Coplay Borough has someone to run its pool concession stand.

At Tuesday night's council workshop meeting, Councilman Charles Sodl announced John Milander of Milander's Market has agreed to pay the borough $650 for the season to sell food at the pool.

Milander will pay for the propane and electricity used in the concession stand.

"We should reduce that deficit by $10,000 at least," said Sodl, noting the borough will save money on payroll and utilities while earning a small income.

"To some it might not seem like a lot but to us it's a win-win situation for both of us, for the vendor and for us," he said.

Over the past several months, Sodl has researched pool expenses and revenues, determining that, over the past five years, the pool concession stand lost an average of $6,712 and, overall, the pool lost an average of $37,257.

During meetings last month, he suggested closing the concession stand and replacing it either with vending machines or an outside vendor.

"This is just for this season," he said of the agreement with Milander. "We'll see how it goes."

"I say move forward," said Councilman Joseph Groller when Sodl asked for feedback.

Councilman Bill Leiner Jr., who has been an outspoken opponent of Sodl's plans to improve pool operations, had to leave the meeting early and was not part of the discussion.

Solicitor James Preston will be asked to draw up a lease agreement for the concession stand and council will vote on it at the June 11 council meeting.

The pool officially opens June 15, though it will be open this weekend.

Pool manager

In conjunction with changes in operating the snack stand, Sodl said the borough needs to examine the position of pool manager.

"In light of taking away responsibilities from that person I would like to see us reduce that pay by a minimum of 30 percent," he said.

The pool manager's salary is approximately $350 a week for 12 or 13 weeks, Sodl told The Press after the meeting.

Sodl also said the pool manager's job description needs to be made clearer.

"I'm having a hard time understanding how we give a person a job description and we don't even tell the person how many hours to work," he said.

Reading from the pool manager's job description, he said, "While an individual is not expected to stay at the pool from open to close, spot checks are necessary and if work is lacking additional time there is needed."

"From anything I know of controlling employees, you have to have a work schedule," Sodl said. "These duties should be rewritten to fit what we're doing now."

Appearances and marketing

Sodl suggested council members visit the pool and take a look at what he described as "graffiti all over the building."

Inside the concession stand, former employees painted their names along with designs on the cinder block walls. Sodl said the painted designs also appear in the locker room and even on outside of the pump house.

"Its all over the place," he said.

In order to better market the pool to citizens in an effort to reduce the deficit, Sodl said, the appearance of the pool should be considered.

Staff also need to gather data on who is coming to the pool and when in order to make better decisions for next year.

"That's our biggest recreation budget and it behooves all of us to pay attention to it," Sodl said. "I don't think it will ever make money. I'll agree that it's going to lose money. But we don't have to be in $37,000."

"We do track attendance so that would be easy," said borough Secretary-Treasurer Sandra Gyecsek.

Pool employees collect admission fees and track those coming to the pool with passes using the cash register, which records the date and time.

Councilman Steve Burker suggested adjusting the pool hours so that it is open later in June, when daylight hours are longer, and closing earlier at the end of the summer.

"That is true, most of our attendance is in June and July," said Gyecsek.

The pool closes at 7 p.m. in June, at 8 p.m. in July and at 7 p.m. in August, Gyecsek said.

"We're not going to wipe out the deficit," said Burker. However, better planning for hours of operation and activities can reduce it, he said.

Sodl said he learned from representatives of neighboring pools that they typically are open later in the early summer and close earlier in August.

"People are more excited in June and July," Sodl said. "August for them over at Catty is dead."

Burker also plans to change pool entertainment, adding activities for adults as well as children.