Township Council

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, …

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 …

SHE HAS QUESTIONS – Teresa Cordero of Franklin Park speaks about the Flock Security cameras at the September 22 Township Council meeting. Opponents of Franklin Township’s Flock Safety license plate reader cameras escalated their campaign at the Sept. 22 Township Council meeting, saying the public has been misled about the system and calling for an independent audit of the governing …

SELLING THE SALE – Township manager Robert Vornlocker told the Township Council on September 8 that the three parcels up for sale serve no purpose for the Township. The Township Council gave final approval Sept. 8 to the sale of three township-owned lots to Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity for the construction of low-income homes, over the objections of a …

A schematic view of the proposed Catalpa Park. After more than a decade of false starts, redesigns, and bids that came in too high, the Township Council on Sept. 8 took the votes that will finally lead to a Catalpa Park.

LEGAL ADVICE – Township Attorney Lou Rainone told the Township Council on September 8 that it would be “in the public interest” to settle the Williams-TRANSCO eminent domain matter. The Township Council has agreed to accept a total of $600,000 from Williams-Transco for a township-owned easement the Houston-based natural gas company needs to construct a planned natural gas compressor station, …

ON THE FENCE ON FLOCK – Mayor Phil Kramer said during the September 8 Township Council meeting that he was “not sold” on the Flock Safety cameras in use by the Township. Franklin Township residents renewed their call for the Township Council to cancel its contract with surveillance camera vendor Flock Safety during the public comment portion of the council’s …

SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE – Mayor Phil Kramer speaks during the Township’s commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Township officials and clergy gathered at Franklin Township’s 9-11 Memorial on September 8 for the annual commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with speaker after speaker using the 25th anniversary to ask …

FUNDRAISER HONORED – Ava Golchha accepts a commendation from Deputy Mayor Alex Kharazi at the September 8 Township Council meeting. Golchha was honored for raising $175 for the Franklin Township Animal Shelter. The Township Council issued three proclamations and commendations at its Sept. 8 meeting, declaring September as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, honoring a young resident who has donated her …

TECHNOLOGICAL FLASHPOINT – Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers are the subject of controversy in the township. (Photo: Flock Safety). Some Franklin Township Council members are signaling a willingness to revisit the Township’s contract with Flock Safety, but stopped short of calling for its cancellation, a week after residents criticized the governing body at its Aug. 11 meeting for agreeing …