News-pourri

Shanel Robinson was unanimously chosen by the Democrats on the Township Council Aug. 11 to fill the unexpired term of former Councilman Brian Regan. Mayor Chris Kelly, a Republican, did not vote on the appointment because, he said, he was not given enough information on the candidates.

A township councilman on Aug. 11 denied that he told the Human Relations Commission that a social media group’s opposition to Catalpa Park is race-based, and said that as an Indian-American, it is “impossible” for him to inject race into any discussion. During his statement, Councilman Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large) denied making any of the statements that led the commission …

Township Democrats on July 28 picked three candidates to replace former Township Councilman Brian Regan. Those selected were Shanel Robinson, William Galtieri and Joel Reiss.

The Board of Education member who recently called for the resignation of the board president is now the subject of an online petition seeking her resignation. Township resident Erik Ransom on July 25 launched a petition on the Change.org site calling for the resignation of board member Pat Stanley.

Claims by a Township Councilman that a Facebook page’s opposition to the proposed Catalpa Park is race-based propelled the Human Relations Commission to vote to issue a statement denouncing the site’s language. The creator of the page disputed the charge.

The Board of Education member who called for the board president’s resignation over comments he made at the Franklin High School graduation underwent a barrage of criticism at the July 23 meeting, but maintained her position. “He overstepped his bounds,” board member Patricia Stanley said of board president Ed Potosnak at the meeting’s end.”Mr. Potosnak and I disagree  as to the rules …

Video courtesy Ed Potosnak. A Board of Education member is calling for the board president’s resignation over comments he made on same-sex marriage at the 2015 Franklin High School graduation.

The stars were in alignment July 16 for the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, which saw the board swiftly approve three applications for variances. The board approved a Kingston couple’s request to build a covered porch on the front of their home, a Somerset man’s application for an addition on his home, and a new businesses’ application to install a …

Bank of America won Planning Board approval July 14 to erect a standalone drive-through ATM kiosk in a Hamilton Street parking lot, but it remains to be seen whether the company will go ahead with the project. That’s because in approving the plan, the board required Bank of America to abide by all suggestions included in township planning staff reports, …

About 96 percent of township teachers are “effective” or “highly effective,” according to the state’s new educator evaluation system. The new system, called “AchieveNJ,” evaluated teachers and school leaders based on ” multiple measures of educator practice and student achievement,” according to a press release from the state Department of Education.