Township Council

A $4,000 donation to Second Chance for Animals and commendations for a township man’s good works and the former deputy mayor kicked off the Jan. 24 Township Council meeting. Mayor Phil Kramer in 2016 donated all of the fees he would have collected for performing marriages to Second Chance for Animals the organization that funds the Franklin Township Animal Shelter.

Reports of unmanned aircraft flying over township-owned open space and parkland has prompted officials to research whether that activity can be prohibited. Township manager Robert Vornlocker told the Open Space Advisory Committee at its Jan. 17 meeting that he has asked the township attorney to look into the matter.

Five township Eagle Scouts were acknowledged by the Township Council at the Jan. 3 reorganization meeting. The scouts, all members of Troop 154, received their Eagle classification over the past two years.

Fourth Ward Councilman Carl Wright, a 7-year veteran of the governing body, was chosen Jan. 3 to be the township’s Deputy Mayor for 2017. The council also voted on a number of other positions, including township attorney, municipal court judge, and township prosecutors and public defender at its annual reorganization meeting.

The on-again, off-again dispute over amplification of Pop Warner football games at Middlebush Park is apparently on again. The topic resurfaced at the Dec. 13 Township Council meeting, and even though the problem has been rectified, it resulted in a minor dustup between Councilwoman Roz Sherman (D-Ward 2) and Councilman Carl R.A. Wright (D-Ward 4).

The repair of faulty roadwork will result in the partial closure of DeMott Lane during the week of Nov. 28. The township was not satisfied with the milling and paving done on DeMott earlier in the fall by Somerset-based DeSantis Construction, so the company will fix the problems, township manager Robert Vornlocker told the Township Council at its Nov. 22 …

The Township Council presented several commendations at its last meeting, including one honoring the founders of New Jersey Orators. Jim and Karen Hunter founded the youth organization more than 30 years ago, and in that time it has become a preeminent molder of township youth in the township and throughout the state.

The Township Council at its Oct. 1o meeting awarded commendations and proclamations to Franklin residents. The first commendation was given to Jeff Baumley, a longtime member of the township Shade Tree Advisory Committee.

Township officials are looking into whether loud fireworks displays can be curtailed. The effort came at the request of Mayor Phil Kramer, who said he received complaints about an Oct. 9 fireworks display at the Ukranian Cultural Center on Davidson Avenue.

The Center for Great Expectations received a $300,000 donation at the Sept. 13 Township Council meeting. The money came from the township’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.