Catalpa Park could be open by the fall of 2018, now that the Township Council has green-lighted the final concept plan. The park’s two cricket pitches – the source of much of the controversy over the park during the past three years – should be ready for play by the spring of 2019, according to one of the engineers planning …
Read More »UPDATED: Officials: Somerset County YMCA Board Approves Of Site In Township, Could Be Consolata Property
Update: Franklin Township is one of three towns in Somerset County identified as possible branch sites, Somerset County YMCA David Carcieri said in an email. Carcieri declined to name the other two, but wrote that “the interest and enthusiasm of Franklin township officials, and the community, have been the catalyst for advancing this opportunity.” “Franklin was identified primarily based on …
Read More »Ari Drive Chain Brings Residents To Township Council
The chaining off of Ari Drive at Julie Court was once again a hot topic during a Township Council meeting. Most of the residents of streets affected by the chains who showed up at the May 30 council meeting praised the decision, but there were some who opposed it. The council on Feb. 14 voted to install the chain in …
Read More »Township Council Approves Contracts
The Township Council at its May 9 meeting approved several contracts for goods and services. Among the actions taken by the council: Approved a correction in a 3-year contract with Lightpath of Jericho, NY for the township’s telephone system. The original contract set a limit of $2,400 per month, but, according to a memo from Justin Heyman, the township’s IT …
Read More »Township Closes On $14 Million Purchase Of Consolata Missionaries Property
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 …
Read More »Franklin Native Becomes Newest Police Officer
One of Franklin’s own is its newest police officer. Malcolm Belvin was sworn in at the May 11 Township Council meeting. Belvin, a graduate of Franklin High School, was most recently a member of the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, said township Police Chief Lawrence Roberts. “I always like to say when we have the opportunity to hire somebody from Franklin …
Read More »Township Council Contracts For Youth Center Feasibility Study
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. The firm was selected from eight candidates, all of whom were vetted by Township Manager Robert Vornlocker, Alice Osipowitz, Director of Parks and …
Read More »‘Family Friendly’ Catalpa Park Plan Readied For Public Debut
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 …
Read More »Township Council Introduces $11 Million In Capital, Bonding Ordinances
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. Among the biggest-ticket ordinances are $3,459,600 for water utility projects and $3,324,000 for the 2017 phase of the township’s road resurfacing project. The …
Read More »Township Council Green-Lights Sidewalk Program Around FMS
The Township Council gave the green light March 7 to a sidewalk program that will affect about 150 property owners around Franklin Middle School. The council met in a special session to consider the project, during which a number of area residents spoke in favor of or against the plan. The $750,000 program will install new sidewalks on parts of …
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