Summertime, and the living's easy.

That was the word Monday night, when Westport Town Administrator James Hartnett told the select board that at least eight hopefuls have signed up to be lifeguards at town beaches this summer. The news, coming just two weeks after officials considered pulling the plug on or drastically reducing guard service for the summer season, means that town beaches will be fully or nearly fully staffed throughout the summer.

"I think we're going to be OK," Richard Brewer, the select board chairman, said. "We've got the problem pretty much solved."

For much of the year, there was considerably less certainty. While Westport usually has eight lifeguards and one head lifeguard from Memorial to Labor Day, Beach Committee chairman Sean Leach told the board last month that he had only one guard interested in working the summer, with few prospects to find more despite turning over rocks and asking for help in nearly every South Coast community. The problem was compounded by nearby competition and the departure last year of long-time head lifeguard Evan Audette and his entire staff.

"Last fall we knew the head lifeguard was not going to come back," Leach said. "What we were not aware of until this Spring is that the other eight lifeguards were not going to come back. So we got a late start getting the word out that we needed lifeguards desperately."

But after looking for months with little luck, Hartnett told the board that the town has received eight or nine applications over the past two weeks. Of those, four or five have guarding experience while a few more have to be trained. Brewer said after the meeting that the staff at Horseneck Beach will likely help train Westport's newcomers.

"We're very happy," he said. "It's our main attraction. At Cherry And Webb, we have enough guards to staff it during the week."

Longer-term, the town is expected to continue discussions prompted by Leach earlier this Spring about raising the rate of pay for Westport's lifeguards. Currently, the town pays $21 per hour, while Horseneck, the closest competitor, pays $28, plus a $600 signing bonus and an additional $600 bonus if guards stay the entire season.

Officials will also look at the structure of the lifeguard corps, which was previously overseen by Audette. At a meeting last month, Hartnett said getting a good corps of workers who are united and invested in the job is essential for long-term stability.

"We need to run the beach differently," Hartnett said. "You need a beach manager (and) a head lifeguard so there's continuity year to year. We don't have that right now."