Mountainside Borough Council Unanimously Approves Ordinance to Finance Pool Replacement

The Mountainside Borough Council unanimously approved an $8.4 million bond ordinance on Tuesday night to finance comprehensive community pool replacement. The decision authorizes municipal infrastructure investment responding to structural problems and equipment failures affecting the 60-year-old existing facility. The project will be financed by $8 million in municipal bonds issued over 25 years, with the remaining $400,000 coming from the borough's capital budget as a cash down payment.

According to Mayor Paul Mirabelli, the financing creates an estimated tax impact on the average assessed home of $168 annually over the 25-year bond term. The bond reflects total construction allocation, though final costs remain pending contractor proposals currently being solicited.

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Pool Facility Crisis and Emergency Response

The aging pool facility experienced a troubled summer requiring immediate intervention. The 60-year-old pool developed significant structural problems and equipment failures necessitating $100,000 in emergency maintenance before opening this summer.

Recreation Director Frank Maslla documented serious infrastructure issues. The pool leaked 4,000 gallons of water per day—representing catastrophic water loss and indicating fundamental structural failure. Additional equipment and infrastructure problems threatened continued facility operation and public safety.

The emergency repairs and ongoing deterioration demonstrated that the existing facility had reached end-of-life condition and required replacement rather than continued maintenance.

Pool Replacement Project Scope and Design

The new project would place two new pool structures over the footprint of the existing 50-meter pool. The design provides multiple aquatic recreation and competition opportunities addressing diverse community needs.

Leisure and Activity Pool: A zero-depth entry pool with play features designed for swim lessons, water aerobics, and volleyball. Zero-depth entry improves accessibility for young children, elderly residents, and people with mobility limitations.

25-Meter Lap Pool: Dedicated lap swimming and competitive swim team pool supporting swim team practices and meets. The lap pool serves serious swimmers and competitive programs requiring standard Olympic-sized facilities.

Existing Pools Retained: The dive pool and kiddie pool would remain, maintaining existing diving and very young child capabilities.

Financing Structure and Municipal Bonds

The $8 million municipal bond issuance reflects construction allocation and will be repaid over 25 years—a standard term for long-lived municipal infrastructure projects. Municipal bonds represent traditional municipal financing mechanism, with borrowing costs typically lower than commercial lending rates.

The $400,000 cash down payment from borough capital budget reduces principal amount borrowed and demonstrates municipal commitment to project funding.

Tax Impact and Resident Assessment

Mayor Mirabelli provided tax impact estimates: $168 annually for the average assessed home over the 25-year bond repayment period. The estimate assumes standard residential property assessments and reflects spread of bonding costs across municipal tax base.

For property owners, the annual tax increase represents municipal infrastructure investment and facility renewal. The 25-year repayment period distributes costs across current and future residents who will use the replaced facility.

Contractor Proposals and Project Timeline

The $8 million figure reflects construction allocation but does not include final cost, as the pool project has yet to receive contractor proposals. Mayor Mirabelli anticipates project specifications and contractor proposals will go out by the beginning of 2027.

Competitive bidding for construction contracts will establish actual project costs. If bids exceed the $8 million budget, the borough may need to adjust project scope or seek additional funding.

Completion Timeline and Facility Reopening

Current estimates project construction completion by 2028, before the pool opens for summer. The timeline requires approximately two years from contractor selection through construction completion—a reasonable schedule for complex aquatic facility construction.

Mountainside residents will experience pool facility closure during construction period. Alternative swimming facilities through reciprocal agreements with neighboring municipalities may provide temporary access during construction.

External Funding and Grant Opportunities

The borough is actively seeking external funding to offset costs, including state and federal grants. Grant funding could reduce municipal bonding requirements and borrowing costs.

Federal and state grant programs supporting public infrastructure and aquatic facility development may be available. Grant funding would reduce per-household tax burden.

Design Consultant and Project Management

The borough hired Water Technologies Inc., a Wisconsin-based firm, to design the pool. Water Technologies brings specialized expertise in aquatic facility design and engineering. Professional design services ensure facility meets current standards, codes, and community needs.

Council Unanimous Approval and Democratic Process

The unanimous council approval indicates council consensus supporting the project and financing mechanism. Unanimous votes on significant fiscal decisions demonstrate broad municipal support rather than partisan division.

The unanimous decision enables project momentum and council commitment to moving forward with design, bidding, and construction planning.

Community Recreation and Quality of Life

The pool replacement addresses critical municipal infrastructure and community recreation opportunity. Aquatic facilities serve public health through swimming access, fitness opportunities, and youth recreation programs.

For Mountainside residents, facility replacement ensures continued community recreation access and modernized aquatic programming for decades.

Find more Mountainside municipal government, civic initiatives, and community information on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: Why is Mountainside replacing the pool?
A: The 60-year-old pool experienced severe structural problems and equipment failures, including 4,000 gallons of water leakage per day, requiring emergency repairs and making replacement necessary.

Q: When did the council vote on the pool replacement?
A: The Mountainside Borough Council voted Tuesday night and unanimously approved the $8.4 million bond ordinance.

Q: How much will the pool replacement cost?
A: $8.4 million total, financed by $8 million in municipal bonds over 25 years plus $400,000 from the borough's capital budget.

Q: What will my property taxes increase by?
A: The estimated tax impact is $168 annually for the average assessed home over the 25-year bond repayment period.

Q: When will construction start?
A: Contractor proposals are anticipated to go out at the beginning of 2027, with construction to follow.

Q: When will the new pool open?
A: Construction completion is estimated for 2028, before the pool opens for summer.

Q: What will the new pool include?
A: A leisure/activity pool with zero-depth entry for lessons and aerobics, plus a separate 25-meter lap pool for competitive swimming. The dive pool and kiddie pool will remain.

Q: Is the borough seeking grants to help pay for the project?
A: Yes, the borough is actively seeking state and federal grants to offset project costs.

Q: Who designed the new pool?
A: Water Technologies Inc., a Wisconsin-based aquatic facility design firm.

Q: How deep is the new lap pool?
A: The specifications provided focus on size (25-meter) and use (lap swimming, swim team). Depth specifications may be in the design documents.