It is good to see citizens take an active interest in their City. It is quite unusual to see anyone at any council or commission meeting other than the elected officers and the staff paid to show up. That goes for every city.
So when a group of people decide to take action on an issue they care about by showing up in force at one of these meetings it draws some attention.
A small group of Astorians unhappy with the Astoria Aquatic Center attended the City Council meeting Monday bringing complaints about it's operation and how they are being treated. They say it needs better management. They were not happy with how staff handles seniors and the disabled. They say the water is too cold and equipment needs to be replaced, amongst other things they don't like. Remember last year when it was going to close entirely? Maybe it should have. The biggest issue with the Astoria Aquatic Center (AAC) is that it made it off the drawing board and into a burdensome reality.
Much has been said about the AAC savior JP Moss. How he stepped in and in a relatively short period of time proved that the city could most likely afford to keep the place open after all. Shortly after that he was named the "interim" Parks Director at a hefty salary He hired a manager for the pool and moved on to consolidate the parks department and enlarged the programs available adding Star of The Sea's old gym to the mix as the new Astoria Recreation Center.
I'm surprised anyone who uses these facilities would have a complaint.
At a time when the Great Recession has thrown many out of work, and more people are considered homeless and in need of simple means to put food on the table it seems to me those who complain about how a swimming pool operates are incredibly out of touch.
This latest business about the Aquatic Center got started when people found out how much Mr. Moss is making as an "interim" department head coupled with the City Council approving raises for the city staff and increasing the city manager pay retroactive to July. I understand how difficult it is to have great employees and be unable to reward them financially because of a market that doesn't support it. What I can't understand is a City Council that is extravagant at any time much less under circumstances we find ourselves in now. These raises are extravagent
The Aquatic Center is an extravagance.
People should be treated with respect regardless of age or condition so please be assured I say the following with the greatest respect: Water too cold? Stay home and run a bath.
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