Though a few weeks later than usual, Lehighton hopes to open its swimming pool by mid-June.

Borough council on an 8-0 vote Monday agreed to a tentative opening date of June 13 for Baer Memorial Swimming Pool.

Council’s decision came after it heard recommendations from borough recreation director Tom Evans, who noted that the state will open state parks June 6.

Evans said there will be a webinar on opening pools on Friday, and added if the pool is allowed to open June 13, he would like to limit things to Carbon County residents only.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said that it’s her understanding that the CDC is looking at issues with shared locker rooms, ladders and pool edges.

Abelovsky then questioned if revenue will be down by opening in mid-June, to which Evans said it would not.

“If we open mid-June, that’s not going to affect our revenue at all,” Evans said. “Usually our first two-and-a-half weeks we’re slow.”

Borough manager Nicole Beckett noted that council would need to approve the June 13 opening, and to permit the borough to issue any refunds if requested.

Evans then asked council for its thoughts on canceling all pool parties for the summer, as there are usually 60 people at a party, which is too many under one pavilion.

He said he’s only booked between seven to eight parties thus far.

Councilwoman Lisa Perry asked if council could limit the size of the party.

Councilman Ryan Saunders said that people look forward to the parties, and he would hate to have to cancel them, and that if the number is kept small, it would be fine to still hold them.

Evans said he would also have a limited menu to cut down on people waiting at the concession stand.

Saunders suggested taking away a couple of the picnic benches under the pavilion by the food court to eliminate people from congregating.

Beckett said council meets June 1, at which time it can act on anything else that needs to be revised.

Evans then asked council to approve his rate request that he changed for June, and that he would like to keep the first discount period that would normally have ended Feb. 28 for the entire pool season.

He then asked about setting a limit on the pool as a whole, to which council agreed.

Afterward, council accepted Evans’ amended opening day tentatively to June 13, and to continue to monitor the opening based on regulations and recommendations from the state Department of Health.

In addition, council agreed to continue to offer the pool’s first discount period as the cost for a pool pass due to the tentative late opening along with the tentative changes to swim lessons.

Further, council agreed to limit party rentals to a maximum of whatever regulation the state allows the borough to and only to Carbon County residents for this season, and to limit the number of people also.

Additionally, council agreed to allow those residents who have already purchased a pool pass to request a refund if they are no longer interested in having a 2020 pass.

In a related matter, council approved the list of 31 seasonal employees for the pool pending the 2020 season opening.