COUNTY IDEAS TO ASSIST HAMILTON TOWNSHIP MAINTAIN SWIMMING AT “THE COVE”

A.    The Township generated substantial revenues from beach tag sales, but the cost of operating “The Cove” slightly exceeded the tag revenues.

            Solution No. 1

Raise the beach tag fee for out-of-township users.  In 2008 the season tag was $10 and the daily tag was $5.  The Township sold 4,800 beach tags and generated approximately $38,000.00 in revenue.  Half of the users live outside Hamilton Township.  We suggest raising the season tag rate to at least $12.50 for out-of-town users.

B.     The main cost of providing swimming at “The Cove” is lifeguard salaries.  The lifeguards are paid by the Township at an hourly rate.

            Solution No. 2

The County, using Federal stimulus funds through the Workforce Investment Board, can provide trained certified lifeguards free-of-charge to the Township for employment at the Cove.  No cost to the taxpayers of Hamilton Township or Atlantic County

Solution No. 3

Shorten the swimming season; shorten the hours of operation; and /or reduce the number of days per week for swimming.  (Any of these options are preferable to an outright discontinuation of swimming).

C.      If some combination of the above are attempted by the Township and a monetary shortfall still remains between the tag revenue and operating costs: 

            Solution No. 4

            County officials will sponsor a community fund raiser at “The Cove” to defray the            additional costs.

            Solution No. 5

            The County is willing to explore other options to cover any unavoidable modest shortfall once it is identified and documented by the Township. 

           The Township can easily maintain swimming at “The Cove” as it has done for decades:

1.      The insurance is already in place.

2.      The Township has a Recreation Director in place experienced in swimming Operations.

3.      The Township has already budgeted the public works expense for maintaining “The Cove” (with or without swimming).

4.      The Township owns the necessary beach cleaning equipment.

5.      The Township can draw upon the corps of experienced lifeguards and tag inspectors it has utilized over the years. 

6.      The Cove is ideally suited for swimming (which is the reason it has been used for this purpose for generations).

            Conclusion:

            The Township can and probably should provide swimming at the Cove as it has done for many years.    The amount of money needed to close the reported gap between tag      revenue and operating cost is small enough to be easily addressed if the Township        Officials wish to do so.  The County is willing to assist.