Bellevue will turn to a professional pool management company to cover the Memorial Park swimming pool this summer.

Council's parks and recreation committee held an emergency meeting last Saturday when officials realized that they had not received viable applications for the pool manager's position. According to committee chair Lisa Blaney-Stewart, the borough received proposals from only one individual, but two companies.The committee recommended entering into a contract with one of the companies, Swim America, owned by a Bellevue resident.

Mayor George Doscher agreed that the pool would benefit from professional management. Although past pool managers have been good, Doscher said, "It's time to ramp it up."

His wife, Barbara Doscher, said that sharing a pool manager last year with Avalon resulted in a lack of supervision.

"We got half of a person for twice the pay," she said.

Council member Mark Helbling said that the pool needed "more effective management."

"We need an adult," Helbling said.

Some council members said, however, that the proposals from the two management companies were too different to compare because they did not set a price based on the same specifications. Swim America's price was $1,000 less than that submitted by American Pools Management, according to council member Jane Braunlich, but it appeared from the proposals that American Pools offered much more.

Council member Susan Viscusi said that officials had asked at the Saturday meeting for price quotes to be obtained from both companies based on the same criteria, yet council still was unable to "compare apples to apples."

Braunlich suggested that council meet in executive session to iron out the details and then obtain prices from both companies based on what the borough wanted to see included in the contract. Council president Kathy Coder said that the subject was not appropriate for private discussion, something solicitor Tom McDermott confirmed. Braunlich pointed out that council had done just that when considering proposals from solicitors a few months ago.

"Just because we did it doesn't mean it's right," Coder replied.

McDermott said that council could vote to enter into a contract with one company that night, then negotiate the details. Braunlich said that could result in the borough being unable to reach an agreement with either company, and then unable to open the pool on time.

One of the details questioned by officials was the amount of insurance coverage. Swim America has a $1 million liability policy, said council member Linda Woshner, while American Pools carried $2 million in coverage per incident plus a $10 million umbrella. Woshner, who owns an insurance agency, said that $1 million was too low, especially given the nature of the business.

Coder said that she had researched both companies and checked references. She said that although American Pool Management handles some 3,000 pools across the country, the company manages only one municipal pool, located in eastern Pennsylvania. Swim America, she said, had more municipal experience, including Avalon Borough's pool. Avalon employed the company for several years, but in recent years has gone back to employing its own manager and staff.

Council voted 5-4 to hire Swim America. Opposed were Braunlich, Woshner, and Susan and James Viscusi. Voting in favor of the contract were Coder, Blaney-Stewart, Helbling, David Gillingham Jr. and Mark Panichella.

Bellevue will continue to operate the concession stand and front desk at the pool, and voted to advertise for personnel to fill those positions. Council also voted Tuesday not to increase pool or shelter rental rates for 2010, and voted 7-2 to allow Ross Township residents to purchase pool passes and daily admissions at the lower rate paid by Bellevue residents. The pool and Memorial Park are located in Ross Township.

Blaney-Stewart and Coder said that there were a number of reasons to offer the lower rates to Ross residents, and that it primarily was an attempt to be a good neighbor following the recent problems with how Bellevue was using a park lot adjacent to a Ross residential neighborhood that prompted complaints from neighbors and a directive from Ross Township for Bellevue to clean up the area.

Coder also said that in the future Bellevue could ask Ross to contribute to the maintenance of the pool.

Mayor George Doscher said that officials were eliminating Ross Township's incentive "if we've already done the good deed."

"I would have a fundamental problem with my tax dollars paying for the function of the pool," he said, plus paying for pool passes and admissions while Ross Township residents paid the same price. He suggested discounting rates for Ross residents, but not to the same extent Bellevue residents' rates are discounted.

Gillingham said that lowering Ross rates opened the door for lower rates for residents of other municipalities.

"If you do it for one, you do it for all of them," he said.

Braunlich said that 45 to 50 percent of all visitors to the pool were Ross residents, and that the lower rates could encourage them to purchase season passes. Woshner said that this could produce more revenue for the pool, concession stand, and even the shelter rentals at the park.

Gillingham and Helbling opposed discounting rates for Ross residents. Voting in favor of the discount were Coder, Blaney-Stewart, Woshner, Braunlich, Panichella, and James and Susan Viscusi.