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Cleaning the community pool

Started by DavidG45 • 13 replies • 633 views

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DavidG45 (Delaware)
Posts: 994
Posted:
We have a cleaning service that cleans and maintains chemical levels in our pool three days a week. The last day in their contract is Labor Day, and the service is pretty pricey. We had scheduled for Labor Day to be the last day the pool was open, but several owners have suggested we keep it open a few more weeks - with volunteers cleaning the pool. We do have a number of people with pool expertise, so I personally see no problem with it.

Our property manager, however, has been adament that volunteers not do anything - because of liability issues.

So this is a general question as well as a specific one. Regarding the pool, would it be okay for volunteers to maintain the pool for two or three weeks? Also, should we really never use volunteers? All summer we've had people take turns every night closing up the pool area - close umbrellas, straight up furniture, etc. Speaking to other communities this seems to be normal - they do a lot of mundane stuff themselves rathr than bear the expense of hiring others.
JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631
Posted:
I think you would be best served asking your HOA's insurance company directly about this. For what it's worth our insurance agent told us to not allow an owner to power wash our pool deck. If something goes south it's your agent you have to deal with so why not ask him/her upfront about this?
MarkM19 (Texas)
Posts: 1,459
Posted:
David,
I agree with Johns comment. I think your PM may be using a too fine a point on what is a volunteer. If a owner picks up a piece of trash at your park area is he/she volunteering? I do not think people helping with simple tasks are much of a risk to your Insurance policy. If anyone ever gets hurt they could blame the HOA anyway.

I have been on boards for 12 years and have never had a owner claim they got hurt while volunteering. As John stated I would avoid them using Power Tools just for safety reasons.
PatJ1 (North Carolina)
Posts: 568
Posted:
Our pool servicing contract is based on our pool only being open from Memorial day thru Labor day. They do service our pool year round. Billing for the year is the same monthly, prorated.

Our county Board of health requires daily inspection/chemical checks while the pool is open and weekly checks when our pool is closed.

We carry an independent Worker's Compensation to cover volunteers, including Board members, who work around the community. Costs us under $600.00 per year to be covered. We are 40 years old and rely on volunteers. In addition, our City offers matching grants, which we apply for every year, to help us improve and maintain our community. Those grants are driven by volunteer hours pledged.

We have volunteers who work in the pool area picking up trash and rearranging pool furniture. None of them maintain the pool itself by checking chemical levels and such.

Check with your Board of Health to find out your requirements. As a Board member here in NC, I would not recommend the HOA to take on the responsibility of maintaining the pool with volunteers. So much can go wrong and open the HOA to liability.

Many times in the past we have been asked to keep the pool open beyond Labor Day. We found that the added charge from the pool company did not warrant the cost for the few that use the pool.

BarbaraT1 (Texas)
Posts: 821
Posted:
My concern would be more about the liability if volunteers failed to adequately maintain chemical levels in the pool and something unfortunate happened as a result of that: someone gets sick from too much chemical, or there is too little chemical and the water is cloudy and somebody's kid drowns because no one saw them at the bottom of the pool. You mitigate risk by having a certified pool operator maintaining the chemical levels.

It sounds paranoid, but as I tell my boards: part of my job is risk management, and that means being Debbie Downer, and thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong. You can evaluate the likelihood of those things going wrong against the potential benefit, and make an educated decision.

Another thing I would consider is whether your pool operating permit depends on having a CPO maintaining the chemical level. If it does, you are probably late enough in the season that you won't get a surprise inspection, but I don't know how aggressive your city or county is (or whether you have a resident who would call in a complaint).

So weigh all that against the savings of... what? $1200? $1500? to pay your pool company to keep it open another month.

When your contract comes up for renewal, consider a different pricing structure so that you have the flexibility to open and close without it affecting the budget. The association I manage pays the same rate year round and the pool opens and closes as the weather goes.

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DavidG45 on 08/17/2021 7:04 AM
would it be okay for volunteers to maintain the pool for two or three weeks?
I do not think so. In my state, one has to have a certain amount of training and then certification to maintain HOA/COA pools. I believe pool chemistry should be checked daily. Also I think there are particular steps for pool closing for the season. Pool chemistry is about safety.

If I were on this board, I would vote "no" to this proposal. I might even resign (from concern for my and the HOA's liability) if the other directors did not understand why this is a terrible mistake.

DavidG45, isn't the Declarant still in control there? I cannot believe the Declarant would consider this.

I do recommend seeing if the HOA can afford to pay for two weeks beyond Labor Day of pool maintenance by licensed professionals.
Quote:
Also, should we really never use volunteers? All summer we've had people take turns every night closing up the pool area - close umbrellas, straight up furniture, etc. Speaking to other communities this seems to be normal - they do a lot of mundane stuff themselves rathr than bear the expense of hiring others.
I am in the camp that does support volunteers doing certain chores. I think it really helps build a sense of "community," as the cliché goes. Liability has to be bore in mind. Some chores, like pool maintenance absolutely should not be done by volunteers.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
With tother, don't let volunteers mess with pool chemicals--too much risk.

Other volunteers? Our Insurance agent says OK so long ss hey stay on the ground (i.e., off of ladders) and do not go near mechanical or electrical equipment of any kind. Can't quite remember but I think use of power tools is also not permitted.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
I agree with the others who said that the real liability comes if volunteers fail to maintain the water at a safe level and somebody gets sick. Part of what you pay the professionals for is their knowledge, which volunteers probably won't have. Anybody can sling chemicals around, but knowing which ones and how much is the trick.

(FWIW, our attorney has said that any association using volunteers for anything that involves physical labor or contact with chemicals should make sure they're carrying adequate workers comp or equivalent insurance *and* should get signed Release of Liability forms from the volunteers.)
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
We are required by the health district to have once a week checks when the pool is closed for the season. I would simply ask your current vendor to come on a per diem basis. It is the end of the season, I do not see where they will be booked solid, they will likely accept the extra business. Check with your local health department for weekly checks when the pool is closed. dirt and dust will settle to the bottom of the pool. even in the winter.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
David

I agree with others that it is risky having non-professionals doing the work. Health and insurance reasons are the biggest reasons. Talk to the present pool company about a short term contract.
KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DavidG45 on 08/17/2021 7:04 AM
We have a cleaning service that cleans and maintains chemical levels in our pool three days a week. The last day in their contract is Labor Day, and the service is pretty pricey. We had scheduled for Labor Day to be the last day the pool was open, but several owners have suggested we keep it open a few more weeks - with volunteers cleaning the pool. We do have a number of people with pool expertise, so I personally see no problem with it.

Our property manager, however, has been adament that volunteers not do anything - because of liability issues.

So this is a general question as well as a specific one. Regarding the pool, would it be okay for volunteers to maintain the pool for two or three weeks? Also, should we really never use volunteers? All summer we've had people take turns every night closing up the pool area - close umbrellas, straight up furniture, etc. Speaking to other communities this seems to be normal - they do a lot of mundane stuff themselves rathr than bear the expense of hiring others.

No.

Pool volunteers aren't "on the hook" to maintain pool cleanliness and chemical levels to state and local regulation levels. Pay the pool company for an extra week. The dues payers are paying the bill so if demand is overwhelming, answer the demand.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By KellyM3 on 08/17/2021 6:30 PM
Posted By DavidG45 on 08/17/2021 7:04 AM
We have a cleaning service that cleans and maintains chemical levels in our pool three days a week. The last day in their contract is Labor Day, and the service is pretty pricey. We had scheduled for Labor Day to be the last day the pool was open, but several owners have suggested we keep it open a few more weeks - with volunteers cleaning the pool. We do have a number of people with pool expertise, so I personally see no problem with it.

Our property manager, however, has been adament that volunteers not do anything - because of liability issues.

So this is a general question as well as a specific one. Regarding the pool, would it be okay for volunteers to maintain the pool for two or three weeks? Also, should we really never use volunteers? All summer we've had people take turns every night closing up the pool area - close umbrellas, straight up furniture, etc. Speaking to other communities this seems to be normal - they do a lot of mundane stuff themselves rathr than bear the expense of hiring others.


No.

Pool volunteers aren't "on the hook" to maintain pool cleanliness and chemical levels to state and local regulation levels. Pay the pool company for an extra week. The dues payers are paying the bill so if demand is overwhelming, answer the demand.



What Kelly (and others) have said. You hired the pool company for a reason, so if your budget can cover the extra week, do that, or close the pool on Labor Day as scheduled. Next year you can budget for an extra week or two based on demand, but homeowners need to understand that will cost more and be reflected in the budget (and possibly assessments) In the meantime, due to liability issues, it isn't appropriate for the homeowners to volunteer for this type of service - someone may make a mistake or forget to do the work because he/she assumed someone else would do it, etc.
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
Why is a cleaning service and not a pool cleaning service handling the pool maintenance? Ok, Labor Day comes and the cleaning service contract is up, who maintains the pool until re-opening? This is Texas, why is the pool closing, I can understand turning the heater off, but closing the pool?
MaxB4
Posts: 3,513
Posted:
Disregard the cleaning service comment. I associate cleaning service different than the OP.

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