WATERTOWN — A state program could provide funding for lifeguards who are losing their jobs as the result of the closing of the pool at the city’s Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds this summer.
Jefferson County is in line to obtain $50,000 in state SWIMS Lifeguard funding to help pay the cost of lifeguards this summer.
The funding will “flow through the counties” and then be distributed to municipalities that request funds for municipal pools and beaches, according to Assemblyman Scott A. Gray, R-Watertown.
Under the program, Watertown would be eligible for the funding for lifeguards this summer season.
But, in a 3-2 vote, city council members voted on Tuesday to close the Steve D. Alteri Pool at the fairgrounds this summer.
The city is grappling with a hefty tax rate increase and council members are using $3.5 million from the fund balance to fill a shortfall.
Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero, who expressed disappointment with the council’s vote, said it appears that Watertown would receive “a chunk” of the lifeguard funding, calling the council’s decision “too hasty.”
Upon learning about the state funding, Councilman Robert O. Kimball said he would still vote to shutter the Alteri pool.
“I don’t think that would change my thinking on the issue,” he said.
City staff had thought that the application process was not far enough along for Watertown to rely on the lifeguard funds.
About 20 lifeguards face losing their summer jobs just as the summer season was beginning.
Closing the Alteri pool will save the city $200,000, including one half for lifeguards.
The city’s Thompson Park pool opened for the season last weekend.
A new $4 million pool is set to open next month at the North Elementary School. The cost of the pool and the question of whether the city needs three pools was a campaign issue in the council and mayoral races last fall.
If the Alteri pool had opened, it would be the first time in a decade that the city had three operating at the same time.
On Friday, Gray confirmed from the state Department of State that the counties need to apply for the funding. Municipalities would then be reimbursed for the lifeguards’ pay.
Besides Watertown, Ogdensburg and Clayton and the town of Lisbon beach, and possibly others, would be eligible for the funding. St. Lawrence County also could receive $50,000 from the program, Gray said.
Gray also was told by a former state parks official that the new Flynn pool at the North Elementary School could be eligible to offset infrastructure costs.
In January, Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul announced a $150 million plan to provide more swim facilities and lifeguards across the state.
In general, SWIMS Lifeguard Grant funding can be used to cover project costs: advertising for lifeguard positions; lifeguard retention and referral bonuses; supplementing hourly lifeguard wages and lifeguard salary increases, according to a DOS official.
In a news release on Sunday, Ruggiero criticized Kimball for the way he voted to shut down the pool.
She contended that Kimball had said he was going to follow the recommendations of staff and vote for the proposed city budget as is, but “flip-flopped” and went along with the pool vote.
Now 20 college and high school kids do not have their lifeguard jobs, she said.
Kimball declined to comment on Sunday, saying that he had not seen the press release.
Last week, however, Kimball pointed out that he campaigned last fall that the city should only operate two pools. He didn’t know Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce and Councilman Benjamin P. Pierce were going to bring up closing he Alteri pool at Tuesday’s council meeting.
When they did, it “opportunity presented itself,” so he agreed with the other two and voted to close it. He had acknowledged that it was “awkward,” since the pool was ready to open and the city had already hired the lifeguards.
