OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Meeting - August 12, 2025

Township Council — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
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The Open Public Meeting Act of the State of New Jersey, adequate notice of this work session, regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was made as required, indicating that this meeting would take place at the municipal building at 7 p.m.

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on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.

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Thank you.

0:17

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation by Dr.

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Carazi.

0:26

I pledge allegiance to the nine.

0:41

Good evening, everyone.

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Let us take the next few moments of silence to each seek in our own way.

0:49

Whatever sources of an inspiration will grant us this strength and power in our thoughts and decisions to be for the benefit of old people at all times.

1:01

Amen.

1:07

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:10

Councilman Embarrison.

1:11

Here.

1:11

Councilwoman Francois.

1:13

Councilman Karazi.

1:15

Here.

1:15

Mayor Kramer.

1:16

Here.

1:16

Councilman Onichaka?

1:18

Yeah.

1:18

Councilmember Bataznik.

1:20

President.

1:20

Deputy Mayor Udine.

1:22

Here.

1:22

Councilman Vassanella.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Councilman Wright.

1:25

You're at item number five on the agenda.

1:28

Copies of the agenda are there near the clerk.

1:31

That's the commendations and proclamations.

1:35

We have none.

1:36

Ron to number six, public discussion.

1:38

Do I have unanimous consent for to open to the public?

1:44

Seeing no one uh objecting, we're open to the public.

1:50

Uh your anyone is allowed to speak about anything related to government.

1:54

You are limited to five minutes, no yielding of time.

1:59

Um may only come up once.

2:01

And please state your name and address.

2:10

Good evening.

2:11

I'm Diane Harris, Fort King Road.

2:14

Excuse me.

2:15

I I can't hear the microphone.

2:18

Is it on?

2:21

We gotta go closer.

2:22

I think I have a bit.

2:23

Okay.

2:25

It's not the greatest microphone.

2:26

Maybe you just go a little closer.

2:29

Thank you.

2:30

Okay.

2:30

Um Diane Harris of Fort King Road, Somerset, New Jersey, and I'm representing the Parkside Senior Citizens Club.

2:40

And with me, you can see I have some of my members, not all.

2:44

We have a club of 135 senior citizens throughout the township of Franklin.

2:51

And um they're here though to show you that we represent all of you, we're all of your constituents, and we've been trying for the last during my tenure, three years, to have some improvements made to the senior center, and we keep getting promises, it'll be done this.

3:11

So I'm not going to take you back to 2022 when we started.

3:15

I'm just going to go back to the last email that I received in June when I asked what is going on.

3:21

And curb cutouts.

3:24

Um, near the accessible spaces.

3:26

Do you understand that you have handicapped parking spaces throughout this complex, and the curb cutouts are not by the handicapped spaces?

3:35

The curb cutouts push you into the street to walk to further go up to a doorway.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability████████████████16%
Parks and Recreation████████████12%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Animal Welfare███████7%
Public Works███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Voting Systems█████5%
Taxation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Meeting - August 12, 2025

The Franklin Township Council held a work session and regular meeting on August 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting included public comments on senior center improvements, emergency response times, a proposed animal ordinance, and property tax increases. Council discussed and acted on multiple ordinances, resolutions, and appointments.

Consent Calendar

  • Warrants approved: $10,608,716.62 for August 12, 2025.
  • Consent Agenda adopted: 47 items (Resolutions #25-316 through #25-362) including tax lien redemptions, refunds, contract awards, grants, special event permits, and lease extensions. All passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Senior Center Improvements: Diane Harris (4 King Road, Parkside Senior Citizen Club), Agnes Kulu-Banya (165 Columbus Drive), and Joyce Lee (36 Timberhill Drive) described unmet needs: curb cuts, painting, kitchen renovations, landscaping, benches, lighting, and lack of free lunches. They expressed frustration with broken promises since 2022.
  • Emergency Response: Karen Newman (56 Bryant Court) detailed the death of her husband Jonathan from cardiac arrest at Canal Walk on March 14, 2025. She cited delays in police response, improper CPR, and late AED use. Jan Brandt (22 Bryant Court, a nurse) recommended “Jonathan’s Law” requiring AED and CPR training in senior communities.
  • Cat Colony Ordinance (4471-25):
    • Opposed: Danielle Reiss (78 Tumble Falls Road, Tabby’s Place), Laurie Stagneto (animal advocate), Jane (142 Bennington Parkway). They argued a feeding ban is cruel, discourages trap-neuter-return (TNR), and increases nuisance behaviors.
    • Supported: Rob Johnson (15 Martin Street) and Valerie Martelli (41 Crabapple Lane) thanked the council for addressing cleanup costs and health concerns.
    • Bill Connell (25 Spring Street) opposed, citing wildlife attraction (raccoons) and impractical enforcement.
  • Property Taxes: Young So (128 Selby Court) reported a 22.8% tax increase and questioned the hike. Javahn Walker (15 Kuhn Street) asked how to challenge assessments and sought appointments to committees. Mayor Kramer and Township Attorney Rainone explained the breakdown: the municipal portion rose 2.6% (only $24.51 of So’s increase), with most increases due to school levy (+10.7%) and assessment changes.
  • Ranked Choice Voting: Alex Clark (396 Hamilton Street) and Bill Connell (25 Spring Street) supported exploring ranked choice voting, correcting misconceptions about cost and efficacy.
  • Other: Benjamin Guy (35 Patton Drive) asked about use of surplus and cannabis application fees (Acting Manager Dominach confirmed no local applications). Elorm Ocansey (67 Alcorne Street) sought appointment to the Hamilton Street Advisory Board. East Franklin Fire House read a letter from Chief Krushinski proposing the vacant First Aid Squad building be used for firefighter housing.

Discussion Items

  • Senior Center: Councilman Kharazi (liaison) listed $889,500 in recent improvements (new roof, carpet, doors, boiler, generator) and said curb cuts, painting, kitchen renovations, and benches are scheduled. He offered to follow up.
  • Taxes & Budget: Mayor Kramer displayed a spreadsheet (available at TinyURL.com/FranklinTax2025ez2) showing that council-controlled taxes rose only 2.6% ($24.51 for a typical home). He argued the system is regressive and supported Resolution #25-364 to push for property tax-based school funding reform. Several council members echoed this, noting the school board’s 10.7% levy increase.
  • Cat Ordinance: Council postponed detailed discussion until second reading on September 9, 2025.
  • First Aid Squad Building: Mayor Kramer stated the property is being acquired (Ordinance 4473-25) and use is undecided. Councilman Vassanella noted potential for volunteer firefighter housing.
  • World Cup Broadcast: Councilman Anbarasan mentioned a meeting with a local church about hosting a broadcast; costs are being evaluated.
  • Other Reports:
    • Deputy Mayor Uddin: Planning Board met on B9 warehouse with 30 conditions; next step is court review in September. Issued updates on NJDOT grants and NESE project hearing on September 10.
    • Councilman Onyejiaka: Requested speed bumps on Westminster Road and parking fixes in Glen Townhouse area.
    • Councilman Wright: Community garden at Parkside is being maintained by a new team; market-rate, affordable, and voucher housing plans are awaited from RPM.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 4472-25 (Police appointment requirements): Adopted on second reading (unanimous).
  • Ordinance 4471-25 (Animals and cat colonies): Introduced on first reading; public hearing set for September 9, 2025 (unanimous).
  • Ordinance 4473-25 (Acquire property from First Aid Squad): Introduced on first reading; public hearing on September 9, 2025 (unanimous).
  • Ordinance 4474-25 (Rezone GB to R-7): Introduced on first reading; public hearing on September 30, 2025 (unanimous).
  • Resolution #25-364 (Letter to State Legislators on Tax Reform): Adopted (unanimous).
  • Resolution #25-365 (Special Event Permit for Week of the People): Adopted (unanimous).
  • Appointments: Javahn Walker appointed to the Youth Services Commission/Alliance Against Drug Abuse for an unexpired term (acclamation). Other appointments deferred to September for further review.
  • Executive Session: Authorized to discuss potential open space acquisitions (West Point Avenue and Brenner Property) and litigation (SHI International).

Meeting Transcript

The Open Public Meeting Act of the State of New Jersey, adequate notice of this work session, regular meeting of the Franklin Township Council was made as required, indicating that this meeting would take place at the municipal building at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025. Thank you. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for the invocation by Dr. Carazi. I pledge allegiance to the nine. Good evening, everyone. Let us take the next few moments of silence to each seek in our own way. Whatever sources of an inspiration will grant us this strength and power in our thoughts and decisions to be for the benefit of old people at all times. Amen. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Councilman Embarrison. Here. Councilwoman Francois. Councilman Karazi. Here. Mayor Kramer. Here. Councilman Onichaka? Yeah. Councilmember Bataznik. President. Deputy Mayor Udine. Here. Councilman Vassanella. Here. Councilman Wright. You're at item number five on the agenda. Copies of the agenda are there near the clerk. That's the commendations and proclamations. We have none. Ron to number six, public discussion. Do I have unanimous consent for to open to the public? Seeing no one uh objecting, we're open to the public. Uh your anyone is allowed to speak about anything related to government. You are limited to five minutes, no yielding of time. Um may only come up once. And please state your name and address. Good evening. I'm Diane Harris, Fort King Road. Excuse me. I I can't hear the microphone. Is it on? We gotta go closer. I think I have a bit. Okay. It's not the greatest microphone. Maybe you just go a little closer. Thank you. Okay.

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