Hatboro Plans to Up Pool Fees

It will cost more to swim at the Hatboro Memorial Pool this summer under a set of proposed fees that the Hatboro Borough Council will act on later this month. 

Costs are expected to increase between $10 and $15 for almost everything, the few exceptions being senior memberships, entrance for children under age 2 and resident day passes, according to a proposed rate sheet obtained by Patch. Council will take action at its Feb. 25 meeting.

Councilman Mark Sheedy said officials evaluated fees in a 5-mile radius of other public pools. The end result, Sheedy said, are planned tweaks to make the Memorial Pool's rates "more in line with other public pools."

"We’re trying to make the pool self-sufficient so we’re not taking money from public works," Sheedy said. 

Sheedy told Patch he did not know how close the pool was to being self-sufficient, or if the new rates proposed would make it so.

Hatboro Borough Manager Fred Zollers said he did not have exact figures on hand during Monday's council meeting, but said the council has to "transfer a little bit of money" to help fund the pool each year.

"It wasn't hundreds of thousands of dollars," Zollers said. "Hopefully (the increased rates) will help."

Sheedy also inquired about whether council members should receive free pool memberships. 

Even though the governing body is examining ways to up the pool's revenue stream, Sheedy said it does not appear as though the Hatboro Area YMCA will be part of that equation. Officials announced last month that the Hatboro Y would close its outdoor pool. At that time, officials said negotiations were underway for the Y's swim team to use Hatboro Memorial Pool. 

But, on Monday, Sheedy said, "I don't think it's going to work for us."

"It's an ongoing dialogue," Sheedy said, adding that the Hatboro Y is "looking at other venues" as well. 

A handful of parents attended the meeting and two spoke against a previously mentioned possibility of the Hatboro Y managing Hatboro Memorial Pool.

"It needs to remain as is," Hatboro resident Harry Honer said. "Let the Y run their program here behind us."

Ami Kirn, of the Hatboro Memorial Pool parent association, echoed Honer's sentiment and pointed out that Hatboro offers "very little" in terms of park and recreation activities. 

"It means a lot for our team (the Hatboro Storm) swim team to be there," Kirn said. 

Zollers said an agreement has not been finalized with the YMCA and, even if it had, "there was no plan on infringing on (the Hatboro Storm's) practice time."

"We're real big fans of the Storm," Sheedy said.

Proposed 2013 rates for Hatboro Memorial Pool

Resident, two adults living in the same household (ages 18-62): $210

Resident, single (ages 18-62): $160

Resident, per child (ages 2-18) and living in the same household as an adult member: $35

Resident, senior (62 and up): $60 (no change)

Resident, 15-visit partial membership punch card: $125

Resident day pass: $15 (no change)

Resident day pass after 5 p.m.: $5 (no change)

Non-resident, two adults living in the same household (ages 18-62): $310

Non-resident, single (ages 18-62): $210

Non-resident per child (ages 2-18) and living in the same household as an adult member: $35

Non-resident senior (ages 62 and up): $110

Non-resident 15 visit partial membership punch card: $175

Non-resident day pass: $20

Non-resident day pass after 5 p.m.: $10

Swim lessons, per person (two sessions): $50

Swim team membership: $50

Replacement cards: $5 (no change)

Children under age 2 with adult membership living in the same household: Free (no change)

Guest of member day pass (up to four per membership): $10

Daycare/camps: $60 per day for up to 12 children; $5 per day for each additional child

Click here to see last year's rates.