News-pourri

BUDGET CAPTAIN – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker presented the proposed 2025 budget to the Township Council on April 8. A $73.2 million proposed budget that includes a 2.63 percent hike in the local portion of property taxes was introduced April 8 by the Township Council. The proposed spending plan is powered by a tax levy of $38,993,310 – not including …

Energy aggregation may finally come to the township in the next approximately six months, the Environmental Commission was told at its April 7 meeting. Township Councilmember Ed Potosnak, the Commission’s liaison to the Council, told commissioners that the Township’s energy consultant has said the summer will probably be a good time to start the long-delayed program. The consultant “thinks the …

Contracts totaling $5,147,041.58 for goods and services were recently awarded by the Township Council. At its March 25 meeting, the Council awarded: A contract worth $19,904 to Motorola Solutions of Woodcliff Lake for four UHF Omni antennas. A contract worth $400,000 to various vendors for recreation and enrichment programs in 2025. The vendors are: YMCA of Greater Somerset County, Basking …

CONVERSION PROPOSAL – Manjit Bajwa answers question posed by his attorney during the April 3 Zoning Board of Adjustment hearing on his application. An application to covert an auto repair garage at Elizabeth and Cedar avenues into a small convenience center raised more questions than it provided answers at the April 3 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. The triangular-shaped property …

PLAN DETAILS – Daniel Miola, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church engineer, explains the project to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission on April 1. A plan to widen the driveway at the Ukrainian Reformed Church on Easton Avenue and add more parking spaces received a conditional Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission at its April 1 meeting. But that’s …

SPONSORED NEW LAW – A bill co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen targeting retail theft has been signed into law. Legislation designed to strengthen penalties against retail theft was signed into law April 1 by Gov. Phil Murphy. The bill, A4755, was co-sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen (D-17). The law introduces several provisions aimed at deterring criminal activity while …

PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATION – First responders gathered along Hilltop Lane March 30 in the investigation of a single-engine plane crash that killed its pilot. A small plane on its way to North Carolina from Princeton crashed in a wooded area off Hilltop Lane March 30, killing a person believed to be the pilot, authorities said. The pilot, who was not identified …

Franklin High School’s production of “Cinderella – The Enchanted Version” will be presented over the next two weekends at the school’s Theatre. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, inspired by the 1997 television movie starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, tells the story of Cinderella – a kind young woman forced into servitude by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. Cinderella is transformed …

ACCEPTING COMMENDATION – Franklin Youth Center’s Joel Painson holds the award won by the Center for its student-led promotional video, “Sounds of Tomorrow” at the March 25 Township Council meeting. Staff and students from the Franklin Youth Center were honored at the March 25 Township Council meeting for winning an award for their promotional video. The award was given by …

TRANSGENDER DAY CEREMONY – Township Councilmember Ed Potosnak speaks during the Council’s recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility, which is March 31. The Township Council recognized March 31 as the Transgender Day of Visibility at the March 25 meeting with a proclamation. The proclamation said the day is “a day to honor the lived experiences of transgender individuals, acknowledge the …