We would like to thank all residents for the patience and understanding you have extended as we navigate this very difficult situation together as a community. As a volunteer Board of Directors, we have been continually working with our management company (Leland Management), our attorney and our insurance provider for their guidance for several weeks now. Our primary goal is, and always will be, safety of the community. Additionally, we are also responsible for protecting association members (i.e. homeowners) from exposure to liability and financial risk.
With these priorities in mind, determining the timing for re-opening of amenities presents a difficult decision for us, your Board of Directors. There are varying opinions from attorneys and insurance experts complicating the matter even more. And while the State has issued guidelines for a “Phase 1” re-opening plan, there are several recommendations that go along with that plan, including controlling group size, enforcing social distancing, and maintaining a level of sanitation that is very difficult for a community association like ours to comply with without on-site staff.
Regarding access to the association pool, we are aware that the CDC says there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can spread directly to humans from water in pools. Reopening the pool area, however, also involves the disinfection of the chairs and tables as well as continuous cleaning of the restrooms and high-touch surfaces. State and local Health Code requires bathrooms to be available in order to operate a commercial pool, so simply closing the restrooms is not a feasible option.
For these reasons and more, the safest route is to continue to keep amenities closed for the next ten days and reevaluate at that time (May 26, 2020). This reevaluation date may change if the federal, state, or local government relaxes their recommendations regarding preventative actions such as social distancing and wearing PPE.
We will continue to monitor the ever-changing situation and the expert opinions provided to us. Please rest assured that we are aware of your interest in accessing the amenities and we are working diligently to balance that with our goals of protecting your safety and mitigating legal and financial risk to all of us.
Thank you for your continued patience. We are doing our best during this unprecedented time.
As you are aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a
pandemic by the CDC, and Gov. DeSantis has declared Florida to be in a state of
emergency. Businesses and communities are urged to close public facilities to facilitate
“social distancing” in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
As such, we have made the decision to close the Mabel
Bridge pool, pool house and playgrounds effectively immediately and until
further notice.
We understand that this may be an inconvenience, but the
safety of our residents as well as complying with governmental guidance are our
top priorities.
During this time, the pool gates will be locked to prevent
entry. While we cannot physically lock off the playgrounds, please be advised
that our playground facilities are NOT regularly cleaned or sterilized. Some
emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 can remain on surfaces from hours to
days. In keeping with our focus on safety, the playgrounds are to be considered
closed at this time.
We will be working closely with our management company, our
cleaning companies and our legal counsel to determine what, if any, actions we
can take in order to re-open these areas in as safe a manner as soon as
possible.
Florida Department of Health wants us to remind you that if
you are feeling ill or have any questions or concerns, you can contact the
Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline that can be reached at 1-866-779-6121.
AdventHealth also has a public information line: 877-VIRUSHQ, if you need
to ask questions or speak to a nurse.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this unprecedented time.
ATENCIÓN: INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE
Como saben, el CDC declaró que el coronavirus (COVID-19) es una pandemia, y el gobernador DeSantis declaró que Florida se encontraba en estado de emergencia.
” Se insta a las empresas y comunidades a cerrar las instalaciones públicas para facilitar el “distanciamiento social” en un esfuerzo por frenar la propagación del virus.” comento DeSantis.
Siguiendo su sugerencia, hemos tomado la decisión de cerrar temporalmente las instalaciones de la piscina Mabel Bridge y sus parques infantiles. Medida que entra en efecto de inmediato y hasta nuevo aviso.
Entendemos que esto puede ser un inconveniente, pero la seguridad de nuestros residentes y el cumplimiento de la orientación gubernamental son nuestras principales prioridades.
Durante este tiempo dificil, las puertas de la piscina estarán cerradas para evitar su uso. Si bien no podemos bloquear físicamente los parques infantiles, tenga encuenta que estas areas e instalaciones NO SE ESTERILIZAN PARA SU USO. Nueva evidencia, sugiere que el COVID-19 puede permanecer en las superficies durante horas o días. Asi que en consonancia con nuestro enfoque en la seguridad y salubridad, los parques infantiles deben considerarse cerrados en este momento.
Trabajaremos estrechamente con nuestra compañía de administración, nuestras compañías de limpieza y nuestro asesor legal para determinar qué acciones, si es que hubiere alguna, podamos tomar para reabrir estas áreas de la manera más segura lo antes posible.
El Departamento de Salud de Florida quiere que le recordemos que si se siente enfermo o tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud, puede comunicarse con la línea directa establecida por el Departamento de Salud de la Florida con esta finalidad las 24 horas del dia y que puede contactar llamando al 1-866-779-6121.
AdventHealth también tiene una línea de información pública: 877-VIRUSHQ, si necesita hacer preguntas o hablar con una enfermera.
Agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión durante este tiempo sin precedentes.
ATENÇÃO: INFORMAÇÃO IMPORTANTE
Como você sabe, o coronavírus (COVID-19) foi declarado uma pandemia pelo CDC, e o Governador DeSantis declarou que a Flórida está em estado de emergência. Foi solicitado que empresas e comunidades fechem as instalações públicas para facilitar o “distanciamento social”, em um esforço para evitar a propagação do vírus.
Assim, tomamos a decisão de fechar a piscina, a área comum da piscina e os playgrounds do Mabel Bridge imediatamente, até novo aviso.
Entendemos que isso pode ser um inconveniente, mas a segurança de nossos residentes e o cumprimento das orientações governamentais são nossas principais prioridades.
Durante esse período, os portões da piscina serão trancados para impedir a entrada. Embora não possamos bloquear fisicamente os playgrounds, lembre-se de que nossas instalações NÃO são limpas ou esterilizadas regularmente. Algumas evidências sugerem que o COVID-19 pode permanecer na superfície de horas a dias. De acordo com nosso foco na segurança, os playgrounds devem ser considerados fechados no momento.
Trabalharemos em estreita colaboração com nossa empresa de gestão, nossas empresas de limpeza e nosso consultor jurídico para determinar quais ações, se houver alguma, que devemos tomar, para reabrir essas áreas de maneira segura e o mais rápido possível.
O Departamento de Saúde da Flórida solicita que, se você estiver se sentindo mal ou tiver alguma dúvida ou preocupação, entre em contato com a linha direta 24 horas do Departamento de Saúde da Flórida, pelo telefone 1-866-779-6121. A AdventHealth também possui uma linha de informações públicas: 877-VIRUSHQ, se você precisar fazer perguntas ou falar com uma enfermeira.
Agradecemos sua paciência e compreensão durante este período sem precedentes.
Picking up after your pet isn’t just a courtesy, it’s the healthy and environmentally sound thing to do — and required by Orange County Code. When animal feces are left behind, the matter is washed into nearby storm drains by rain and floods. The matter typically drains directly into lakes and streams, carrying pollutants along with it. Untreated water combined with our warm waters in Florida can damage and even kill fish and other wildlife
Failure to pick up your pet’s waste on public ways, recreation areas, or private property could result in a fine as stated in Orange County Code Section 5-42. The fines can range from $84.00 to $110.00.
As a reminder, pet stations with bags and collection receptacles are provided by the HOA for your convenience. Please pick up after your pets to avoid HOA violations and County Fines.
Attention Residents: An extensive pressure washing project will begin at Mabel Bridge next week on Jan 27, 2020. A crew from The Pressure Guys, LLC will be working to clean all of the common area sidewalks and some additional areas. This project will take some time and some sidewalks or other areas may be blocked while work is being performed. Thank you for your patience and cooperation while this work is completed.
Attention Residents: The Mabel Bridge Community Pool will be closed Wednesday, Jan 15 through Friday, Jan 17, 2020 for annual maintenance. Please do not enter the pool area at this time. Thank you for your cooperation.
Attention Residents: The Board will be conducting a brief Board meeting on December 29, 2019 at 1 PM at our community pool. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss only the items listed below, which need to be addressed before the end of the year. No other topics will be covered at this time. All regular business will resume in the new year. Future meeting dates will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you.
Review estimates for community-wide mulching and power washing-
Review estimates for monument repair and painting
Review estimates for repair of pool cabana door locks
All Homeowners have been mailed the notice linked below to notify them of the upcoming Budget Meeting and Annual Meeting taking place on October 17, 2019 starting at 7 PM at Windermere Preparatory School, 6189 Winter Garden-Vineland Rd., Windermere, FL 34786.
If you have any questions concerning the meetings, please contact Maira Gomez, Association Manager. Contact information is available on the Contact page of this website.
The Mabel Bridge Landscape Committee is comprised of homeowners who volunteer their time and effort to assist the Property Manager in recognizing and addressing concerns and problems found on Mabel Bridge HOA common areas.
The committee has created a landscaping report that is publicly viewable to all homeowners via this website. The report will be updated periodically when new issues arise and/or existing issues are closed.
You can access the report at any time on the Committees Page.
If you are interested in learning more or joining the Landscape Committee, please attend an upcoming Board of Directors meeting or contact our property manager.
As a follow up to our last HOA meeting, we’ve gained new insight
into the legality of the sidewalk access to the upcoming Castleview Elementary
School. The Orange County Public School Board has determined that they do not
want a sidewalk through our HOA-owned property, and prefer to use the sidewalk,
as previously voted on and approved by the County Commission, that runs
alongside the bus loop off of Thatcher Avenue. This will be the walking access
for our community.
You may have noticed some construction that occurred and then was
repaired back to its original state on our HOA common property that backs up to
the new school. The school board attorney let our HOA attorney, the Law Offices
of John Di Masi, know that building the gate and sidewalk was not part of the
plans approved by the school board and should not have occurred. At the time,
they were uncertain if it was the principal or the project manager who had
decided to do this, but they were not authorized by the school board.
We engaged our HOA attorney to look into the sidewalk issue for us,
because we knew our homeowners preferred the sidewalk on our HOA property as
opposed to the bus-loop sidewalk. Our attorney made our desire clear to the
school board, and also that we would need to be released of liability should an
easement be created.
The school board attorney acknowledged that our points were valid,
but they were going to continue on their approved plan. They also acknowledged
that there is no easement on our property, it is Mabel Bridge HOA property, and
the school board was unwilling to go back through the planning committee to
secure the proper rights to build a sidewalk on our community land.
Our HOA attorney advised that even if we told the school board that
we wanted the sidewalk there, they would have removed it until we had an
easement in place and an agreement for use rights. We also looked further into our
community bylaws and the board is not authorized to convey an easement for this
purpose; it can acquire an interest in real property but not convey it, and it
cannot grant an easement unless it is an easement for utilities and services,
like water lines or cable, etc. without first obtaining the consent of the
membership. [Article IV, Section 4.4 (E) permits the association to grant
easements over and through the common areas. However, Article XII, Section 13.4
(A) requires 2/3 vote of the membership to encumber any portion of the common
areas.]
Therefore, our HOA Board is not the cause of the sidewalk being
removed as has been miscommunicated, and the school board has chosen to use the
bus loop sidewalk as voted and approved by the school board instead of a
different access from our neighborhood into the school property.
Furthermore, we’ve been advised by our HOA attorney that where the
school board property ends, it ends. Therefore, use of a different gate would
be facilitating trespassing (for non-homeowners), so the school should be
locking the side gate that exists. If someone were to get hurt on HOA common property,
the HOA may be liable for that.
We were further advised by our attorney that our actions regarding
our HOA property were in the best interest of our association and we would not
have been doing our due diligence to allow unauthorized use of our HOA property
to continue. More importantly, the school board would have stopped it on its
own, regardless of our actions, because the principal and/or project manager
were not authorized for that construction.
We hope this has cleared up any misinformation. We are honored to
serve as your board and serve the best interests of our neighborhood.
Attention Homeowners: The next HOA Board meeting is scheduled for 7pm on March 28th at Windermere Preparatory School in the cafeteria. See Meetings page for map and meeting details.
In addition to regular Board business, this meeting will have some special guests. The principal of Castleview Elementary (the new school opening in Aug 2019) has gracious agreed to come and meet with our residents to field any questions or concerns we have with the new school neighboring our community.
Many residents already have expressed concerns about added traffic from both the buses and parents as well as other drivers cutting through Mabel Bridge. To help address those concerns, representatives from Orange Country Sheriff’s Office have also kindly offered to be present at the meeting.
We are very grateful that these individuals are volunteering their evening to come speak with us and our residents. We ask that you please make every effort to attend the important meeting. The school discussion will begin promptly at 7pm.
If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like to send your comments or questions to the Board, please call or email our community manager, Maria Gomez, with your comments. Please be sure to indicate your questions are the March 28th Mabel Bridge meeting.
