February 8 ORANJ Zoom Conversation

Residents from 15 communities participated in the February 8 Zoom Conversation: Atrium, Cadbury, Cedar Crest, Crestwood Manor, Fellowship Village, Friends Village, Laurel Circle, Lions Gate, Meadow Lakes, Medford Leas, Monroe Village, Oaks at Denville, The Pines, Wiley & Winchester Gardens.  

Thanks again to Andy Kleppe for preparing the recap.

Maggie Heineman, Communications Chair, February 9, 2023.  

RECAP  by ANDY:

1. Barbara Trought called the meeting to order at 10AM remarking that ORANJ as an organization was getting back to pre-Covid activities by having a Plenary Meeting in October 2022 at Fellowship Village to be followed up by the next in October, 2023 at Monroe Village with speakers confirmed.  She asked if any attendees had updates on how their communities were likewise recovering.  She noted that in the Executive Committee’s 2/8 meeting Ron Whalen told of Fellowship Village establishing an umbrella organization namely Fellowship Living to coordinate it ventures including its recent acquisition of 3 ORANG CCRCs which are being renamed.
2. A Medford Leas resident reported on changes its Administration was undertaking including Main Entrance, Dining Room, Library and Marketing Concepts. He also noted its Service fee increase for 2023 is a bit below 6%. (This is modest compared to most)
3. A Springpoint Monroe Village resident reported that smaller apartments are being reconfigured into larger ones with Marketing promoting the upgrades, while a Friends Village resident was pleased with the improvements being made by Fellowship Living to Independent Living apartments as well as Assisted Living and Health Care Facilities. Laurel Circle & Lions Gate residents noted the same type of activities.
4. Erickson is “repositioning” its facilities at Cedar Crest by improving its 2^nd Club House learning from its experiences in redoing the first one so as to attract a younger crowd of residents. It was also noted that large national Hospitality providers are branching out into the Senior Living field and could be a competitive force to our communities.
5. A Lions Gate resident discussed NJ Anchor Program, which is a new name for the NJ Tenant Rebate Program, which has been so underfunded applications for 2019 benefits are in progress. CCRC residents qualify as “Owners” but it is means tested program with a current benefit of $450.00.  Also CCRC residents are permitted to deduct a percentage (supplied each year by Management) of the Monthly Service Fee as a State & Local Tax Deduction on one’s IRS 1040.
6. Barbara discussed a topic at the Executive Board Meeting of 2/6 concerning NJ Car Inspections every 2 years, abandoned or unregistered vehicles on community parking facilities and Handicap Parking spaces wherein municipalities set minimum number of spaces, but there is no maximum limit and Safe Driving Courses required by many Insurance companies to qualify for a discount.
7. A Lions Gate Resident discussed Electric Vehicle and charging stations and who pays for that service. Many communities are installing them. (Maybe a topic for an ORANJ survey or a discussion at your Residents Assn Finance Committee meeting).
8. Maggie, who has Covid, asked if other communities were experiencing an uptick in Covid cases. There were just three comments. One community recently has had more than the usual 1 or 2 cases a week.  One community had 35 cases at once last month!!, but now it’s back to normal.  In another community the maintenance staff was hard hit.
9. Barbara ended the meeting with a sober reminder that as individuals and communities need to be aware of industry trends locally & nationally, becoming involved to the extent we can and interact with the Board of Trustees of our respective communities to get what our contracts provide.
10. A reminder that that the 2023 Fall Plenary Meeting of ORANJ is tentatively scheduled for 9AM Wednesday October 18, 2023 at Monroe Village.

• Next Residents Zoom meeting will be on Wednesday March 8, 2023 at 10AM.