Township Council

It is now illegal to smoke on any township-owned property. The Township Council on March 22 passed on second reading an ordinance banning smoking in all township parks, recreational facilities and athletic fields, as well as all municipally owned buildings. Smoking is also prohibited in all parking lots and driveways connected to publicly owned property. The council received support for …

American Legion Post 478 was commended Feb. 23 by the Township Council for its donation of $18,000 to the township police department. The money will be used to purchase bullet-proof vests for township police officers. Police Chief Lawrence Roberts thanked the post “from the bottom of my heart” for the donation. “The biggest way you can support law enforcement is something …

Lighting up a smoke in a township park could cost you as much as $1,000 under an ordinance introduced Feb. 23 by the Township Council. The ordinance, which has been discussed for more than two years, would ban smoking and vaping on any property, building or automobile owned by the township. That would also include parking lots and driveways of …

Six members of the Franklin High School athletics staff were commended Feb. 9 by the Township Council for their actions in saving the life of their colleague. Athletic trainer Matthew Ellmyer and gym teachers Scott Burd, Anthony Racioppi, Dan DiColo, Chris McEvoy and JaMon Dunn were praised by the council for their “selfless act of bravery and heroism” in saving the life …

Township officials have one request for residents concerned about snow plowing after the weekend storm: Please be patient. Crews from the township Department of Public Works and hired contractors have been plowing the township’s more than 800 streets since the storm began, officials said. But, they admitted, some mistakes were made. Independent contractors hired by the township missed 11 streets, said Mayor …

The Township Council Jan. 12 picked a leader in the West African community as their newest colleague. Charles Onyejiaka, a 14-year township resident, was chosen from a field of three to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated when Philip Kramer was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1. The other two candidates, presented to the council by township Democrats, were Alex Kharazi and …

The Township Council started the new year by awarding commendations to a number of people and groups. The first to receive a commendation was township Police Lt. Darrin Russo, the Franklin Reporter & Advocate “Man of the Year” for 2015. Russo was commended for being named MOY, which recognized the restraint he showed when a suspected car thief he stopped …

Township government officially became an all-Democratic institution Jan. 1 when the team that swept the November election was sworn in to their seats. Taking their oaths were Mayor Phillip Kramer, Councilwomen Kimberly Francois and Shanel Robinson and Councilman Rajiv Prasad, all of whom are At-Large members. Kramer was a Councilman representing Ward 3. Township Democrats will present three candidates to …

Outgoing Mayor Chris Kelly has some advice for the man who’s going to be filling the seat come Jan. 1, 2016. Well, actually, he has a lot of advice. “Dealing with (Township) Council is kind of like herding cats,” Kelly said. “Trying to get everybody together on the same page is nearly impossible, so don’t go into it thinking you will …

The Township Council Dec. 8 presented commendations to a number of students who won a township-wide poster contest, and to two of its own. The students won commendations for their entries in the annual Red Ribbon Poster Contest. Red Ribbon Week is a national substance abuse prevention campaign run in schools. The council also presented commendations to Mayor Chris Kelly …