It was a disappointing night for the Pass Pool Authority last Tuesday night, after council made the 6-1 vote to dissolve the board, putting an end to its 39 year involvement in the community.
Council made a 6-1 vote at a regular council meeting on Tuesday, June 18th to dissolve the Pass Pool Board Authority, with Councillor Brian Gallant as the only councillor opposed for the motion.
Although the Authority was dissolved, members of the Authority were invited to apply to be part of the Sports and Recreation Board, under the Pass Pool Society.
Through the Sport and Recreation Board, grants and allowances can be applied for on behalf of the pool.
“The old system worked great,” said Leone Stacheruk, Chair of the Authority Board. Perhaps that is why the board was so surprised when they received a letter from the Municipality last September saying that a decision was made to have the swimming pool’s day to day operations to be under the responsibility of the Community and Protective Services Department.
Prior to that letter, which was dated September 27th, 2012, the Municipality was responsible for the preparation of the payroll, payment of invoices, maintenance and repairing assistance as requested by pool staff.
The Municipality also assisted with interviewing and hiring of staff as requested, preparing and sending official communications from the municipality and supplying current budget reports.
The letter that the Pool Board received explained that over the past number of weeks, it was determined the municipality will be moving to restructure the Sport and Recreation Board and through this change, the Pool Board Authority will no longer be required to have operational involvement.
The matter was brought to council’s attention several times since last September, and on Tuesday, Stacheruk brought her concerns to Council during a Governance and Priorities Committee.
“We’ve always had agreement with the municipality that workedwell for 30 plus years,” Stacheruk told council.
“And we felt undermined by the decision to dismiss our board. We feel like it is a unnecessary change.”
Council tossed the issue back and forth, but ultimately came to the decision that although the board is important, it is time for a change.
“It’s uncomfortable and unpleasant,” said Mayor Bruce Decoux.
“Change will occur, it is inevitable but your society has provided a good service to us for a number of years.”
Stacheruk said that as soon as she heard that, she knew she had lost the Pool Authority Board.
“As soon as I heard Bruce say that change is inevitable, I knew that it was over, that we had lost,” she said.
“It wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for but I shouldn’t say I was surprised.”
Stacheruk said she currently has no plans to apply to be on the Sport and Recreation Board for the Pool Society.
The Pass Pool Board Authority has been in the community of Crowsnest Pass since 1974.
