From the BCCT:
Help save the pool
By: KATE FRATTI
Bucks County Courier Times
The only thing it takes for evil to triumph is for good men and women to stand idly by. Or in the case of Morrisville's community pool, to simply stop paying attention.
The pool at Williamson Park, a place that served as a centerpiece for more than 50 years of happy childhood summers, stands this season empty and eerily quiet.
The good news is there are people working behind the scenes to see it comes back to life next summer.
Attorney Lee Rockafellow, a former Morrisville mayor, swam at the pool as a kid, worked as a lifeguard and then coached the swim team in the 1960s. "It's near and dear to my heart," he says.
After law school, Lee donated his legal representation to the non-profit, volunteer board of directors who ran the pool.
In recent years, one of those boards ran the pool right into the ground. There are worries about misappropriation of funds, Lee said. For certain, there was misuse of credit cards and even non-payment of withholding taxes for lifeguards. In addition, $20,000 of insurance money isn't accounted for, and well, he could go on for another half hour talking about the mess this particular band of volunteers made when heads were turned. Poor record keeping, over spending.
The borough owns the pool land, but the board never reported to the council. And that's because the borough never required that it report.
Which leaves me scratching my head. Why the lack of oversight? Well, heck, the pool kept opening, I'm told. Sure, membership was down, maintenance issues were creeping up, but no major hassles or reasons to worry.
Until, that is, a flood destroyed the lower pool. Folks started to poke around the pool more. They took note of maintenance issues, new board of health regs for the snack bar and filter systems. They asked about the books.
And found there was no money. No plan. No way the pool could continue this way.
In 2007, a new board was formed and a "Save the Morrisville Pool" fundraising campaign. Then, this year, Rockafellow and Joni Cappuccio, a CPA working alongside him to right things, advised the gates be closed until finances were cleaned up, debts settled and a plan for the future put in place.
Rockafellow is hopeful the pool can become part of the borough parks and recreation department making it eligible for grants and other breaks.
He expects to meet with the council this summer in anticipation of fall budget talks, but no official date has been set.
But there is a date for a multi-year high school reunion and fundraiser for the pool. That'll be July 11 from noon to 8 p.m. "at the island," which is how Morrisville kids always have referred to Williamson Park. There'll be a $5 donation requested for singles, $10 for a family.
Lori Rosati, 41, who was raised in the borough and now lives in Levittown is among those who've volunteered to help get out the word. The goal is to raise not just money but awareness for the pool.
Lori, like many Morrisville natives, was shocked to find it empty and looking for all the world like another example of a town's failure to thrive in modern times.
"I'm saddened by it. Deeply saddened," Lori said.
Same for Cindy Porter Prawki, now living on Long Island. She's the lead organizer for the July 11 event which will include crafters. Morrisville grad Wayne Conklin, who now lives in Maryland, owns Music Express and will provide DJ entertainment for the day. For more info, e-mail Cindy at cynnsyn@optonline.net.
Cindy was raised in Morrisville's Grandview section. Like Rockafellow and the others, she recalls idyllic summers spent at the pool first learning to swim and then life guarding. This is where the town gathered. Where it made memories.
Morrisville Community Pool was a good place. A wholesome, family place. That sort of place is worth some attention. She's hoping you'll give it some and turn out to show your support on July 11. Bring a picnic and your memories.
