Continuity of operations and residents’ safety have become top of mind for community association board members, managers, and business partners as the COVID-19 outbreak begins to impact more and more of the U.S.

Donna DiMaggio Berger, a shareholder with Becker in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a fellow in CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), says her law firm has been providing counsel to association boards on conducting meetings remotely and minimizing residents’ exposure to the coronavirus. She has advised boards to postpone nonessential meetings and events and limit person-to-person contact by practicing social distancing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes social distancing as staying away from mass gatherings and keeping 6 feet—about one body length—away from others. This practice restricts where people can gather and can slow or stop the spread of an infectious disease.

For community association residents, that means maintaining a safe distance in elevators, corridors, laundry facilities, and other enclosed spaces, according to Berger.

Management company executives also have been communicating with association boards on adopting preventive measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 in their communities.

Sergey A. Petrov, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, CEO of Yalnes, Inc., in Seattle, says he is postponing all in-person meetings, site visits, and other events requiring person-to-person contact until the end of March. He is encouraging boards of directors to do the same and to follow guidance from the CDC and the Washington State Department of Health. He also is allowing flexibility for employees to work remotely.

Stephen J. Sulkey, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, founder of Professional Association Management in Wilmington, N.C., recommends that association boards follow guidance from health officials, instruct contractors to clean frequently touched surfaces, and continue communicating the importance of handwashing and social distancing.

“If your homeowners association has a clubhouse, pool, or other public place, you may want to shut them down if someone in your community is infected,” Sulkey states in a recent email sent to all board members. He also would communicate if there were any disruptions to maintenance and upkeep services if workers become sick.

Much like the rest of the world, community associations and their residents are facing a challenge they’ve never before experienced. The questions they’re asking and actions they’re taking are unique but warranted.

“I’m heartened by the amount of care and concern boards and their professional management are displaying during this crisis,” says Berger. “It’s important for residents to work with their boards and managers by adhering to new protocols that are put in place and by self-reporting and self-quarantining if necessary.”

>>CAI has developed guidance, sample forms and documents, and FAQs on the COVID-19 outbreak. Bookmark the page and return regularly for updates and additional resources.

This information is subject to change. It is published with the understanding that Community Associations Institute (CAI) and Ungated are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, medical, or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.​

  • Kiara Candelaria

    Kiara is the former associate editor for CAI’s print and digital publications. Before joining CAI, she worked for a trade media magazine focusing on the oil refining sector. Kiara also worked as an internal communications intern at the Library of Congress in 2015 and was a student journalist while attending college in Puerto Rico, where she was born and raised. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information and journalism from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, in 2014 and earned a master’s degree in communication from George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., in 2020.

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