Dear Whitehall Manor Homeowners,
On June 3rd, 2020, we announced that the Whitehall Manor pool would be delayed in opening for the 2020 season due state requirements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the situation changes on a weekly basis, and because we have spoken with so many homeowners seeking more information, we wanted to provide an update and further explanation of the decision to delay opening.
When the North Carolina Phase II reopening plan was announced, requirements were published by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the reopening of pool facilities. There were three core requirements, along with an extensive list of additional guidelines.
- Pool capacity would be limited (14 swimmers for Whitehall Manor), and there was an expectation set that this capacity limitation would be monitored. The board and management were provided legal counsel (free of charge) from top association law firms in our region. They universally advised that if no capacity limit monitoring could be provided, an association should not open their pool at this time.
- Additional cleaning requirements were established. The additional cleaning requirements outlined in the NCDHHS Phase II pool guidance will represent an unbudgeted cost increase for any remaining 2020 pool season and beyond. We’ve worked with vendors to make sure these requirements can be met if other factors should allow the pool to open at a later date.
- There was created a requirement for multiple types of signs to be posted at the pool. Like the cleaning supplies and procedures, these are entirely achievable for the association. In addition, employers such as pool management companies were required to screen their staff for symptoms, ensuring that nobody with symptoms was allowed at the pool facility.
It is important to us that homeowners understand that the decision to delay was not an easy one, and it was only made after long consideration of additional factors. Here are some frequently asked questions and the best concise answers to them:
- What were the options for capacity monitoring? We investigated solutions from pool maintenance vendors and security companies. Based on the range of estimates we’ve received from various companies in the area, hiring an attendant will nearly double or triple the 2020 pool maintenance budget.
- Why can’t the association use volunteers for monitoring? Although the necessary insurance coverage to allow this is not terribly expensive, the primary issue is that there would be no coverage at all should a volunteer become infected with COVID-19. The association would be liable for all potential legal costs and damages.
- Why not have volunteers and swimmers sign waivers? Waivers could be a potential part of reopening the pool at a later time, but they are not a solution in and of themselves. An association cannot absolve itself of responsibility to comply with state law, and legal counsel has advised that waivers do not hold up in the case of legal disputes.
Please understand that the board of directors and the management team are continuing to evaluate the situation. The board of directors remains committed to reopening the pool as soon as it is safe and financially feasible to do so. There have been updates in recent days that may allow the matter to be reconsidered relatively soon. Please check TownSq for future updates and contact community manager Brian Nash with Associa HRW with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely on behalf of the Whitehall Manor Board of Directors,
Brian Nash
Community Manager – Associa H.R.W. Management
BNash@HRW.net
(919)786-8036