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.
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.