Township Council Taxes

Building on an action it took in the 2015 budget, the Township Council is discussing using more Open Space Trust Fund money to pay for township workers who maintain township parks. The issue arose at the Feb. 16 budget hearing, the second and final such hearing the council has held on the 2016 budget. At issue is paying for workers’ benefits …

More than $12 million in capital improvement and equipment expenses were presented to the Township Council Feb. 16 during its second budget session. The total includes nearly $5 million in projects and equipment, another roughly $5 million in Open Space Trust Fund expenses – including $3.6 million for the design and construction of Phase 1 of the controversial Catalpa Park …

Tempers flared at the Township Council’s second budget hearing Feb. 16 after one councilman said he’d been “hoodwinked” by his colleagues over sidewalk installation in his ward. Township Councilman Carl R.A. Wright (D-Ward 4) said he was “kinda miffed” that none of the $750,000 included in the 2015 budget plan and earmarked for sidewalk installation in streets around Franklin Middle …

The Township Council Feb. 9 took the first step in creating a youth center when it introduced an ordinance permitting the acquisition of a Lewis Street property. The property is located at 429 Lewis Street, which was the home of the Somerset Community Action Program before it moved to Hamilton Street. The ordinance, which will have its final vote at the …

The police department needs a captain to help with the rejuvenation of the Hamilton Street business district, among other things, the Township Council was told Feb. 8. Police Chief Lawrence Roberts told the council during its first 2016 budget hearing that unlike neighboring police departments, Franklin’s has no captains. The captain’s salary would be $155,000, said township manager Robert Vornlocker. …

Update: The proposed increases were approved by the council at the Feb. 9 meeting. Original Story: Proposed payment increases for some of the township’s fire commissioners are up for a vote at the Township Council’s February 9 meeting. Commissioners in Fire Districts 1 and 2 are asking for increases for commissioners and the commission’s clerk, respectively. There are no proposed …

More than $13 million in spending over the course of the year was approved Jan. 26 by the Township Council. The bulk of the authorization – more than $9.9 million – was for the township’s health plans: $6.5 million to Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NJ for medical insurance, $3.1 million to Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NJ for prescription …

Bids for the planned sound system in Middlebush Park were rejected Jan. 12 by the Township Council because the volume level specifications were found to be too low. Township Manager Robert Vornlocker said that he brought concerns about the volume, raised by Mayor Phillip Kramer, to Eric Zwerling of Rutgers University, a nationally known sound expert. Zwerling, Vornlocker said, agreed …

Purchases of $1,895,541.50 in goods and services were approved Sept. 8 by the Township Council. The council approved the $39,520 purchase of eight pole-mounted security cameras from Secure Future Tech Solutions of Warwick RI. The cameras, targeted for the Hamilton Street business district, feature wireless connectivity. The council also voted to purchase a 22-door by 24-foot steel pavilion for Consovoy …

Update: The bonding ordinances were approved at the May 26 council meeting. The Township Council at its May 12 meeting introduced three bonding ordinances worth $3.5 million for construction projects and equipment purchases and a $450,000 capital ordinance for equipment purchases. The $450,000 capital ordinance is targeted for two construction vehicles, one  fire prevention pick-up truck, one marked police car, four …