Township Council Taxes

A water main break over the Memorial Day weekend has been fixed, and the damaged road repaired. Township manager Robert Vornlocker told the Township Council at its May 27 meeting that the work did not cost the $75,000 allowed in an emergency resolution it eventually passed for the repair. Vornlocker said a 16-inch pipe burst on May 25, and “compromised the …

The potential for a sound system to be added to the athletic complex at Middlebush Park, off DeMott Lane, sparked a debate among residents at the May 13 Township Council meeting. In general, residents who live near the area were opposed to the idea, while residents connected with the various sports organizations that use it were supportive. Residents who live …

A $57 million spending plan for 2014 that includes money for road repaving and new sidewalks in parts of the township was approved May 13 by the Township Council. As he did when the spending plan was introduced, Mayor Brian Levine (R) cast the lone “no” vote. Levine objects to the $2.5 million allocation for road projects and the $750,000 allocation for …

Repaving of New Brunswick Road between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and DeMott Lane is expected to start about May 15. The Township Council at its April 22 meeting awarded a $384,381.78 contract for the work to Sayreville-based Z Brothers Concrete Contractors. The company was one of nine bidders vying for the job, according to township documents. Township Clerk Ann Marie …

A water main shutdown by the South Brunswick water utility from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 will interrupt water service for some Franklin residents. According to a notice released by the township, the shutdown will affect all water services south of Princeton Highlands Boulevard (Allston Road) on Routes 27 and 518 will be interrupted. For more information, call …

All but one of the 11 members of the nascent Hamilton Street Advisory Board were named April 22 by the Township Council, although the final picks were not unanimous. The 10 names were drawn from a list of 15 business owners and residents of the Hamilton Street business district. The district runs from about Franklin Boulevard to near the New …

Several groups hoping to get Community Development Block Grant funding for projects ranging from helping homeowners who are facing foreclosure to renovating kitchens in a senior residence made their pitches April 8 before the Township Council. The council’s finance committee will review all 14 grant applications and make its recommendations at a later date. The township received $254,170 in CDBG …

A partisan debate over new sidewalks and road resurfacing projects punctuated the introduction of the 2014 budget at the April 8 Township Council meeting. But when the dust settled, the proposed $57 million spending plan – which calls for a 3.6 percent increase in the amount to be raised by taxes – was introduced. Mayor Brian Levine, the lone Republican …

A vacant building on Lewis Street, owned by the Somerset Community Action Program, is being eyed by the Township Council as a youth/community center. The council at its March 25 meeting gave the go-ahead to township manager Bob Vornlocker to hire the engineering firm CME to take a thorough look at the building and estimate what it would cost to …

The “how to” of the township entering into an energy aggregation contract was explained to the Township Council at its March 24 meeting. Gary Finger, an ombudsman from the state Board of Public Utilities, explained the process by which the township would contract for energy supplies for all township residents. Towns have had the authority to enter in the contracts …