Newington Pool Committee Seeks Town Council Direction As It Studies Renovation Options

NEWINGTON, CT — Newington's Town Pools Project Building Committee will ask the Town Council for direction on the future of the town's aging pools while continuing to investigate alternatives to full concrete reconstruction, including pool liners.

The committee approved sending a letter to the council at its Aug. 31 special meeting after revising the wording to make clear it is seeking direction on the pools project, rather than on the future of the committee itself. Tim Manke made the motion and Nancy Capello seconded it. The minutes say the motion passed but do not provide a vote count.

Committee members said they could not make a decision on how to proceed until the Town Council provides additional direction. At the same time, members expressed a desire to keep their September meeting scheduled and continue gathering information.

Liner Option Among Alternatives Under Review

Scott Kieras, Clay Pedigo and Tom Lapierre met with Connecticut Custom Aquatics, the town's pool supply vendor, to discuss the condition of the pools, renovation options and possible funding sources.

The discussion included replacing the existing pool surfaces with liners and considering hybrid approaches. The vendor identified Cheshire, Southington, South Windsor and Vernon as communities that have converted to liner pools, according to the minutes.

Connecticut Custom Aquatics told town representatives that commercial pool liners typically last about 15 years.

The committee noted that both Newington pools are more than 60 years old. Churchill Pool was built in 1964 and Mill Pond Pool in 1958.

Members discussed drawbacks to liners, including concerns about slipperiness and durability, and agreed more research was needed before making a recommendation.

Kieras will continue collecting information, while Lapierre will contact other municipalities about their pool operations. The committee may also invite recreation directors from those communities to discuss their experiences.

Committee Says Liner Would Not Solve All Problems

During public comment, Bill McCarthy of Churchill Drive questioned whether a liner would adequately address the pools' condition.

McCarthy described a liner as a temporary "band-aid" and said it would not resolve problems involving plumbing, electrical systems, drainage and deteriorating bathhouses. He urged the town to provide funding for improvements.

McCarthy also said the pools had gone to referendum twice. Committee members corrected him, saying there had been one referendum.

Members said a liner is not being considered as a complete solution. It would seal an existing pool shell to prevent leaks, while bathhouses, plumbing, decking, fencing and structural problems beneath the pool would still require separate work.

The committee described a liner as one possible component of a broader rehabilitation project.

Dana Havens of Stoddard Ave asked what direction the committee hoped to receive from the Town Council, including whether officials would be asked to prioritize one pool or pause the committee's work until funding becomes available.

Havens encouraged the committee to continue researching alternatives so the town would be prepared if funding or grant opportunities became available. She also said pool piping does not run beneath the entire pool and that installing a liner would not necessarily prevent plumbing repairs.

Summer Pool Revenue Reaches About $72,822

The committee also reviewed 2026 pool activity provided by the Parks and Recreation Department.

Pool-related revenue totaled approximately $72,822 for the summer, coming from swim lessons, pool passes, summer camp use and drop-in visits. Staffing and maintenance expenses continued to exceed that revenue, and the income does not cover the pools' full operating and capital costs.

Committee members said the pools should primarily be viewed as a community service rather than as revenue-producing facilities. While attendance and financial information should be considered and some operating costs should be recovered, members said providing recreational opportunities should remain the pools' primary purpose.

Members also expressed concern that continued delays could eventually leave one or both pools unusable. Operating summer camps with only one pool could require accommodating hundreds of children at a single facility, according to the minutes.

The committee said the town will eventually have to make decisions about the pools rather than continue postponing action.

The committee also approved its July 27 meeting minutes. The Aug. 31 special meeting began at 6:29 p.m. at Newington Town Hall, 200 Garfield St., and adjourned at 7:22 p.m.