Skip to content

Menu

ChannelsPublishersSubscribe
LexBlog, Inc. logo
LexBlog, Inc. logo
ProductsSub-MenuBlogsPortalsTwentySyndicationMicrositesResource Center
Join
Search
Close
Join the Movement. Blog 4 Good

Pools (and Some Other Amenities) are Opening in New Jersey! Should You Open Yours?

By Mary W. Barrett
June 11, 2020
EmailTweetLikeLinkedIn

Governor Murphy has now announced that community association pools may open in New Jersey on June 22. If you didn’t hear that announcement, you probably did hear the collective cheers from Cape May to Mahwah.

But, just because pools and some other amenities may open, you must ask: should you open yours?

community association pool opening guidelines COVID-19

In making this important decision, board members will have to seriously consider all of the issues and discuss them with their vendors, insurance agent, management, and legal counsel. Among those issues to consider:

  • Is there full understanding of all of the requirements from the various Executive Orders and the Board of Health guidelines? Are there additional municipal or county requirements? Can the association comply? What will enforcement look like?
  • Is there full understanding of the CDC recommendations for social distancing and cleaning protocols? Can the association comply? What will enforcement look like?
  • Is there full understanding of the potential consequences of not following and/or enforcing these requirements and recommendations (including to the board personally)?
  • Has the association’s insurance agent given an opinion about insurance limitations relating to COVID-19? Is there full understanding of the impact of this to the association?
  • Is there full understanding of the association’s contractual options for maintaining and operating the amenity?
  • Have all necessary rules and obligations been adopted for use of the amenity and have members acknowledged them? Have the rules, acknowledgements, and waivers been discussed with legal counsel?
  • Have the additional costs necessary for opening, maintaining, and operating the amenity been fully evaluated?

Naturally, all of us who have been faithfully staying at home and socially distancing for the last three months are eager to get back to normal. But complying with all of the recommendations and requirements to reopen amenities will be anything but normal. Board members must seriously consider all of the above, understand responses from vendors and legal counsel, and carefully weigh costs, risks, and benefits before opening any amenity, including the pool.

Photo of Mary W. Barrett Mary W. Barrett

Mary W. Barrett has been practicing in Stark & Stark’s Community Associations Group since 1998. She concentrates her practice in the representation of homeowners associations, condominium associations, and cooperatives throughout New Jersey.

Read more about Mary W. BarrettEmail
  • Posted in:
    Civil Litigation
  • Blog:
    New Jersey Law Blog
  • Organization:
    Stark & Stark
  • Article: View Original Source

Stay Connected

Facebook LinkedIn Twitter RSS
Real Lawyers

Company

  • About LexBlog
  • Careers
  • Press
  • Contact LexBlog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Service
  • RSS Terms of Service

Products

  • Products
  • Blogs
  • Portals
  • Twenty
  • Syndication
  • Microsites

Support

  • 1-800-913-0988
  • Submit a Request
  • Support Center
  • System Status
  • Resource Center

New to the Network

  • Redefined Blog
  • Global Trade Law Blog
  • The Quick Take
  • Consumer Privacy World
  • Energy Law Report
Copyright © 2021, LexBlog, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered By LexBlog