News-pourri

MOST LIKELY A ‘NO’ – Members of the Open Space Advisory Committee on October 20 did not seem enthusiastic about using Open Space Trust Fund money for a project at Six Mile Run Reformed Church. Open Space Advisory Committee members were cool to a request that township tax money be used for a small construction project at Six Mile Run …

GET OUT THE VOTE – Activist Larry Hamm urges attendees at the “No Kings 4 – Vote Early” rally at the township gazebo to make sure they and their friends vote in the upcoming general election. Speakers at a “No Kings 4 – Vote Early” rally Saturday urged Franklin Township residents to vote early in the Nov. 3 midterm elections …

Fewer than half of the township’s cannabis businesses met the September 30 deadline to send in their fees for the recently enacted licensing program. Those eight businesses received local licenses at the October 13 Township Council meeting.

PRESSING HIS POINT – Zoning Board Chairman Robert Thomas pressed the attorney representing the Tawheed Dawah Center to lobby Somerset County for a left-turn lane into its property on South Middlebush Road if their application is approved. A proposal to build a mosque on South Middlebush Road faced another round of intense questioning from residents October 15, as the township …

Weather conditions could change these dates.  Bunker Hill Rd to Blackwells Mills Rd – Canal Rd Resurfacing -Awarded

DEFENDING THE PLAN – Township Attorney Lou Rainone on defended the location of an affordable housing project during the Township Council’s October 13 meeting. The Township Council unanimously approved a tax incentive program October 13 for the conversion of a former Davidson Avenue hotel into 142 affordable apartments, despite concerns raised by residents about truck traffic, air pollution and access …

EFFORTS ACKNOWLEDGED – Zalak Mehta, a Franklin High School Junior, accepted the Township Council commendation on behalf of Karma Junction. The Franklin Township Council celebrated Hindu Heritage Month at its October 13 meeting, honoring a local nonprofit organization for its community service and recognizing a $1,700 donation to the Franklin Food Bank raised during the township’s annual Diwali celebration.

WANTS A VOTE – Township Councilman Shubhendu Singh said at the October 13 Township Council meeting that he would like a vote on the Flock Safety camera contract, sooner rather than later. Township Councilman Shubhendu Singh called for a full public review of Franklin’s controversial Flock surveillance cameras and a new Council vote on their future after a resident directly …

Please note due to extreme heat and weather conditions these dates are subject to change. Bunker Hill Rd to Blackwells Mills Rd – Canal Rd Resurfacing – Out to Bid

Flock Safety, the controversial surveillance technology company whose license plate-reading cameras are used in Franklin Township, is facing growing legal and political challenges, including a federal court ruling that found some police use of its technology unconstitutional, proposed legislation that could restrict its use nationwide, and decisions by several communities to shut down their cameras. The developments, which have occurred …