By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg recreation commission is recommending a reduction in hours at the city pool due to low evening attendance.

The reduction in hours would also save the city about $12,000 in 2017.

A report from city manager Sarah Purdy says that lifeguards collected attendance numbers at the city pool this year so the recreation department could “analyze trends.”

The results showed that attendance at the city pool dipped from 6 to 8 p.m. On average about five people were at the pool from 6 to 7 and about four were there from 7 to 8 p.m.

“Some evenings did not have any attendance at all,” the report says.

Ogdensburg Recreation Director Matthew Curatolo said due to the low attendance numbers “it would make sense fiscally to reduce the amount of ours the pool is open” rather than pay five lifeguards each evening to supervise a limited number of simmers.

In 2016 $40,248 were budgeted for wages related to the pool. Curatolo says by closing two hours earlier the city could reduce it’s cost $28,028. That’s including a minimum wage hike from $9 to $9.85 per hour. Head lifeguards will paid $10.85 per hour.

The commission recommended cutting the hours of operation for the 2017 budget, but intends to continue providing swimming lessons, early bird swim and infant-toddler swim programs.

Ogdensburg council will likely discuss the proposal at it its next budget workshop.