The Derry community pool, a cherished summer retreat for Westmoreland County families, faces the grim prospect of closure amid lifeguard staffing shortfalls. According to reports from WPXI, the pool has been shut down for two consecutive days as local temperatures surged. "We just did not have the minimum threshold needed to open on a day like today when we’re expecting about 100 people or so," said Derry Borough Councilman Nathan Bundy. The standard requires a minimum of three lifeguards to safely manage 50 patrons, with at least two more needed for a crowd of 100.
Despite efforts to round up sufficient staff, including the hiring of two new lifeguards set to start Saturday, Bundy disclosed that two more guards have resigned, bringing the count back to six. This has left the borough council to seriously consider, and possibly decide to discontinue pool operations for the remainder of the season, permanently. Bundy acknowledged the dilemma of relying on younger lifeguards who often have overlapping schedules due to family vacations or other commitments. Moreover, the high cost of nearly $300 for lifeguard certification further contributes to the recruitment challenges, as noted in the WPXI report.
The shortage issue extends beyond the pool, as Bundy highlighted in an interview with WTAE, stating, "I feel like across the board, not just with the pool, but every company, you're one or two employees away from operating at a heavily degraded level of service for your guests or your customers or your clients or whatever you may do." The predicament has prompted the council to reach out to various organizations, including schools and the YMCA, in the hopes of securing certified lifeguard instructors to provide local training sessions.
The council is set to deliberate on the future of the pool in a session scheduled for July 1 at 7 p.m., with residents anxious for a resolution.
