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GETTING CLOSER – An opening date for the new Franklin Park library branch has not been set, but the old branch is now closed. (File photo). Work continues on the new Franklin Park branch of the Franklin Township library, although it’s still not known when it will be open. A problem with sourcing a large electrical panel delayed construction for …

TALKING NUMBERS – Schools Superintendent John Ravally describes the 2024 budget at the March 9 open Finance Committee meeting. (File photo.) The Board of Education approved its $214 million spending plan for Fiscal Year 2024 at a special April 25 meeting. The $213,803,051 budget is powered by a $164,387,049 tax levy for calendar year 2023, up $7,285,784 from calendar year …

DELAYED OPENING – The Franklin Park branch of the Franklin Township Library is now scheduled to be open by the end of April or beginning of May. (File photo.) A delay in the delivery of an electrical panel has delayed the opening of the new Franklin Park branch of the Franklin Township Library. The new branch, located at 64 Clover …

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 …

RISING WATER … RATES – Mayor Phil Kramer said increases in what the Township pays for water forced its hand in raising rates to township customers. An ordinance amendment that calls for a 15 percent increase in water rates was introduced on first reading at the March 14 Township Council meeting. The hike would be the first such increase in …

BUDGET TIME – Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather prepares for her comments to the Township Council at its first 2023 budget hearing on March 13. Budget requests for a number of township departments were heard at a special March 13 Township Council hearing. The hearing was one of two that will be held before the township’s 2023 budget is introduced, …

BUDGET TIME – Schools Superintendent John Ravally explains some elements of the tentative FY 2024 district budget at the school board’s special open Finance committee meeting on March 9. Update: The Board of Education on March 16 voted to introduce it’s tentative FY 2024 budget. It now goes before the Somerset County Executive Superintendent for review, and final adoption in …

NEW LIBRARY BRANCH – Library officials expect the current Franklin Park Branch to close around March 21, with this new branch opening several weeks later. The new Franklin Park branch of the Public Library should be opening around the middle of April, a library official recently said. The “tentative” date for a temporary certificate of occupancy for the branch, located …

STATE AID INCREASE – Schools Superintendent John Ravally said the increase in state aid is “timely.” (File photo.) The Franklin Township school district is targeted to receive more than $21 million in state aid for its K-12 program in Fiscal Year 2024, a nearly 38 percent increase in the amount it received for Fiscal Year 2023, according to figures recently …

WORK UNDERWAY – This was the scene on February 21 in the Township Council chamber. Chairs were removed and existing carpeting taken up in preparation for the installation of new carpet. The replacement of the carpeting in the Township Council Chamber in the Municipal Building should be completed by the Council’s February 28 meeting, the Township Manager said. The $16,972.16 …