Township Council

Story is updated with OPRA’d emails.   Opponents of a proposed “Peace and Nonviolence” monument park that would feature bronze statues of Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa are Republicans who “don’t want colored statues in town,” a township councilman has charged. That councilman, Rajiv Prasad (D-At Large), also gave project supporters at least six days’ …

For the first time in 13 years, the township is putting up for sale a liquor license that would allow for another bar, restaurant or club in Franklin. Bidding on the plenary retail consumption license starts at $200,000. Retail consumption licenses allow for the sale of alcohol for off- and on-premise consumption. The last similar license was sold in 2005 …

The school district has an updated list of areas it considers too dangerous for children to walk to school. The list was approved at the Board of Education’s Aug. 23 meeting. Streets contained in the prior policy “were a little dated,” board spokeswoman Mary Clark said. “This is also a reflection of changes in attendance zones.” Students whose route to …

The donor of statues targeted for a controversial “Peace and Nonviolence” monument park on township open space owns vacant land in the township that could be suitable for such a park. The land, two adjoining rectangular lots on Davidson Avenue, is primarily wetlands, but there are about 3 buildable acres at the front of the combined lots, facing Davidson. The …

The Township Council on Aug. 14 approved the idea of placing a “Peace and Nonviolence” monument park on township open space, but not before some testy exchanges and surprises, not the least of which was that council members would be voting on it at all. While it OK’d the idea of a monument park there, the council balked at approving …

Township Councilman Rajiv Prasad knew that construction of the four statues planned for a proposed “Peace and Nonviolence” monument park began months ago, even though the idea of placing the project on township open space has not yet received Township Council approval. Work on the statues was underway at least by early March, according to a review of Prasad’s and …

Update: The resolution the council will discuss would allow for the placement of so-called “Alternative Treatment Centers” to grow, cultivate and dispense medical marijuana in the township’s light manufacturing zones. Those zones, M-1 and M-2, allow for light manufacturing and industrial uses on minimum 5-acre and 2-acre lots, respectively. M-2 Zones are located roughly in the Veronica Avenue/Clyde Road area, …

The topic of placing a “Peace and Nonviolence” memorial on township open space was once again the topic at a Township Council meeting, with residents telling the council on June 26 that they do not support the proposal. The idea of placing statues and busts of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Nelson Mandella and Martin Luther King, Jr. on …

Township residents who have problems with their security systems sending out false burglar alarms will not have to report to court until the eighth instance in a given calendar year, thanks to an ordinance approved June 26 by the Township Council. But once that threshold is reached, a court appearance is mandatory, and the property owner faces a fine of …

Township officials are considering banning parking on Franklin streets when they are snow covered. The idea – still in its infancy – was discussed at a recent meeting of the Township Council’s public works subcommittee, Councilman Ted Chase (D-Ward 1) said at the April 24 council meeting. One major sticking point: how to handle residents who live in areas with …