Township Reviewing ‘Union Time’ Paid Leave Taken By FTPD Officers For ‘Appropriateness’
In the wake of allegations of “substantial mismanagement” by the township police department’s former top brass, officials are determining which FTPD officers may have inappropriately used a benefit known as “union time” to take paid leave over the past nearly three years. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said on Aug. 6 that he and township attorney […]
Township Council Moves To Scrap FTPD Chief Position For Public Safety Director
An ordinance amendment that would replace the Franklin Township Police Chief’s position with a Public Safety Director was unanimously introduced at the July 9 Township Council meeting. The change comes at a time when the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has assumed oversight of the department while it is investigating the circumstances of an FTPD officer […]
FTPD Union Heads Say They Were Left Out Of Conversation About Public Safety Director
The heads of the two unions representing township police officers say they were blindsided by the Township Council’s move to eliminate the Police Chief and Deputy Chief positions in favor of a Public Safety Director. The two union presidents say their members would prefer the department stay under a Chief/Deputy Chief command structure. The Council […]
FTPD Chief, Deputy Chief Positions To Be Replaced By Public Safety Director
An ordinance amendment that would replace the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police with a Public Safety Director is expected to be introduced at the July 9 Township Council meeting. The ordinance amendment would also increase the number of Captains in the department from one to three and would modify disciplinary procedures within the department. […]
Ordinance Amendment Would Allow For Removal Of Board, Commission Members ‘For Cause’
An ordinance amendment that would allow the Township Council to remove some board and commission members “for cause” was introduced at the May 28 Council meeting. The amendment would give Council members more leeway in removing board and commission members than they now have. Currently, a member of a board – such as the Open […]
Township Council Approves Most Zone Modifications In Ordinance Amendment
Zoning ordinance modifications that tweaked a few spots in the township were further tweaked before they were adopted at the April 9 Township Council meeting. The changes – affecting properties outside the Canal Walk development, at the intersection of Mettlers and Weston Canal roads and some properties on roads off DeMott Lane – were meant […]
Township Council Honors FHS Lady Warriors Basketball Team For Perfect, Championship Season
The Franklin High School Lady Warriors basketball team’s victory tour continued April 9 with a commendation by the Township Council. The Lady Warriors posted an historic season, going 34-0 – the best single-season record in state basketball history – and winning the state Tournament of Champions for the second time in three years. According to […]
Township Council Puts Another Liquor License Up For Sale
Several months after having sold the first retail consumption liquor license in 13 years, the Township Council on March 12 put another one up for sale. The minimum bid for this one is $225,000, a $25,000 increase over the one sold last November. Bids are due to the Township Clerk’s office by noon on April […]
Three FTPD Sergeants Formally Sworn In
FTP Sgts. Ken Daly, Ariel Almora and Kevin Fitzharris, left to right, were sworn in at the Council meeting. The three newest Franklin Police Department Sergeants were formally sworn in at the Township Council’s Feb. 26 meeting. Ken Daly, Ariel Almora and Kevin Fitzharris were sworn in to their new positions in front of friends, […]
FR&A Analysis: Why Did Prasad Want Judicial Salary Survey, Including Rodriguez In Mid-Term?
Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad asked for a review of area Municipal Court Judge salaries in early 2018, including that of presiding municipal court judge Hector Rodriguez, barely a year into Rodriguez’s current term. The review, requested several months after Prasad steered a township landlord to Rodriguez for help with a tenant issue in 2017, came […]
