With numerous ongoing projects, and the ever popular fitness classes, the recreation department became the focus of the Jan. 19 Saratoga Town Council Meeting.

Recreation Director Lisa Burton asked the council to consider donating the unused pool table, which was previously donated by Reg and Laurie Forster, to the Community Center gym. Burton requested that the council donate the table to the Aliens and Strangers Youth Group for their facility on East Cedar Street. The council unanimously approved the table donation.

Burton then asked the council for permission to book hypnotist Dr. Al Synder, in cooperation with the Saratoga Future Farmers of America Stewart McPhail Chapter (FFA), for Feb. 22 at the Community Center. Burton told the council that the Saratoga FFA Chapter was willing to split the cost of the hypnotist. Burton said Snyder would perform at the high school during the day and then perform for a fee that evening at the community center.

The council advised Burton they would need more information on the costs and how much the town would make on the event before a vote would be cast on the topic. Burton said she would move the hypnotist event back to a later date in May, provided Dr. Snyder is available.

Finally, Burton explained to the council that Erin Rempel would like the town to purchase the remaining fitness equipment that she still owns, but is currently being used by participants in the fitness classes.

“With the income distribution of the fitness classes, and the recreation department handling the scheduling of these classes, Erin would like the town to purchase this equipment,” Burton added.

Burton listed the items including, dumbbells and dumbbell rack, body bars and fitness tubes and stated the items are used in the cycling classes, low impact fitness classes and body bar classes. Burton said the receipts for the fitness equipment totaled $1,504 which did not include the shipping and tax. She added that the equipment was purchased between January 2008, and May 2009.

Councilman Ed Glode told Burton he did not like the idea of paying new prices for used equipment. He added that the town might be able to purchase new equipment at a cheaper price, rather than to pay a new price for the used equipment.

Councilwomen Kassey Westring and Judy Welton both said Rempel had been a “huge help” to the fitness classes as well had invested a large amount of time in the program.

“We do not want to negate that time she has given,” Westring said.

The council asked Burton to do some investigating into the prices of the equipment and come back to the Feb. 2 meeting with the prices before any purchase action would take place.