Township Council Taxes

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 …

Nearly $14 million in goods and services purchases were approved May 26 by the Township Council. The largest expenditure – $10,200,000 – was awarded to 17 companies for engineering consulting services. Each of the contracts is worth $600,000. The firms receiving the contracts are: Prestige Environmental, Inc., SomersetCME Associates, ParlinVan Cleef Engineering Associates, HillsboroughMott MacDonald, IselinBoswell Engineering, South HackensackGannett Fleming, …

Mayor Phil Kramer said the pandemic has not yet affected the township’s finances. (File photo.) Unlike some other towns in New Jersey, Franklin’s financial picture has not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, revenues are up when compared to the same period last year, Mayor Phil Kramer said. The only area showing a decrease is the water utility, …

The Township Council introduced a series of bonding ordinances at its April 28 virtual meeting. The Township Council on April 28 took several actions that will lead to spending nearly $17 million on equipment and capital improvement programs. The Council voted to amend the 2019 Community Block Grant Action Plan by transferring $170,793.95 in unused grant money for unfinished or …

Township Manager Robert Vornlocker presented the Council with a $63 million proposed budget. A $63 million spending plan was introduced March 10 by the Township Council. The $62,827,195.19 2020 budget – up $895,857 over the 2019 budget of $61,931,338 – is powered by a tax levy of $25,751,390.71. That’s an increase of $614,888.79 over the 2019 levy. Although the budget …

The Township Council on February 25 approved salary hikes for commissioners in two of the township’s Fire Districts. Salary hikes for Fire Commissioners in Fire Districts 1 and 2 were approved February 25 by the Township Council. The salary for commissioners in Fire District 1 – except the chairman – was increased from $7,000 to 8,000 annually, a 14 percent …

Carl Hauck, the township’s Public Works manager, FTPD Sgt. Brian Farrar, FTPD Lt. Phil Rizzo and Township Manager Robert Vornlocker, left to right, at the Township Council’s budget hearing on February 18. The Franklin Township Police Department presented the Township Council with nearly $3 million in budget wish-list requests at the Council’s second budget hearing on February 18. The requests …

The Township Council approved a number of purchases on December 10. Nearly $300,000 in purchases for the police, public works and fire prevention departments were approved December 10 by the Township Council. The council voted to award Atlantic Uniform Company of Belleville a $94,530 contract for the purchase of bullet proof vests for police officers. Kimco USA of Marshall, Illinois …