Franklin Township Board of Health Annual Meeting - June 23, 2026

The Franklin Township Board of Health held its annual meeting on June 23, 2026, at the municipal building. The agenda included approval of the previous year's minutes, an annual report from the Somerset County Department of Health, a presentation from the Advisory Board of Health, and public comment. The meeting highlighted ongoing public health efforts, data on communicable diseases, and community outreach initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the Board of Health annual meeting from June 24, 2025, were approved by roll call vote. Council members voting "yes" included Councilman Embarrison, Deputy Mayor Carazi, Mayor Kramer, Councilwoman Udin, Councilman Vasanella, and Councilman Singh.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ken Berkowitz (Seven Mayflower Court, Somerset, NJ) addressed the board, expressing concern about the health and environmental threats from diesel emissions due to ongoing warehouse development in Franklin Township. He cited reports from the New Jersey State Planning Commission and the World Health Organization classifying diesel exhaust as carcinogenic. Berkowitz requested that the Board of Health and the Advisory Board have representatives on the zoning and planning boards to discuss health impacts of proposed developments.

Discussion Items

Somerset County Department of Health 2025 Annual Report

• Mike McCarty, Deputy Director of the Somerset County Department of Health, presented the annual report. He defined public health as promoting and protecting health for all people, emphasizing science-based, evidence-backed efforts.
• Key statistics for Franklin Township in 2025:
  • Consumer Health: Complaints included retail food establishments, garbage/debris, vermin/insect, property maintenance, and housing.
  • Environmental Compliance: 125 investigations/inspections (including air, noise, water, solid waste).
  • Communicable Diseases: 622 total cases tracked, with COVID-19 as the most prevalent (top five: COVID-19, Lyme disease, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, Campylobacter).
  • Lead Poisoning: 20 nurse case management cases in Franklin, zero requiring environmental abatement (indicating relatively modern housing stock).
  • Public Health Preparedness: 4,418 COVID-19 kits distributed; 109 groups/individuals reached through targeted outreach; 11 exercises conducted.
  • Medical Reserve Corps: 56 approved volunteers, estimated $10,000 economic contribution.
• Health Education: Programs included diabetes self-management, chronic disease self-management, and one-hour "Healthies" presentations for seniors (age 60+) on topics like heart health and fall prevention. The department also offers ServSafe certification for restaurants.
• Accreditation: The county health department expects to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board in August 2026, becoming one of the first counties in New Jersey to hold that status.
• Council questions and follow-ups:
  • Councilwoman Udin requested information on Healthies presentations for adult communities and discussed vaccine clinics for seniors. Mike McCarty agreed to connect her with health educators Nicole Catul and Stacy.
  • Councilman Wright inquired about cross-posting important recalls (e.g., food recalls) to the main county social media pages for broader reach. He noted that while LYNKS alerts are sent, not all are widely shared.
  • Councilman Vasanella asked for data on plan approval times for new businesses and reasons for disapprovals. Mike McCarty committed to providing that data, noting that a new tracking system can capture review timelines.
  • Councilman Singh asked about the source of Campylobacter cases (restaurant vs. home). McCarty said he would follow up with the nursing coordinator.
  • Deputy Mayor Carazi asked if any towns had left the county health system; McCarty reported no departures, and in fact, Bound Brook and South Bound Brook joined after their regional health office dissolved.
  • Councilman Wright questioned public access to residential complaint data. McCarty explained that retail food establishment complaints are online, but residential complaints require an OPRA request. He noted the county has modernized the FOIA portal for tracking requests.
  • Councilman Embarrison asked about budget cuts; McCarty said no staff were lost, though some federal grant funding was reduced. County support prevented service reductions.

Advisory Board of Health Report

• Donna Lisi, Chair of the Franklin Township Board of Health Advisory Council, presented a summary of the council's activities from fall 2024 to June 2026. The council's mission is to advise the town council on public health matters through evidence-based recommendations.
• Key activities and partnerships:
  • Hosted speakers from Sisters to Sisters Network (breast cancer support), Somerset County Department of Human Services (door-to-door canvassing program), Central Jersey Housing Resource Center, Franklin Township Public Library, Go Trenton electric vehicle ride-share, Zufall Health, Prevention Resources, Communities in Crisis, and others.
  • Collaborated on a vape take-back program with Sergeant Martinez and TerraCycle, collecting vape pens from Somerset and Hunterdon public schools.
  • Conducted Save a Life Day events at the Franklin Food Bank and Senior Center, distributing 36 boxes of naloxone at the Senior Center alone. Plans to expand to more sites.
  • Supported DEA Take Back Days with the Franklin Police Department.
  • Worked on installing a NaloxBox at the Food Bank.
  • Developed a library display on substance use prevention with Prevention Resources.
  • Participated in county and state committees, including the Opiate Settlement Advisory Council and the New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association.
  • The Advisory Board is being featured as a role model in the New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association's online training program for public health.
• Future priorities:
  • Educate about risks of cannabis use (including older adults) and longitudinally track potential harm from the Nessie compressor station using NJ SHAD epidemiological data (by zip code).
  • Offer free or low-cost swim lessons (modeled after Middlesex County) and CPR certification.
  • Expand health education on avian flu and other zoonotic diseases.
  • Seek earlier consultation on proposed health-related developments; Lisi noted she was not informed about a cannabis association opening near a school until a resident asked.
  • Upcoming scheduled presentations: Easy Ride for Life (ride coordination for seniors), Senior Medicare Patrol (Medicare fraud), and Visiting Nurse Association (visiting physicians program).

Key Outcomes

• The Board of Health approved the 2025 annual meeting minutes.
• Council members expressed appreciation for the presentations and committed to follow up on specific data requests (plan approval times, cross-posting health alerts, vaccine clinics for seniors).
• The Advisory Board will continue its outreach and look for ways to be more involved in pre-approval consultations on health-related developments.
• No binding resolutions or ordinances were passed; the meeting was informational and advisory.