OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Reorganization Meeting - January 3, 2026

Township Council — Saturday, January 3, 2026
BodyFranklin Township, New Jersey
SessionTownship Council
DateSaturday, January 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:15:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I don't know.

0:17

Welcome everyone.

0:19

Welcome to Franklin's Reorg meeting.

0:22

I can't call the meeting to order because I don't have enough council people yet.

0:26

That's the order of the day, though.

0:31

I want to welcome everyone here for coming.

0:36

We have some dignitaries we're lucky to have here.

0:45

So I'm always nervous about this.

0:47

But as far as I know, we have Assemblyman Joe Danielson.

0:52

Assemblyman Kevin Egan.

0:57

Assemblyman Sharma Hayder.

1:03

Commissioner Director Chanel Robinson.

1:07

Commissioner Deputy Director Melanie Morano couldn't be here.

1:12

Commissioner Sarah Soy.

1:14

Commissioner Paul Drake.

1:16

Commissioner Elizabeth Granor.

1:22

Sheriff Darren Russo.

1:24

From our Board of Education, we have Maheir Rafik and Nicholas Domiglio.

1:30

We have Chairwoman Peg Schaefer, Chairman Ron Jordan, and my wife Laurie.

1:56

We're lucky to have the Cub Scout Pack.

3:01

My name is Father Tom Lanza, and I'm the new pastor at St.

3:04

Matthias Parish in School right down the road.

3:07

I just want to uh thank Mayor Kramer, all the uh newly appointed assemblymen, uh our new governor, Governor Sherrill, uh, and all of our faithful citizens here in the township of Franklin.

3:18

It's an honor to provide the invocation this year.

3:20

Let us just pause briefly.

3:22

Let's quiet our minds and our hearts and reflect and place this moment within a larger horizon than ourselves.

3:32

Gracious and provident God, source of all wisdom and truth, gather today mindful that public service is not merely a position of authority, but a sacred trust.

3:45

As scripture reminds us, where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

3:54

Proverbs.

4:13

Grant them clarity of mind, steadfast of heart, and integrity of purpose.

4:19

May their deliberations be marked not by division but by discernment.

4:25

Not by self-interest, but by care for the common good.

5:00

We also lift up, pray for, and recognize the leadership at our state level, Governor Sherrill.

5:04

As new responsibilities unfold and the scope of governance expands, we pray for wisdom equal to the moment.

5:13

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, spoken during a time of national trial.

5:19

He said, I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.

5:26

And of course, this is a reference to prayer.

5:30

May that same humility, awareness of limits, and pursuit of higher wisdom shape all who govern during our time.

5:38

Spirit of justice remind our leaders that authority is most authentic when it listens.

5:46

As Saint Augustine creatively observed, this interesting thing to say.

5:56

One is anger, not a mean or bad anger, but a righteous anger.

6:01

And the second is courage.

6:03

Anger at injustice and courage to implement change.

6:08

May our officials be rightly troubled by injustice, yet always guided by courage, rooted in compassion.

6:16

Let their work be animated by hope rather than fear, by truth rather than expediency.

6:24

Bless the people of Franklin Township, form us into a community that is engaged, patient, and generous.

6:32

Help us to hold our leaders accountable while also supporting them with prayer, dialogue, and goodwill.

6:39

And may we remember that civic life is a shared responsibility, and that the health of our township depends not only on those elected, but on the daily choices of all who call Franklin Township home.

6:52

Finally, O God, grant that the work begun here, contribute to a future marked by peace, fairness, and opportunity, and may a shared vision of hope, truth, and authenticity guide every vote cast, every policy shaped, and every decision made in service of our people.

7:13

And we offer this prayer and gratitude for the past, hope for the future, and trust in the enduring call to serve one another with both wisdom and love.

7:24

Amen.

7:25

Thank you.

7:27

Everyone be pleased be seated.

7:31

I think I forgot to mention Pendra Shevakula's here, former councilman, former assemblyman, former commissioner of the BPU.

7:40

If you look carefully around the room, you might notice a Naval Academy graduate, helicopter pilot, London School of Economics graduate, Arabic speaking, Georgetown Law School graduate, federal prosecutor, Congresswoman, and Governor elect.

8:02

But her most important job that she ever had is the mother of four children.

8:08

So a lot of accomplishments to be proud of.

8:23

And who knows where she'll be in seven or eleven years from now.

8:28

Okay.

8:30

It's now my pleasure for the best part of this whole show, the Marigols.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Historic Preservation█████████████████17%
Personnel Matters█████████████████17%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Arts And Culture████4%
Religious Land Use███3%
Voting Systems█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Franklin Township Council Reorganization Meeting - January 3, 2026

The Franklin Township Council held its annual reorganization meeting on January 3, 2026, at the Municipal Building. The meeting included the swearing-in of five council members, remarks from officials, appointment of a deputy mayor, public comments, and unanimous approval of numerous professional appointments, resolutions, and a consent agenda for 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolutions #26-001 through #26-035 were approved en bloc via the consent agenda. These included appointments to standing committees, council liaisons, reappointments to boards and commissions, and professional service agreements for attorneys, auditors, engineers, prosecutors, public defender, and other services. Also approved were resolutions authorizing depositories, cash management, delinquent tax interest rate, temporary budget, wedding fee donations, payroll services, postage, state contracts, tax lien redemptions, tax refunds, and consulting services. All votes were unanimous.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Commissioner Director Chanel Robinson congratulated council and pledged county partnership, stating "Diversity is our strength and unity is our power."
  • Ron Jordan, Democratic chair, thanked council for hard work and expressed commitment to supporting them.
  • Dina Lux, JFK Democratic Club president, congratulated council and pledged continued cooperation.
  • A former council member (from 1998) noted Franklin's diversity and recalled the bicentennial celebration.
  • Dr. Bob Samolola, planning board member, predicted Franklin would become the best place to live based on the council's determination.
  • Doc Cunningham discussed America's 250th anniversary and proposed a "reconstitution" phase for the nation.
  • Assemblywoman Shama Haider praised the Franklin Food Bank as an exemplary institution.
  • Alex Clark (396 Hamilton Street) announced upcoming ranked-choice voting events.

Discussion Items

  • Swearing-In of Council Members: Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill administered the oath of office to five council members: Ed Potosnak (Ward 1), Shepa Uddin (Ward 2), Charles Onyejiaka (Ward 3), Carl Wright (Ward 4), and James Vassanella (Ward 5). Each recited the constitutional oath.
  • Remarks by Council Members: Each gave brief remarks highlighting personal stories and priorities. Ed Potosnak emphasized unity during the semi-quincentennial and invited residents to upcoming events. Shepa Uddin pledged safe neighborhoods, opposition to warehouse expansion, responsible development, tax stabilization, and open space protection. Charles Onyejiaka promised continued dedication. Carl Wright thanked his family. James Vassanella noted his long residency, outlined upcoming projects (Eastern Avenue corridor, affordable housing plan, Catalpa Park, 250th anniversary events, infrastructure improvements), and reaffirmed commitment to mutual respect.
  • Deputy Mayor Election: Councilmember Alex Carrazi was nominated and unanimously elected as Deputy Mayor for a one-year term ending December 31, 2026. He was sworn in and gave remarks about his immigrant background and dedication to community.
  • Appointments of Attorneys and Professionals: The council approved nominations for Township Attorney (Louis Rainone, Rainone Coughlin Minchello), Tax Appeal Counsel (Michael Burns, Rainone Coughlin Minchello), Township Auditor (Robert Swisher, Suplee, Clooney & Company), Township Engineer (Robert Russo, Center State Engineering), Municipal Court Judge (Stephen H. Fleischer), Township Prosecutor (Mohamed S. Jalloh, Jalloh & Jalloh), Associate Township Prosecutor (Norman W. Albert), Alternate Township Prosecutor (Ryan V. Albert), and Public Defender (Dennis A. Auciello). All were approved by voice vote.
  • Mayoral Appointments: Mayor appointed Agnes Kulobama as Library Board trustee (5-year term), Deborah Kelly as Mayor's designee/trustee (1-year term), and Bob LeCourt as Class I Planning Board member (1-year term).
  • Approval of Warrants: A roll call vote unanimously approved warrants totaling $23,200,514.71 as of January 3, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • All five council members were sworn in for new terms: Ed Potosnak (Ward 1), Shepa Uddin (Ward 2), Charles Onyejiaka (Ward 3), Carl Wright (Ward 4), James Vassanella (Ward 5).
  • Alex Carrazi was elected Deputy Mayor for 2026.
  • Professional services agreements for 2026 were awarded with specified not-to-exceed amounts: Township Attorney ($605,000), Tax Appeal Counsel ($235,000), Township Auditor ($51,000), Township Engineer ($535,000), Township Prosecutor ($35,000), Associate Prosecutor ($30,500), Alternate Prosecutor ($10,000), Public Defender ($49,000), and others including financial consulting ($452,500) and land preservation consulting ($101,920).
  • Consent agenda containing 35 resolutions (items a through ae under item 17 in the agenda) was unanimously adopted, covering all listed professional appointments, depositories, budget, and operational matters.
  • Meeting adjourned after approval of all items.

Meeting Transcript

I don't know. Welcome everyone. Welcome to Franklin's Reorg meeting. I can't call the meeting to order because I don't have enough council people yet. That's the order of the day, though. I want to welcome everyone here for coming. We have some dignitaries we're lucky to have here. So I'm always nervous about this. But as far as I know, we have Assemblyman Joe Danielson. Assemblyman Kevin Egan. Assemblyman Sharma Hayder. Commissioner Director Chanel Robinson. Commissioner Deputy Director Melanie Morano couldn't be here. Commissioner Sarah Soy. Commissioner Paul Drake. Commissioner Elizabeth Granor. Sheriff Darren Russo. From our Board of Education, we have Maheir Rafik and Nicholas Domiglio. We have Chairwoman Peg Schaefer, Chairman Ron Jordan, and my wife Laurie. We're lucky to have the Cub Scout Pack. My name is Father Tom Lanza, and I'm the new pastor at St. Matthias Parish in School right down the road. I just want to uh thank Mayor Kramer, all the uh newly appointed assemblymen, uh our new governor, Governor Sherrill, uh, and all of our faithful citizens here in the township of Franklin. It's an honor to provide the invocation this year. Let us just pause briefly. Let's quiet our minds and our hearts and reflect and place this moment within a larger horizon than ourselves. Gracious and provident God, source of all wisdom and truth, gather today mindful that public service is not merely a position of authority, but a sacred trust. As scripture reminds us, where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs. Grant them clarity of mind, steadfast of heart, and integrity of purpose. May their deliberations be marked not by division but by discernment. Not by self-interest, but by care for the common good. We also lift up, pray for, and recognize the leadership at our state level, Governor Sherrill. As new responsibilities unfold and the scope of governance expands, we pray for wisdom equal to the moment. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, spoken during a time of national trial. He said, I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. And of course, this is a reference to prayer. May that same humility, awareness of limits, and pursuit of higher wisdom shape all who govern during our time. Spirit of justice remind our leaders that authority is most authentic when it listens. As Saint Augustine creatively observed, this interesting thing to say. One is anger, not a mean or bad anger, but a righteous anger. And the second is courage. Anger at injustice and courage to implement change. May our officials be rightly troubled by injustice, yet always guided by courage, rooted in compassion. Let their work be animated by hope rather than fear, by truth rather than expediency. Bless the people of Franklin Township, form us into a community that is engaged, patient, and generous. Help us to hold our leaders accountable while also supporting them with prayer, dialogue, and goodwill. And may we remember that civic life is a shared responsibility, and that the health of our township depends not only on those elected, but on the daily choices of all who call Franklin Township home. Finally, O God, grant that the work begun here, contribute to a future marked by peace, fairness, and opportunity, and may a shared vision of hope, truth, and authenticity guide every vote cast, every policy shaped, and every decision made in service of our people. And we offer this prayer and gratitude for the past, hope for the future, and trust in the enduring call to serve one another with both wisdom and love.

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