News-pourri

LEADING THE WAY — Township Planner mark Healey steered the Planning Board through the changes to the Master Plan’s cluster ordinance at the Board’s October 7 meeting. The Franklin Township Planning Board voted unanimously October 7 to endorse proposed changes to the township’s cluster subdivision regulations, following a discussion about the potential drawbacks of clustering homes and the responsibilities associated …

Franklin Township spent $62,888.98 in opioid settlement money over the past fiscal year on four programs, led by a summer job-readiness course for young people and a new peer-support initiative for residents in recovery, according to the Township’s annual report on the funds. The report, included in Somerset County’s 2026 Opioid Abatement Report, covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, …

BALLOON BAN? – Members of the Environmental Commission on October 5 agreed to review bans on the intentional release of balloons at its next meeting. Could a ban on the intentional release of balloons in the Township be in the offing?

Hundreds of revelers gathered October 3 in Franklin High School’s activities lobby for the annual celebration of Diwali. The Festival of Diwali, which occurs over five days in the Fall, is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists.

Police cruisers, ambulances, utility trucks and a medical helicopter filled the Franklin Middle School Hamilton Street campus on October 3 as the Franklin Township Police Department’s Community Relations Bureau hosted its second Touch-a-Truck event. The event gave children a hands-on look at vehicles they rarely see up close, according to Franklin Township Police Officer Ken Reid, the event’s organizer

TELLING THE STORY – The Light of Christ International Fellowship Ministries president Alimany Turay testifies in front of the zoning board at its October 1 meeting. The Township Zoning Board of Adjustment on Thursday unanimously approved a plan by The Light of Christ International Fellowship Ministries to convert a vacant building at 60 Millstone Road into a house of worship, …

Note: Schedule may change due to weather conditions. Bunker Hill Rd to Blackwells Mills Rd – Canal Rd Resurfacing – Out to Bid

MORE DATA PROVIDED – Nearly all Flock camera license plate reads that triggered a special hotlist were for expired or suspended registrations, according to FTPD data. released recently. Nearly all of the 39,469 alerts generated by Franklin Township’s Flock Safety license plate reader cameras during the last 30 days flagged vehicles with expired or suspended registrations, according to new, more …

The Board of Education approved nearly $146,000 in purchases, service agreements and renewals at its September 24 meeting. The contracts range from janitorial supplies and payroll software to physical exams for student athletes and classroom technology for two private schools. The 10-item package totals $146,004.60 for the items that carry a fixed price or a spending cap. A consultant contract …

NEW PLANNER TESTIFIES – Planner Spach Trahan testifies on behalf of the Tawheed Dawah Center’s application to build a mosque on South Middlebush Road. (Screenshot of Zoning Board meeting). The township Zoning Board of Adjustment chairman said Sept. 25 he is not convinced that a mosque holding prayers five times a day, seven days a week, belongs on a South …