A Message from the President
April 2025

Dear neighbors,

With our Chadwick Square pool set to open in a matter of weeks, I write today with a very important update—the need for our Homeowners Association to switch to volunteer pool testers. As we all know, we’re dealing with rising inflation and uncertain economic times, and this is reflected in the projected costs of our pool maintenance for the 2025 season. The hourly rate for Sentry Management maintenance workers is increasing from $80 per hour to $95 per hour. This means it would cost our community $285 per day—or approximately $26,000 for the pool season—to pay Sentry to conduct the three times per day pool testing that is required by the Department of Health. As a board we were already looking into alternatives to Sentry providing our pool testing, and with this change in labor rate, utilizing Sentry is truly not tenable. Moreover, our Sentry liaison confirmed for us that we are the only HOA Sentry manages that does not conduct their own pool testing via volunteers. We need members of our community who enjoy this wonderful amenity to step up and volunteer so we can be fiscally responsible while also keeping our pool safe and enjoyable for all.

The Department of Health requires that our pool water is tested three times per day: a morning test (7:00 – 9:00 am), a midday test (11:00 – 1:00 pm), and an evening test (4:00 – 7:00 pm). This means we have a total of 21 volunteer testing slots to fill throughout the week. The chlorine testing process only takes 10 minutes, and training will be provided to all volunteers. No one will have to sacrifice vacation time if they sign-up for a routine testing slot (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings), as the board will be coordinating the volunteer pool testing, and there will be a process for requesting a substitute if you are unavailable to conduct your testing.

I should mention that with this switch to volunteer pool testers, Sentry will still come to clean and restock the bathrooms, take out the trash, and continue with their other standard pool maintenance. As our Chadwick Square Board of Directors, the board has an obligation to maintain our common grounds and our shared amenities (as evidenced by the recent resurfacing of the sports courts and the repair of our sports courts fence). We have arrived at a point where paying Sentry to conduct our pool testing is no longer feasible, and I implore all of our neighbors who are able to consider volunteering to support our community in this way. In the literature on physical and mental health, the importance of staying physically and mentally active is always stressed. Many times, just taking that first step to volunteer is the biggest hurdle. But once you begin, people experience the physical and mental health benefits of contributing, being active, and getting to know your neighbors. We already have members of our board who are committing to volunteer testing slots at the pool, and I hope you will join us in volunteering by completing the form below, or by expressing interest in volunteering as a pool tester by e-mailing me at poczikp@union.edu by Friday, April 18:

Chadwick Volunteer Pool Testing Sign-Up

As the Board of Directors for our Homeowners Association, we are already needing to explore a prudent plan for implementing routine dues increases in the coming years to meet the rising costs of inflation. If we are unable to staff our pool with volunteer testers for the season, this will only accelerate that process. Again, my sincere thanks to everyone who is able to contribute to our community as a volunteer tester.

Finally, with the spring season of course comes “spring cleaning.” A kind reminder that any yard debris (grass, sticks, leaves, etc.) should be placed at the end of our respective lawns for pick-up from the town (whether in yard bags or loose). Yard debris should not be placed on the common grounds (or “islands” as my sons call them) where there are cul-de-sacs in our neighborhood. This is for ease of pick-up from our town workers, equity between homeowners, and overall sightliness of our community.

I want to conclude by thanking our current board members for their hard work. Whether it’s working to remove fallen trees, approving exterior changes to homes, managing our finances, or building a new website for our community—the great work my fellow board members volunteer their time for is vital to the functioning of Chadwick Square, and they have my gratitude.

In solidarity,

Philip Poczik
President, Chadwick Square Park Association Board of Directors
poczikp@union.edu