News-pourri

PROPOSAL FOR STUDY COMMISSION – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen talks about his proposal for a school finance study commission during a press conference in the Township Council Chamber on October 23. A proposed bill that would establish a state legislative commission to look into changing the way schools are funded in the state was announced October 23 by state Assemblyman …

A variety of items is being collected now through December 13 under the “Help Our Troops” collection drive. Items such as canned meals, feminine hygiene products, pain relievers in tablet form, and powdered electrolyte packs are sought. Click here for the general needs list. Contributions will be accepted at the Township Senior/Community Center and the main branch of the Franklin …

LOOKING FOR COST SAVINGS – Open Space Advisory Committee member Arnold Schmidt raised several questions about the costs associated with the full-blown Catalpa Park plan. The Open Space Advisory Committee on October 21 voted to recommend a scaled-down version of Catalpa Park to the Township Council. The Committee had earlier narrowly defeated a motion to recommend the full version of …

Assemblyman Joe Danielsen A bill co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17) that expands regulations related to travel insurance and travel assistance services was signed into law on October 20 by Gov. Phil Murphy. “I am pleased that Governor Murphy has signed my bill the ‘Travel Insurance Act’ into law,” Danielsen said in a statement. “In particular, the bill deals …

NO KINGS – Some of the estimated 1,500 people who came to the township to participate in the No Kings 2 rally at the Cultural Arts Gazebo. An estimated 1,500 people from the township and elsewhere packed the green at the Franklin Township Cultural Gazebo October 18 for the “No Kings Day 2” rally. The rally was one of reportedly …

“EXPERT” TESTIMONY – Eduard Lanetskiy testifies about the proximity of cannabis dispensaries to schools and other “sensitive uses” at the October 16 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. An application to establish a cannabis dispensary at Demott Lane and Amwell Road, which was rejected in August, was approved on October 16 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Board granted the …

The following are the latest updates in the Township’s 2025 street resurfacing program: Sebring Rd Area Resurfacing – COMPLETED Sebring Rd – PAVED Annapolis St – THIS STREET HAS BEEN PULLED FROM THE PROJECT. WILL BE ON FOR NEXT YEAR.  Lexington Rd -PAVED Phillips Rd – PAVED Francis St – PAVED Link Rd -PAVED School Ave -PAVED Lewis St – …

Groups on opposite ends of the political spectrum will share the same space on October 18, and both are promising the coexistence will be peaceful. Franklin Township Indivisible, Somerset County Indivisible, and other groups are planning to participate in the nationwide No Kings series of rallies by holding one from noon to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Township Cultural Arts …

DETAIL MAN – Engineer Adnan Khan reviews some details of a proposed 3-story, mixed-use building at the October 15 Planning Board meeting. A 3-story, mixed-use building targeted for a Hamilton Street parcel was approved October 15 by the Planning Board. The 4,605-square-foot building will be constructed between North Dover and Baier avenues, across from Sophie’s Bistro restaurant. Currently, the land …

EXPLAINING THE PLAN – Craig Stires, project engineer, told the Planning Board that the developer tried to save as many trees as possible along Atrium Drive. A modified plan to raze an empty office building on Atrium Drive and construct two small warehouses in its place was approved October 15 by the Planning Board. This was the second appearance for …