Township Council Taxes

Township Councilman Will Galtieri announces that he will no longer pursue the proposed “Grandparents’ park” project at the virtual January 26 Township Council meeting. The push to build a pocket park on Willow Avenue formally ended on January 26, with Township Councilman Will Galtieri publicly pulling the plug on his brainchild. “I have heard you loud and clear and at …

Township Councilwoman Kimberly Francois said during the January 25 Redevelopment Agency meeting that the Council is “not going forward” on the proposed Grandparent’s Park project. A controversial plan to build a small park on Willow Avenue, near New Brunswick Road, appears to be dead, according to a comment made by a Township Councilwoman. Councilwoman Kimberly Francois (D-At Large) made the …

The Township Council heard from residents on January 12 during a virtual hearing involving a proposed park at Willow Avenue and New Brunswick Road. Residents opposed to a proposed “Grandparents’ Park” in Somerset spent more than two hours January 12 expressing their feelings about the plan to the Township Council. The Council held a special hearing on the plan, necessitated …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Franklin Township is not likely to join the “defund the police” campaign that is arising across the country, officials said on June 11. The reason, officials say, is that the township police department isn’t funded to the extent that would make that practical. The comments came from Mayor Phil Kramer, Township Manager Robert Vornlocker and Public Safety Director Quovella Spruill …

The township will distribute about $161,000 to support the Franklin Food Bank, COVID testing, and to help township businesses retain employees. The money comes from a special Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act allocation made through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Council members decided to allocate $85,933 to small township businesses, $50,000 for coronavirus testing and …