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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County urging the Chief Executive to re-evaluate and adjust the chaperone policy for County swimming pools.
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Whereas, the swimming pools located in the Allegheny County Parks provide tremendous recreational opportunities for County residents throughout the summer months, while simultaneously allowing the County’s younger residents to have an enjoyable outdoor activity while their schools are not in session; and
Whereas, in particularly hot and humid weather conditions, the County pools also provide a valuable opportunity for County residents of all ages to remain active and outdoors without overheating; and
Whereas, the Allegheny County Parks Department has unilaterally adopted a policy of requiring chaperones aged 21 or over for all pool visitors under the age of 18, and turning away all unchaperoned visitors under age 18, without any prior notice to, discussion with, or consideration or approval by Council; and
Whereas, the County does, however, employ individuals as young as age 15 to work as part time/seasonal employees within the County Parks and at the County’s swimming pools; and
Whereas, it is the judgment of Council that creating a policy that allows individuals aged 15-17 to be at the pools to work while they are being paid less than a living wage and are working without County-paid benefits - but excludes those very same individuals from visiting the pools without a chaperone for all recreational purposes - at least appears to be inherently exploitative; and
Whereas, it is further the judgment of Council that applying the chaperone policy only to the County pools seems counterintuitive, as the very same individuals who are turned away from the pools are still free to do anything else that they wish without a chaperone throughout the rest of the very same park in which the pool is located; and
Whereas, Council accordingly would respectfully recommend a re-evaluation of the new chaperone policy t...
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