Taxes

Getting almost non-existent response from East Franklin businesses to a COVID-19 relief grant program, the Township Council has decided to instead use the money to help township renters. Mayor Phil Kramer said at the November 24 virtual Township Council meeting that given that only one business owner applied for the special Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act grant, …

The township may temporarily absorb a nearly 7 percent rate increase from New Jersey American Water that has been approved by the state. But that won’t be indefinite, and at some point the increase will be passed on. Mayor Phil Kramer announced the 6.6 percent increase – approved by the state Board of Public Utilities – at the November 24 …

Franklin Township Education Association president Dan Mayer addresses the Board of Education at its November 19 meeting. Mayer refused to answer questions about his comments after the meeting. Plans are being finalized for the November 30 return to hybrid in-person learning in township schools, even as several more cases of coronavirus infection in the district have been confirmed. Another seven …

FTPD Lt. Kirsten Durham, foreground, settled her discrimination and harassment lawsuit against the township and police department for a bulk $300,000 payment and other considerations. (File photo.) The township has agreed to pay $300,000 to a Franklin Township Police lieutenant and keep her on paid administrative leave until mid-2021 to settle a discrimination and harassment lawsuit the lieutenant filed in …

Whether the township can legally lease the Six Mile Run Reservoir Site land from the state will be the topic of discussion soon between the Township Manager and township attorney. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said he would discuss the issue with township attorney Louis N. Rainone. Vornlocker did not sound optimistic about the idea being workable for the township. Language …

School board business administrator Jonathan Toth was one of two administrators to receive merit bonus approval at the August 27 board meeting. More than $28,000 in merit bonuses for two district administrators were approved by the Board of Education at its August 27 meeting. Jonathan Toth, the district’s business administrator, earned $14,225.92 in bonuses, while Dan Loughren, the assistant superintendent …

Schools Superintendent John Ravally received a total of $16,689.96 in merit bonuses at the August 12 Board of Education meeting. The Board of Education on August 12 approved nearly $17,000 in merit bonuses for schools Superintendent John Ravally. This marks the last year that Ravally will be eligible for the bonuses. His new $230,000, 5-year contract, ratified in June, eliminates …

Schematic showing work to be done on part of Amwell Road. A part of Amwell Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays from July 28 through August 8, according to the Somerset County Engineering Department. The part of the road to be closed is between Mettlers Road and Elizabeth Avenue. A marked detour will be in …

Public comments are still being accepted for the township’s proposed plan on how to spend more than $500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant program money. The money comes from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is used to support public services, public facilities and housing projects that service low-income communities. The township’s proposed plan includes $41,035 …

The Township Council on June 23 approved the purchase of more than $1 million in equipment and services. The purchases were: $351,613.50 to Z Brothers Construction of Sayreville for resurfacing of the Public Works parking lot at Ninth Street and Willow Avenue.$390,577 to DeSantis Construction of Somerset for the resurfacing of Jacques Lane.$30,000 each contract for appraisal services to Sterling …