PORT ANGELES — The talk at the William Shore Memorial Pool on Friday was that the city’s public pool might be closed to balance the 2009 budget.
City officials would not say if pool closure is among the recommendations that staff members will make to the City Council at a special work session on the preliminary 2009 budget at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Mayor Gary Braun said he had not received an agenda as of Friday, and didn’t know if the pool was on it.
But pool manager Jayna Lafferty said that she was told on Thursday that the pool could be closed Dec. 31 or June 30 to cut city expenses.
“I was stunned,” Lafferty said.
“Pools don’t make money, so it’s always in the back of your mind.
“I never thought it would hit this close to home.”
And some swimmers, several of whom phoned the Peninsula Daily News with their concerns, plan to attend that meeting.
“I don’t know if we will get an opportunity to speak, but we will be noisy,” said Ann Snell, 87.
The Port Angeles City Council work session will be in Council Chambers in City Hall at 321 E. Fifth St.
Glenn Cutler, public works director, said Friday that he wouldn’t comment on what city staff members are proposing to be cut next year, because the proposals were still in draft form.
