CAI-NJ April 2021

MANAGEMENT TRENDS Spring Back

By Vincent Rapolla, CMCA, AMS, Denali Property Management, Inc.

2 020 was one of the most challenging years for community association managers. Work was bus- ier and more stressful than ever with many of our residents working from home. Although we are still not completely in the clear, it is time to begin our preparations for re-opening of the amenities. With 2020 behind us, we can now look ahead to 2021 and the hopeful re-opening of our amenities. Without a doubt, 2021 will bring its own challenges with the opening of our amenity spaces. But with good planning, you can help get life back to a new normal for your building and its residents. This year will be completely different for amenity openings. Gyms, for example, are slowly opening with restrictions and pool season will pose a tremendous number of challenges for community managers and boards. While residents are clamoring for amenities to open, there are many different state and federal rules and regulations pertaining to public spaces. Although many community associations are private communi- ties, in some instances the state and federal rules are the only guidelines we have to protect from liabilities. This leaves many difficult decisions to be made. With so many of our residents still working from home, amenities, and outdoor spaces in 2021 will be in focus more than ever. Residents will need a place that they can escape from their new work from home lifestyle. While many people dreamed of a day that they could work from home, now most cannot wait to be able to get back to the office. The opening of pools will be more important than ever in 2021. Relying on your professional pool company, asso- ciation attorney and affiliates like CAI as well as working closely with your local health departments will ensure a smooth opening and successful season. Those that opened pools last season may have been feeling stressful in the beginning, but many say things ended up going much better than anticipated.

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You first have to start off with lining up your staff. Ambassadors need to be hired to check residents in and out of the pool areas. Lifeguards are not permitted to check in residents. The ambassador should also be responsible for making sure residents are social distancing and wearing masks where required. Social distancing will also be a must, marking out social distanced squares around the pool patio will be helpful. Separate entrance and exits if possible, will also be helpful. Directional arrows like what has been used in grocery stores should be used. Sign companies have been busier than ever and can come up with some great ground coverings that can help achieve these goals while keeping a professional aesthetically pleasing look to your CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 44 “Gyms...are slowly opening with restrictions and pool season will pose a tremendous number of challenges for community managers and boards.”

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