Town Meeting will consider funding request for town pool located at South Shore Country Club: ‘This asset would benefit the entire community’

March 16, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer

The proposed town pool at South Shore Country Club would feature a handicapped-accessible six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, a zero-depth entry pool, a bathhouse, and a splash pad -- contingent on approval at the upcoming Town Meeting (date to be announced).

The bathhouse would include a small community room and concession stand for light refreshments. The large pool deck would be suitable for gathering and would provide a space for spectators during swim meets. The pool design and infrastructure would accommodate an all-season "bubble" covering.

"The splash pad is a nice feature as it doesn't require lifeguard supervision and can be used to prolong the season," SSCC Management Committee member Christine Smith told the Hingham Anchor.

A warrant article submitted by the Committee -- unanimously supported by the Advisory Committee and the Select Board -- will appear on this year's Town Meeting warrant, asking voters to approve funding of up to $8 million to pay for the design and construction of the proposed pool facility over a 20-year period.

That figure would be lower if Town Meeting approves the Community Preservation Committee-recommended allocation of $550,000 from Hingham's Community Preservation Act funds.

Any proposal beyond a summer pool would require future Town Meeting approval on the budget side, according to Smith.

If Town Meeting approves the debt funding by the required two-thirds majority, voters would be asked to approve the related debt exclusion question that will appear on this year's town election ballot to finance the project.

While a two-thirds majority vote would be required at Town Meeting to pass the article, a majority vote of approval would be required at the ballot box. The Select Board unanimously approved placing the question on the ballot at their remote meeting Tuesday night.

"We don't have the capacity within the debt levy to fund a project of this size," Asst. Town Administrator Michelle Monsegur explained at Tuesday's remote Select Board meeting.

If the funding is not approved at Town Meeting, the question would still appear on the ballot because there would not be time to remove it before the town election. However, signs would be posted at the polls explaining that the question was no longer valid, and any votes in favor of such funding would not have any impact.

Select Board Chair Joseph Fisher noted that if the pool project is approved at Town Meeting and at the polls, this would not preempt the required town review process before the project could move further ahead and that individuals who have expressed concerns are encouraged to attend those meetings.

Smith, who participated in the meeting, noted, "We've been talking about this project for five years," and went on to thank the Advisory Committee and Select Board for their support.

"This is a nice project that will accommodate everyone in town, from babies to senior citizens," she said. "At a cost of an average tax impact of $46 a year, I hope people will find this to be a reasonable amount to pay for a project that will benefit [the entire community]."

At the end of the day, Smith said, "This project makes a lot of sense, but a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting isn't easy. I encourage voters to come and express their opinions and to please vote yes. A lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time."

Smith noted that with SSCC celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, this would be the "perfect time [for the community] to get behind this project. I would like to be swimming in this pool in 2023!" she said.

This project would not interfere with the operating or capital budget of any other town department or project "and is expected to cost the average taxpayer only $46 per year [based on the current median home price of $703,600]," according to Smith.

The pool would initially be opened as a seasonal summer facility only -- and run by Hingham Recreation -- but would be built with the infrastructure "to support a year-round operation with a 'bubble' as dictated by 2020 Town Meeting," Smith explained. "This would obviously be more expensive to operate year-round, as New England winters would require lots of energy to heat the water and air in February. We have been approached by many entities wanting to lease space for the non-summer seasons, and we are working with them to come up with a feasible financial plan after we are able to open the seasonal operation."

Select Board member William Ramsey expressed full support for the project and also appreciation for the work of the SSCC Management Committee. "This is an important [asset] for the town to have," he said.

On a related subject, the maintenance facility that is currently under construction at the Club will be paid for with SSCC enterprise fund revenue generated from the golf operation -- about $2 million per year.