Township Council

SURPRISE DONATION – Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith, left, hugs Township Councilman Alex Kharazi after Kharazi announced a $5,000 donation to the food bank from the Masjid-e-Ali on Cedar Grove Avenue. Franklin Food Bank executive director Derek Smith walked into the October 28 Township Council meeting prepared to tell members about the dire situation many township residents face …

HERITAGE MONTH HONOREE – Vimal Sodhani thanks the Township Council for recognizing Hindu Heritage Month at the October 28 meeting. A local Hindu community leader was feted at the October 28 Township Council meeting. Vimal Sodhani, of the Sodhani Foundation, was featured during the Council’s annual recognition of Hindu Heritage Month.

PROPOSAL FOR STUDY COMMISSION – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen talks about his proposal for a school finance study commission during a press conference in the Township Council Chamber on October 23. A proposed bill that would establish a state legislative commission to look into changing the way schools are funded in the state was announced October 23 by state Assemblyman …

The following are the latest updates in the Township’s 2025 street resurfacing program: Sebring Rd Area Resurfacing – COMPLETED

PURCHASE EXPLAINED – Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said the money for the surveillance system is coming from a grant. The Township Council voted to spend nearly $340,000 on a multi-faceted surveillance system at its October 14 meeting. The Council will pay the total over four years, with the first year’s payment being $87,225. Money for the system comes from a grant, …

COUNCIL BUYS LAND – The Township Council on October 14 approved nearly $4 million in open space purchases. The Township Council approved the purchase of nearly $4 million for two open space parcels at its October 14 meeting. The Council approved spending $3,067,000 from the Franklin Open Space Trust Fund to buy a roughly 50-acre parcel at 3995 Route 27, also …

Explaining Proposed Ordinance – Mayor Phil Kramer describes the proposed ordinance that would restrict the use of on-site generators. Hoping to preclude any thought of a developer creating a data center powered by generators burning combustible materials, the Township Council on September 30 took the first step in restricting the use of on-site generators. The ordinance would prohibit the routine …

EXPLAINING THE OPTIONS – Darren Mazzei, the Township’s consulting engineer, reviews four options for the construction of Catalpa Park at the September 16 Open Space Advisory Committee meeting. The long-anticipated Catalpa Park is once again the topic of Township conversation, but this time the conversation is focused on finances. The Township Council on September 9 rejected all bids on the …

LEADING THE CHARGE – Mayor Phil Kramer led the Franklin delegation in a virtual public comment session run by state environmental officials about permit applications for a controversial natural gas pipeline project. More than 170 area residents – including a healthy contingent from Franklin – took to the Internet September 10 to persuade the state Department of Environmental Protection to …

FERAL CAT ADVOCATE – Tamar Thier, a former Franklin residents, speaks in favor of the Township adopting a “Trap, Neuter, Return” program at the September 9 Township Council meeting. An ordinance that regulates the feeding and care of feral cat colonies – and which generated a fair amount of controversy – was finally adopted by the Township Council at its …