This is in rebuttal to Mayor Curran and Commissioner Prunty’s letter to the editor titled “Cranford should Focus on One Pool” The pools suffered their biggest decline in 2020 with COVID. To date, taxpayers dollars have not been used to support the pools. The gap has been funded by a federal grant received during COVID. Curran and Prunty stated that the pools made $1,353 in 2025, the budget was $1,413, a $60k difference. The pools should make their budget with anticipated revenue from the swim teams. The Cranford pools made approximately $2M in 2024. The outdoor pools pay the expenses to run the indoor facility and lifeguard salaries. Based on our analysis, closing one pool may limit the ability to pay for the indoor and could create a waitlist. Curran and Prunty’s stated that they don’t want to run a regional pool. Membership is 75% resident and 25% non resident, Yes 20% of Cranford residents join the pool, that is 5,000 people in 2 months.

The statement that the Township has done everything possible to reverse the decline is false. They spent $14 k in direct mailers. They did nothing to address the need for maintenance, though the Director identified problem areas.

Cranford residents are reasonable people. Curran and Prunty announced closing a pool in February 2025. Since February 2025, we have asked Curran and Prunty to establish a sub committee to review all aspects of the pool. Friends of Cranford Pools provided a marketing plan that showed the potential of the pools. In February, Curran and Prunty hired Topology to do an Open Space Survey for $30K. The result was that residents felt that there were enough fields and they wanted to keep their pools. At the September 16, meeting, Curran announced that he wanted to close Centennial Pool and it would become a year-round recreation center. Curran and Prunty still have not provided a cost benefit analysis on why Centennial versus Orange. Centennial is located with the indoor pool and you would realize synergies. The taxpayers spent $1.6M on bathrooms, a locker room and the gym at the Centennial indoor pool. The Orange Avenue pool needs new bathrooms and an office, are taxpayers paying another $1M. Though Curran and Prunty have decided that it will be Centennial they offer no justification. The list of improvements to the facilities are TBD or are not reasonable estimates. Residents have asked for the cost of demolishing, removing, filling Centennial a $10M asset, cost of improving Orange, the cost of the NEW YEAR ROUND RECREATION CENTER and no answers. It’s not about financial responsibility. They have promised an entity the property at Centennial. What is the deal? Curran and Prunty have stated that they will vote on this in December there is only one way to get the answers we deserve and that is to NOT vote for Curan and Prunty. Take their votes off the table. In answer to Curran and Prunty’s statement that Cranford should focus on one pool- the answer is simple -which one-show the residents the justification for your decision instead of showing us a digital clock to time our 5 minutes at township committee meetings.

Rita LaBrutto

Cranford