AN UPDATE FROM YOUR CCMT COMMITTEE

By now you have all received your new property assessments for 2008. While they reflect reductions for your land value and improvements (your home), these reductions are less than the “agreement in principle” that was negotiated with the township. Several months ago, the Township put an offer on the table that included both the above assessment reductions, and an additional increment to bring property assessments in line with the 2008 ratio. This offer was presented to our Attorney by the Township Attorney, in the presence of the Township Assessor. Our committee delayed accepting the offer because we thought it was unfair to the owners of golf course lots at Regency. The offer also failed to address the serious inequities between assessments throughout the Township. In essence, the Township’s offer was little more than a band-aid over a very serious wound. Reluctantly, we agreed “in principle” to accept the offer because it was the best we could get without a major effort on our part that might have seriously divided the Township. We were fully prepared to enlist the support of every new construction home in Monroe that had been penalized, like us, with unreasonable assessments since 2000. We have the data and we would have used it.

We contacted our Attorney and instructed him to accept the Township’s offer “in principle” provided it still included the 2007 and 2008 adjustments. Our Attorney contacted the Township attorney and forwarded our instructions. You can imagine our amazement and disgust when the Township Attorney forwarded a package of data which included only the reduced assessments based on 2007 data. There was no increment for the 2008 adjustment. This adjustment would have meant an additional tax reduction of approximately 4% for each affected home. When the Township Attorney was questioned about the missing 4% reduction, he stated that he would question the Assessor. We have yet to hear anything from either party.

We are not sure why the township chose to back away from part of “the agreement”. It was negotiated in good faith on our part and offered what, we believe, was a fair and equitable compromise for both parties. In the overall dollar amount of the assessment reductions that were implemented by the tax assessor, the additional increment for the 2008 adjustment would have been relatively small. Why this part of “the agreement “was not implemented is something we have no answer for currently. It is important to recognize that our committee did not agree with the actions taken by the Assessor. Likewise, we have not withdrawn the law suit. In fact, the Judge who is hearing the law suit is aware of the Township’s actions in this matter.

We are obviously disappointed and somewhat puzzled as to why the township has opted for continuation of a costly litigation process, and the very costly possibility of a township wide revaluation of properties if the court supports our position on the need to revalue.

We have recently met with our attorney and discussed and reviewed the various options which are available to us, at this point, including continuation of our lawsuit. We will continue to vigorously pursue these options and will keep you informed of our decisions and progress as we move forward.

Some of you have questioned the fairness of assessment reductions going to those who had not contributed to the CCMT legal effort. We can only assure you that our current efforts focus on obtaining the additional reduction we believe we negotiated for CCMT members only, and our priority as we proceed forward will continue to be your best interests. Only time will tell if we are successful.

We again thank you for your support and patience and ask that you continue to stand united with us until the process results in the fair settlement to which we are entitled i.e. the one to which we had agreed in principle.

Your Committee

WOMEN'S GROUP NEWS

IMPORTANT

SPRING FLING - MARCH 29 TABLES ARE SOLD OUT
ROOM FOR INDIVIDUAL COUPLES OR SINGLES
CALL JOAN EHRENWORTH @ 521-5856 OR
ARLINE YESNER@ 656-4527

DUES FOR 2008-2009 ARE DUE APRIL 1.
BRING TO JOAN KAHN @ 11 CRENSHAW COURT

MEN'S CLUB MEETING
MARCH 30TH

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.adrive.com/public/e379c13f86622c83868a8cedc7f574194d6f019c37a1f015e8a71dd639aaa8af.html

TAP CITY ON TOUR TICKETS AVAILABLE

Carol Kortmansky has two tickets available this Saturday, 2/23, 7 p.m., for Tap City on Tour - a professional tap show, at the MTHS - tkts are $15 each. Please contact either Carol (732 605-9759) or Nina Wolff (732 605-7811)

RED HAT FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON
MARCH 19TH

CLICK ON LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.adrive.com/public/da318b457c37b228ef90a9f31c8715135788a595ce0ca73404498479ddb8ffe0.html

A MESSAGE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

Newer Photographers Welcome! The Digital Photography Club will be meeting on Thursday, February 21st, from 4 to 6 PM in the Club House Library.

- We'll be showing where valuable photography information exists on line including visiting several of these websites at the meeting.

- Question and answer session on any aspect of your picture taking. Bring your questions and any tips that you have uncovered to share with the members.

- Want help with your camera? Bring it to the meeting. We'll help.

Join in. Regards, Howard Wichansky

A THANK YOU MESSAGE FROM ANN KEANE

This is a simple message to express my sincerest thanks to all of my Regency friends who sent cards, called me, and offered prayers and well wishes for a speedy recovery from my recent surgery. I look forward to being with you and sharing your delightful companionship. Being a member of the Regency family is a wonderful thing.
Ann Keane

RESIDENTS PURCHASING CLUB

The list of services and/or products recomended by residents has just been updated. You can click on this link for the list (which will also be on my BLOG
http://www.adrive.com/public/fdee3304ce0448b750ef55d9db841ec43ebd7f7242fde01d059f2cd2f9d778c8.html

HOLE IN ONE CLUB

Added to my elite list of names of those resident who have achieved a hole in one is BOBBIE BERNSTEIN. His name will be added to my BLOG and he will join the following group of Regency residents who have achieved this accomplishment:

BARTON JACK

BOBBY BERNSTEIN

FURIA DAN

GOLDSTEIN HERB

HABACK DON

HERMAN STEVE

KOEHLER KEN

KORNFELD MARTY

OLEAR RUTH

ROSENBERG LEN

RUDIN ARLENE

SCHNITZER HILLEL

SCHWARTZ BERNIE

SPERLING GEORGE

WEISS ELLEN

ZIVIN LEN

THAT'S IT FOR NOW
RON