The public pool will stay open through May—a recent change made by borough manager Annette Kreitzer after pool users and the Haines Friends of the Pool have spent the last several weeks lobbying for it to stay open year-round.

At its regular Tuesday meeting, about eight people spoke in support of keeping the pool open including current manager Jae McDermaid and regular pool users.

Lea Harris told the assembly that the pool was critical for seniors who needed low impact exercise.

“I think it’s very important for the senior citizens to have the pool because as we get older our bones get more brittle and low impact exercise is very important,” Harris said. “The Pool is about the only place in town during inclement weather where you can get some good exercise that’s not going to damage your body.”

Friends of the Pool member Tom Morphet said the Friends want to partner with the borough to keep the pool open year-round. He said the group is open to raising adult user fees or other methods to increase revenues and is ready to “talk turkey” with the assembly.

“We need to hear from the borough what you folks need to see in terms of revenues or income or users for you to keep the pool open year round,” Morphet said. “That would be a goal for us and until then we’re pushing for year round operation.”

McDermaid said the pool was not an amenity but a necessity and also asked for a concrete answer from assembly members on what they want to see to keep the pool open year round. “If you tell me exactly what you need to see to keep the pool open, I guarantee that we can meet it.”

Kreitzer said it costs about $27,000 a month on average to keep the pool open. During her manager’s report, she said after reviewing the budget, the pool could remain open through May. She had originally proposed in her draft budget to close the pool from May 7 through August 1.

The pool in the last several years has been closed in the summer months. Former managers have cited low usage during that time and the cost savings associated with keeping it closed.

The assembly will its first budget hearing on the general fund, when the pool could be discussed, on April 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the assembly chambers and via Zoom.

This story incorrectly reported that the budget hearing for the pool would be held on May 6.