Old Town City Council hears update on pool saving efforts

January 11, 2007
By Greta Sproul

 In their first meeting of 2007, the Old Town City Council voted to approve the renewal of liquor licenses for two local businesses, authorized additional funds for the purchase of a new door header at the Old Town Airport, and listened to a presentation from members of the Old Town Pool Study Committee.

Ralph Leonard, who was chairman of the original pool building committee in 1967, addressed the Council on behalf of the study committee, updating them on its progress since the pool was granted an eight-month extension last August remain open on a limited basis. Leonard said that the committee had at that time “began immediately” to apply for energy-saving and childhood obesity awareness funding grants, as well as looked into roof replacement and co-generation study.

“I’m extremely gratified by how much talent and willingness there is in this community to help the pool survive,” Leonard said.

He told the Council that the original goal for pool fundraising efforts had been $100,000, but that the “overwhelming response of the community” had resulted in “a little under $15,000 in the bank.”

Leonard added that there was more money in Federal grants “coming down the pike” in the spring, and that the committee was involved in collaborative work with the University of Maine and the Old Town-0rono YMCA.

Committee member Bill Lovejoy gave council members a brief overview of efforts being made to reduce operating costs for the facility, including the installation of a gas-powered micro-turbine and the arrival in four weeks of a new cover for the pool, which would result in “immediate big savings” for the pool.

Leonard also addressed the history of the pool, calling it “our gem”, and reminding the Council that the pool had been part of 16 boys’ and eight girls’swim team championships for the city of Old Town.

“It’s a sorry state of affairs that there is no one qualified in the school system to run the pool program,” he said. “To have gone from number one to this, it’s deplorable.”

Leonard suggested to the Council that they consider appointing a permanent pool committee that would oversee grants and other finances associated with the pool.

“Like an old soldier who never dies, this pool committee would simply just fade away,” he said.

Other results of the Jan.2 city council meeting were:

·       Approval of the renewal of  liquor licenses for Hidden Meadow Golf Club and the Old Town American Legion.

·       Approval to authorize additional funds for the purchase of a free standing header for the overhead doors at the Old Town Airport to be paid from the city’s airport appropriation account. The funds are to be taken a $27,000 balance remaining in the Airport Beacon capital project account. In explaining the switching of the accounts, chair Linda McLeod said that the switch would allow the city to sue the former one for painting and other needs at the airport.

·       Agreement that further research is needed in regard to a request for the installation of a streetlight at the intersection of Young’s Lane and Bennoch Road. In discussing the situation, Councilor Alan Stormann said that there was “a lack of (streetlight) consistency at Young’s Lane, Littlefield Lane, and Colonial Lane” and suggested that there “should be written procedure’ regarding the manner in which streetlights are placed in designated areas.