Updated as of June 2018
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For the purposes of Part 1 of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Any above-surface type of swimming pool not designed or intended to be stationary or permanently fixed to the premises and capable of being removed for storage.
Any artificially constructed swimming pool or tank permanently or temporarily established or maintained upon any premises by any individual for his own or his family’s use or for the use of guests of his household, which has a depth of 18 inches or more, whether maintained above the ground or below ground level.
Either an outdoor or indoor pool which is artificially constructed to provide recreational facilities for swimming, bathing or wading for the use of the public or for the use of the membership of any private club, group or organization.
Any artificially constructed pool or tank not designed or used for swimming, which has a capacity for water depth of 18 inches or less, whether maintained above the ground or below ground level.
340-2Compliance with certain regulations.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
All swimming pools shall be subject to any regulation set out in the State Sanitary Code and the Village’s Development Regulations.[1]
Editor’s Note: See Ch. 96, Zoning, and Ch. 96A, Development Regulations.
340-3Prohibited noise annoyances.
Swimming pools shall be so maintained and operated that they do not cause noise, nuisances or annoyances to the owners or occupants of neighboring property or citizens and residents of the Village.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
Part 1 of this chapter shall be enforced by the Construction Official and the Board of Health.
No public swimming pool shall be constructed or installed in any residential zone of the Village after August 9, 1960.
Public swimming pools shall be governed by the State Sanitary Code
340-7Persons excluded from pools.
No person shall use any swimming pool if he has communicable skin lesions, sore or inflamed eyes, mouth, nose, ears or other parts of the body or discharges therefrom or who knowingly is the carrier of any communicable disease.
340-8Permit required for construction or installation.
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or install a private swimming pool in the Village without having first obtained a permit therefor in the manner provided in this article, provided that no permit shall be required for the installation or use of a wading pool.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
An application to construct a permanent private swimming pool shall be made in duplicate to the Construction Official and shall be accompanied by duplicate plans and specifications or descriptive brochures showing the manner of construction of the proposed pool, its size, shape, dimensions and capacity, duplicate plot plans showing property lines of the premises upon which the swimming pool is to be constructed or installed, together with all existing houses, structures, accessory buildings and paved areas thereon, abutting streets and properties and the location and horizontal plane dimensions of the proposed swimming pool and its auxiliary structures. The application shall also be accompanied by a description of the method of disinfection, treatment, circulation and disposal of the water to be used.
340-10Permit for portable private swimming pool.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
Application for a permit to install or use a portable private swimming pool shall be made directly to the Board of Health pursuant to the provisions of the State Sanitary Code.
340-11Approval of application.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
The Construction Official shall file the duplicate application for a swimming pool permit and the duplicate set of plans and specifications and accompanying plot plans with the Board of Health prior to the issuance of the permit. The Board of Health shall, if satisfied that such pool will comply with the State Sanitary Code, endorse its approval on the application and notify the Construction Official of such approval.
[Amended 5-28-1985 by Ord. No. 10-85]
At the time of filing an application for a swimming pool permit with the Construction Official, the applicant shall pay a building permit fee in accordance with Chapter 177, Fees, Art. I. Such fee shall be in addition to license fees set forth in this article or in the State Sanitary Code.
340-13Issuance or denial of permit.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
After the approval of an application for a swimming pool permit by the Board of Health, the Construction Official shall, within 30 days after the filing of the application, grant a permit for the construction of the swimming pool or notify the applicant of his denial thereof.
340-14License for use required.
No private swimming pool shall be used or operated until a license for the same is issued by the Board of Health.
340-15Certificate of compliance.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
No license shall be issued for a newly constructed permanent private swimming pool unless the applicant shall first have filed with the Board of Health a certificate issued by the Construction Official, certifying that the pool has been constructed or installed in compliance with Part 1 of this chapter.
340-16Fee for license to operate.
A license to use or operate a private swimming pool shall be issued by the Board of Health at any time of year upon the payment of the following fees: permanent swimming pools of 20,000 gallons’ capacity and over, $20.
All licenses for private swimming pools shall be issued annually for a period terminating on the following December 31.
The location of private permanent swimming pools shall be subject to the following regulations:
The location at which a private permanent swimming pool may be constructed shall be limited to premises on which a residence building for not in excess of two families is located or on premises appurtenant thereto.
A private permanent swimming pool shall not be constructed or installed nearer than 10 feet to any side yard line or rear yard line, nor shall any such pool be constructed, erected, installed or maintained in the front yard of any premises.
In the case of a corner lot, a private permanent swimming pool shall not be constructed, erected, installed or maintained closer to the side street line than the prevailing setback line on that street or the required setback line for front yards as set forth in the Zoning Ordinance of the Village.
A private permanent swimming pool shall not occupy more than 25% of the rear lot of the premises on which it is erected after having deducted from the total area of such rear lot the area occupied by accessory buildings and paved portions of the premises.
Every private permanent swimming pool shall be enclosed by a permanent fence, which fence shall be considered a part of the swimming pool installation for the purpose of construing Part 1 of this chapter.
A private swimming pool shall not be constructed, erected, installed or maintained within 15 feet of any residence building.
340-19Fence or other barrier required.
All private permanent swimming pools now existing or hereafter constructed, installed, established, altered, erected or used or maintained shall be enclosed by a permanent fence or barrier of durable material of not less than five feet nor more than six feet in height, which fence shall be so constructed as not to have holes or gaps larger than three inches in the smaller dimensions. Such fence shall have no openings except a gate built of the same material as the fence and of the same height as the fence, which gate shall be self-closing and self-latching. Such gate shall be closed and latched at all times except during ingress or egress. Such gate shall be locked with a removable key-type lock when the swimming pool is not in use. The fence or barrier shall be erected no closer than five feet to the interior surface of the respective walls of the swimming pool.
340-20Removal of ladders from aboveground pools.
Any access ladders or steps used in connection with above-surface-type portable pools shall be removed when such pools are not in use.
All private permanent swimming pools shall be provided with one cast-iron discharge pipe not over three inches in diameter or an approved equal drain extending from such pool to a storm sewer; except that, where no storm sewers are located, the pipe shall extend to and be connected into the municipal sanitary sewer. The pipe shall be so connected as to guard against the backing up of water from the sewerage system into the pool.
Portable swimming pools shall be emptied and discharged so as not to create a nuisance.
The water in every private swimming pool shall be so maintained as to comply with the physical, chemical and bacteriological standard established by the Board of Health or by the State Department of Health. All pools having a capacity in excess of 5,000 gallons shall be equipped with suitable apparatus for the chlorination and other disinfection and filtering to maintain and restore the required sanitary quality of the water.
All water used in any private swimming pool shall be obtained from an established source of potable water. There shall be no physical connection between the potable source of water and the swimming pool circulation or filtering systems. Water shall be introduced into the pool for filling purposes by means of a discharge pipe or hose, the orifice of which shall be separated from the highest overflow level of the pool by an air space of at least four inches.
340-23Construction requirements.
All materials used in the construction of private swimming pools shall be waterproof and designed and constructed so as to facilitate the emptying and cleaning of such pools and shall be maintained and operated so as to be clean and sanitary at all times. The bottom and sides of the pool shall be a white or light color, but no aluminum paint may be used as a finish. Sand or earth bottoms are prohibited.
All private permanent swimming pools shall be constructed so as to comply with all applicable provisions of Chapter 8 and the Zoning Ordinance, Sanitary Code and other pertinent ordinances, codes and regulations of the Village.[1]
Editor’s Note: Chapter 8, Buildings, of the 1965 Code included the Building Code, which was superseded by the adoption of the State Uniform Construction Code Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq. See now Ch. 160, Construction Codes, Uniform. As to the Zoning Ordinances, see Ch. 96, Zoning, and Ch. 96A, Development Regulations. As to the Sanitary Code, see the State Sanitary Code.
Upon completion, each permanent private swimming pool shall be considered as an accessory building on the premises on which it is located.
No plot of land or premises on which a permanent private swimming pool is located as an accessory building shall be subdivided if the result will be that the pool will be separated from the residence property to which it was originally attached.
No artificial lights shall be installed or used with private swimming pools.
340-25Right of entry for inspection.
[Amended 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85]
The owner of any private swimming pool within the Village, whether permanent or portable, shall allow the Construction Official, the Health Officer, Sanitary Officer or other duly authorized person access to the pool and appurtenances for the purpose of inspection to ascertain compliance with Part 1 of this chapter at all reasonable times.
Article IV: Regulation of Operation
340-26Commission created; purpose.
There is hereby created a Commission for the operation of the swimming pool as a utility and the establishment of rules and regulations for the use and operation of the facilities at the Municipal Swimming Pool located in the Village of Ridgefield Park.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
For the purpose of this Part 2, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
An individual appointed annually by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission and approved by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park, to serve as Assistant Pool Manager.
Any child or adult who joins under a family membership of a family of which he or she does not reside, with approval of the Pool Commission.
Individuals hired by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission and approved by the Pool Manager and governing body, if necessary.
MUNICIPAL SWIMMING POOL COMMISSION
The members of the Ridgefield Park Swimming Pool Commission.
The first 10 feet of concrete immediately surrounding the pools.
The entire fenced area surrounding the pools and bathhouse.
An individual appointed annually by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission and approved by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park to serve as pool manager.
Remainder of the concrete area surrounding the pool apron area.
Any natural person actually living within the Village of Ridgefield Park or maintaining a home therein.
340-28Membership of Commission; meetings; budget; responsibilities.
There is hereby created a Commission consisting of seven residents of the Village of Ridgefield Park. Two members of the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park and one alternate member of the Board of Commissioners shall serve as nonvoting advisors to the Pool Commission. The two Commissioners who shall be the primary advisors to the Pool Commission are the Commissioners of the Department of Public Works and Commissioner of Parks and Playgrounds; the alternate Commissioner will be the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance, whose duty shall be to operate the swimming pool utility. The seven members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Village Board of Commissioners for a period from January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year.
[Amended 2-28-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-01; 10-13-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-07]
The Municipal Swimming Pool Commission shall meet at least monthly and may meet more often when necessary. It shall, at the reorganization meeting in January of each year, elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall have such duties as shall be assigned to them by this article and the bylaws governing the operation of the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
The Municipal Swimming Pool Commission shall submit annually a proposed budget by December 1 of each calendar year to the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park for the operation of the municipal swimming pool utility pursuant to and for the purpose of Title 40A of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey and more particularly Chapters 2 and 4 thereof and any other applicable statutes of the State of New Jersey or rules and regulations promulgated by the Division of Local Finance.
The Pool Commission shall review all items for the payment of funds, which shall be approved by at least one member of the Pool Commission. Payments of payroll, however, and other items which have to be made more frequently than on a monthly basis may be made directly by the Director of Revenue and Finance of the Village of Ridgefield Park. All checks for the withdrawal of funds shall be countersigned by the Commissioner of Revenue and Finance and any other official of the Village of Ridgefield Park as may have to countersign such checks.
All funds received by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission shall be remitted daily, whenever possible, and within at least 48 hours, to the Village Clerk’s office.
The Municipal Swimming Pool Commission shall be responsible for the total operation of the swimming pool utility, including the hiring of all personnel, the purchase of all materials and the setting of fees for the use of the facility.
All Commission members shall serve without compensation. Any member of the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission shall be reimbursed for any expenses, but such expenses shall be approved by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
340-29Disposition of revenues.
The Village of Ridgefield Park shall charge and collect for the use and operation of the swimming pool utility, and all fees, rents and other charges shall be placed in a separate account of the Village.
All fees, rents and other charges received annually from the operation of the swimming pool utility shall be applied first to the annual payment of principal and interest on any obligations issued for the swimming pool utility, then to the operation, maintenance and improvement of the utility. Any surplus resulting from the operation of the utility shall be applied in accordance with law.
The anticipated revenues from the operation of the swimming pool utility and the appropriations to be made therefor shall be set forth in a separate section of the annual Village budget.
This article shall not supersede the specific dedication of receipts from the swimming pool utility as provided in any law which authorizes the establishment or creation of such utility.
All matters with respect to the swimming pool utility not determined by this article shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
[Amended 3-10-1981 by Ord. No. 3-81; 5-11-1993 by Ord. No. 5-93; 5-9-1995 by Ord. No. 6-95; 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
Membership is limited to residents of the Village of Ridgefield Park who have paid the required fees. In addition, a limited number of nonresidents of the Village of Ridgefield Park, including members of the family of a nonresident, may be admitted for membership to the Ridgefield Park Municipal Pool in accordance with the regulations that are established by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park or by the Ridgefield Park Municipal Swimming Pool Commission. Such membership shall initially be open to those residents residing in the Boroughs of Little Ferry and Bogota or nonresidents that have/had children attending a Ridgefield Park school.
Types of memberships.
Family membership shall include a maximum of two adults living at the same residence.
Individual memberships are available to any resident of Ridgefield Park or any nonresident from one of the permissible towns.
Senior citizen membership is available to residents of the Village of Ridgefield Park 62 years of age or older or to any nonresident 62 or older from one of the permissible towns.
Student membership shall be available to children over the age of 19 whose parent or parents hold a family membership or a single parent membership, who shows proof of school attendance.
Custodial membership. Custodial memberships may be considered for extenuating circumstances. All requests must be written to the Ridgefield Park Swimming Pool Commission and must be accompanied by a permission letter from both the parent/guardian holding the family membership and the parent/guardian holding the custodial membership. Requests must be approved by the Ridgefield Park Swimming Pool Commission. Custodial members are not permitted to attend the pool without the family membership holder being present, and custodial members may not sign in guests.
Custodial child. A child may be permitted to join with a family membership if he or she does not reside with the family under a custodial membership.
Custodial adult. An adult may be permitted to join with a family membership if he or she does not reside with that family under a custodial membership.
Sponsoring members.
Members from the member towns of Ridgefield Park, Little Ferry and Bogota may sponsor seasonal memberships at the out-of-town rate to anyone interested.
Nonrefundable day pass booklets containing five passes may be bought for $75 by anyone interested.
The sponsoring member is responsible for the associate member to ensure that the associate member complies with all rules and regulations of the Pool Commission.
The pool administration reserves the right to grant priority access to members over day pass participants in the event that the pool is at maximum capacity.
Nonresidents.
Nonresidents of the Village shall be permitted to apply for membership to the Ridgefield Park Municipal Swimming Pool, provided that the nonresident/applicant is either 1) employed by the Village of Ridgefield Park, the Borough of Little Ferry or the Borough of Bogota as either a part-time or full-time municipal employee, or 2) serves as an emergency service volunteer for the Village of Ridgefield Park, Borough of Little Ferry or Borough of Bogota. All nonresidents shall be required to pay membership fee established by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission for out-of-town members and complete the appropriate application form.
The minimum age for obtaining an individual pool membership to the Ridgefield Park Swimming Pool shall be 14; provided, however, that all applicants under the age of 18 shall be required to furnish the Ridgefield Park Pool Commission with permission from that person’s parent or legal guardian, who shall apply in person with the underage applicant and furnish the Commission with a written statement that such permission has been given.
Memberships are nontransferable. All memberships issued for the use of the swimming pool facilities are nontransferable.
Guests.
Children 16 years of age or older may be permitted to sign guests in for the day.
Members under the age of 16 are permitted to sign in adults over the age of 18 if the guest is preapproved in writing and signed in by the Ridgefield Park Pool staff.
Guests must be accompanied by members in order to gain admission to the pool. No guest will be permitted to stay unless the membership holder that signed in the guest is present. Alternatively, the guest may be reregistered at the office at no additional cost under a different family membership holder, provided that that family agrees to take responsibility for the guest.
The Ridgefield Park Pool Commission reserves the right to limit the number of guests to 10 per membership for the season, if the membership reaches maximum capacity.
Any party of five or more guests must be registered by the pool management a minimum of 48 hours in advance.
One adult member must be present for every five children under the age of five. This includes children who are members and children who are registered as guests.
The management has the right to refuse admittance to any guest not properly registered with the pool management.
Guest fees are collected on a daily basis and are only refundable if the pools are closed due to thunder/lightning within one hour of registering at the pool.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
Membership fees shall be determined from time to time by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
No fees are returnable after the first operating date of each season.
Members shall be required to make deposits as specified by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
The daily guest charge per guest shall be determined from time to time by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
For the purpose of determining fees, all ages will be determined as of May 1 of each year.
340-32Identification cards or badges.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
All members will be issued identification badges, which must be handed in daily to the front office staff. Members will be charged a fee of $1 if the member does not have the identification card to present.
Two or more badges for the same member will not be permitted.
Identification badges or cards are not transferable.
The illegal transfers of badges or cards will result in the revocation or suspension of membership, to be determined by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
Lost identification badges or cards must be reported to the office immediately and can be replaced under such rules and regulations as determined by the Pool Commission.
The hours of operation shall be determined by the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
Use of the swimming pool facilities shall be subject to such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Pool Commissioners, by Part 2 of this chapter, or by any ordinance or resolution.
The provisions of Part 2 of this chapter shall not relieve any person of the duty to observe other provisions as set forth in any New Jersey statute or ordinance of the Village or as hereinafter provided.
All matters not determined by Part 2 of this chapter may be determined by resolution to be hereafter adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
All bathers, including babies, must wear bathing suits in both the swimming and wading pools. Shorts or cut-off jeans may not be worn in the pools.
All children who are not toilet-trained must wear a diaper specifically made for swimming.
Any person with a communicable disease, open blisters or cuts, sore or inflamed eyes, ears, nose or mouth infections, excessive sunburn, or any type of skin disease will be excluded from the pool area.
No inflatable water paraphernalia or floating objects shall be allowed within the pool area. Snorkels, fins, masks, or other swimming aids shall be permitted only on special permit.
Diving will be permitted in designated areas only.
No one will be allowed in the water unless a lifeguard is present in the main and diving pools.
Adult supervision is always necessary inside the baby pool fence area for swimmers in the baby pool. At times, a sign may be posted at the baby pool noting that bathers must swim at their own risk.
No swimming will be permitted in diving areas, except by divers.
340-36General rules of conduct.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
All vehicles shall be parked in areas designated for that purpose. No reserved parking spaces shall be allocated.
No grass area may be reserved for members without permission from the Municipal Swimming Pool Commission.
Dressing and undressing shall be permitted only in locker rooms; no loitering in the locker rooms.
The use of cameras, including cell phone cameras, is prohibited in bathrooms.
At the sound of thunder, pools must be evacuated. After 30 minutes of no thunder, swimming may resume. If thunder is continuous (i.e., in intervals of no more than five minutes) and lasting for at least 45 minutes, then everyone must leave the pool grounds.
In the event of lightning, everybody must clear the pool grounds immediately.
All food and beverages shall be served and consumed within designated areas only. Under no circumstances shall food or beverages be consumed outside of those areas. Water in plastic containers is permitted in the grass area.
Children under 12 years of age shall not be permitted unless accompanied by a responsible adult member 16 years of age or older. Children under five years of age must always be under the direct supervision of the accompanying adult. For the purpose of admittance into the pool, ages will be determined as of the member’s date of birth.
Destruction or defacing of property will result in the suspension or revocation of membership and expulsion from the area.
The pool management will not be responsible for valuables brought into the pool area.
All litter, paper and debris shall be placed in designated trash receptacles.
Card tables and umbrellas are not permitted in the pool apron area.
Dress in and out of the pool shall be consistent with the standards of good taste. Extremely brief types of attire are not considered in good taste.
Smoking shall not be permitted in the pool apron area, and ash trays must be used in areas where smoking is permitted.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
In addition to other conduct which may be determined by the pool officials to be inimical to the safe and orderly operation of the pool, the following activities are expressly prohibited:
The use of glass or glass containers in the pool area.
The possession, display or consumption of alcoholic beverages within the pool area.
The operation of bicycles in the pool area.
The operation of portable radios, except in areas designated by the pool management.
Bringing dogs, cats or other animals within the pool area.
Roughhousing, wrestling, rowdiness, offensive loitering or other similar conduct affecting the safety and comfort of others within the pool grounds.
Cooking or possession of barbecues or other cooking apparatus within the pool area.
Any other conduct which, in the opinion of the Pool Manager, is inimical to the safe and healthful operation of the pool.
340-38Enforcement of rules; suspension or revocation of membership.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04]
Regulations shall be posted at the pool and strictly enforced.
The Municipal Swimming Pool Commission, Pool Manager or Assistant Pool Manager may close or limit the swimming pool facilities whenever, in its or his judgment, such action is deemed necessary for the protection of the health or safety of such persons entitled to use such facilities.
Members of the Police Department of the Village, designated agents of the Village, Pool Commissioners, Pool Manager or Assistant Pool Manager and all lifeguards, when on duty at the pool facilities, shall have the authority to prohibit any action or conduct which they may consider to be dangerous, improper or immoral, or any act or actions in violation of rules and regulations hereinbefore provided.
All memberships are granted subject to the rules and regulations as established by the Pool Commissioners or by ordinance or resolution. Failure to abide by these rules and regulations may result in revocation or suspension of membership.
Members shall be responsible for the conduct of their guests, and membership may be revoked or suspended for failure to control the violation(s) of any rule or regulation by a guest.
Members will be charged and must pay for the repair or replacement of property of the Municipal Pool, which has been damaged or removed by a member or by his or her guests.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter may have his or her pool membership suspended by any of the stated enforcement authorities. Membership can be reconsidered for the next season.
340-39Violations and penalties.
[Amended 4-26-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04[1]]
Any person who violates any provision of Part 2 of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty.
Editor’s Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
340-40Determination of unresolved matters.
All matters with respect to the municipal swimming pool utility not determined by this article shall be determined by an appropriate resolution of the governing body of the Village of Ridgefield Park.
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