The Franklin Township Council held its regular meeting on November 26, 2024, at the municipal complex. The meeting included public comment, adoption of ordinances, approval of resolutions, and council reports. Key topics included a resident's concerns about Fire District 3 commissioners, approval of utility bill payments for the Meadows Foundation, and discussion of the proposed 2025 council meeting schedule.
All consent agenda items were approved unanimously by roll call vote.
And uh remind yourself that uh December eighth from two to four PM at the Bay Lou Stan House. Hi, thank you. Thanks. Connolly Road, Somerset, New Jersey. Um, Mayor Kramer, Council members at large, and Ward Commissioners. Um, I emailed all of you a copy of a letter that I'm going to read to you real quick. Uh, I literally just emailed it to you within the last hour. Um, I'm writing the council as a resident of the fourth ward of Franklin Township. Um, I've been a homeowner actually as of ten years today, is when we made settlement on our home. Um, go figure. And wanted to voice my opinion on what I learned uh yesterday, actually, regarding what uh we'll be going up for vote in the town council at the next meeting, I believe. Uh, I've been informed that there will be a vote with the counts uh town council for increasing pay for the elected commissioners of the third fire district. Um, I find this to be quite surprising to hear about this as I've been going to the district meetings since June when threats of closing East Franklin Fire Department started uh for not signing the twenty twenty-four contract. Most of the commissioners had drafted the contract and were unwilling to negotiate fairly uh the terms of uh with East Franklin Fire Department. Uh, from June through October, I attended the monthly Tuesday meetings at the district office where a lack of professionalism disrespect was often shown by the commissioners in their attendance and lack of effective communication to the other members of the board and those attending attending from the gallery. Two specific times were both in the month of July. Uh first uh on July 9th, Commissioner Chairman Middleton did not attend the commissioner uh commission uh excuse me, did not attend and had Commissioner Reed oversee the meeting. Commissioner Reed did not follow the procedures that had been dictated by the bylaw set in 1976 when it came when it became evident that Commissioner Reed was not following the bylaws. Commissioner Ferretti pointed out and insisted that they be followed. Another time was the previous night when a special meeting was called on July 8th, which Mayor Kramer, you attended yourself. Um this was a special meeting called on the board to discuss the new contract, which only two members, uh Commissioners Ferretti and Braxton attended. This meeting did not have a quorum as there were not enough members to uh present to officially hold the meeting or have a productive conversation. There's been a lack of communication from the commissioners to the attendees to these meetings. For example, Chairman Middleton had spoken about having paid firefighters uh take over East Franklin for coverage and also and also the increased cost of the new fire apparatus. I posed the I posed questions to the board, and no one would have given uh would give me a direct answer. I asked where the budget was coming for paid firefighters, and I also asked commissioners would they forgo their pay for the rest of their terms to pay for the cost overage of the new fire apparatus uh to all set what was going to be incurred by the residents of the of the fire district three. After both questions, all all the commissioners put their heads down with the exception of Commissioner Ferretti, but none of them would provide an appreciable response. As commissioners, if they if they are going to be make statements on the record for for the fire district, shouldn't they be able to answer questions posed regarding those decisions and how they will directly affect the residents? I rarely observe productive conversation between the commissioners when it came to issues, including but not include but not limited to reprimands towards firefighters at fire calls, handling of incidents at fire scenes that required OSHA to be involved, the payment of bills to allow for equipment, fuel, and training to be voted on, and and what if any headway was being made when it came to purchasing a new fire apparatus needed by East Franklin Fire Department. Two things that were continuously brought up by numerous attendees at the meetings. Um questioning why are why are uh why are we paying for physicals of members of the board uh when none are going going and participating on actual fire calls? And has everyone on the board performed all their mandated courses needed to be on the board? Commissioner Ferretti had pointed out uh out the needed courses during the it was either the July or August meeting, and certain commissioners had not submitted the courses course completion or reimbursement for the courses to the board. I find it appalling that a that a pay increase was even brought up as as up as a taxpayer seeing the utter lack of commitment to the job they were elected to and numerous absences targeting this by certain members, which which is public record. Uh there were two account, there were two occurrences uh this year where two where one member did not show up, period. Um if the schedule of the meetings is set months in advance. Why is it so hard not to not to plan for them? I made myself available for for the last five months, and other than the special October 16th Zoom meeting on top of a full-time job and my family obligations. I do not get paid my full wage if I do not show up for work on time or leave early, and yet these standards do not seem to hold true for the commissioners. After everything that was transpired over the last five months, I've chosen to run for commissioner in February. Commissioners are supposed to be tasked with the safekeeping of the firefighters that are volunteer to protect the residents. Other than Commissioner Ferretti, it does not seem like any of the other commissioners are taking the safety of the neighbors and the well-being of the fellow residents seriously. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? See no one coming forward from the public mayor. Moved and seconded. Second. Thank you for the second. All in favor say aye.