Township Council

SUPPORTIVE WORDS – Attorney Howard Cohen, representing the Canal Walk Homeowners’ Association, speaks to the Township Council at its June 13 meeting. Amendments to the Township’s Noise Ordinance which restrict the time that industrial-related loading and unloading operations, as well as the use of vehicles with backup beepers, can be used on properties that abut Scenic Corridors which are adjacent …

Amendments to the township’s noise ordinance that elicited applause from some Canal Walk residents opposed to a nearby warehouse application was introduced at the Township Council’s May 23 meeting. The ordinance restricts the time that industrial-related loading and unloading operations, as well as the use of vehicles with backup beepers, can be used on properties that abut Scenic Corridors which …

A HEALTHY IDEA – Fran Palm, Zufall’s CEO, talks about the proposed partnership at the May 23 Township Council meeting. The Township Council appears to be heading into a three-way partnership that could result in a permanent community health center established at one of the Franklin Middle School campuses. Council members spoke favorably of a proposal to contribute $1.5 million …

BUDGET INTRODUCTION – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker broke down the proposed 2023 township budget at the April 11 Township Council meeting. Update: The Council adopted the budget at its May 9 meeting The $66.3 million 2023 budget introduced on April 11 by the Township Council carries with it a 1 percent increase in the amount of local purpose taxes to …

A Republican candidate for Township Council has been disqualified by the Township Clerk on residency issues. James Holzheimer, a retired Franklin Township Police Officer, had hoped to run for one of the three At-Large Council seats up for grabs in November. But his petition for the June 6 primary election was disqualified by Township Clerk Ann Marie McCarthy, she said …

NEWEST EAGLE SCOUT – Dalton Vassanella speaks after receiving his commendation from the Township Council. The Township’s newest Eagle Scout received a commendation March 28 from the Township Council. The Scout, Dalton Vassanella, is the son of Township Councilman James Vassanella (D-Ward 5.) The younger Vassanella was awarded his commendation by Mayor Phil Kramer with Vassanella’s father, the Assistant Scoutmaster …

Township Democratic and Republican candidates for Mayor and At-Large Township Council seats submitted their nominating petitions for the June 6 primary election. The deadline for submissions was 4 p.m. March 27 The candidates are: Democrats (all incumbents, except for Kharazi): Mayor: Phil Kramer Township Council: Kimberly Francois, Ram Anbarasan, Alex Kharazi Republicans: Mayor: Brian Levine Township Council: Alhaji Noah Fofanah, …

BUDGET QUESTION – Township Councilman James Vassanella asks a question about an aspect of the proposed 2023 budget requests. The final municipal departments made their 2023 budget requests to the Township Council at a special March 21 budget hearing. As is the norm, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker presented the departments’ proposed budgets with respective representatives on hand to answer any …

Local Girl Scouts, and Girl Scout Week, were honored at the March 14 Township Council Meeting. Citations commemorating individual and group efforts were awarded by Mayor Phil Kramer. Molly H. of Troop 60607 (the girls’ last names were not used due to privacy concerns) was commended for achieving the Girl Scouts’ Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can …

ACTION! – The designation of Franklin as a “Film Ready Community” by the state is hoped to bring to the township more movie crews, such as this one filming David Duchovny’s “Bucky F*ing Dent” over several days in September 2022. Fresh on the heels of Franklin being designated one of the first “Film Ready Communities” in the state, the Township …