WELLS — A proposal to use foreign workers to fill town lifeguard positions is dead in the water.
Last month, Town Manager Jonathan Carter proposed that the town use international students on J-1 visas to fill seasonal lifeguard positions. The town has about 15 of the 25 slots filled.
It has become increasingly difficult to fill the positions because Wells has to compete with other coastal communities, private pools and water parks, Carter said.
Ultimately, though, a requirement to house the foreign students became insurmountable.
Businesses who hire J-1 students go through a sponsoring agency and must assist workers in finding housing. Carter wanted the town to house the students at a town-owned building that is shuttered and slated to be torn down for a public safety building expansion.
Town selectmen declined to do so at its Jan. 19 board meeting because they were concerned about the cost of reopening the home.
As of late last week, Carter was still optimistic that the town would still entertain the proposal. But on Jan. 25, he said it looked like housing will be too much of a sticking point to pursue the idea further this year.
Human Resource Director Stephanie Weaver also said on Jan. 25 that it’s unlikely the town will be able to utilize the foreign seasonal worker program this year.
“If housing is the key and the sponsor can fill their requests without jumping through hoops, I suspect we will fall to the bottom of the list,” said Weaver.
The town is continuing its typical recruitment practices of high school and college students to fill the lifeguard posts, but is also reaching out to leaders in veterans organizations, said Carter, as selectmen had expressed an interest in hiring veterans to fill available lifeguard positions.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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