Franklin Township Council Work Session/Regular Meeting - June 12, 2025

The Franklin Township Council met in a work session/regular meeting at the Municipal Building on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 7 p.m. The meeting included Pride Month and community commendations, unanimous adoption of a resolution opposing the Williams Transco Compressor Station 206 / Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, introduction of two ordinances, adoption of the consent agenda, and appointments to a new Franklin 250 committee.

Commendations & Proclamations

• Councilmember Potosnak read a Pride Month proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Pride Month and highlighted the second annual Franklin Pride event, which exceeded its 150-person goal with 185 attendees and 22 community organizations despite rain.
• Councilman Anbarasan commended the Franklin Food Bank after it received the 2025 Community Champion Hunger Leadership Award from the Congressional Hunger Center on June 4, 2025. In 2024 the Food Bank distributed 3.1 million pounds of food, facilitated more than 30,000 client visits, mobilized more than 17,000 volunteer hours, and 94% of client families reported an improved capacity to afford other essential needs. Executive Director Derek Smith said food insecurity should not exist and pledged the Food Bank's continued presence.
• Councilman Anbarasan also presented commendations to Kavinitha Venkatesh and Charity Crossing for monthly animal shelter donations, donations to the youth center and senior center, school supplies, and other community support. Venkatesh, a high school senior selected for Governor's School, spoke about starting volunteer work in Delaware warehouses.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zoe, a Franklin High School ninth grader, asked the Council to support her petition to county and state DOTs to survey, assess, and reduce the 40 mph speed limit on Franklin Boulevard from Easton Avenue to Somerset Street. She said the corridor had not been assessed in at least a decade and that speeding and unsafe crosswalks endanger students walking to school.
• Leslie Primo, 21 Phillips Court, supported the petition and described incomplete sidewalks, undefined crosswalks, and crossing guards nearly being struck. She asked the town to support an assessment or bus students.
• Christopher Rios-Supercrupi, 16 Bloomfield Avenue, thanked the Pride Planning Committee and Council leadership for the Pride festival.
• Kirk Frost thanked the Council for passing the NESE resolution. He said FERC comments are due Tuesday at 5 p.m., urged a full new project review rather than an expedited review, and said the DEP air permit omits methane, carbon dioxide, and most toxic pollutants.
• Linda Powell, 22 Buffer Drive, said Williams Transco received its air permit before New Jersey adopted stricter regulations and would not pass today. She supported reviving the task force and said the community had won this fight before.
• Dr. Donald Lisi, 12 Lyndhurst Drive, chair of the Franklin Township Board of Health Advisory Council, expressed support. He cited health risks including cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and cancer effects, said compressor stations account for roughly 98-99% of volatile organic compounds and 57-61% of nitrogen oxide compounds that form ozone, and warned that vulnerable older adult communities and children would be affected.
• Jim Waltman, executive director of the Watershed Institute, commended the NESE resolution and the consent agenda resolution supporting removal of the Blackwells Mills Dam. He described the 2017 removal of the Weston Mill Dam in Manville, after which American shad returned and spawned, as a rare chance to restore lost river habitat.
• Javon Walker, 15 Cune Street, congratulated Councilman Wright on his primary win, noted his own fourth ward primary campaign, and proposed a reusable cup deposit system modeled on a German soccer stadium as a waste-reduction idea.
• Beverly Lawson, 2004 Amwell Road, complained that township parks are filthy, including beer bottles, condoms, and trash at South Middlebush Park, and asked the Council to address after-hours park use and issue a Veterans Month proclamation.

Council Comments & Township Manager Report

• Deputy Mayor Dean said four police officers have been assigned to traffic enforcement to target speeding and road safety; the planning board attorney has appealed the judge's decision in the B9 warehouse matter; senior seminars and a July health fair series are planned; and PGM Community Garden is seeking volunteers.
• Councilman Carazi urged blood donations, especially O-type blood, and announced a July 5 blood drive, a July 12 firefly walk and astronomy event at John Clyde Memorial, and a June 25 HRC meeting.
• Councilman Potosnak announced an information session on the Williams Transco/NESE project on Tuesday, June 17, at the Board of Education administrative complex, including intervener training; he said people who commented in the old docket must re-intervene under the new docket number.
• Councilman Anbarasan announced three Heller Foundation scholarships this year, the upcoming Juneteenth event, and a Franklin Food Bank poetry contest with 1,500 student entries and 15 finalists.
• Councilwoman Francois reported on a graduation from the ARPA/CARES Act-funded construction/civil program, saying the program gave young people purpose.
• Councilman Onichaka reported heavy truck and lorry parking along Whitehall Road on both sides, obstructing traffic.
• Township Manager Bob Vornlocker noted that American shad may return to the Millstone River if the Blackwells Mills Dam is removed, and announced a July 1 public information session on the Grigstown Causeway and related intersection improvements at the Somerset County Administration Building.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the Township Council Work Session/Regular Meetings of March 25, April 22, May 13, and May 27, 2025.
• Approved warrants totaling $10,973,677.49.
• Adopted Resolutions #25-225 through #25-265 in one block without any items being pulled. These included:
  • Financial and administrative actions: tax title lien redemptions; tax and water overpayment refunds; hardship water leak charge adjustments; planning review escrow, inspection escrow, performance guarantee, and off-site bond releases for HESP Solar LLC, 41 Moonachie LLC, DPIF3 NJ 12 Belmont LLC, and Gabriel Roman; and a $29,000 budget transfer from gas-motor fuels to telephone utilities.
  • Purchases and contracts: a John Deere 5095M utility tractor with attachments ($185,207.77); replacement service body for Vehicle #984 ($13,186); skid steer broom ($11,688.40); three GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks ($159,645.42); a water department utility vehicle ($39,987.50); a non-CDL basin flush truck ($460,595, up from a $424,673 quote, attributed to tariffs); GIS roadway asset inventory ($42,660); mobile and portable radios ($70,906.71); upfit lights and equipment for three GMC trucks ($80,269.92); 19 in-car video cameras for the police department ($209,657.40 over five years, with year one at $41,931.48); police duty and practice ammunition ($41,133.04); a Freightliner SD108 cab and chassis ($137,397.64); four electric SUVs for the construction department ($219,600); fire hydrants and replacement parts ($150,000 per year per vendor for two years); Vac-Con equipment parts and repair services ($125,000 per year for two years); special duty management services; and a one-year extension of the water meter contract with Core & Main (up to $3,000,000).
  • Road and public works bids: Van Doren Avenue area resurfacing ($652,878.73); Old Georgetown Road area resurfacing ($526,617.77); Sebring Road area resurfacing ($682,559.67); Howard Avenue area resurfacing ($141,046.50); Delar Park and Charles Street walking path resurfacing ($58,637.50); and Canal Road timber guiderail Phase 8 ($52,224).
  • Permits and special events: youth soccer tournament (July 12-13); Theo A. Cannabis Co. July 4 celebration; First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens fellowship day (July 26); Palace at Somerset Park fireworks for the NJAJ Gala (June 25); Juneteenth Committee community event (June 14); renewal of 2025-26 club, plenary retail consumption, and distribution licenses; and other special event permits.
  • Policy and planning: MOU with Somerset County for printing services; support for removal of the Blackwells Mills Dam; renewal of the HOME Consortium cooperation agreement for 2026-2028; support of a preliminary preferred alternative for Easton Avenue (CR 527) transportation improvements; and other routine actions.

Ordinances on First Reading

• Ordinance #4469-25, amending Chapter 384 (Water) regarding terms, quarterly consumption charges, and meter accessibility, was introduced on first reading. The proposed tiered quarterly rates are: 0-10,000 gallons at a 5% increase ($82.03 per 10,000 gallons), 10,001-25,000 gallons at 7%, 25,001-50,000 gallons at 12%, 50,001-100,000 gallons at 17.5%, and over 100,000 gallons at 27.5%. The plan is based on 2024 usage of 1.809 billion gallons billed. Apartment accounts would receive a flat 15% increase to avoid being pushed into higher tiers by aggregated meter use; the resulting revenue increase is approximately $2.422 million. Mayor Kramer noted that the tiers are quarterly, not monthly. The ordinance also includes an automatic pass-through of future supplier water rate increases. Public hearing and final adoption are scheduled for June 24, 2025, at 7 p.m.
• Ordinance #4470-25, amending Chapter 115 (Dogs and Other Animals), Article III, Animal Control, Section 115-25 (Fees), was introduced on first reading. Most fees have not changed since 2006-2007, are below neighboring community fees, and the request came from volunteer animal caretakers. Public hearing and final adoption are scheduled for June 24, 2025, at 7 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution #25-266 was moved ahead in the agenda and adopted unanimously by roll call (9-0), opposing construction of Compressor Station 206 and the entire Williams Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project. South Brunswick's legal department requested a copy of the resolution and may adopt a similar one.
• The consent agenda containing Resolutions #25-225 through #25-265 was adopted.
• Minutes and warrants were approved.
• Both ordinances were introduced on first reading for a June 24 public hearing.
• Mayor Kramer nominated and the Council approved by acclamation members of the new Franklin 250 committee: Bill Grippo, Chris Kelly, Alan Hurley, Glenn McFarland, George Luck, Terry Sergio, James Bassanella as citizen member, and Jennifer Welch, with Mayor Kramer as liaison.
• There was no executive session; the meeting was adjourned.