CAI-NJ Sept 2020

POOL... from page 24.

keep it closed this season; but that a tennis club (which is not a community association) opened its pool. One South Jersey association closed their pool, but decided to keep bocce, pickle ball and tennis courts open because there was nothing they could do about the players necessity to touch the balls. There is division within that community about these decisions since liability is the same as if the pool opened. According to the results of a sur- vey released July 9th by Community Associations Institute (CAI), national- ly only 7% of respondents reported opening their pool on time this year. “In New Jersey, more than 80% of respondents reported their pool is closed this season.” One property manager suggested that the percent- age of open pools would be even

“One board sent residents a note on June 13th explaining opening on June 22nd may not happen.”

es were at yes, now virtually all of them are at no or undecided.” Most property managers found the same, boards began realizing the costs and complications required to comply with the standards and CDC guidelines. A property management company executive mentioned on July 7th that of their 40 managed pools, only six had voted to open; and of those, only three had actually opened. The other three are still working to overcome the various obstacles. The three that opened included a luxury high rise, a townhome development and an age restricted single-family home develop- ment. Another attorney said in late June that every community association he represents with a pool voted to

lower if those in Atlantic Ocean beach towns were excluded from the survey. Did the more than eighty percent of boards which chose to close simply decide it was easier to not open the pools? Hardly. CIC volunteer board members spent many hours in meetings, and with their attorneys, pool managers, property managers and insurance companies. They also heard the diverging opinions of res- idents. Joan Sambucci when asked how many hours she spent studying this, said, “Hours upon hours and many sleepless nights. I have not tracked the time.” Virtually every asso- ciation badly wanted to open their amenities, but they followed their fidu- ciary responsibilities to make the prop- er decisions for their communities. One board sent residents a note on June 13th explaining opening on June 22nd may not happen. One resident sent one single word back, “BS!” Many other communities had similar reactions. One property man- ager observed, “we are now com- bating uninformed residents who are unaware of these additional require- ments, expenses or uninsurable liabil- ity exposures. Homeowners in some communities have become aggressive to their boards and committee mem- CONT I NU E S ON PAGE 28

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