By Chris Frost
Eagle Times News Editor
CLAREMONT, NH — After ten years of waiting, swimmers will soon be able to dive into the pool at the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center.
During its Wednesday, Oct. 25, meeting, the City Council learned the Center was gifted a diving board when it opened about ten years ago, but it has never been installed as it lacks a base to sit on.
Mayor Dale Girard said the Council became aware of the missing base two months ago.
“Mr. Manale told us the base had been on order, and when we’ve asked, they keep telling us it hasn’t come in yet,” Girard said.
Parks and Recreation Director Nicholas Lawrence said the cost of the base is significant.
“We haven’t committed to that yet, but that is something we’ve talked about,” he said.
Councilor Nicholas Koloski noted the $3,000 cost is “nothing to turn your nose at.”
“We’ve sat on owning part of the diving board, so I’d like to see that sooner than later,” he said.
Councilor Jonathan Stone also expressed frustration about the base not being ordered.
“This is a priority we’ve mentioned at two meetings,” he said.
Councilor James Contois questioned if there really is an interest in getting a diving board.
“I go there for meetings, and I’ve never had a constituent tell me that it was a pressing issue to get a diving board,” he said.
Girard said he’s heard from “a number of folks” who think the Center should be “more family oriented” and the pool should have a diving board.
“This has been something that a constituent has told me,” he said. “Claremont’s not a lap swimming community. It’s something where somebody wants to go enjoy the pool for what it has.”
Stone noted that $3,000 is a small addition to the Community Center operating budget. Manale said the city is looking at the cost of installation, too.
“I think it’s been warranted and way overdue,” he said. “I’m disappointed that it hasn’t been ordered, and I was under the impression that it had been ordered and there was an issue with supply and demand.”
He said they could have had something fabricated by now.
On a motion from Councilor Jonathan Stone, the Council voted to mandate City Manager Yoshi Manale order the base, with a $3,000 purchase price cap. The motion was seconded by Councilor Spencer Batchelder, with Councilors Andrew O’Hearne, Nicholas Koloski and James Contois voting no.
Center tour
The Council will be touring the Center later this month after a request by Koloski.
“I’d like to see our asset and how it operates,” said Koloski, noting he had requested a tour of the facility for the Council. “I know we don’t do that unannounced. … I can’t tell you the last time we’ve done that as a group.”
In addition to wanting to know more about controlling access and the pool, he said constituents had called him about cleaning issues.
“I’m not saying they’re valid, but I’d like to see for myself,” Koloski said.
Contois said he has fielded similar complaints.
“I go to the Center and use the Center, and I keep hearing negative things about cleanliness, all sorts of things, and it’s a fine facility,” he said.
Manale is planning the tour of the Community Center.
“What they’re waiting for is the gym,” Manale said. “We’ve had a bunch of new equipment being installed, and I think that was completed a couple of weeks ago,” he said.”
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