SEVEN FIELDS — Lifeguards at Town Park Pool are set to make $15 an hour this summer.

If the pool opens.

Borough council Monday approved a pay rate of $15 an hour for lifeguards at the pool, a $4-per-hour raise from the already increased rate council approved in 2021.

Manager Tom Smith said the pay raise will make Seven Fields more competitive as other nearby communities look for lifeguards from the same small pool of potential hires.

“Everyone’s having issues again, council,” Smith said. “I don’t know if this will do it, council. If not, I would really suggest that we start considering whether or not we’re going to open the pool at all.”

Smith said the borough is aiming to have 10 lifeguards work this summer. With fewer lifeguards, he said, the pool would have to operate with reduced hours, something Smith said is untenable.

The manager said Seven Fields may try additional means of advertising for lifeguards, such as hanging a banner advertising the openings and pay rate, an idea with which councilman Jeff Smouse agreed.

“I think there needs to be (more) done on promotion, whether it be LinkedIn, NextDoor,” Smouse said. “We need to try to (get the word out).”