The article, "Fate of swim club still unknown", is mostly a rehash of events that has taken place since Middletown suddenly announced that the swim club would not be operational this season. For those keeping up on the story, there really isn't anything new in the way of news about the efforts of the swim club members group, Save Our Swim club (SOS), who are fighting to keep the swim club operational this year while they come up with a viable plan to take over the swim club from the township. Unfortunately however, it seems that no matter what the SOS group comes up with the they are being rebuffed and turned away by the Township.
The one new piece of information contained in the article is about how Robert Manse, leader of the SOS committee, approached Bob Meyer for help in saving the swim club and how now Meyer has expressed a potential interest of 365 Fitness to take over the swim club maybe a difference maker.
Robert Manse, who heads the SOS committee, has approached Bob Meyer, owner of 365 Fitness, which is also located on Harmony Road. Meyer enlisted his consultant, Deana J. Valente of Santomauro Group, to come up with a proposal for saving the club.Will the expressed interest of Meyer and his 365 Fitness be a difference maker in saving the Middeltown Swim Club? For those that are trying to keep the club open and operational you would hope so but Ii don't think it will unless 365 Fitness is willing to purchase the property outright from the Township.
Meyer said, “This club has been in this town for over 50 years. It’s a landmark, and a good thing for the community. We need to come up with a plan.”
According to Valente, who works extensively with fitness and recreation facilities, there is great potential for the club.
She said, “We would like to operate this for the municipality, and make it profitable.”
Both Meyer and Valente feel the club could easily be a 12-month operation, vs. its current 80-day season. They also see opportunities for synergy between the swim club and 365 Fitness.
Those that operate Middletown want the swim club returned to the tax roll and off it's books. They have no plans to allow it to remain an asset of the township and remain a drain on precious budget resources.
8 comments:
"return the swim club to the tax rolls and take it off it's books"
Sounds good to me...As a taxpaying resident of middletown, why should my taxes be used to subsidize a swim club I don't and will never want to join or use. Take from all to give to some, isn't that the washington philosophy that the rest of the country is SO upset about??? The handouts train has run out of gas, so take the next stop of ride the train off the rails... your choice!!!
Once again who is asking the taxpayers to subsidize.....no one, the pool club would be self sustaining....no worries for taxpayers. The town mismanaged it, man up and fix it with a viable plan, which has been presented. The town wants it to off their backs so they can get taxes from whoever buys it.....because that is what politics is about.......money not the people.
Sorry about typos....using an iPad...
Thank the ALL REPUBLICAN posse that's been running Middletown for decades for all the "taking from all to give to some" my friend at 5:45PM- then go ahead and pull the lever for them again, and again, and again.......
Fix it is the problem. Why throw money into the facility and onto the backs of taxpayers when people continue to drop out of the club?
Lets get this straight. there are 55 people fighting for this club. Not 1100. Those 55 have a private cabana that they booze up on weekends and sneak in their friends and families. They just cant let go because they know that wont happen at any other beach club.
Heard that Hazlet's offer of out of towners getting resident rates at theirmbe pool club is expiring March 5.
Why can't we just sell it off, the 55 people can pool thier money and try to buy it at auction and run it according to thier "business plan". The taxpayers have been taking on the riskand debt) of having to subsidize this club even if we have or have not had to in the past. It needs MAJOR capital improvements that will cost the taxpayers and not make significant gains in apraised value of the property, so how is that worth the money???
Funny how our town council has stated not once but twice, we are looking for someone to take over the operations of the club...selling it would be the last resort. Well here you go.....you have someone in the field to operate it. Once again a stonewall....the town council says one thing and then goes ahead and does the exact opposite....living in Middletown has gone downhill...I pay taxes as well, don't use the pathetic school system(as well as some school administrators that don't even use the system for their own children),don't use the library because programs are for little children and seniors(do all my reading on an e-reader and do my research on the internet),don't use the parks and rec programs because most are for nonteens, I do use the pool club...the one thing my family does use...just because you do not use the club doesn't mean it should be shut down...do you think because I do not use the art center it should be shut down...that thing is a huge money pit but I am not sitting here shut it down.....there has always been something for everyone to do in Middletown, now there is NOTHING except a place to EAT..Wendy, McDonalds, Burger King, and now possibly White Castle....just what we need a town full of commercialized food establishments and nowhere to go to work off all those unhealthy calories......pretty soon Middletown will be one OVERSIZED FAT community
I agree that this swim club was always a BAD idea. However, it is even a worse idea to let the owner of 365 Fitness run it. I am for now a member of 365. Most of the cardio equipment does not work properly and we have been promised new equipment for many months now. Where is it? Much of the resistance equipment needs repair and the floor in the free weight area really needs to be fixed. I cannot begin to describe how filthy this place is getting. They are having an open house this weekend and the place is still dirty. m Middletown better do some serious due diligence ( and send a health inspector to this gym) before allowing these people to have anything to do with the pool club.
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