MOUNT CARMEL - The operation and management of the Mount Carmel community pool will no longer be run by Neptune Pool Management Inc., and the responsibility will instead be placed back into the hands of the borough.
The Delaware pool company informed borough council last week it would be relinquishing the duties of the pool, but did not provide a reason. The council announced the company's decision during its meeting Thursday.
This effectively puts borough manager Ed Cuff III back in charge of the facility, and he will be hiring staff over the next few weeks and working to get the pool open by next month.
No official opening date has been set, but Cuff said it will likely be after June 4, the last day of school for Mount Carmel Area School District.
While council President Tony Matulewicz said the service agreement with Neptune saved the borough at least $5,000, the trade off was fewer activities planned than council members expected.
Vice President Leroy "Chico" Moser, however, was less formal with his description.
"It was lousy. They didn't do nothing. Half the time when it was 90 degrees outside, they weren't open," he said.
With the exception of an extremely rainy 2011 in which the pool cost $25,000 to maintain, the borough was putting in excess of $30,000 into the pool each year with no profit. The concession stand and admission brought in $14,500 in 2011, but it was nowhere near breaking even.
In the former agreement with Neptune, the borough paid for the water, electric and phone bills and propane for a small grill - approximately $9,000.
Honcz pool
The idea was that the borough relinquished responsibility of the pool and snack bar's operation and maintenance as long as the company kept the facility open and safe. The borough maintained ownership, but the company kept the profit.
Neptune did not disclose any financial records with the borough for 2012 profits or attendance, Cuff said.
The borough unanimously approved funding not to exceed $15,000 for the operation of the pool, which will come from the Henry Honcz fund.
The money was bequeathed to the borough as long as the borough placed Honcz' and his wife's name on a borough facility. The pool was renamed Henry J. Honcz and Louise C. Honcz Memorial Pool in 2010.
Quality of life
The board also gave final approval to the Quality of Life Ordinance, which will allow the borough code enforcement officer and police officers to issue tickets similar to parking tickets when code violations - such as trash, high weeds, animal feces and snow and ice accumulation - are discovered.
The ordinance, which takes effect immediately, was approved with an amendment to eliminate an appeals officer.
Councilman Joseph Lapotsky, who has spearheaded the campaign to pass both this ordinance and the revised landlord ordinance, thanked council for their support.
"They're in place now, so we have to enforce them," he said.
Police Chief Todd Owens and Code Enforcement Officer Robin Williams will be diligent in their enforcement of these new ordinances, Lapotsky said.
"Hopefully, they'll make this a better place to live," he said.
A lot of people have put a lot of time into the ordinance, Councilman Gary Hixson Jr. said.
In other business, the borough council approved:
- The appointment of Tri-County COG as rental property inspector to free up the code officer to address blighted properties in the borough at a rate not to exceed $40 per inspection.
- Funding not to exceed $2,500 toward the demolition of Donahue Row.
- An annual contribution of $870 to the Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS).