Franklin Township Council Work Session and Regular Meeting - April 28, 2026

The Franklin Township Council convened for a work session and regular meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the municipal building. The meeting included multiple proclamations, public comments, a detailed presentation of the Calendar Year 2026 Municipal Budget, adoption of a conservation easement ordinance, introduction of three bond ordinances, and approval of a consent agenda covering various resolutions.

Commendations & Proclamations

• Conference on Horseback Commendation: Mayor Kramer and Councilman Singh recognized George Luck and representatives from Kingston Deli & Cafe, Kingston Presbyterian Church, and Kingston United Methodist Church for their roles in the Franklin 250 celebration and reenactment of the Conference on Horseback. A commemorative coin program was also highlighted.
• Earth Day Proclamation: Councilman Anbarasan issued a proclamation recognizing Earth Day and community environmental efforts, presented to former Councilman Chase and Environmental Commissioner Paul Willetsky.
• Taiwanese American Heritage Week Proclamation: Deputy Mayor Kharazi proclaimed the week of May 17–23, 2026 as Taiwanese American Heritage Week in Franklin Township, honoring contributions of the Taiwanese American community.
• 60th Anniversary of St. Matthias School Proclamation: Councilman Vassanella proclaimed May 16, 2026 as St. Matthias School Day, celebrating the school’s 60 years of operation and its recognition as a National Blue Ribbon School. Father Tom, the new pastor, accepted and invited the community to a festival on May 16.
• 65th Anniversary of Sierra Leone Independence Proclamation: Councilman Onyejiaka and Councilman Vassanella proclaimed April 27, 2026 as Sierra Leone Independence Day, recognizing the local Sierra Leonean community’s contributions. A speaker from the community announced a celebration on May 2.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Phyllis Beals, co-chair of the Franklin Township Municipal Alliance Committee for the Prevention of Substance Abuse, urged the council to approve a $20,000 allocation from opiate settlement funds for the Community Recovery Champion (CRC) program with Communities in Crisis, a peer recovery center. She also announced new youth initiatives: Teen Smart Recovery meetings and a youth recovery committee seeking members.
• Theodore Chase, resident, thanked the council for approving the Lower Millstone Watershed Stormwater Management Plan and for committing a financial contribution, noting that 69% of Franklin Township falls within that watershed.
• Linda Powell, resident, expressed strong opposition to the Northeast Supply Enhancement (Nessie) Project, highlighting health and environmental impacts from a proposed gas compressor station and a new pipeline under Raritan Bay. She urged residents to contact Governor Murphy and participate in an upcoming virtual meeting with the Delaware River Basin Commission.
• Deborah Inman, resident, criticized the conduct of several council members, specifically Councilman Abarrison’s outburst at a prior meeting and Councilman Vornlocker’s abrasive tone. She called for respectful interactions and noted residents' hesitation to attend meetings due to fear of disrespectful treatment.

Council Comments & Reports

• Councilmembers reported on various events: Tour de Franklin (benefiting the food bank), a resource fair at the youth center with 26 businesses and motor vehicle services, land use meetings, YMCA fundraising, and public safety meetings.
• Councilman Wright discussed delays in the rollout of larger recycling bins by Somerset County due to insufficient automated collection trucks, noting a multi-year timeline.
• Deputy Mayor Kharazi thanked phyllis Beals and Linda Powell for their advocacy and noted his roles as a director at Masjid Ali and president of Sadek School.
• Mayor Kramer acknowledged well-wishes during his recent illness.

Township Manager's Report

• Announced a Senior Fraud Forum (April 29, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.), the third annual Art Opening (May 2, 1–4 p.m.), a QPR Suicide Prevention Certification Course (May6, 6:30–8:30 p.m.), and the Franklin 250 Passport Program, which encourages residents to visit local businesses to collect stamps for prizes.

Discussion Items: Shade Tree Commission Report

-Steve Gillooly, chair of the Shade Tree Commission, presented the commission’s annual report. Key points:

• Tree canopy loss: Franklin lost a couple hundred acres of tree coverage (most recent data from 2023) due to development and tree removal.
• Positive steps: Planted over 60 new trees in parks and roadways; community tree sale saw double the resident participation; partnered with Meadows Foundation to plant trees at historic properties.
• Received two Salem Oak saplings from the state; one planted at the municipal complex and one destined for the Van Liew-Suydam House.
• Ongoing tree inventory in wards four and five to inform the Community Forestry Management Plan, focusing on heat island effects and health impacts.
• Major project: Reforestation of Castleton Park (Bartha Woods) with approximately 100 trees; a bid request has been issued, with planting possible by summer or fall.
• Goals include updating the tree replacement ordinance to require higher costs and better formulas for developer tree removal, increasing community outreach, and working with the Board of Education to plant trees on school grounds.
• Councilman Singh suggested exploring a cherry blossom tree initiative to attract tourism; Councilwoman Francois emphasized the need for resident education on tree maintenance and appropriate species. The commission noted that all projects are funded from a dedicated trust fund, not the general budget.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda Approved (unanimous): Resolutions #26-181 through #26-195 were adopted as a block, including:
  • Tax title lien redemptions, refunds of tax and water overpayments, cancellation of uncollectible taxes.
  • Release of inspection escrow (1340 Hamilton Street).
  • Release of performance guarantee for The Marigold (315 Churchill Avenue)."). - Award bids: Coppermine Road Resurfacing ($496,584.65 to Fischer Contracting Inc.), Cedar Brook Drive Resurfacing ($360,724.50 to Meco Inc.), Sterling Road Area Resurfacing ($648,322.99 to Fischer Contracting Inc.), Fireworks Show ($24,900 to KS Productions d/b/a Schaefer Fireworks, rain date July10), Bus Transportation ($60,000 annually to FirstStudent Inc.), Screen Printing Apparel ($100,000 annually to Dot Desigging). - ESCNJ purchase: Install new plow on Freightliner ($53,358 to Cliffside Body Corporation). - Refund of costruction water meter escrows. - Allocation of Opiate Funds ($20,000 annually to Community Recovery Champion Program). - Excusal of Councilwoman Shepa Uddin from meetings on April28 and May12.
• Ordinance No. 4503-26 Adopted (unanimous): An ordinance accepting a conservation easement and permanent access easement from 31 Voorhees LLC on three blocks in Franklin Township.
• CY2026 Municipal Budget Introduced (unanimous): The council introduced Ordinance No. 4502-26 (to exceed budget caps and establish a CAP bank), Resolution #26-179 (self-examination), and Resolution #26-180 (introduction of the $75,289,361.55 budget with a public hearing set for May 26, 2026). The budget reflects a 7% increase in the municipal tax levy, increasing the average home's municipal tax by $74 to $1,374.10. Key drivers: health care costs (+$1.067M), library tax increase ($704,688), snow removal ($250,000), recycling and trash ($460,000). Mitigations included elimination of 8 vacant positions, use of $10.32 million in fund balance (down from $28 million), and shifting some employee costs to the open space trust fund. The council engaged in extensive discussion aboutfiscal sustainability, noting the risk of a structural deficit if fund balance continues to decline.
• Ordinances on First Reading Introduced (unanimous): - Ordinance No. 4504-26: Bond ordinance for $8,049,100 in capital improvements and equipment, issuing $6,979,145 in bonds. - Ordinance No. 4505-26: Bond ordinance for the Water Utility, $4,588,000 in capital improvements, issuing $4,588,000 in bonds. - Ordinance No. 4506-26: Capital ordinance using $293,500 from the Open Space Trust Fund for capital acquisitions and improvements. All set for public hearing and final adoption on May 12, 2026 (except the budget hearing is on May 26).