Minimal Fee Hikes For West Hartford's Swim Center, Ice Rink
WEST HARTFORD, CT — During a time when everything costs more than it used to, the West Hartford Town Council recently threw local families a bone regarding recreation.
Last month, the West Hartford Town Council unanimously approved a new fee schedule for the town’s leisure services department and what it charges to use the Cornerstone Aquatics Center and the Veterans Memorial Skating Rink.
The good news for users is much of the fees will remain the same starting Sept. 1, with only small increases where there are any.
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“We review rates seasonally to remain competitive within the region, to increase efficiencies or to absorb increased operating expenses,” wrote West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith to the town council last month.
Ledwith said increases in the minimum wage resulted in the town needing to implement these “modest” increases.
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For example, at the aquatics center, there are no fee changes for individual or family memberships or pool rental/lane fees.
There are, however, slight increases in swimming lesson fees, for example, group lessons are going up by $5 for both members and non-members (to $90/$125).
Other swimming lesson plans are only going up by $2 to $4 depending on the type of lessons being offered.
Use of the skating rink, however, will not remain the same, but the increases appear to be nominal.
As an example, admission for a skating session is only going up by $1 for all categories of users.
Skate rentals are also going up by $1 to $5, with rink rental fees going up by $20.
West Hartford Director of Leisure and Social Services Helen Rubino-Turo said most of the programs impacted by the fee changes would be in the fall/winter.
“We review our rates seasonally. Leisure services offer a lot of high-quality, affordable programs through numerous facilities,” she said, adding a rising minimum wage is the primary reason for any fee hikes.
“The proposed fee increases at both Cornerstone Veterans Memorial Skating Rink would help cover the operational costs, particularly in part-time payroll,” Rubino-Turco said. “The minimum wage increase is a significant driver.”
The measure had bipartisan support on the council
“I think these fee increases are reasonable, balanced and help us achieve fiscal sustainability without too much of a burden on the residents of West Hartford and other users,” Councilperson Debra Polun, a Democrat, said.
Mary Fay, a Republican, also worked on the subcommittee that addressed the fees. “I completely support where we’re going with our fee adjustments,” Fay said.
For the minutes of the June 25 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.
For the new fee schedule for West Hartford’s aquatics center and ice rink, click on this link.
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