Ridgewood August 31, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Village: Graydon badge sales down, revenues up by John Koster Graydon Pool badge sales were down, but revenues were up $12,114 from July of 2010 as the staff reviewed sales through the end of July 2011 and submitted the figures to Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert. “The Graydon facility continues to build on the improvements seen in 2010,” Gabbert said last week. “After the season, we will have a much more telling picture of how the year went and what we want to tweak for 2012. As village manager, my comments are that the village staff and residents continue to have a facility in Graydon Pool that is representative of the Money magazine designation of Ridgewood as one of the top 26 places in the country to live.” Village staff members reported that revenues from badge sales for 2010 totaled $252,438, with 3,648 badges sold in June and July of that year. The revenue for June and July of this year totaled $264,552, with 3,158 badges sold at somewhat increased prices, made possible in part because this year Ridgewood opened Graydon badge sales to anyone who was interested, instead of limiting sales to residents of Ridgewood, Midland Park, and Ho-Ho-Kus. Ridgewood sold 25 pre-season non-resident badges in 2010, 102 non-resident badges in June 2010, and 18 nonresident badges in July 2010. The figures for non-resident badges in 2011 were 66 badges sold pre-season, 149 in June, and 48 in July, which boosted revenue by $4,820. Other localities, notably Allendale, which also has a lake-style sand-bottom pool like Graydon, also report increased revenue after opening the pool badge sales to residents of other towns. Controversy over whether to replace Graydon with a cluster of concrete pools or to simply improve filtration at the existing pool was resolved when Ridgewood Village Council members, having convened a study group and hearing both sides at great length, announced that no largescale reconstruction could be contemplated in the near future. Officials cited a lack of funding for a large-scale project. Many residents disliked the idea of having what they called “a water park in the backyard,” but council members were concerned with the idea that a general trend toward lower membership at public pools would lower the odds of Ridgewood being able to recoup the $13-million-plus cost of a modernized pool complex. The decision to maintain Graydon in its lake-like state was followed by improved filtration, which has led staff members to report improvements in water quality. The Ridgewood Public Library located at 125 North Maple Avenue will be closed Sunday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day. For more information, call the library at (201) 670-5600. Public library announces holiday weekend schedule