Pool Closure for 2020 Season

GMP Neighbors,

After input from community members over the past few days as well as clarification of what the operational situation may be for the community pool 2020 season, the HOA Board voted unanimously to close the pool.

The financial issues including an additional $6500 a month in costs for cleaning and staff to be compliant with phase 3 guidelines were a large consideration and knowing reserves can not be leveraged for daily pool operations, the reality is that if we were ready today, the earliest the pool could open is July 15th. We still need the pool to pass inspection and show that we are phase three compliant. That timeline in combination with the limited number of individuals in the pool, ability to hire additional staff to clean and separately provide capacity management with health screenings (does not fall under pool company’s contract), and certainty that we could be open the remainder of the season, led to the board’s vote.

We know this may be disappointing to some, please know that it was a difficult decision and one that we do not take lightly.

The unspent operating funds will be rolled into next years pool operations as we may likely need to incur similar expenses and we are efforting to avoid passing those to the community members through increased monthly fees.

Thank you,

GMP Board Members

Information on Pool Opening Requirements

GMP Neighbors,

As per Gov. Northam's announcement, we will be entering phase 3 on July 1st. With this new phase, the capacity and restrictions lighten but do not fully go away with respect to community pool openings. Our current understanding is that in order to open the pool at minimum the following will need to occur:

1. 70-75% capacity would be allowed

2. Pool furniture would be removed from the pool deck area

3. 6' social distancing on the pool deck and 10' in the water would be required

4. The shallow pool (baby pool) would remained closed

5. Entry Health Questions and/or Temperature Checks would be required to gain access

6. Purchase and Display of additional signage as well as safety equipment estimated at $1000-$1500 would be required

7. Additional training and lifeguard availability for pool operation readiness would be required

8. Sanitizing Stations would be required (estimated cost is $300-600)

9. Loudoun County has the authority to suspend the pool operating permit for the season, if a Covid case is traced back to the GMP Pool

10. Additional contracted regular daily cleaning services would be required (estimated costs $4000-$6000 monthly)

11. Additional staff, beyond the 2 lifeguards contracted through American Pools, would be required to operate the Pool House desk for capacity management, health screenings, and verification of GMP residency in good standing. This could be an additional cost still be determined or potentially a in-community volunteer schedule. If we are unable to staff the desk at all times, we would be required to close the pool for the day, while still paying for lifeguard hours.

12. Opening date would be based on the ability to meet the above requirements or additional learned requirements

Over the next few days, the board will continue to verify what is required to open and operate and if we can do so within our 2020 budget. With the above information and any other cited Virginia and/or Loudoun Country regulations, we welcome constructive GMP community feedback. Thank you, GMP Board

GMP Social Committee Seeking Input

As an effort to plan and create events that best represent community our community, please provide us with the following information as it pertains to your household: https://forms.gle/XNJdV4HXkyrmwdsF9.

Thanks in advance, as we appreciate your voluntary participation!

May 27th HOA Board Meeting Recap

We would like to provide you with a quick review of the Board meeting that occurred on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

 • There is an Open House on Sunday, May 31, 2020 from 12-2pm.  The Clubhouse renovations are 90% complete and we would like to give the community an opportunity to view the updates.  Please follow Virginia’s rules on face mask usage, you will not be admitted without a mask and we will be limiting the number of people inside at a time. 

 • The Clubhouse rental contract will be updated and rental rates will be increasing.  Anyone that had a reservation as of 4pm Wednesday (5/27) and anyone who had to cancel because of COVID will receive the old rates.  

 • The Board approved a motion to repair the gazebo on the Greene.  The updates will include new railings, repairing broken trim, and an overall cleaning.

 • The are no commercial lot updates.

• We have informed our current landscape company of our frustrations as of late and Sentry will be preparing an RFP to recruit a new company if needed.  We know that landscaping is our biggest asset and we want to look after it.

• 4th of July - Fireworks will be the evening of July 3rd in the front soccer field. The Social Committee is working to move the 4th of July celebration to the 3rd to coincide with our fireworks.  It is a dynamic and evolving situation with nothing set in stone except the fireworks. Once details are set in stone, we will publish to the GMP website.

• Jeremy Baker and Nick Holmes have been asked to form a committee to explore enhancements to GMP.  This could be items such as paving the trails, tennis courts, hammocks by the Butterfly Pond and so on. We would like to form a steering committee of residents and get as much community input as possible. Details to follow.  If you are interested in this please email Nick or Jeremy.

• Community Pool – The Board has made the decision to keep the pool closed for the time being and hope to have decision about a plan in early July.  We do not feel comfortable opening the pool in phase one.  Below is an update we received from our pool company of what phase one would look like.  In addition, we would need to hire staff to maintain social distancing, purchase PPE, buy new medical kits, update our insurance with a rider for COVID-19 and install hand sanitizing stations. That is just for the first phase. 

Here is what we know:

· Phase 1 limits the opening of outdoor swim facilities strictly for lap swim.

· Pools may open with one person per lane, not to exceed ten people.

· The lanes must be fixed to the pool - meaning that adding a rope in the pool to divide the pool into lanes will not suffice. The lanes must have actual racing lane tiles on the floor and targets.

· Our company will need at least 30 days to resume American Red Cross training, and to train our guards on COVID-19 related precautions and procedures. The absolute earliest we would open would be June 28th.

As always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us.