REGENCY AT MONROE – NEWS UPDATE – OCTOBER 14, 2017

WOW! THIS IS A MUST READ ARTICLE THAT WAS SENT TO ME

The Problem of School Funding in Monroe Township

October 8, 2017

The Monroe Township Committee for Fair School Funding had their letter to Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo and Assemblyman Dan Benson delivered on Saturday, October 7th.

Senator Greenstein, Wayne DeAngelo and Dan Benson received school funding letter requesting help for Monroe residents.

Monroe is saddled by several issues, all of which were created and intensified by the actions of our elected officials at every level up to the Governor.

Here in Monroe Township we have elected officials that are quite fond of accepting donations from developers. They wash those donations through P.A.C.s effectively skirting Pay to Play laws. Developers and special services can give an unlimited amount of money to a state-wide P.A.C. and then the P.A.C. can give the money to a party, which then donates the money to the local party and finally to the candidates that make the rules governing what the builder can do in their town. We absolutely have this egregious practice happening in Monroe Township. Google “Pay to Play Laws,” and add the name of our current and former Mayor and you will get results for stories showing exactly what I am talking about. Here are a couple of links:

http://observer.com/2012/04/middlesex-pacs-rife-with-potential-conflicts/

When you have politicians who have placed themselves into servitude of party and developers over the people you can expect the issues that plague Monroe; Namely, over-development and an infrastructure that cannot handle the influx of new residents. The burden of infrastructure development is borne by the taxpayers.

Of course, our Mayor and Council will tell you that what they are doing is legal and that our legislators have to change the laws in order to stop it. They will even agree that the practice has to end and that is where they victimize us.

If they know that it is wrong. If they know that the laws need to change, then why do they continue to do it? They can say no and turn the P.A.C.s and specials service away, but they don’t. In fact, they bend over backwards to find ways to keep the money flowing. Their actions, in spite of their attempt at argument, make their complicity even more vile.

Is it any wonder why it is illegal to ask developers for impact fees? Assessing impact fees would turn off the donation spigot to our illustrious leadership all of the way to Trenton.

That brings us to the second issue which is the fact that impact fees are illegal in NJ. Will we ever get impact fees? Well, once everything is built out and the political machine finds another way to fund their campaigns, the politicians will clamor for impact fees and they will make a show of it. We are starting to see signs of that now, but it is still a long way off.

The third issue is New Jersey’s ruling regarding Monroe Township’s affordable housing obligation. Our local politicians, including Mayor Tamburro and the Township Council hide behind that ruling. if asked, they will tell you that all of the development that you see, including everything built over the past 25 years was a result of that ruling. What they won’t tell you is that that ruling dictates the number of dwellings needed to remedy the inequity that they caused by selling their obligations to the inner-cities and that it is based upon how many units they have already allowed to be built. It is a percentage based system. Our leadership has bent over backwards to help developers get what they need in Monroe in exchange for favors. Now the state is telling those very same people that they need to fulfill their affordable housing obligation.

The developments on Route 33 and on 522 were not caused by the affordable housing ruling. They were caused by the same deals as are highlighted above. Plus, there were Master Plan changes made by the Master Plan Committee, which the current Mayor Chaired, which helped those developments happen. The original developer for those developments was JSM. Click on this article to shed some light on that process.

The forth issue is that that the Governor and our Legislators have done nothing to fund the School Funding Formula, which forces Monroe Township taxpayers to self-fund their school district. Just funding the funding formula would provide an additional seven million dollars per year to Monroe. That is still not adequate but it would help. The funding formula was gutted eight years ago so we have experienced a shortfall of 56 million dollars over the past eight years. That is unconscionable and has to be addressed.

So, we as residents try to figure what we can do, while the politicians spin their tales with the hope that one of those tales will resonate, or that all of the conflicting tales will confuse our populace. The truth is that they caused this mess, they own this mess and they must be held accountable for this mess…every single one of them.

We delivered the letter this past Saturday. Our letter is here. They will not act upon it, but will you act upon this information? It’s all true. Are you ready for change? Will you vote for the kind of change that will put in leaders who will actually have your interests as their number one priority? I hope so.

DRIVEWAYS COMPLETELY REDONE

It seems like there are some residents who would like their driveways completely redone. I will be happy to collect names then send out an email to all of you who want your driveways redone. You can then email each other.

Goode Mollen indicated that he would coordinate the group since he might have to replace his driveway.

I would like to thank Rich Strug for his involvement in getting us vendor(s).

MEN’S CLUB CABARET – NOVEMBER 3RD

click on link for more information

https://app.box.com/s/rwaq1rm5apfryptca842xxzhbc140fdc

Play for P.I.N.K. Luncheon

The Play for P.I.N.K. Luncheon is next Wednesday, October 18th. The Buffet Lunch will be available from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., with prizes and dessert to follow. Remember, this is BYOB.

Bring Address Labels to facilitate filling out raffle tickets. Each ticket must have a name on it! Cash and checks are both acceptable for purchasing tickets.

*Golfers ( and others) – if you have a pink shirt, wear it! Show your support for the cause.

WOMEN’S GROUP MESSAGES

Our Foreign Film Festival will feature “The Band’s Visit”, Tuesday, October 17th at 1:00pm in the ballroom.

This film is now a Broadway musical and is the story of a Ceremonial Police Band from Egypt that journeys to Israel.

This movie highlights how Egyptian band members and Israeli residents learn how to befriend each other. Discussion to follow the showing.

RSVP to Joan Blitz to guarantee seating.

Bingo is back! Join us for this always fun evening, Monday, November 13th.

Open to all. Coffee and refreshments served.$15 for 10 games.

RSVP to Elaine Robin beginning October 23rd.

HARMONY IN MOTION – MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Future members who want to join “Harmony in Motion” Club must fill out a “membership” application form and submit it along with your membership dues. See application attached.

Thank you,

John W. Chin, Treasurer
Harmony in Motion

CLICK ON LINK FOR APPLICATION

https://app.box.com/s/y2tsh45nn4i215b9icggchbb4pur2g8p

REGENCY SINGLES MINGLES

COME JOIN US – ALL REGENCY SINGLES ARE WELCOME

DO ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER SINGLES. MEMBERSHIP $30 WE MEET THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT THE TENNIS PAVILLION UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED.

Contact Tanya Ashuck or Georgia Doyle 732 641-2662.

Upcoming Events –

October 11 – Monthly meeting, Tennis Pavilion, “Sentimental Journeys”

October 15 – Korean BarBQue with Regency Eat Around Group

October 20 – 8:00 – musical, “Fun Home,” Ocean Grove

October 30 – 7:30 PM, Book Club, Fran’s house
“The Day The World Came to Town” by Jim DeFede

November 3 – Pot Luck Dinner, Tennis Pavilion 7 PM
(**date change)

November 11 – “A Day at the Races,” Freehold Raceway, 11am

CHANGING BATTERIES IN YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS

MONROE TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT 3 IS OFFERING TO REPLACE YOUR SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES AT NO CHARGE.

PLEASE HAVE THE 9 VOLT BATTERIES AVAILABLE. WE WILL COME TO YOUR HOME TO INSTALL THEM FOR YOU NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 31st.

732-521-3498 EXT. 4

FIRE COMMISSIONERS JOEL KAPLAN, GERALD KAPLAN, JIM FISHER

SYNCOPATION UPDATE

The Syncopations will be performing at the Monroe Senior Center on Friday, November 3rd at 2:00 PM. There is no charge to see the performance but you must make a reservation. The phone number is: (609) 948-7140. I look forward to seeing you there for our new show.

Bonnie Greenstein

TIMESHARE FOR RENT IN NYC

I am renting our timeshare – a studio unit at the West 57 Street Hilton Grand Vacation Club in NYC -Thanksgiving week. $1800/week – Nov 18-25, 2017 If interested in a great deal during a magical time in NYC, please call Renee at 973-615-4320.

For Sale – Men’s Golf Clubs

4 years young (used about 10 times)
Golf Cart is new and NEVER used
Original price for clubs was $175 and the cart was $70.
Asking $150 for both.
Must sell due to illness.

Please call Paulette
732-995-1031

MEN’S CLUB CABARET

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

https://app.box.com/s/rwaq1rm5apfryptca842xxzhbc140fdc

SETTLEMENT REACHED ON AGE RESTRICTIONS

(READ MY COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE)

Town to amend age

limits; builders donate money for Senior Center

BY SETH MANDEL

Staff Writer

Several homeowners can now move into the homes they were shut out of a month ago when a dispute emerged between Monroe and two developers.

The dispute and a resulting lawsuit against the township came about after developers Toll Brothers and Kalian/

Spectrum Monroe LLC sold homes in the new age-restricted Regency at Monroe and Encore developments to buyers who were under the township’s age limit of 55.

Before they could close on the houses or obtain their certificates of occupancy, those buyers were told they would not be allowed to move into their new homes.

The developers brought a suit against the township, contending the federal guidelines, by which they abided, superseded the township’s ordinance governing planned retirement communities (PRCs).

Federal guidelines allow for 20 percent of the homes in a PRC to be sold to a buyer of any age, though local municipalities may impose stricter regulations, according to Township Councilman John Riggs.

The township requested cooperation from the developers in the matter, officials said, but the developers filed the suit to challenge the township’s strict enforcement of the regulations.

At Monday night’s Township Council meeting, Mayor Richard Pucci announced that the two sides had reached a settlement.

The township will amend its PRC ordinance to now state that at least one resident of a home in an age-restricted community must be at least 55 years old, and all other residents of that home must be at least 48.

The resolution states that there will be no exceptions to this rule, which will apply not only to the two developments in question, but also to the five existing age-restricted communities in Monroe.

Township Business Administrator Wayne Hamilton said officials met with representatives of the five existing communities — Rossmoor, Clearbrook, Concordia, The Ponds, and Greenbriar at Whittingham — prior to reaching the settlement.

“We met with them before we started the settlement discussions to really get a feel for where they were, and it kind of gave us a road map to follow as we began the settlement discussions,” Hamilton said. “And clearly the end result here is absolutely in the unanimous spirit of the meeting we had with those five communities.”

The resolution reflects the reservations of the members of the existing communities about lowering the age restrictions in those communities that were unaffected by the current situation, Hamilton said.

“We wanted to make sure that the existing communities were on the same page, that everyone could live with any kind of a proposed change, and clearly this end result, I think, is a very positive one,” Hamilton said.

A grandfather clause in the ordinance allows residents who bought their homes before March 7 to move into the homes they purchased regardless of their age.

However, if those homes are resold, future occupants must abide by the current standards.

As part of the settlement, Toll Brothers and Kalian/Spectrum agreed to make a joint contribution to the township of $175,000 to be used in the construction of a new township Senior Center.

Also making a contribution was developer Centex Homes, which is building an age-restricted community on Route 33 called Renaissance at Monroe.

Though they were not part of the lawsuit, Centex Homes was found to be in non-compliance with the age restrictions as well, Hamilton said.

Centex Homes will be making a $30,000 contribution toward the construction of the Senior Center.

Hamilton said the township recently received a $100,000 state grant for the Senior Center, but there is currently no timetable on its construction.

“We’re still waiting for the architect’s preliminary needs assessment and preliminary budget and floor plan,” Hamilton said. “So obviously, once that comes in, then we’ll get a better idea of how big a piece of land we need.”

Riggs said the township was happy to avoid unnecessary litigation, which would have further prevented the homeowners from closing on or moving into their homes.

“I think it’s a victory for the people who purchased without knowing there was a violation of our ordinance,” Riggs said. “It’s a non-punitive settlement, where we haven’t taken steps to really punish anybody. We didn’t take it to municipal court, which could have brought in the protracted litigation, cost everybody a lot of money. But it was settled amicably, and we’ve agreed not to pursue anything else against them.”

Although the settlement still has to be approved by the court, the council’s resolution permits all parties involved to close on or move into their homes immediately.

Hamilton said he sees no reason why the settlement would not be approved, and all the new homeowners can begin putting the ordeal behind them.

“In my mind, I think this is a mutually amicable settlement,” Hamilton said. “From the outset, the mayor’s primary concern and the council’s primary concern was to protect the residents who were put into jeopardy here. That was the primary objective, this settlement certainly achieves that goal. As a result of this resolution being adopted last night, at least those people who were being held up in closing on their homes, they’re now free to proceed.”

(EMAILER’S COMMENT: MANY, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN REGENCY HAD MAYBE 70 HOMES, THIS ISSUE CAME UP. AT A TOWN HALL MEETING, WITH MAYOR PUCCI PRESENT (ALONG WITH OVER 100 RESIDENTS FROM REGENCY) I GAVE A FACTUAL PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR AND THE TOWN COUNCIL.

IF I REMBMER, 20% OF RESIDENTS CAN BE UNDER THE AGE OF 55 AND IF THE OTHER PERSON IS OF ANY AGE, THIS PERSON IS ALLOWED TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE AS WELL. THE LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW IS SIMPLE. THIS OTHER PERSON IS CALLED YOUR CAREGIVER AN CAREGIVER’S CAN BE OF ANY AGE.

I REMEMBER THE MAYOR INTERRUPTING MY PRESENTATION AND SAYING, “RON, IF YOUR COMMUNITY IS OKAY WITH THIS, SO AM I”. I KNEW SOMEONE GAVE HIM THE FEDERAL GUIDELINE” WELL LET’S PUT IT LIKE THIS, INDIRECTLY, HE RECEIVED IT FROM ME.)

XFINITY/COMCAST

I think there might just be one resident who lives in Regency who likes what they are paying for Comcast. We sign a MULTI YEAR contract, which I disagreed with from the beginning and all we get are higher prices and no promotions.

When we had promotions we were paying for such things as BLAST INTERNET, a price of $19.99. I look at my bill today and I am paying $75. I believe (not sure) that we don’t even have a SNOWBIRD promotion.

I just called because my bill went up to $182. I don’t even have included the phone and this is what I pay. I don’t have any of the premium channels, like SHOWTIME, STARZ, HBO or some of the sports channels that you pay extra for.

Well, my negotiations dropped my bill by $9 a month and they threw in STARZ (woopy).

Our community contract will be expiring next year and I have complete faith that Stu Goldstein (Pres. Of the HOA) and our new HOA Board members will not lock us into 5 year contracts or prevent us from getting whatever promotions are available at the time. Frankly, I give it a 50/50 chance that maybe the Board might just say, “you are on your own with cable and internet”.

Prior to Comcast I had DIRECT TV. Never a problem and the price cannot be beat. I changed because we were all being charged somewhere between $30 to $40 a month for Comcast. When Comcast was giving us promotional rates on the services we added to our BULK PLAN, the pricing favored Comcast so I dropped DIRECT TV.

Today, if I use DIRECT TV and even if I add the $30-$40 a month that the HOA charges us, for the same services as I have I would probably be saving $50-$60 a month. I’ll wait until the HOA contract expires and then make a decision as to what I will do.

Today’s technology almost makes cable and internet obsolete. Between streaming TV, Netflix, Hulu, ROKU, do we need a cable company? What we need are individuals who are well aware of all the available services so that we can get the most for the least amount of money.

Honestly, I would spend $10 more a month to never have Comcast again for how they treated their BULK CUSTOMERS, who should have had the BEST pricing available.

ADVANCED VISION READING MACHINE AVAILABLE NO CHARGE

I have an Advanced Vision reading machine that I would like to donate to anyone who has a problem reading a book or newspaper.

If anyone is interested or if you know someone who may need it call me at 732-605-0254 and you are welcome have it..

Phyllis Hecht

INVESTMENT CLUB MESSAGE

The next meeting of the Investment Discussion Group will be help on Tuesday Oct. 24 at 2pm in the Tennis Pavilion, all are welcome.

Phil Sloan

Regency Car Club

Year End Cruise and Lunch – Sunday, October 22 – Bring your wife/significant other for a cruise and lunch. We’ll drive the road rally route and then have lunch. The club will pay for the lunch. Must be a paid up member to attend. Email Lou Principe to RSVP. LouPrincipe@comcast.net

ETHICAL ISSUES: JEWISH REPONSES

Rabbi Stein’s discussion group will resume on Thursday, October 26 at 10:30 in the multi- purpose room.

Attention Snow Birds

Car club members are looking for garages to store their special interest vehicle. If you are interested email Lou Principe – LouPrincipe@comcast.net

MEN’S CLUB PAID UP BREAKFAST

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION

https://app.box.com/s/moir59inyj0l5jnbw35xzb5wguvvzqhc

LETS TALK TURKEY 2017

While still enjoying the last days of summer, the Regency Culture Club is looking ahead to fall. We are gearing up for our annual Ten for Turkey Drive. As the holidays draw near, turkeys will be absent from many households.

The Regency Culture Club supports our community by assisting the Monroe Township Office on Aging Holiday Food Basket Drive. We are once again turning to our friends and neighbors and requesting each household makes a minimum donation of $10.00 so that we can put a turkey on the table to complete the holiday picture for many township families.

One turkey goes a long way in providing a number of meals. And the bones, oh those bones make a great soup.

Your generosity over the past 13 years that we have been collecting Ten for Turkeys is much appreciated. Your support is urgently needed once again. Help make a difference in the lives of our township neighbors in need.

Please make your checks payable to the Regency Culture Club and leave them in the mailbox of Milt & Sue Paris at 25 Crenshaw Ct, Ken & Joan Kastin 10 Harbor Town Way, Sue Miller 19 Torrey Pines, Barry & Laura Shandler 10 Hogan , Marsha Krane 16 Country Club Drive, Jim & Sue Graham 13 Ballybunion, Marge Weinberg 17 Tamarack Road, Sandy and Larry Cains 94 Kings Mill Road

REGENCY MEN’S CLUB CALENDAR OF EVENTS

https://app.box.com/s/bklgttd26ey519crnx8dq60s3jescdhe

Regency Men’s Club Presents an Afternoon at the Races

Friday, November 17, 2017 12 Noon

Meet at Freehold Raceway

Couples Welcome

Cost $40.00 per person, includes

Parking, Admission, Program and Buffett Lunch

Lunch includes: Salad, Entrée, Desert, Unlimited non alcoholic beverage.

Contact: Jeff Strauss 112 Kings Mill road 732-521-4729

Chris Murphy 47 Kings mill Road 609-235-9179

THE HERB ZUKERBERG

“YIDDISH CLUB OF REGENCY”

Presents

Breakfast Program Serving Bagels and Lox

Featuring

International Singer and Musician

RICKY PEN

Enjoy her unique style

See her on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWi_fSY_2Uw

Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 10AM

Entertainment & Breakfast — $15 per Person

Program in English, of course

No Admission at the Door

No Reservations Accepted After October 13th

If you have a complete table, please submit with

all checks. If not, we will gladly arrange one for you.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Checks Payable to: Yiddish Club of Regency

NAME: _______________________________________________

Number of People: ___________

Richard Lans 87 Beth Page Drive 732-605-1828

Renea Zukerberg 21 Country Club Drive 732-521-0999

REGENCY BOWLING CLUB

Regency bowling teams meet on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm at the Knob Hill Country Lanes, 363 Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726,

Email:info@manalapanbowling.com. All Regency men and women residents are invited -no matter what your skill level- to participate as guest bowlers. Call Russ Porges, 732-561-2301, rporges@aol.com,

or Ping Eng, 732-521-5508, pnmeng@comcast.net

for more information.

Regency Men’s Book Club

The Regency Men’s Book Club will be meeting at the Clubhouse on the first Wednesday of the month at 4:00pm. All men are welcome. Please call Lou Flumen at 732-641-2495 if you are interested in joining or if you have any questions.

Below is the list of books the Men’s Book Club will be reading during the next few months

November 1, 2017: Split Second, by David Baldacci

Open Bridge

Every Friday at 1:00 in the multimedia room ACBL masters are available to help you with your bidding and play. Many of you have been taking bridge classes on Tuesday evening and many of you have been playing for a while. Now come down to the Open Bridge sessions and practice what you learned under the guidance of masters. This is not a bridge class. This is playing and learning proper bidding and more importantly the play of the hands.

2017 ROMEOS SCHEDULE OCTOBER

THRU DECEMBER REVISED

OCTOBER

17 BERNSTEINS ON ESSEX

24 THE CABIN

31 MJ’S

NOVEMBER

7 MAIETTAS

14 HUNAN HOUSE

21 THE CABIN

28 CITY STREETS

DECEMBER

5 CIROS

12 THE CABIN

19 FIRESIDE

26 BERNSTEIN’S ON ESSEX

Regency Shuffleboard

We play every Tuesday at 5:00pm and every Saturday & Sunday at 9:30am. We are looking for more players! All residents are welcome to attend. Contact George Steinberg for more information 732.605.9526

REGENCY CHORUS

The Regency Chorus, under the direction of Sharon Scheckner, is looking for residents who enjoy singing, and love the camaraderie that our chorus can provide. Rehearsals would begin sometime in the spring. If you are interested in joining please contact Carol Kortmansky at carolee@aol.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

RAMBO

Regency at Monroe Bridge Organization (RAMBO)
We play duplicate bridge at the clubhouse every Tuesday evening. These games are sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and we award internationally recognized Master points to many of the players each week.

We play a social game and welcome players of all skill levels who wish to expand their bridge capabilities.

Our games begin at 7:00 PM sharp – but if you want to come, please be at the back ballroom by about 6:45 to allow for checking in. We have the most reasonably priced game around and we include snacks and soft drinks too.

Regency Scrabble Club

Meets on Thursdays evenings at seven o’clock in the multi-purpose room. Learn how you can improve your Scrabble and Words with Friends games. Everyone is invited to play. Please bring your set if you have one. Call or email Linda Litsky at 732-605-0320, LLitsky@aol.com for more information.

REGENCY DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT

The next meeting of the Regency Digital Photography Club will be Thursday, October 19 at 4:00 PM in the Tennis Pavilion. This will be the last of a series of hands-on workshops on “iPhone Photography”. ( As a result of the demand, we will probably repeat these workshops again at a later date.) This final session will continue with the use of the iPhone’s editing (post processing) of the photographs. For this workshop again seats are limited so attendees will be selected on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given for those that attended the last meeting. Please call Howard Wichansky at 732-605-9777 if you wish to attend. Those that were at the last meeting and want to attend the third session must also call.

Calling all Regency Veteran’s For Our Annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast

Friday, November 10, 2017

10:30 am – Regency Ballroom

Come join us to Honor Our Own Regency Veterans

Special Guest Appearance by Regency’s Chorus Group

Please sign up at the Concierge

Spouses are Welcome

“Applications can be downloaded below by clicking the link or copies can be found at the clubhouse.”