Loss of Lunch Pay for Lifeguards Angers Atlantic Beach Residents

In direct defiance of the mayor, Atlantic Beach residents stood and chanted “Let him speak, let him speak,” as Anthony Runco, a local lifeguard for the past six years, stood at the podium to speak about pay cuts during last Monday night’s board of trustees meeting.

Though he was scheduled to talk, Mayor Stephen Mahler immediately attempted to muffle Runco's efforts.

“This is not your biography,” he said, which threw the boisterous crowd into a verbal frenzy.

Since last year, Atlantic Beach stopped paying wages during the lifeguards’ daily lunch hour, even when they are still on duty. The lifeguards are seeking to restore these lost earnings. Mahler said the reason was budgetary.

“We asked — Long Beach and the Town of Hempstead don’t pay,” the mayor declared.

The meeting attendees, dressed in red and white t-shirts bearing the word ‘lifeguard,’ shouted “there’s an issue here, mayor,” as they stood together and clapped for Runco and his fellow beach protectors.

After a few minutes, the mayor’s “go ahead” brought Runco back to the podium with a rousing cheer.

“Let me say, police are paid for meal time. Firemen are paid for meal time. Yet, as of last year, we’re not paid,” he said.

Both sides agreed that the cost of restoring the lifeguard lunch hour compensation would be approximately $63 per person each week, about $20,000 in total. That did nothing to resolve the contentious atmosphere.

“It all sounds nice and this is a popular thing to do, but we have a budget," Mahler said. "We have to account for the residents’ money.”

Standing tall at the front of the room in his dark three piece suit, an undaunted Runco explained, "Mayor, there were 100 employment applications when the lunches were paid. There have been 38 since the lunches have not been paid."

He said that last year, there were seven lifeguards for eight beaches, and now some of them are earning less than they did four years ago. He added that after six years on the job, he earns $11 an hour.

Trustee Linda Baessler said the board would “need to look into this,” which was greeted by hearty applause.

Runco warned that there may be consequences if the current course remains.

“We only have five or six lifeguards that currently live in Atlantic Beach," he said. "They’re coming from all over and in a few years we’ll have a hiring issue.”

The next Atlantic Beach board of trustees meeting is set for Aug. 8 at 7:45 pm.