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Council denies ORA swim-team use of Heater’s Pond, citing lifeguard shortage
Summary
Ogdensburg council unanimously voted June 10 to deny a facility-use application for Heater’s Pond swimming because the borough lacks the two lifeguards required to open the pond; the pond remains open for non-swimming activities.
The Borough of Ogdensburg on June 10 unanimously denied a facility-use application from the Ogdensburg Recreation Association (ORA) to use Heater’s Pond for swim-team activities, citing an insufficient number of lifeguard applicants.
Councilman Vincent DeMeo moved to deny the application and Councilwoman Barbara Cowdrick seconded the motion; the roll call vote recorded yes from Alvarez, Ciasullo, Cowdrick, DeMeo, Poyer and Ruitenberg with no nays or abstentions.
Mayor George P. Hutnick and council members said the borough had extensively advertised lifeguard openings — in the New Jersey Herald, the spring newsletter, the borough website, Facebook and on the sign by the firehouse — but had received only one application (from the swim team’s coach). Cowdrick said the borough needs two certified lifeguards to open the pond and that repeated outreach and public appeals produced no additional applicants. "Unfortunately it is a sad day for the lake," Cowdrick said.
Mayor Hutnick clarified the denial applies only to organized swimming: "the pond will be open for all other activities; it is only closed for swimming." The denial resolves an application that had been tabled at three prior meetings (April 22, May 13 and May 28).
Why it matters: the decision affects youth and community swim programming that the ORA had sought to hold at Heater’s Pond this summer. Council members discussed that opening without two lifeguards would pose public-safety and liability concerns and opted to protect swimmers by denying the permit until staffing requirements are met.
Next steps: Council did not direct staff to reopen the application if lifeguard staffing changes; any future request to use the pond for organized swimming will be subject to the borough’s lifeguard staffing requirements and a new application or reconsideration at a subsequent meeting.
