Troy personnel committee advances new lifeguard pay scale, adjusts pool manager rates

The Troy Personnel Committee on Monday agreed to advance a proposal to the full city council that would establish a separate lifeguard wage scale and adjust pay for the swimming pool manager/lead food service employee.

Seiler, the city’s recreation director, told the committee recruiting and retaining seasonal pool staff has become increasingly difficult and the department proposed an eight‑step lifeguard scale starting at $14.50 per hour and capping at $16.25. "We feel this will get us more in line with what other facilities in the area are currently paying," Seiler said.

The committee was also told the existing 10‑step rate for the swimming pool manager/lead food service employee would remain an adjusted structure, with the draft range shown at approximately $17.00 to $19.25 per hour. Seiler said most returning guards would occupy steps 2 or 3 under the new schedule and that the proposed top step should keep Troy competitive for two to three years.

Seiler compared Troy’s draft scale to neighboring facilities, saying Sydney’s lifeguard pay runs about $16.50 to $19.38 and that, anecdotally, a local facility called the Dolphin paid about $20 per hour last year; Seiler also noted the Lincoln Center paid roughly $15 for comparison. The department plans to review rates annually and adjust for changes in Ohio minimum wage levels, Seiler said.

Carrie Slater, identified earlier in the meeting as the assistant recreation director, described recruitment efforts and scheduling flexibility used to retain staff: "We've been very fortunate the last few years to retain and have enough staff to operate the facility at full capacity with no shortage of lifeguards," Slater said, adding that some guards work only a few days a week while others work up to 40 hours.

Seiler told the committee the department typically employs about 30 to 35 lifeguards each season and called the wage adjustment "one step" to help retain and recruit staff so facilities can remain fully open during the season.

Multiple committee members said they wanted to move the recommendation forward. The personnel committee agreed to advance the recreation board’s recommendation to the full council; the transcript does not show a formal roll‑call vote or recorded tally.

If the full Troy City Council accepts the committee’s recommendation, the salary ordinance would be amended to create the separate lifeguard wage scale and to adopt the revised rate structure for the pool manager/lead food service position. The committee noted the department will monitor local rates and revisit the scale as needed after the 2026 season.