With a number of borough residents clamoring for an open Northampton Borough Municipal Pool, council and borough Manager LeRoy Brobst may struggle to coordinate the opening.

“We need lifeguards,” Brobst reported after the March 18 meeting.

Groups as diverse as senior citizens, families, teenagers, day cares - as well as a request for pool use from a nonprofit swim club - are united in their desire to swim, lounge or spend lazy summer days at the community pool.

The pool was closed last year due to the pandemic. This year’s plan calls for a tentative opening of June 5.

Brobst noted his team is planning for a successful pool season but emphasized a lack of full lifeguard staffing will have the practical effect of limiting pool use.

There was no council vote to open the pool. The opening “is by (council) acclamation,” according to Brobst.

Northampton’s swim club is requesting time slots at the pool for its members to practice and compete in meets. There was concern these meets may conflict with resident-use hours. The swim club’s request was tabled until further information about the plans are clarified and reviewed.

In the meantime, public works Supervisor Gregory Morey is working to prepare the municipal swimming pool for operation.

In other business, a discussion was initiated by a councilman about the assessment and collection of stormwater management fees from every borough household, business and nonprofit entity, including churches and school district buildings.

Fees may be as low as a few dollars quarterly for some residents to thousands of dollars for larger businesses and school district buildings. Further council discussion and an open meeting, specifically for public comment, are being considered.

Council passed a motion to accept the Northampton Borough Planning Commission recommendation to grant final approval of the Willow Brook Farm phase II final subdivision plan. The approval is conditional based on 12 elements contained in the planning commission recommendations document.

Police Chief Bryan Kadingo received permission to send an officer to a course on cellular and social media training offered at the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center and to send another officer to a Glock operator’s course offered at the Lehigh Township Police Department headquarters.

Council President Anthony Lopsonski Jr. recently interviewed a candidate for a junior council position. The reportedly impressive applicant will be a junior this fall.

The junior council program is being resurrected in conjunction with the borough and Northampton Area School District. A goal is to provide youths a meaningful governmental experience.

It was reported, the federal American Rescue Plan will yield the borough $976,000.

The RCN Television Services payment was received, totaling $134,692.

The next council meeting is a workshop and will be held 7:30 p.m. April 1 at the municipal building, 1401 Laubach Ave., Northampton.