By PATRICK ADRIAN
Special to the Eagle Times
CHARLESTOWN – The Charlestown selectboard answered citizen concerns on Wednesday night about the town pool, announcing that despite recent setbacks the pool will open next week.
After the abrupt resignations last week by recreation department Director Craig Fairbank and Pool Manager Shawna Baird-Torney, over 20 residents attended Wednesday night’s selectboard meeting to inquire about the town pool’s future. The resignations occurred around the time the pool typically opened its season in prior years, and the department had yet to announce when the pool would open this summer. Public concern spilled onto social media, including the Charlestown NH Community Forum on Facebook, which escalated discourse into several unsubstantiated speculations and accusations about a town interest to close the pool permanently.
Recreation committee member Travis Royce said on Monday that there have been no public discussions about closing the pool or dissolving the recreation department.
The selectboard shared a letter for public record that states the board plans to appoint an interim pool manager and recreation director, and determine a long-term directorship this summer. The selectboard also said the pool is expected to open on Monday, June 25.
Recreation committee member Patricia Chaffee said the pool’s opening was delayed because there was still cleanup and preparations to do.
“The pool is in pretty good shape,” she told the board. “We were able to get enough staff to run the pool seven days a week.”
Chaffee said the hours will remain the same as in the past: noon to 7 p.m.
Fairbank and Baird-Tourney both resigned on June 11. Neither former employee gave a public reason for their resignation, and the selectboard said it will not discuss details due to the privacy of personnel matters.
Fairbank announced his resignation on his department’s Facebook page on June 12, saying “with regret that this will be my last post as the recreation director in Charlestown.” Fairbank, who served as director for the last eight years, thanked the town, families, businesses and board members for supporting the department’s accomplishments and programs, and the community’s children and young adults for their sportsmanship, hard work and participation.
On the Charlestown NH Community Forum, a privately administered Facebook page, members posted claims that alleged at least one selectman wanting to close the pool permanently and dissolve the recreation department.
Resident Dick Westney, creator and moderator of the community forum, said the claims were not based on any particular event or comment. He attributed the rumors to a combination of public anxiety about the resignations, disappointment over the loss of Fairbank and a lack of information about the pool’s opening date.
On June 14 the recreation department posted on its Facebook page that the department intended to open the pool by the last week in June. However, some citizens still had concerns about the selectboard’s plan.
Selectman and recreation committee member Albert St. Pierre said their committee interviewed an existing department employee on Monday for the position of director.
“I think we have a qualified person at this time to get the pool up and running,” he said.
For the long-term directorship, Selectman Steven Neill said the board will explore several options this summer. Possibilities could include hiring another full-time or part-time director, or dividing the position into four or five positions, in which each person oversees a specific sport or activity within the department.
Neill said that while the selectboard makes the final decision, they will work closely with the recreation committee’s input and recommendations.
Recreation committee chair Nancy Fontaine said one challenge for the new interim director will be to take over the 10-year funding plan for resurfacing the pool. Fairbank had estimated the project cost between $80,000 to $100,000, and he was the plan’s principal overseer.
“Transition is always tough,” Fontaine said. “Change is hard. But the new normal will take over and life goes on.”
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