Hello Everyone,
After a day of research there has been a letter prepared and ready to send to the board. Myself and several other community members have shared this letter. If you are a Whitebridge Community member, please consider sharing the letter with the board. The letter also provides factual updates of the situation based on current legislation.
Dear Whitebridge Village Condo Association Board,
I am writing to you on behalf of myself and several community members in reference to the pool. This is the third year in a row that the board has decided not to open the pool. I understand that during summer 2020 the pool was closed due to Covid, which was a new disease at the time. That closure was understandable. The pool was closed again during summer 2021. During the summer of 2021, the Governor of New Jersey had issued executive orders number 239 and 242 which permitted public pools to be open. In addition, bill A729, protected homeowners associations from lawsuits against Covid exposure or transmission in community locations, including pools. In addition to the pool, the playground has also been closed for a long period of time.
We are now approaching Summer 2022. We are aware that bill A729, which protects the association from lawsuits related to Covid, has expired, however, I have been in contact with Assemblyman Bergen’s office. Mr. Bergen is cosponsoring this bill. There are plans to make this permanent, and I will be in touch with Mr. Bergen’s office to check the status of this bill and I encourage the board to do the same.
In addition to the Assemblyman Bergen’s office, I have also been in contact with the Burlington County Health Department. I spoke with Mr. Tyrone R. Eugene, who did confirm the executive orders 239 and 242 established Summer 2021. He also stated that the most recent guidance on this matter was from July 2021. We are awaiting guidance for the 2022 summer season.
In addition, according to executive order 290, The Public Health Crisis has ended. The Covid transmission rate is low, and vaccines have been available for over a year now. Covid should no longer be a concern.
Lastly, most community members would be willing to sign a waiver, agreeing not to sue the association or any individual board members for any Covid exposure of transmission in community locations, including the pool.
We, as a community, are very disappointed and angered that although the amenities have not been open for years, there has been no adjustment to our monthly association fees. The pool is expensive, and without the pool for several years now, we should see a decrease in the monthly dues. There is currently a petition on change.org, gathering signatures for the opening of the pool. We have seen several instances of spending in the community, including new holiday decorations, and the addition of the park area, none of which community members were asked to vote on. Spending like this should be voted on.
The community urges you to keep up with the current covid legislation, especially bill A729, and prepare to open the pool pending the approval of legislation allowing the association to do so. In addition, we would like another board meeting to discuss this matter, within the next month. Please see the following page with a list of references and resources about this issue.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Whitebridge Community Member
References
A729. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2022/A1000/729_I1.HTM
Dpowell. (n.d.). Communicable disease service. Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | New Jersey COVID-19 Dashboard. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml
Executive order no. 283 - nj.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-283.pdf
New Jersey covid-19 pools and aquatic recreation facility ... (n.d.). Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://nj.gov/health/legal/covid19/POOLS_7-1-21.pdf
Riser, / M. (n.d.). Bill protecting homeowners associations from Covid liabilities now law. NJ Assembly Republicans. Retrieved March 3, 2022, from https://www.njassemblygop.com/bill-protecting-homeowners-associations-from-covid-liabilities-now-law/