Cranford Township Committee members on a cold Saturday morning signaled agreement to keep both outdoor pools open this summer but to shorten hours at one facility to meet a tighter pool budget.

The committee’s straw poll followed about two hours of budget presentations and a public comment period in which residents urged officials not to close any pools. “We have raised $5,700 on the GoFundMe page,” said Savannah Williams during public comment, urging the township to keep both pools open so people could “gather there, meet new friends and family.” Her mother, Lisa Williams, said the immediate goal was an answer about whether both pools would open for the coming season.

The township’s recreation director, Steve (identified in meeting materials as recreation director), told the committee the pool utility must largely be self-funded and that membership revenue and prior surpluses constrain this year’s operating budget to about $1.41 million for the pool system. “That number is the number,” he said, explaining that last year’s revenue and available surplus limit what the pool can spend now.

Committee members discussed three operational options presented by staff: (1) open both pools full hours (12 p.m.–8 p.m.) at a cost that would exceed the budget and leave no contingency; (2) keep both pools open on reduced weekday hours at one site (“condensed hours at one pool”) so the system stays under budget while preserving both facilities; or (3) operate one pool full-time and close the other for the season. Multiple members said the second option — shortened hours at one pool while keeping both open — struck the best balance. After discussion, the committee coalesced around opening Orange Avenue pool full-time and operating Centennial on reduced weekday evening hours so families who work can still use a pool after school hours.

Officials asked staff to start membership registration and marketing immediately under that operational plan. Recreation staff said they would begin lifeguard recruitment and run a membership drive once committee direction is confirmed. Staff emphasized the budget’s sensitivity: under the option that keeps both pools at full hours, there would be virtually no room for unexpected repairs or higher-than-expected chemical costs.

The committee did not take a formal vote at the meeting. Instead members recorded a unanimous straw poll in favor of the plan to keep both pools open with truncated hours at Centennial and full-time hours at Orange Avenue, and directed staff to begin outreach and registration so memberships can be sold under the new schedule.

The committee and staff stressed next steps would include aggressive, low-cost marketing and volunteer support for outreach, continuing to try to boost memberships to stabilize the pools' finances. Staff also noted potential small capital needs (chairs, minor repairs) would be discussed in follow-up budgeting.