Submitted by Charlie Valan – Vice President of Administration

The Administration end of Congregation B’nai Tikvah (CBT) had an extremely busy fiscal year.  But ultimately, all of these challenges were met head on, and we are happy to report that progress, improvement, and solidification have been accomplished.

Building, Equipment, and House & Grounds

With an older building & equipment reaching the end of its life expectancy, you’re always going to be challenged by much needed maintenance and 2021-2022 brought several items to the forefront.

  • The number one item of concern finally came to a point of significant issue. That begin the entire parking lot storm drain system at CBT
    1. While drainage had always been slow in hard rains, in September, the system had what we could call a significant failure where no drainage was occurring at all and our parking lot completely flooded with no run off
    2. We were able to contract with a company, Water Management of North Brunswick, who through sharing well detailed photographs of the inside of the structure, identified major failure, disconnects, and flaws that needed to be addressed and corrected
    3. Through conversations with them and members that are trained professionals in the engineering area, we ensured that the recommendations were justified and absolutely necessary to not only alleviate the problem, but ensure the future and eliminate a reoccurrence of an issue that has been plaguing our parking lot for years (Mikvah Tikvah)
    4. The work was completed within all the timing guidelines proposed and thanks to excellent negotiating by our Administrator Lesley Lewkowicz, came in under the proposed budget
    5. Water Management will be contracted to do all our future yearly cleaning’s of the system to ensure its consistently in working order for many years to follow
    6. Special thanks goes to Scott Kessler who identified this organization as well as Mitch Frumkin who on a daily bases inspected and secured our confidence across the project
  • Our computer systems and software are still earmarked to be upgraded and modified, taking advantage of today’s technology
    1. Our efforts moving ahead to become more electronic and less paper driven has led to further recognize the importance of equipment that can better interact with an advancing field of platforms
    2. Advanced equipment not only has the software, but components and structure that better meets our demand for consistency
    3. While we want to be more electronically driven, we will never lose sight that some of our members still want everything or most communications or billing in paper. We will cater to everyone’s needs
    4. Lastly, the software used by many synagogues (Chaveware), is no longer available, therefore, CBT will be switching over to one of the latest programming options
  • Our sanctuary lighting system will be upgraded over the next month to more advanced LED technology
    1. When current system was installed many years ago, it did feature LED technology that while state of the art at the time
    2. After intense investigating, we are upgrading to a more reliable system that should last significantly longer with even more aggressive energy savings and light performance
    3. This will be completed well before the High Holidays
  • Thanks to our own Sisterhood making a major contribution, a donor (The Estate of Paul Glasser), and our own Classical Caterers, we have replaced our old, beaten up, cracked outside sign with a beautiful new LED, State of The Art Board
    1. We have many guarantees on the functionality of the board to ensure its continued working order
    2. The vendor agreement calls for them to provide us with graphic translations of logos, and items at a rate of five pieces per month for the first year. We are taking full advantage of this
    3. This board is Wifi programmed from any computer (with a code and password that only Lesley knows), meaning that at any moment we can change the message, add a message, or address any need of immediacy from anywhere
  • We will also be investigating and potential upgrading the drop ceiling in the social hall
    1. The original track and tile system has been in place for well over 30 years
    2. As with any drop ceiling, over the course of time, tiles start to bow downward as well as the weight of the support tracks eventually could be compromised
    3. Currently, we are in discussions with vendors to obtain the most cost effective option and that will represent the direction we will proceed in
    4. Please note, if the most cost effective solution means we will not continue to get safe and long term life out of the entire system, an option that provides us the sustain security of long life will be the direction we undertake
  • CBT concluded the process of negotiating an extension for Cheder Menchem
    1. Rising cost for utilities was a major discussion piece as CBT positioned itself to the most significant cost increase since the school first occupied our space
    2. Traditionally, year over year cost increase have been estimated between 2% – 3%
    3. The contract extension CBT agreed upon through negotiations calls for a 17% increase in year 1 (2022-2023), and progressive increases as follows (vs. previous year)…
      1. 2023-2024 = +8.3%
      2. 2024-2025 = +5.7%
      3. 2025-2026 = +4.5%
      4. 2026-2027 = Even
    4. Overall, versus the formula CBT has traditional used, the value of the entire contract presents CBT with a 25.6% greater result than previous contract calculations
  • Our COVID protocol policies, siding with safety first and foremost, continue as we forge ahead and while we have had a few concerns, please be ensured they will continue to be addressed and updated as information becomes available and we adhere to mirroring the most current guidelines in order to protect all our members and employees
    1. The Chabad School has also been mandated to follow these guidelines and have also produced a document outlining their own guidelines. Please note that CBT takes the safety and security very seriously and as we observe violations, we remind all of the importance and are prepared to take any and all necessary steps if it is felt we can’t ensure as safe of a situation, that most importantly protects all our occupants
    2. Our own Classical Caterers fall under the guidelines provided to all restaurant and entertainment businesses in The State of NJ
    3. At the conclusion of any event that takes place in this building, a significant process of cleaning and sterilizing is always adhered to in order to ensure further safety protocols
  • We sadly saw our Clergy and Administrative Assistant Meryl Harris retire after many years of devoted dedication to B’nai Tikvah
    1. At this moment, we have not been able to find a replacement with the electronic and organization presence we feel is needed to move us forward and take us into the future
    2. We have current members who have graciously volunteered their time as we go through this transition period
    3. As of this publishing, we have successful brought in professional temp help to work with Lesley and possibly be considered for a permanent Assistant Position
      1. This is a positive since rather than hiring someone off an interview alone, we will be able to have in house performance as the benchmark

Security

  • We are happy to report that CBT has applied for another Department of Homeland Security Grant to further fortify the building
    1. The value of this grant would be $150,000
    2. The majority of this money would be used to replace every outside door and window in the old wing of the building to a more secure technology
    3. In addition, we will also upgrade all of the doors in the new wing to a more reliable and stronger technology
    4. There are some less visible impact items we have also applied for within the context of this grant request, but we will wait upon approval before either detailing them, or summarizing them in a way that won’t compromise the nature of the effectiveness
      1. We like to keep some of the cards hidden from the “bad guys”