By NATASHA BRENNEMAN
Staff Writer
Clarion Borough Council authorized up to $10,364 for “necessary” repairs to the borough swimming pool during its Tuesday night meeting. None of the money approved for upgrades is taxpayer-based.
The pool, which is adjacent to Clarion High School, is in need of numerous repairs before the 2017 season can begin.
Several families in support of the repairs attended the meeting. They heard that council’s plans to pay for the repairs would not involve taxpayer money. Rather, the money will come from certificate of deposit funds and donations from the Weaver and Garbarino families, along with some money donated during free parking month.
Both families made donations in memory of deceased members of their respective families, totaling $5,353. The $10,000 from CD funds will be split with the Clarion Little League; the pool will receive $5,500 of that money.
Borough Council President Carol Lapinto said money from the two families and the “donations” from meters during free parking month totals about $8,000.
The money will be used for two major repairs.
The first, which is the smaller of the two projects, will be a $3,364 contract to complete plumbing and piping upgrades to the pool filter and pump house. The contract was awarded to DASCO/FL Burns. A leaking valve and joint will be fixed.
A repair to a crack on the pool floor is the other major improvement that will be made. That contract was awarded to M & B Services, of Clarion, in an amount not to exceed $7,000. According to Councilman Ben Aaron, the $7,000 price is a fraction of what the project would actually cost.
Borough Secretary Linda LaVan said that without the repairs, safety concerns would prevent the pool from opening.
A discussion on a long-term plan to keep the pool in working order ensued after council’s approval of the repairs.
Councilwoman Brenda Sanders Dede said council needs to look at ways to fund the pool. She did not have a specific plan, but said council should meet with community members in an effort to locate funding sources.
A question on asking the Clarion School District to sell the pool to the borough so Community Development Block Grants could be sought was brought up.
Borough Treasurer Todd Colosimo said CDBG criteria the pool does not meet is service to enough low to moderate income families.
Colosimo said that the criteria of serving lower income households would not change with a change in ownership.
Several other options, including seeking support from outside municipalities, also were discussed.
No long-term plan was enacted after the discussion.