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The Township Council at its May 9 meeting approved several contracts for goods and services. Among the actions taken by the council:

What some township officials called the best land purchase in township history was closed on May 11, when papers were signed for the $14 million purchase of the 65-acre Consolata Missionaries tract on Route 27. Consolata representatives, township officials and others were on hand in the Township Council chamber for the closing, for which an oversized presentation check for $14,090,000 …

One of Franklin’s own is its newest police officer. Malcolm Belvin was sworn in at the May 11 Township Council meeting.

The Franklin High School outdoor athletic complex and gym will likely have some new additions starting next school year in the form of sponsored banners. The Board of Education at its April 27 meeting unanimously approved amendments to the district’s policy regulating sponsorship signage, allowing the banners only at the high school, showing no signs of the discord that accompanied …

A Pennsylvania-based architectural firm has been hired to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed Lewis Street Youth Center. The Township Council awarded Kimmel Bogrette Architecture of Conshohocken, Pa. the $25,000 contract at its April 25 meeting.

A plan for a “family friendly” Catalpa Park – slightly different from what was approved last year – is making the rounds before relevant committees before its official public debut. The plan is being shepherded by Township Manager Robert Vornlocker. Earlier this month he took the plan to the Advisory Recreation Council for its input, and on April 18, Vornlocker …

Reginald O. Davenport has resigned as principal of Franklin Middle School. The resignation was effective April 3. Nick Solomon, the Sampson G. Smith vice-principal, has been named interim FMS principal.

Bonding and capital ordinances appropriating more than $11 million for purchases and capital improvements were introduced by the Township Council at its March 28 meeting. The ordinances will have a public hearing and final vote in April.

Nearly $1.5 million in contracts were approved by the Board of Education at its March 23 meeting. The biggest ticket item was a $1,128,999 contract awarded to Irvington-based KM Construction for reconstruction of the Franklin Middle School parking lot.

Update 2: The Board of Education gave final approval to the 2017-18 school year spending plan at its April 27 meeting. The budget passed unanimously, but board member Pat Stanley said she was doing so with some “reservations.”