and develop a short-term pilot that would lower barriers without violating league rules; no binding change was adopted at the meeting.
The council asked the volunteers and the recreation committee to meet and return with options; volunteers were encouraged to provide detailed numbers and proposed pilot structures for the next discussion.
